dimitrig

I did, too, during that same era. My sister's company had season tickets so she went all the time. I sat in the expensive seats and the cheap seats (outfield bleachers). The A's fans were very mellow and the hecklers (usually old black guys) were hysterical. I never witnessed anything ugly at an A's game or a Warriors game. Maybe people confuse their fan base with the Raiders. As for Giants fans, though, yes they are jerks. They are not only passionate (which is good) but can be rude and angry about it. Giants attract assclowns as fans in the same way the Dodgers do down here. A's fanbase is more akin to the Angels fanbase for a lot of the same reasons.

I hope he figures out how to hit the high fastball.

No. No need to gamble like that.

I guess his new nickname is Frodo.

If we sign any of these guys it should be on the condition that we trade CJ Wilson for something, anything.

This Angels team wasn't as good as their win total. The bullpen seemed shaky at the beginning of the year. The offense had long lulls. They finished the season with just 4 starters. They were exposed in the playoffs. This is not a team that should sit on its laurels, because there are no laurels. No one is saying to blow up the team. However, it has been said many times in this thread that there is no replacement for Aybar. That's a huge problem, isn't it? It's not a problem NOW, but it is looming. Angels need to trade some veterans to acquire some young guys who will be able to contribute in a few years. Likely candidate is Kendrick. It sucks to lose Howie, but you have to give to get. Anyone over age 25 should be a candidate for trade if the right trade comes up. Anyone under 25 should be kept if possible. Key point worth repeating: FOR THE RIGHT TRADE

You have to trade those guys while they still have value. That's how you remain relevant. However, you have to make GOOD trades and that's where the acumen of the front office comes in.

Sabathia put the Yanks over the top and won a title. How haunting.

How about Hamilton for Carl Crawford?

20/20 hindsight. Remember, we didn't know what we would get out of Shoemaker.

It's so surprising given how many titles they led Texas to, too!

Didn't we *STILL* pay Vernon Wells $18.6M this season? Talk about ouch!

Pitching has been better than we could have ever hoped for. The offense has been anemic at times (harkens back to the beginning of the season) but the Royals have a good pitching staff. Angels could easily be up 2-0 right now. What worries me is that our best starters have already pitched and now we are matched up with Shields. I don't think we are going to get another pitching performance like the first two out of Nibs so the offense damn well better wake up. Also don't like the prospect of Weaver going on short rest in Game 4 but that's the least of our problems at the moment.

If he plays at all...

Ozzie Nelson

Albert Pujols

4 runs in 7 innings and left the game with 2 on and 1 out. Rationalize away. That's a pretty good game for CJ Wilson but a very big choke job for Lester.

When your team scores 8 runs and you can't get the win that's on your starter who coughed up 6 of those runs. The bullpen gets some blame, too, but the offense gets none. It's mostly on Lester and he is the reason they lost. Give your ace 8 runs and you should expect a win.

Rock pile!

I used to live in the Bay Area and I like the A's well enough. I even attended some games. I am also totally happy with the way that the wheels came off their wagon at the same time the Angels pulled away. Like someone else said, the 4 game sweep at the hands of the Angels was epic! A's fans (like most Bay Area sports fans) are so parochial.

They are both smartly written. Arrested Development is better, but how many shows do you think George Smoot wanted to guest star on? Like other good shows (e.g., The Simpsons) BBT works on different levels.

It's by the same producer as Two and a Half Men (Chuck Lorre) but SOME of the writing is very clever (some is indeed sophomoric) and Jim Parsons is excellent. It's on a whole different level from the vapid Two and a Half Men. I am an engineer and I work with a lot of younger engineers and scientists. It is pretty popular among that crowd so I do think that some people just don't get it. That said, like most shows the new seasons are just not any good. I rarely watch them. Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock!

I was going to say Ianetta before I opened this thread but I didn't see anyone say Pujols so I am going with him.

Article from 9/24 says: "Hamilton has played only one game since Sept. 5, first sitting out because of a sore shoulder and lately with soreness in his ribs. The pain in his ribs, however, is gone, Hamilton said Wednesday."

I haven't seen any article that mentions what exactly is ailing him other than his ribs are sore.