SB Nation User Blog: Force

Random observations from week 1

Force — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:48:10 -0000

In my professional life, I use the first Monday of the new month to compile results from the previous period and then distribute reports to my associates.

I've been doing this today, but after attending 2 games of the A's opening homestand, I have a couple of lingering thoughts I woud like to share and see what the Nation thinks.....

1) Retired Numbers: Yesterday I took my girlfriend to her first A's game. Somewhere along the line when I was giving her the visual tour of the stadium and while explaining to her the retired numbers of the A's former legends, I came to the sudden realization that Rollie Fingers #34 was also worn by another A's legend who is certainly destined to be cannonized by the A's at some point, Dave Stewart.

Rickey Henderson, a certain Hall of Famer, who has yet to declare in which uniform he will be enshrined (one would have to bet that the Oakland native would be wearing the green and gold into the HOF), broke into the Majors with the A's wearing #35, but is remebered more frequently in #24.

What will the A's do in remembering these legends when the appropriate time arises. Two #34 jerseys? What about Rickey's #?

2) Emil Brown: No doubt that this is an aggresive ballplayer, and that his early season success has so far endeared him to A's fans. While sitting on the 3rd baseline yesterday I made a couple of observations of him that made me question this players mindset . On 2 seperate singles to left, Brown deliberately overthrew the cutoff man, Crosby, when there was absolutely no reason for it. They were to line singles straight at him and the runner had absolutely no thoughts of trying for 2. One throw even short-hopped Ellis a little, and in a tight ballgame, those are the kind of fundamental mistakes that can cost you dearly.

In the 9th, with the tying run on 1st provided by a walk from the Indians closer, Brown proceeded to swing at the first pitch. He hit it pretty good, a line shot in the right center gap, but of course it was tracked down by the center fielder.

I got the distinct feeling that maybe this guy's head is just a little bit big for his shoulders? What do you guys think?

Please feel free to use this thread or any of your own observations as well.

Poll

Random oservations poll

Two retired #34 jerseys? Only in California!

9 votes

Rickey fo sho in twenny fo!

7 votes

I ain't down wit Big E Brown!

6 votes

Force, go back into hibernation!

4 votes

26 votes | Poll has closed

The impossible truth: Circa 1986

Force — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 23:32:39 -0000

In the summer of 1986, I turned 17, and baseball was in the forefront of my life.

No one will ever forget 1986.

Bill Buckner's error in Game 6 and the New York Mets are again World Series Champions while "The Curse" lives on in Boston.

A fact not often talked about this game is the starting pitcher, and the valiant effort he displayed:

7.0 IP, 5 H, 2R (1 earned), 8K'S, 2BB

That pitcher was none other than "The Rocket", Roger Clemens.

The most lasting memory I have from the 1986 playoffs are different however. Does anyone else also remember this?

OCTOBER 15, 1986 -- The Mets face a must-win situation -- unless they want to face Astros ace Mike Scott in Game 7. Astros starter Bob Knepper shuts out New York for eight innings before the Mets break through to tie in the ninth. They finally score again in the top of the 14th, then watch as the Astros re-tie the game on a Billy Hatcher homer. In the 16th the Mets push across three more runs, but again the Astros fight back. They score two runs before finally falling as Jesse Orosco strikes out Kevin Bass to send the Mets to the World Series.

As I mentioned in opening, I was 17.

I was 17, and a Junior who graduated early. In the spring I found a job. Just about the best job any 17 yr old could find. I was working for the City of Pleasanton recreation dept at the new softball complex. It was a 40 hour job Mon thru Fri. 8 hours a day with 2 to spend prepping the field and 6 to scorekeep the 4 games played on it.

I was good at my job. Good enough that I could prep my field in an hour and have an hour before 1st game to play homerun derby with the other guys between opposite foul poles.

Good enough at my job that could I not only watch the game on the field and keep accurate score, but listen to MLB games on the radio as well.

Not only was I the source for the fans and players for the score and stats on the immediate field, but for what was happening around the country in the bigs as well.

In all my life, I have never been as enthralled by what happenend in the 1986 Playoffs between the Astros and Mets.

Not only did Game 6 go 16 innings, but Game 5 went 12!

Two words, one name: Mike Scott.

No one had ever seen anything like what Mike Scott was doing. Baffling hitters in to a frenzy of the impossible...he must be a cheat.

In retrospect, you can see that Mike Scott was not a cheat, or as many had proclaimed, "Mike Scuff", but a pioneer in the development of the forkball/splitfinger. A pitch that appeared to the hitters' eye as a fastball, and falls to the ground as it reaches the plate, seemingly as it has fallen off a cliff.

There were other stars on that team, most notably Nolan Ryan. Other names that come to mind were Billy Hatcher, Bob Knepper, Glenn Davis and Kevin Bass.

What an exciting ballclub, and even though I was a diehard A's fan. I couldn't help but be captivated by the team from Houston and their rainbow uni's.

An impressionable youth I was, I even had purchased a Pro cap, and then later complimented it with a Starter satin jacket.

Maybe it was my early years spent at the Space Academy (a "Space Cadet" I truly am), or perhaps I just enjoyed great baseball, as I still do today.

That year in my life has always been a fond memory, and has left a lasting impression on me, and it has always left a soft spot in my heart for the Houston Astros.

Thus begins a contradiction in fandom I'd have never thought possible....

Tonight, I will root for Roger Clemens.

As the life-long A's fan that I am, and that are most of you, I'm sure you can sense the uneasiness of this commitment.

We have always hated him.

He has always been the figurehead of our enemy.

But, tonight I will cheer for him, and win or lose, I will relish in all the history he represents.

Go 'Stros!!!

Poll

How many drinks has Force had?

Force, go back into hibernation!

12 votes

2

3 votes

3

1 votes

4

8 votes

Houston, we have lift off!!!

22 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

Kharma

Force — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 04:08:45 -0000

Hey gang.

Been away for awhile (see new sig), but I have been paying close attention and all I can say is this:

I strongly dislike these other teams we are forced to watch, but I am a "Baseball" fan first and foremost. I am very excited that Boston has been eliminated, and I feel like a non-Bos/NYY ALCS will be not only a fresh breath of air, but a great movement towards a better health of the game.

If the Yankees lose this series, or even the next for that matter, it will once again reinforce the message that "money cannot by you happiness".

It has been a few years now since the Yanks have won a title, and it may take a few more, but "the game" will be stronger in the end.

A strange thing happened to me tonight.

As I arrived home to my condo by the beach, I ran into a woman in the parking garage that I have crossed paths with before. Actually, I saw her just a few minutes before, at the grocery. I was a few people behind her in line. As I pulled into my spot she was unloading her cache of rice noodles and soy milk. I was lighthanded and offered her my services, as any gentlemen would. She was fine, but did not recognize me from our previous encounters. An older woman, she had taken notice of my auto on another occasion, and I pointed it out and she made some recollection.

"You good looking guys look all the same" she said. A compliment I guess, thank you old friend.

We exchanged small talk on the elevator ride up. It was as we exited and parted ways that she then blindsided me with a question of no immediate relevance:

"What is Kharma?" she asked.

My reply came without hesitation. I have been thinking about it for awhile now, and I still find myself a bit perplexed by my own instant reaction.

I calmly answered, "It's the Lord's retribution"......and baseball was the farthest thing from my mind.

Perhaps I subconsciously was reliving the moments before I left work, where my day was ruined by an unfortunate e-mail from my boss who inadvertantly crushed my spirits by CC'ing her criticisms of me to the whole company?

Or perhaps I had just seen the Yankees come back to within 1 from down 5?

Only time will tell, but I believe "Kharma" is on our side.

Make a decision, and stand firm.

Force — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 04:35:45 -0000

For me it's easy:

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Let's take a day off and think about it...

As I left the office today, I was immediatly greeted in my car by an ESPN update that informed me that the A's had won....awesome!

When I left my home early in the morning, I reminded myself that the we were playing a day game today and I should check the internet on my phone for updates as often as I could. But unfortunately, as sometime goes for those of us working for the man, priorities have to be re-aligned.

I arrived home in a jovial mood, but then I realized that with the A's already having played, I didn't have much to look forward to as far as baseball was concerned.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

I had then realized that it was Wednesday, and ESPN has baseball on Wednesday nights. Being in LA, there was also another game on TV, and by now, we all know the result of that one.

So as we look ahead to the weekend series with Detroit, we also see the Angels on the verge of being swept in Toronto. A Blue Jay sweep and a 3.5 game deficit would make for a nice day off, but let's not tread on the toes of the Wooofing Gods.

The game on ESPN tonight was a pleasant surprise. Allthough with a quick check of the standings, I found myself feeling totally indifferent. A win by the Twins was exactly perfect. Nothing gained, nothing lost for the A's. Only a John Kerry style flip-flop of Wild Card chasers.

Some how watching these 2 games, I couldn't help but feel that the schedule makers had known something that the rest of us didn't. And as I look towards the weekend matchups, I'm thankful the schedule makers are A's fans.

The Angels have received alot of publicity over the last few years. I guess a Wild Card berth and a World Series win will do that. But did you know that last year, on the 2nd to last day of the season in Oakland, the Angels won the American League Western Division for the first time in 18 years? Sure, no-one can forget that that series, but 18 years??? My how history is overlooked by one magnificent post-season run.

Many people on this site have blog-en their preference that the A's win the Wild Card and face the White Sox in the first round. While given the recent success aginst the Central Division leader, I see this as perfectly understandable. However, I tend to lean on the side of the A's as far as goals go.

As we host the Tigers on friday, The Angels will be heading into a desperate New York after losing another series to a non-contender.

I will not be rooting for either, but pulling for the Yankees.

One thing this A's club has proven is that they are not afraid of anyone. Given the "tightness" of the AL East and the Wild Card races, and the strength of the schedules between the AL West leaders, it seems perfectly clear to me:

Let's win the Division, send the Rancho Palos Verdes Angels of Anahiem near Los Angeles home, and let the Wild Cards fall where they may.

Poll

Make your decision:

Short stacked= To early to tell

7 votes

Are you bluffing?=Bring on Chicago

4 votes

All in=Go Yankees

21 votes

Please Force, no diaries after 2 Grey Goose martinis

11 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed

Recon: LA

Force — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 00:12:50 -0000

RING...RING...Hello?

...Alpha Foxtrot, line secure.

Copy Alpha, please authenticate.

..."An Angel cannot fly with broken wings".

Roger that Alpha Foxtrot. Authentication verified. What is your status?

...On location. Premliminary recon complete. Cover intact.

Completion overview?

...Subjects seem unaware, overly confident. Initial atmospheric testing reveals high levels of toxins that may impair judgement.
...Sending intercepted radio transmission transcription now:

Host: "The Oakland A's begin a 3 game series with the Angels tonight. The A's, the hottest team in MLB since May 30th, find themselves only 7.5 games back in the division!"

Co-host: "The Angels will win the division. They are AL elite. The A's won't catch them".

Transmission received Alpha. Phase 2 status?

...Admission not secured due to heavy traffic volumes. Will exercise from remote location.

Weapon status?

...All sytems operational as evidenced in previous night's event:
...Molecular Mojo Decimator primed with adjusted bandwith for remote deployment.
...Foam-finger device locked and loaded.
...Lucky hat warming up.

Roger that Alpha Foxtrot.
Commence phase Z at 1900 hrs. Over.

...Roger.

And so it begins. The first game of the rest of the season.

But it is no ordinary game, and may, in fact, be the most important game of the season to date.

What Agent Force has discovered in LA is a complacent media and fan-base that does not fear what they should, the Oakland A's.

A media and fan-base that already has the Angels in the playoffs as runaway Western Division Champs as evidenced in an afternoon interview with Billy Beane earlier today:

Host: "Do you realy believe that you guys can catch the Angels and win the division???"

BB in a nutshell: "Yes"

Perhaps my application of text does not reflect the influction of doubtfulness in the hosts voice, but I can assure you with the changing of topics to Billy's love of USC, the concern of the A's catching the Angels complacently dissapeared.

Perhaps another sign of complacency was the Angels announcers continually knocking the A's the last 2 nights for being a "poor road team, while the Angels are one of the best". All the while failing to mention that on the A's last road-trip they swept the White Sox, who some revere as the best team in baseball.

So we are left with tonight, and the game itself.

A win by the Angels tonight will go just as expected in So-Cal. A more talented team taking 2 of 3 from their pesky No-Cal neighbors while they await the more worthy Yankees.

Therefore I proclaim this: We must win tonight.

A win tonight will have a huge affect on the standings. In my eyes, the difference between 8.5 and 6.5 games back is immense.

But digging even deeper, you can see behind the curtain. A series win for the A's tonight will create the slightest of cracks in the armor of the Angels and thier fans.

Even the slightest of cracks will allow the fear to seep in and eventually overwhelm them with doubt.

If the A's win tonight, by this time next week they will be in 1st place.

If the A's win tonight, the World will take notice.

Poll

How big is tonight's game?

Force, you are a supreme kook.

5 votes

Huge?

5 votes

Holy Toledo!!!

20 votes

Creative writing in diaries bad?

2 votes

Large?

12 votes

Force, smoke some more of the pot you found in your rental car.

17 votes

Semi-Big?

18 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

You asked, Nostrodamus answers......

Force — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 05:20:08 -0000

Last month I pegged June like a 140yd downhill par 3 with a 9 iron. But I wasn't really trying.

Score one up for the "optimists" I guess?

Colorado Fan asked, so what the hey? Maybe I'll try a little bit harder this time and then blow minds with a brilliant plot twist at the end?

Here's the A's July records for the last 5 years:

04'...15-12
03'...16-11
02'...15-12
01'...19-8
00'...13-14

Pretty consistent "above .500" records except for the anamoly of 2001, which was the year we later learned the server crashed and the club did not get the "June" memo resulting in a 12-15 record for that month.

So, with recent trends aside, forside, inside, and outside, I can predict a July record of no less than 18-8 for this year's club.

Whoa!...Is what you just said! I heard that!

You may say "But Force! Perhaps the club didn't get the "May" memo?" To which I would have to respond: "Due to the unprecedented youth of this this year's club, it has to be taken in to consideration that----oh screw that! We're gonna whoop some you-know-what! Can I getta-a-little LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!"

But alas my friends, the diabolical plot twist still awiats you...

The Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem. Those white robed wing-ed rivals of ours. A tricky bird indeed.

The Halos are hard to predict due to the very up-and-down nature of anything wing-ed.

The Angels records for the past 5 July's:

04'...15-12
03'...12-15
02'...16-10
01'...16-11
00'...16-12

An average record of 15-12. Very comparable to the A's average of 16-11. With these very put-under-the-microscope-and-analyzed-to-the-umpteenth-degree kind of of statistics, it is very easy to arrive at July ending record for the LAAAAAAAAA's at an abysmal 9-18.

Whoa! You just said that!!! I heard you!

Wait...did I forget to mention the whole "schedule thingy"?

With the A's as hot as they are, 7 with the Yanks, 6 with the Twins, 4 with the PO'd M's, and six roadies split between the Roy-als w/cheeses and Jays, the Angels have been bestowed the toughest MLB schedule in July (except for the Roy-als w/cheeses part).

Force! What the Fu---oh don't you say that!

So now it is time I unvail the Trumpiest of Trump cards. The olive in the martini and the swizzle in the stick....

The Force has been re-assigned...to no other than, you guessed it, LA. My obligation to the AthleticsNation has been fulfilled in the Pacific Northwest with the successful completion of operation "Mariner meltdown". Beginning next week I will begin the reconnaiscance and set-up phases of operation "Halo wing-clip" from Redondo Beach, California.

Poll

Force in LA?

Golf is better in Cali

0 votes

It's good he's back in Cali

2 votes

Lookout LAAs! You will feel the power of the Force!

16 votes

Too bad, the M's will miss him

0 votes

Force, you're a big dork

20 votes

Dude, are you crazy? Traffic sucks!

10 votes

Too bad, the A's will miss him when in Seattle

1 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

I LOVE JUNE!!!

Force — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:30:22 -0000

This young A's ballclub has held true to the tradition of having a strong June. Here is a post I made on May 23rd...

June (1.25 / 0)
If there is one thing I have learned from watching the A's over the last 5 years, it is that they start slow. Above all the SI picks and other prognostications, we must wait until after June to judge this team or anyone involved.

Here's why:

Apr-May W/L Apr-Jun W/L
2004 26-23 43-33
2003 31-23 46-35
2002 25-28 46-35
2001 26-26 38-41
2000 25-26 43-33

With the exception of 01', June has been an over-the-top month for the A's. Granted we have seen many personnel changes over these years, and there have been slight monthly volume of game variances, June has seen a dramatic increase in total win percentages, seasons to date.

I won't be bashing Beane, but if I was, I would wait until after June.

Our schedule will now get a little easier. We will get healthier, and start having some fun. I would not be surprised to see the A's finish out the month strong, and then have a great June putting us just above .500. In this division, that's right where we need to be at that point.

Are we the Yankees? The Red or White Sox? The O's?

No. But these guys have enough in them to make it interesting down the stretch. And that's all we, and Billy Beane are asking for.

I got a feeling our boys will be turning it around soon, and rez, no hard feelings.

Lord Vader... ...yesss massster? ...RISE!!!

by Force on Mon May 23, 2005 at 11:52:26 PM PST

Now that the month is complete, we can look back and see where this club falls in comparison to thier predescessors.

19-8

Only the 2002 club was better at 21-7.

If we can count the last 2 games in may, they rise to 21-8.

So I was wrong about my prediction of the A's achieving the .500 mark by months end, but I wasn't off by much.

These guys are awesome. Just plain awesome.

The psychology of the A's

Force — Mon, 16 May 2005 20:25:53 -0000

This is mostly a post I made in the Lewis interview thread, but it's something I've been thinking about for a few days.

What must be going on in the heads of these players? They have put on a great face while looking mostly like a AA ballclub on the field, and it must be something mental taking it's toll.

Here is the majority of the post:

"I can certainly rationalize the trades as Blez and Michael outlined, but Graybeard brings up a good point about the psycological effects they had on the current team.

They are all "professionals", but it's only human to have some fear or a blow to your confidence when losing so much of the glue year after year. Us fans are not the only ones who need "instant gratification", the players do to. Especially guys like Chavez.

How would it feel to be one of the best players in the game and watch your current team diminsh in such rich ML talent? It has to be hard to look ahead when the past has been filled with some pretty darn good times. He is still young, but I'd bet he can't help but feel that he's been dealt some tough cards in the prime of his career. He'll get past it, but who knows how long it will take and where it will happen (see A-Rod for example)?

If I was Chavez, or any other ballplayer, and I was continually dealt those kind of blows, I don't know how I would handle it.

I can garauntee that I would put on a good face, but deep inside, the powers of the darkside would be stirring."

What do you think?

Anyone going to games in Seattle this week?

Force — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 19:42:33 -0000

My wife is out of town and I'd rather join a fellow AN'er than go at it alone. I need a ticket so an extra would be perfect or we could hit up a scalper. They usally have some pretty good seats and I've never paid much over face value.

I don't really understand why I am not being allowed to post this diary, so I have added this ridiculous commentery to meet the character requirements. I mean, I understand this diary is not relevant to every single user on this blog, but that is clearly evident in the title and no-one's time will be wasted reading it if they aren't in Seattle. Also, there is one for the Angel games right below?

And my apologies to Catfish27 for "bumping" him, but 1 comment? Please don't be pissed.

I don't like it

Force — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 05:43:30 -0000

10:32 pm...

As I went to check the final ST standings, I see that the board has been prepared for the regular season to start.

The AL West all stacked nice and neat in alphabetical order(city of origin) with records of 0-0.

Blez, call me old-fashioned, but I don't like it. I get bad vibes seeing Anahiem over the A's without having done anything to earn it.

This is an A's site and there is no need to be politically correct. It's bad mojo, almost as if a prediction(allthough I know you would never!).

Please fix it, for I fear the wrath of the baseball gods closing in!