SB Nation User Blog: oakland ehs

My First Coliseum Experience

oakland ehs — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:52:16 -0000

Well folks, a family vacation to the Bay Area this past week (I'm still here until Tuesday actually) which means I finally got to see my first A's home games at the Coliseum.

Unfortunately, because it is a family vacation, I could only see two games, Thursday's extra inning loss to the Rays, and today's snoozer against the White Sox.

Still, it was a great experience. I got to talk to a few diehards who sat around me and kind of got to experience what it truly is to be a diehard A's fan myself, which is kind of hard sometimes living in Edmonton, Alberta and having to put in quite a bit of effort online to read up on the team and see highlights.

I came to a few conclusions including...

It's too bad that professional sports need the "Giants-type" experience at the stadium, with the folks in their dress pants talking on their cell phones and eating $14 sushi in order to turn a good profit and keep the club afloat and field a quality team.
There might only be 20,000 people in the park, but they seem to be to be among the best fans at games I've been to. I got to see the A's in Seattle last year, and the Coliseum crowd trumped the hell out of them. I saw the A's for a two game set at Fenway last year, and even they had quite a few fairweathers in the stadium, compared to what seemed to me, mostly A's fans there to be A's fans, and see the team put up more than 2 runs and strand less than 12 baserunners.
The Coliseum was a great place to watch a game, and while there are a few spots that are less than desirable to watch the game, and I was surprised to see troughs in the men's washrooms, I felt very comfortable at McAfee. It was clean, unlike Fenway which was actually kind of grungy in the corridors, and I don't think the stadium is keeping any real fans from showing up at the ballpark.

On the drive back to the hotel, I had ideas for a bunch of other things I wanted to say, but right now, I can't remember anything else, so... here's the best of the photos, and the album links (hopefully they work).

Sorry guys... I jinxed it.

Flattering, Frank.

Knuckle scrapin' Chad.

Note the ball's location at Cust's belt buckle.

Myself in the Harden jersey... I figured having this taken would look cool. Maybe you saw me?

Swish!

I think this took talent... considering I was facing the flag in centerfield and not even looking in this direction when the photo was taken.

Jairo was bringing it today.

Ziggy! I wanted to tell him to give us 39 more but I don't want to bother guys with stuff like that.

Goodbye.

A's/Rays August 14th Album

A's/Sox August 16th Album

Enjoy... and thanks for making my experience a good one A's fans.

My jersey finally came back to me, and just in time for King Rich to hit the DL! It's still...

oakland ehs — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:29:44 -0000

My jersey finally came back to me, and just in time for King Rich to hit the DL!

It's still awesome though, and I finally got to put my Bill King patch to good use.

As you may have seen in an earlier diary, I also was looking for a couple patches to make my old replica jersey look a bit more authentic, and I also took the opportunity to get Daric Barton's name on it.

I like the connection with that jersey especially, as I was in Seattle for his first MLB game + first MLB hit ,and got an autograph from him as well.

I Miss Marco

oakland ehs — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:15:08 -0000

... Scutaro!

via static.flickr.com

I know, I know. He would have commanded too much money for his contributions to the team, Donnie Murphy does the same thing for the league minimum, blah blah blah.

And yes, I know we are the Oakland A's and not the Boston Red Sox, where they will overpay for a role player just because he is who he is in the clubhouse, to the fans, and on the field.

But let's take a look at Marco's body of work so far this season with the Blue Jays, albeit a small sample size.

He's started all 4 games at 3B, including a 5th today.

3/11, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 SB, .273/.429/.273

3 stolen bases? And this is a team run by JP Riccardi?

But wow, Scooter can run, and he's run on a catcher with a pretty good arm in Jose Molina, and a decent one in Kevin Cash. Makes you wonder what would have been produced if the A's had been a little more free on the base paths last season like they plan to be this year.

He is on pace for 122 by the way.

Not only has Scutaro been running rampant on the basepaths, but he's had a few beautiful defensive stops at third, and his arm hasn't been too much of a detriment over there either.

I'm not trying to take away from Murphy or Jack Hannahan, but I just wanted to say I miss Scooter and it's nice to see he's having a great start in Toronto.

I only get to see a handful of A's games televised a year, but at least I can see Scutaro's Jays over 100 times... if I choose to.

Witty Fantasy Baseball Team Names

oakland ehs — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:27:24 -0000

I'm one of those dorks that tries to think of something semi-funny when I put together my fantasy baseball teams. I usually like to tie it into the A's as best as I can too, but this year I'm kind of stumped. Any ideas?

Plays on words, shots at current or players, racy ones even (not racial, RACY) are all welcome.

Some examples from past years...

Big Mac's Left Cheek (I'm not here to talk about the past)
Skeet Skeet Street (self explanatory. probably moreso to the women of AN)
Parker Brothers (Milton Bradley anyone?)

One of my teams is named the Oakland AAA's this year, but beyond that I'm stuck - and I've got 3 more to field.

Throw em at me folks.

Anybody know where I could find... (jersey related)

oakland ehs — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:51:26 -0000

Love the new AN. Thought I'd lose my fanpost virginity with a bit of an odd request...

Does anybody know where I could find an MLB logo patch that is used on the back of the uniforms? Of course I'd be looking for one in A's colors, to match the uniform.

Basically, I have a replica green jersey and I'm trying to make it a bit more authentic. I found a shoulder patch on eBay, but I could only find one MLB patch on there, and it was in the red, white, and blue. As for the rest of the web, any google search brings up useless results.

So if anyone has any ideas, or knows a place, or for some odd reason has an authentic jersey that they would have no problem taking scissors to and cutting out the MLB logo (hey figured I'd try), then please share.

Thanks in advance.

A's New Black Alts?

oakland ehs — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:32:49 -0000

I remember last season hearing some rumblings about the A's getting a new black alternate jersey for this season... while I'm not looking forward to another black uniform disaster, am still curious to see it, as much as I think it's not going to look good.

Anyone hear anything about it? Think it will be released at fanfest?

Or perhaps it's been scrapped?

Who should I get on my new A's jersey?

oakland ehs — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:02:42 -0000

Sooo I'm going to order my new A's jersey soon. I'm going white, authentic, and I think I'm going to go with a CoolBase jersey just because they're kind of cool (unless anyone has had a problem with them?)

The question is... who do I want on the back? And I do want someone on the back, I just don't know what direction to go in.

From a list of 6 players, which I then whittled down to 3, which I then whittled down to 2, I am left with a choice between Rich Harden and Daric Barton.

Harden - I've been a huge fan of his since he entered the big leagues. I've got a couple autographs and a picture with the guy. He's Canadian, he's an A, and he's a fantastic pitcher - if he's healthy, which is a big if.

Barton - He's young and he'll be here for awhile, and I've got his autograph too. I got to be at his first major league game, and witnessed his first hit. And I'd be one of the first people to get a Barton jersey.

The question is, who do I go with?

Harden has the risk of being injured forever and maybe being traded because the A's see his contract as huge for a guy who never pitches... and pending his situation, may never will.

As for Barton, it's a bit of a risk because he only had a fantastic month. He could tank it in spring training, get cut, play badly in the minors, and never play another game in the big leagues. It's unlikely, but it scares me.

So... which one do you go with? It's not the end of the world if the worst comes to worst with either player - I know the means of getting the jersey re-crested, and I work at a jersey store so it's convenient and I know how it works - and I get a discount.

I just want it to go well.

Poll

Who do you put on your jersey?

40 HARDEN

19 votes

10 BARTON

133 votes

152 votes | Poll has closed

my freaking awesome september

oakland ehs — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:48:57 -0000

Well I recently got back from a weeklong road trip with a friend and two weeks of family vacation, and I know I posted a diary earlier on this with just the Seattle part, but I messed up with the links and before I really noticed, it was off the front page and nobody saw it. Also, I threw in the rest of the non-baseball stuff as well. Enjoy.

Friday, September 7 - Edmonton Eskimos vs. Calgary Stampeders
Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, Alberta

The Eskies suck and lose 20-17, but luckily cover the tie on my Sports Select ticket.

All 20 full-size photos on Photobucket

Saturday, September 8 - Kamloops Blazers vs. Prince George Cougars (exhibition)
Interior Savings Centre - Kamloops, British Columbia

Blazers win 4-3 in a decent game. Only the 4th WHL barn I've been in and it was a pretty nice place to watch a game.

All 17 full-size photos on Photobucket

Sunday, September 9 - Canada vs. Russia Super Series Game 8
GM Place - Vancouver, British Columbia

We were halfway to the game on the skytrain when we realized the tickets were sitting on the desk in the hotel room. Ended up missing most of the first which sucked but luckily we didn't miss much. Canada won 6-1 and the series 7-0-1, and my first Team Canada game was unbelievable, regardless of the less than exciting series. Best part of the game was when all the emotions boiled over and a line brawl started in the Russian end, which I have on video and must get on youtube sooner or later.

All 119 full-size photos on Photobucket

Monday, September 10 - Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners
Safeco Field - Seattle, Washington

Seats in the bleachers right above the A's bullpen. Daric Barton's first major league game and first hit, and Kurt Suzuki's grand slam helps the A's win 9-3.

All 61 full-size photos on Photobucket

Tuesday, September 11 - Safeco Field Tour

All 34 full-size photos on Photobucket

Tuesday, September 11 - Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners
Safeco Field - Seattle, Washington

The A's win again 7-4 as we watch from our 2nd row seats down the left field line. Dallas Braden is... Dallas Braden but Mike Piazza is tricked into thinking it's still 1999 and comes through with 2 doubles and 2 RBI's.

All 47 full-size photos on Photobucket

Wednesday, September 12 - Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners
Safeco Field - Seattle, Washington

Yuniesky Betancourt hits a walk off single to win the game for the Mariners after the A's make the mistake of thinking Andrew Brown could keep the tie intact for extra innings.

All 41 full-size photos on Photobucket

Tuesday, September 25 - Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park - Boston, Massachusetts

The A's hang around for a bit, but the Red Sox offense is too much and Oakland loses 7-3. Regardless, my first game at Fenway will always be a great memory.

All 60 full-size photos on Photobucket

Wednesday, September 26 - Fenway Park Tour

All 30 full-size photos on Photobucket

Wednesday, September 26 - Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park, Boston Massachusetts

The A's lose again 11-6, but not without seeing a couple mammoth home runs, including possibly Mike Piazza's last (that is if he didn't hit another one after this game... I'm not positive).

All 37 full-size photos on photobucket

All in all, it was an amazing couple of weeks. Fenway Park will always be a great memory, and I'm glad to have achieved one of those "things to do before you die" type of things. For anyone who hasn't been there, I suggest you do it and experience the history of such an amazing park.

If there's any errors with the links, let me know please.

Enjoy the pics.

that canadian guy returns from seattle

oakland ehs — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 04:23:52 -0000

EDIT: THE LINKS WORK NOW. SORRY!

well, ive returned home from my road trip to seattle with a buddy. other than nearly forgetting tickets entirely (twice), and coming down with a cold today, it was a pretty awesome trip, and will have to be done again soon.

the road down

game one, highlighted by:

i also lent him some arm ligaments so he will make 2 starts before the end of the year.

safeco field tour

game two, which the a's won again

game 3 pics are AWOL because i semi-dropped my labtop from 3 inches off the ground, which makes it not start. but the a's lost, so they're not important.

if the links dont work, just find the main album (oaklandehs) and find the sub albums from there.

oh, and i'll be at fenway park to see the a's on the 24th and 25th :D

OT: anyone up for fantasy hockey?

oakland ehs — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:04:51 -0000

oh look, that canadian guy is posting about hockey. what a surprise.

anyways, i've started up a fantasy hockey league on yahoo. i'm looking for a few people who are interested in playing that know their stuff and would be committed for the whole season... nobody likes a guy who plays for a month and then never comes back.

if you're interested, fire me an email i'll send you the league information.

northpaw37 [at] gmail.com