Another Cubs Blog (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
Yesterday we talked about how Jim Hendry is a large reason why the expectations for this team have been raised. Some of you have disagreed with my claim that 2003 was mostly meaningless when it comes to the higher expectations. I think I overstated that. 2003 was clearly an important year for this organization. I'm just not convinced it did more for expectations than 1998 or 2001. Regardless of which...
MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com (Free subscription) | 10/13/2009
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Athletics. Their likely commitments for 2010: C - Kurt Suzuki - $410K C - Landon Powell - $400K 1B - Daric Barton - $410K 2B - Mark Ellis - $5.5MM SS - Cliff Pennington - $400K 3B - Eric Chavez - $12MM IF - Gregorio Petit - $405K LF - Scott Hairston - $1.25MM+ CF - Rajai Davis - $410K RF - Ryan Sweeney - $410K OF - Travis Buck - $410K DH - Jack Cust - $2.8MM+...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
OAKLAND – Joe Saunders got a shot for his ailing left shoulder in August and has felt great ever since. Saunders pitched five effective innings, Mike Napoli homered and the Los Angeles Angels closed out an impressive regular season with a 5-3 victory over the A's on Sunday. The American League West champions swept the three-game set against the A's and will host the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
OAKLAND -- Mike Napoli homered, Joe Saunders pitched five strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels closed out an impressive regular season with a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. The American League West champions swept the three-game set against the A's and will host the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of their division series Wednesday or Thursday. Saunders (16-7) allowed two runs and...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/04/2009
OAKLAND – Scott Kazmir pitched five scoreless innings, Robb Quinlan drove in three runs, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the A's 4-2 Saturday. It was the A's sixth consecutive loss. Erick Aybar had three hits and scored twice in his return to the Angels' lineup, and Juan Rivera added two hits before being lifted in the fifth inning when Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia substituted liberally...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/04/2009
OAKLAND -- Scott Kazmir pitched five scoreless innings, Robb Quinlan drove in three runs, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the A's 4-2 Saturday. Erick Aybar had three hits and scored twice in his return to the Angels' lineup, and Juan Rivera added two hits before being lifted in the fifth inning when Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia substituted liberally to rest his starters for the postseason. Brian...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 10/01/2009
A's right fielder Travis Buck dives for but misses a drive by Seattle's Jose Lopez that goes for a double in the second inning. SEATTLE -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit a three-run homer and Brandon Morrow allowed one hit over eight impressive innings, sending the Seattle Mariners to a 7-0 victory over the A's on Wednesday night. Griffey's 629th career home run came in the first inning. Morrow (2-4) yielded...
Halos Heaven (Free subscription) | 09/28/2009
More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP Browse more photos » Up next for Angels: Monday vs. Texas -- latimes.com A victory by the Angels in the first game of a four-game series will clinch the AL West title. Ervin Santana vs. Tommy Hunter Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels - Recap - September 27, 2009 Kendry Morales homered and drove in three runs, and the Angels snapped their first...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 09/24/2009
The Rangers' Hank Blalock, rear, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off the A's Clay Mortensen in the fourth. OAKLAND -- Hank Blalock homered and drove in four runs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 9-8 victory over the A's on Wednesday night. David Murphy and Marlon Byrd each had two RBIs as the Rangers won for the third time in 10 games. Nelson Cruz also drove in a run for Texas, which...
Lone Star Ball (Free subscription) | 09/23/2009
by Ben Margot - AP about 21 hours ago: Texas Rangers' Hank Blalock swings and brings in two on a throwing error by Oakland Athletics' Eric Patterson in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. Blalock advanced to second base. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) View full size photo uploaded September 22, 2009 Go Rangers...
Microsoft Excel 2007 (nee Excel 12) (Free subscription) | 09/22/2009
Thanks to Eric Patterson for putting together this post. In Excel 2010, we have made a number of improvements to Solver that make it easy for beginners to get started and more advanced ones to find solutions to all types of problems. The purpose of this post is to review the improvements to Solver, and so assumes some familiarity with the tool. If you are not familiar with Solver, you can learn more...
Wait 'til this Year (Free subscription) | 09/19/2009
Rich Harden is done for 2009 , and likely done as a Cub. The Cubs have reportedly decided to shut Harden down after two miserable starts in a row. Tom Gorzelanny will replace him in the rotation. No one knows what Rich Harden will command as a free agent this offseason. In fact, SI's Jon Heyman asked one GM about a number this year's upcoming free agents, and he wouldn't even hazard a guess as to what...
Twinkie Town (Free subscription) | 09/13/2009
First Pitch: 1:10pm CDT TV: WFTC-29 Radio: Twins Radio Network Know Thine Enemy: Athletics Nation I feel like I have a hangover. But mostly I think it's just the incessant pounding we've received from the A's this weekend. It would be nice to salvage a game of this series, because the Tigers are bound to win again eventually. Probably. W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP 2009 - Brian Duensing...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 09/13/2009
MINNEAPOLIS – Brett Anderson threw seven sharp innings, and Cliff Pennington had three hits with an RBI as the A's won for the fifth time in six games, beating Minnesota 4-2. Fewer than 24 hours after routing Minnesota with a season-high five home runs, the A's showed the Twins their style of small ball by making the most of a relatively quiet day at the plate. They drew walks, stole bases, advanced...
Sacramento Bee (Free subscription) | 09/12/2009
Brett Anderson threw seven sharp innings and Cliff Pennington had three hits with an RBI as the Oakland Athletics won for the fifth time in six games, beating the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Saturday. Anderson (9-10) retired 18 of 24 batters, including the final eight he faced, and didn't allow a walk for the fourth time this season to win his second-consecutive start. Twins rookie Jeff Manship (0-1) lasted...
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