GRAHAM: "WE FUCKING SUCK"

by Clive Dahlton

Oak, CA -- Oakland A's manager Eric Graham launched an absolute tirade against his team after getting blown out by rival Anaheim, going after individual players, then the team as a whole. Bay Area News got the inside scoop as the meeting was not held behind closed doors.

"I want the whole fucking world to hear it, we fucking suck. I can't take this bullshit another fucking game. It's bad enough our starter gives up six fucking runs before the crowd is seated, then when we do fucking pull within a run, our bullpen shits the bed and gives it all back," Graham said. "How the fuck am I supposed to manage a team whose bullpen giving up six runs a game is considered 'the norm'?"

Graham later accused of his team of not even trying. "We didn't even try. We had guys just standing there in the field trying to jack off through their pants pockets not giving a fuck. Tejada looked like complete dogshit, I know he aint' gonna hit .400 on the year but jesus fucking christ the guy just stood there. I was close to benching him and waving the white flag."

Mark Ellis, who went 2-3 with four ribbies, off the strength of a grand slam in the fourth, wasn't even safe from his manager. Graham called out Ellis for lackadaisical play in the field, Ellis didn't even commit an error on the night. "Who gives a fuck, on ground balls you FUCKING CHARGE THE FUCKING BALL, this isnt some Derek Jeter bullshit where you just wait for the ball to come to you, you FUCKING ATTACK THE BALL, attack it like its a drunk slut at a frat party passed out with no panties on"

Graham then turned his hatred to the press, ripping a camera away from Nick Simkowsi, a reporter for Bay Area News, glaring into the camera, cussing out the team, and the media. "GO AHEAD YOU JEW FUCKING PRICK, fucking front page news right, the A's are struggling, manager snaps! YAAAA, front page news right faggots? I'll fucking kill everyone of you fucking pussies, get a real fucking job you fucking stupid bastards."

The Athletics combined ERA for the game was a shade over 51.00. Graham booted all the media members from the clubhouse after the rant and was still heard absolutely ripping into his team. "I dont give a fuck if they fine me, understand assholes? This bullshit will NOT be fucking tolerated, you like the food in AAA Hernandez [Ramon]? Cause thats where you are FUCKING HEADED! 4.30 am tomorrow, FUCKING BE HERE. I'm going to run you til' fucking gametime. AND YOU BETTER NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT BEING FUCKING TIRED."

BOXSCORE: 2002 Anaheim Angels At 2002 Oakland Athletics             4/20/2002

  Angels             AB  R  H RBI AVG     Athletics          AB  R  H RBI AVG
  D.Eckstein SS       4  2  3  5 .338     D.Justice RF        4  0  0  0 .254 
  D.Erstad CF         4  0  1  1 .320     S.Hatteberg 1B      3  1  0  0 .231 
  T.Salmon RF         4  0  0  0 .292     E.Chavez 3B         3  1  1  0 .233 
  G.Anderson LF       5  1  3  0 .277     M.Tejada SS         4  0  0  0 .417 
  T.Glaus 3B          4  1  1  2 .246     J.Giambi LF         3  1  1  0 .343 
  B.Fullmer DH        4  1  0  0 .283     C.Pena DH           3  1  0  1 .179 
  S.Spiezio 1B        3  2  0  0 .235     M.Ellis 2B          3  1  2  4 .304 
  B.Molina C          4  2  2  1 .283     T.Long CF           4  0  1  0 .238 
  A.Kennedy 2B        3  1  1  1 .300     R.Hernandez C       3  0  0  0 .148 
                                        A-O.Saenz PH          1  0  0  0 .143 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      35 10 11 10                 Totals      31  5  5  5

A-Pinch Hit For Hernandez In 9th Inning

Angels.......... 0 4 2  0 0 2  0 2 0  - 10 11  1
Athletics....... 0 0 0  5 0 0  0 0 0  -  5  5  0

Angels (9-8)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
K.Appier                  4       3   5   5   4   1   1  74   9.35  A1 B8
A.Levine                  0 1/3   0   0   0   1   0   0   6   5.63  B9 C1
L.Pote WIN(1-0)           4       2   0   0   1   4   0  50   2.79  C2 D8
T.Percival                0 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   7   0.00  D9
Totals                    9       5   5   5   6   5   1

Athletics (10-8)         IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
M.Fyhrie LOSS(0-1)        4 1/3   6   6   6   3   1   1  80  12.46  A1 C4
J.Tam                     1       2   2   2   2   0   0  26   6.75  C5 D1
M.Venafro                 2       3   2   2   1   1   1  40   5.00  D2 E2
M.Magnante                1 2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0  18  18.00  E3
Totals                    9      11  10  10   6   3   2

ATTENDANCE- 38,686 DATE- Saturday, April 20th 2002 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Jerry Meals, Larry Young, Rob Drake, Bill Miller
T- 3:28
LEFT ON BASE- Angels: 6  Athletics: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Angels: 1  Athletics: 1
ERRORS- A.Kennedy
DOUBLES- D.Eckstein(5th), G.Anderson-2(6th), B.Molina-2(6th), A.Kennedy(3rd)
HOME RUNS- D.Eckstein(2nd), T.Glaus(4th), M.Ellis(2nd)
STOLEN BASES- D.Eckstein-2(3rd), D.Erstad(2nd)
CAUGHT STEALING- D.Eckstein
SACRIFICE HITS- A.Kennedy
WALKS- D.Erstad, T.Salmon, T.Glaus, B.Fullmer, S.Spiezio-2, D.Justice,
       S.Hatteberg, E.Chavez, J.Giambi, C.Pena, M.Ellis
HIT BY PITCH- D.Eckstein
STRIKE OUTS- T.Salmon-2, T.Glaus, S.Hatteberg, M.Tejada, C.Pena-3
GIDP- B.Fullmer, R.Hernandez
WILD PITCHES- M.Fyhrie