Tagged: Brad Ziegler
Tweetup with the A’s
We hosted our inaugural Tweetup last night. It’s like a “meetup” except it’s Twitter.com users (who “tweet”) that follow the official A’s feeds @Athletics and @ticketservices. A special Plaza Level ticket allowed early access to the Eastside Club before the evening’s game where guests were treated to question and answer sessions with A’s players and personalities, hosted by Kara (@karashotcorner), while nibbling on inclusive food and beverages. 
Two of the A’s most savvy social media users, pitchers Gio Gonzalez (@GioGonzalez47) and Brad Ziegler (@bradziegler), sat down with Kara in front of the crowd to answer questions that fans tweeted us before and during the event. A few off-the-cuff highlights from the players… When asked what other position he’d play besides pitcher, Gio said he couldn’t play infield because he doesn’t like wearing a cup. Asked about their uniform choices, Brad doesn’t wear stirrups because it’s too much gold for his taste, to which Gio replied he wants to go with an all gold uniform. Brad was asked and talked about the importance of his foundation Pastime for Patriots.
After the player panel, A’s radio voice Vince Controneo (@vincebaseball), Comcast SportNet California on-air personality Kate Longworth (@KLongworthCSN), and the Twitter sensation/wife of the night’s home team starting pitcher Amanda McCarthy (@Mrs_McCarthy32) all sat down with Kara to discuss how Twitter enhances their daily lives. Vince claims he doesn’t know what he’s doing on Twitter, but clearly, as one of the few MLB broadcasters on Twitter, understands how to harness the power of social media. He uses Twitter to interact with fans and stay on top of breaking news around the league. Kate, both a reporter and A’s fan, appreciates the personal viewpoint that Twitter provides fans. She recounted a recent connection she made with an out-of-state A’s fan that coined the term “Fosse Posse” and then attended his first home game in Oakland, where he got to meet Ray Fosse. Twitter provided the platform to make these connections happen. Amanda discussed the thrill of tweeting with people and then coming face-to-face, realizing the person you’re tweeting might be seated right behind you at the ballpark.
Even Stomper (@Stomper00) rolled through the Tweetup a couple times to visit with fans, assist with the giveaway raffle, and to try and push his Twitter followers over 1,000. By the end of the game he reached his goal!
Thank you everyone that came out to the A’s first Tweetup. If you attended, we’d love to hear what you thought. Write us in the comments area below so that we can make the next Tweetup even better.
Take a walk down Tweetup memory lane with additional Tweetup with the A’s photos…
Special Caravan Event with Rajai & Brad
It was an unseasonably chilly early December evening when A’s Season Ticket Holders mingled with Rajai Davis, Brad Ziegler, and A’s Front Office Staff- including your Ticket Services Staff favorites- at Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek. While it was cold outside, inside the attendees enjoyed dinner, a meet and greet with the players, autograph and photo opportunities, and a question & answer session MC’d by A’s broadcaster Ray Fosse. The Season Ticket Holders, all randomly selected, received party favors: new baseballs perfect for autographs, trading cards, and raffle tickets, where lucky winners received prizes such as game used bats, autographed baseballs, and an authentic Mark Ellis jersey. In the spirit of the season, each attendee brought one new unopened toy to the event as the A’s teamed with California Police Youth Charities in support of their annual toy drive.
Some of our favorite quotes from the Q&A session:
Rajai Davis on stealing bases:
“You know what’s fun is I look around at other teams and their catchers and I say, ‘okay I got you, I got you, I got you’.”
Brad Ziegler on switching to the submarine delivery:
“One of my minor league coaches actually suggested it to me. At first I was reluctant because I felt like going to a side arm delivery was sort of a last ditch effort for a struggling pitcher to stay competitive and at their best level. And I was pitching very well at the time. But once I started seeing the results I was getting I had to stick with it.”
Rajai on his mindset as a basestealer:
“It’s great to get on base and just have the confidence to know that I’m going to steal this bag and no matter what I’m not going to get out. A lot of times my coaches will give me the green light. Although sometimes I have a red light and occasionally happen to run that red light. As long as I don’t get caught, then everything is okay.”
Brad on making pitching adjustments:
“Making adjustments is something you have to do throughout your career from game to game and inning to inning. I even have to make adjustments during a single at bat. If I come inside to hitter and he turns on it foul, then I know if I come back inside I need to change something whether it be turning up the heat or changing the location.”
We particularly enjoyed one entertaining exchange between Ray Fosse and Brad Ziegler when talking about changing the pace of the game as a reliever:
Fosse: “A pitcher once told me you either want to throw faster or slower than what everyone else is throwing. And this guy (points to Brad) throws slower.”
(Audience laughs)
Ziegler: “Just to set the record straight, at a game in Anaheim this year I was clocked at 91MPH.”
(Audience applauds)
As the A’s staff, we enjoy opportunities to connect to our loyal fans on a more personal level at events such as these. And we should note, the players were amazing with everyone in attendance, showing full desire to be accommodating and involved. Interested in attending an event such as this in the future? As an A’s Season Ticket Holder today you never know when we may randomly select your account to partake in events such as these. We wish you a very happy and healthy Holiday season!
Sky High Ziggy Chats Online
While this item doesn’t have much to do with tickets, we think it’s pretty cool that Brad Ziegler will chat online today from 3-3:30pm. Fans can register now and the online chat is free. Be sure to ask the side-arm reliver if he did any loop-d-loops during his recent ride with the Blue Angels. Zooooom!
Weekend Photos
Four Game Homestand Sets Up Labor Free Day
The A’s return home tonight for a brief four game homestand against Minnesota after a three city road trip that concluded with last night’s thrilling win over Anaheim. Can you recall another single series homestand against one team? Dana Eveland takes the mound in the series opener tonight at 7:05 PM, and there are great giveaways throughout the holiday weekend. Take advantage of the warm weather by coming out to McAfee Coliseum to see your 2008 Oakland Athletics.
Upon entry to Friday’s game, receive a Jack Cust Bobblehead, which is available to 15,000 fans. As if that wasn’t incentive enough to arrive early, there will be a special pre-game presentation to Brad Ziegler, who just broke a 101-year-old record by starting a career with 39 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.
Upon completion of Saturday night’s game, we invite you to come down to the outfield grass where you can watch our third fireworks show of the season. Bring that special someone because the theme of Saturday night’s show is “Duets”. We have word from a well-placed source that this show is going to be “awesome.”
Sunday’s series finale begins at 1:05 PM and 7,500 kids will receive a Back-to-School backpack. Your child may dread going back to school, but at least they can go in style. Kids that stay for the whole game are invited to the Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky’s Post-Game Race Around the Bases. Baseball pants and high socks are strictly optional.
The A’s won’t play a game on Labor Day for the first time since we can remember. This provides us with a free day to sleep in, boulder, BBQ by the pool, head to the dog park, and enjoy any other “labor free” activities that we fancy. What do you plan to do with your baseball free/office free day?
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