See American Innings: History through the eyesof Baseball - with Martin Lurie
Five Game Series Is just That

The division series is a five gamer, nothing more, nothing less.
Once the regular season ends, baseball changes the rules.
Welcome to the party. Five intense games, the winners go to the next round, the losers go home, thanks for playing our game.
Which teams can run through this gauntlet without falling apart?
What do you need to be successful?
Click below for more! [Read more →]
October 4, 2005 No Comments
Dotel Injury Costly to the A's

No doubt the injuries to Rich Harden, Bobby Crosby, and Bobby Kielty contributed mightily to the A’s demise during their stretch run. However, for me the most devastating injury the team suffered was the season ending elbow surgery for closer Octavio Dotel.
Here’s why.
Click below for the answer and more! [Read more →]
September 30, 2005 1 Comment
Don't Expect Chavez to Lead the A's

by Glenn Dickey
Sep 28, 2005
THE ATLANTA BRAVES and the Oakland Athletics both took on massive overhauls of their teams this season. The Braves have clinched the National League East. After a gallant run, the A’s fell short in the American League West, being eliminated by the Angels last night.
What’s the difference? The Braves have Andruw Jones. The A’s have Eric Chavez. Both are their team’s best players, but they’re really only comparable with their defense; Jones is a superb center fielder and Chavez is the best third baseman I’ve seen since Brooks Robinson, who is the gold standard. [Read more →]
September 28, 2005 No Comments
Don't Lose Sight of the Final Three Games

No matter what happens over this weekend in the American League keep your eyes focused on the final three games of the season.
Seems like every time you turn around the Devil Rays are in the picture.
The Angels face the troublesome Rays in Anaheim this weekend before the Halos invade the Coliseum Monday.
Click below for more! [Read more →]
September 24, 2005 No Comments
Baseball As America in Oakland

If you are a baseball fan and like the history
of this great game, then you have to visit the
Oakland Museum of California “Baseball As America” exhibit direct from Cooperstown,
but with plenty of local flavor.
By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]
September 22, 2005 No Comments
Clearly, choke was the right word.

Marty; On Sep’t 16th this page carried an article which raised the question whether “choke” was or was not too strong a word to use in connection with the performance of Benitez in the third Padres game. This was the game, as you will undoubtedly, painfully, recall, in which Benitez blew a two run lead when one strike away from completing a sweep of the three game series.
Click below for a most interesting analysis of the Giants.
[Read more →]
September 21, 2005 No Comments
Canseco was right

You can call José Canseco a whistle blower
an informer a stoolie or chivato which is
the word used by Cubans, but whatever
you call him you must call him right.
This 2005 season Home Runs dip to 1997 level.
Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]
September 20, 2005 No Comments
Phillies-Indians It Could Happen in October

As the 2005 baseball season enters its final two weeks, six teams are in contention for playoff spots in the American league. Only four will continue to play past October 2nd.
In the National league only the Cardinals have clinched a playoff berth, leaving the remaining three postseason spots still up for grabs.
The White Sox are struggling. All of a sudden their starting pitching has gone in the tank. Here’s a scary thought: righthander Jose Contreras is the steadiest pitcher on Ozzie Guillen’s staff. No wonder the Cleveland Indians are licking their chops as they get ready to face the Sox next week in Chicago in a crucial three game series.
Can Cleveland catch Chicago?
Click below for more!
[Read more →]
September 17, 2005 No Comments
A's Questioned: Why No Black Players?

by Glenn Dickey
Sep 16, 2005
MANY PEOPLE wondered why the A’s, representing a city which is more than 50 per cent black, did not have a single black player on the roster in the period in between their optioning out Charles Thomas and signing Jay Payton. Was this deliberate?
In fact, as the always perceptive Joe Morgan explained to me, it’s the system, which is why the percentage of blacks in baseball has fallen to nine per cent. [Read more →]
September 16, 2005 No Comments
Mariners might decide who wins West

So here we are coming to the end of another
season, the Seattle Mariners might not loose
99 games again, they have a group of younger
players and these guys might decide if
the Angels or the Athletics win the West.
By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]
September 16, 2005 No Comments
