Let’s leave the steroids with the “clinical experts”
in the talk shows and let’s talk baseball with the
start of the 2005 Major League Season.
With that in mind these are my predictions.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Scottsdale,Arizona [Read more →]

Marty; The season is a bare two weeks from opening day. The free agent frenzy has quieted down. Teams have made their moves, huge sums of money, when available, have been committed. Whether the money has been wisely spent remains to be seen. The Giants have been among the free spenders. Predicting the wisdom of their moves is a hazardous venture. Nevertheless, one might get some small credit for making the attempt.

The Giants have provided an on-going drama for the past five or six years. They have won division titles, been to the playoffs consistently, and, in 2002, came hearbreakenly close to winning it all. This was done while fielding a team of average talent, playing alongside the incomparable Barry Bonds, arguably the greatest hitter the game has known.

Click below for more!
[Read more →]

It is a ‘Song and Dance Act’ by baseball
reigning Commissioner Mr.Bud Selig,
the weekend of the 12 and 13 of March
at Peoria and then Scottsdale.
But on Sunday the 13th Major League
Baseball took another punch to the
chin.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Scottsdale, Arizona. [Read more →]

Picture this.

Beautiful sunshine, green grass, A’s playing the Arizona Diamondbacks on a peaceful day in the desert.
Rich Harden on the mound.

Harden winds up and throws effortlessly. The ball is a white a blur coming towards the batter. I look at the radar gun held by the baseball scout sitting next to me. The gun registers 97 MPH.

The ability to pitch a ball at blinding speed always has been one of the most dramatic skills in baseball. [Read more →]

The A’s are loaded with lefthanded hitters in key spots in the batting order.

Here’s the dilemma manager Ken Macha will confront as soon as the games count for real.

With an inexperienced starting pitching staff you can expect to see most games decided in the seventh inning or later.

With lefty hitters Mark Kotsay, Eric Chavez, Erubiel Durazo, and Scott Hatteberg hitting in the one, three, four, and five spots opposing managers will be saving their best lefthanded relievers for the critical situations late in the game. [Read more →]

by Glenn Dickey

WHEN YOU think Billy Beane, think Branch Rickey and Bill Walsh. The A’s general manager always acknowledges his debt to each man.

BIO: Glenn Dickey – 33 years as a sports columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle; author of 16 books, the last being “Champions: The Story of the First Two Oakland A’s Dynasties – and the Building of the Third.” He’s written more than 300 magazine articles, and he’s been a columnist for Pro Football Weekly since 1972. He’s also been featured on several radio and TV shows and am currently a frequent panelist on “The Last Honest Sports Show,” which airs Saturday night on Channel 44.

Check out his new website at: glenndickey.com
Click below for more of Glenn’s first column on baseball. [Read more →]

By A.J. Hayes

It’s ironic that one of the most repeated clichés about catchers is that they wear the “tools of ignorance.” Because as any serious baseball fans knows – while catchers play the most physically demanding position on the field, catcher is also the game’s most cerebral.

There is a reason catchers become managers more often than any other position players after their playing days conclude – because throughout their careers they have been the brains of their respective organizations. Catchers do more than squat and catch what the pitcher hurls. The top and most respected catchers in MLB have the power to dictate the pace of a game. They call pitches, provide on-field leadership and intelligence.

Note: Anthony Hayes is one of the most knowledgeable baseball writers in the Bay Area. For the past few seasons you have read his work in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Game Day Special Baseball Section. We are fortunate to have Anthony joining us this year on our site.

Click below for more!
Thanks, Marty Lurie [Read more →]

Baseball we have a problem, no it is
not in Houston but at 245 Park Avenue
New York at the Office of the Comissioner
and this could get uglier before it gets better.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

This is a difficult question to answer with a simple yes or no. The true answer may not be known for years to come or at the very least until this season plays out.

In the spirit of the upcoming Oscar awards, let’s create categories of interest and give a special baseball award called, “The Bud” (in honor of the commish) to the winner of each category.

Click Below for the awards and my analysis of the winter moves. I welcome your reactions.
Marty

[Read more →]

José Canseco’s controversial
book should be out later this
month of February. A lot of
people are upset at José’s
accusations, but who are
we to say they are not true?

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]