As I wrote last week, the A’s had a great chance of sweeping the weeknd series with the Yankees or at least taking the series.

After taking two of three from NY, the A’s now come home to face the reeling White Sox for three before entertaing the Yankees this coming weekend.

By the way, Scott Hatteberg stole Oriole Mike Flanagan’s line about Cy Young and Cy Old. In 1981, Flanagan described himself and Jim Palmer as the young and old Cys, and even included Steve Stone when he faltered later in his career, by calling Stone (the CY Young winner in 1980), Sayonara. So, take it easy on Hatteberg, he stole the line from Flanagan.

Click below for my thoughts on the Yankees and the A’s. [Read more →]

The Giants finished their six-game

homestand improving their

best start since 1973 with

Rich Aurilia and Edgardo Alfonzo looking

good at the plate.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

A’s and Yankees meet again Sunday in NY.

Some quick observations on the first two games of the series.

These two teams are the deepest teams in the AL.

If they meet in the postseason the matchups of Zito, Hudson, and Mulder versus Clemens, Wells, Pettitte, and Mussina will be outstanding.

Tim Hudson has a great sinker working right now. His ratio of ground ball outs to fly outs is almost 3:1, amazing. He pitched one of the best games of his career Saturday although he didn’t receive the win.

Keith Foulke shouldn’t have pitched the ninth inning with Johnson, Giambi, and Williams due up. All either hit lefthanded or need to be turned around to the right side, Ricardo Rincon should face the Yankees in the ninth if the lefties are coming up. The A’s let the Yankees off the mat Saturday and were fortunate to win the game.

George Steinbrenner could care less about Miguel Tejada. He wants Eric Chavez, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder. Seeing Chavez homer in the tenth only made The Boss realize Chavez is his next super star free agent in waiting.

Wait until he sees Zito Sunday.

Click read more for more! [Read more →]

George Devine, Sr., one of the Bay Area’s finest journalists gives a wonderful perspective on a classic battle between the A’s and the Yankees and then weaves in the A’s current predicament resigning Miguel Tejada.

George goes by the title “Devine Writes”

Thanks George for this well thought out contribution to the site.

Marty Lurie [Read more →]

The baseball season is filled with plots and subplots. Should a team make a trade? Move a player in the order? Change positions on the field?

The Athletics reacted to Miguel Tejada’s slow start with a flourish Thursday, moving the reigning MVP from his coveted third spot in the batting order to fifth behind Erubiel Durazo and Eric Chavez.

By contrast Yankee Jason Giambi hitting under .200 for the season still holds his spot (third) in the NY order.

So, is it a good move to Miguel now?

Click Read More and I’ll give you my opinion [Read more →]

This seems like one of the those seasons for Arizona when whatever can go wrong, does go wrong. Not only did Curt Schilling have an unexpected appendectomy, but now Randy Johnson is gone for three to five weeks due to knee surgery.

Bob Brenly has already blown up in NY, the team isn’t hitting, and rookie after rookie pitcher is getting a shot in the majors. Not a good formula to win the pennant.

So, can starter/reliever Miguel Batista hold the fort? Byung Hyun Kim is hurt too after twisting an anke and might not make his next start. Mike Myers, lefty relief specialist gets hit hard virtually every time out, and Matt Williams has seen his best day.

Baseball tells a story every day and right now even with 135 games to go, the Arizona story is very murky.

The man in the center of the diamond controls the game. Mark Mulder showed how important the pitcher is with his second complete game in a row. Who does he think he is, Catfish Hunter? Complete games are such a rarity that it is nice to see a young pitcher finish what he starts. This type of pitching bodes well for October success.

Other than the Mariners, the West continued to thrash the rest of the league Wednesday night.

Click read more for today’s thoughts

[Read more →]

Amaury’s column is provacative, as always. I question, however,whether “heart and passion” will be enough. It is too early in the season to be overly confident with predictions, as we all say, but even though early in the season we have history to fall back on.

Click Read More for my take Giants Baseball. [Read more →]

It didn’t take long for the AL West teams to win on the road, they all won their first games on their current road trip in impressive fashion.

As I said earlier in the season, Gil Meche has top of the rotation stuff for the Mariners. Coming back from arm surgery is always iffy, and who knows how the season will play out, but Meche’s dominance of the Yankees in NY Tuesday night is a positive sign for the Mariners.

The two Japanese stars in the game excited the crowd by their presence, but did little else on the field to distinguish their night’s play.

Brett Boone, Edgar Martinez, and John Olerud continue to lead the way for Seattle. Similar to last year, they need one more legit bat in the line up, not getting one in 2002 eventually led Lou Piniella into a dispute with management and his banishment to baseball purgatory in Tampa.

The Angels crushed the Indians, the Rangers unloaded six homers on the Blue Jays and their minor league relievers, and the A’s played a solid game in beating Bartolo Colon and Chicago 3-2.

More baseball below:

[Read more →]

Do you get the feeling that

the San Francisco Giants

are playing with much more

heart than the Dodgers

or Diamondbacks in the

West?

You might be right.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

Major league teams change partners once again this week, facing new teams across the board.

The Cubs come into SF after losing two of three to the Rockies in Colorado.

Are the Rockies for real? Once they show they can win on the road, then they will be taken seriously. Of course, if they won 67 home games, a record on the road of 24-57 would give them 91 wins and make the NL West nervous. Nah, won’t happen.

Roger Clemens pitches against Seattle, a team he has handled in the past. Mariano Rivera is due back tonight which will settle the NY bull pen which is showing some signs of wear and tear.

Joe Torre even let a lefty (Randy Choate) face A Rod with the bases loaded in a one run game Sunday and then had to watch as Rodriguez iced the Rangers win with a three run double.

Chan Ho Park, struggling with a 7 plus ERA lost his personal catcher when Texas released Chad Kreuter after Park’s Sunday debacle (nine straight balls to open the game).

Much more to talk about, Click Read more.

[Read more →]