Bret and Mayra Breeding lived every baseball fan’s fantasy this season when the Texas couple visited every major league park. They will be my guests on Right Off The bat Tuesday at 2:50 PM Pacific right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, and 610 AM KFRC here in Northern California. This will be an interesting show as they tell us the ins and outs of their favorite stadiums. [Read more →]

All the owners have to do to avert any potential work stoppage is say to the players, the public, and all the teary eyed fans, “We won’t declare an impasse in the negotiations and implement our rules over the winter.”

It is so simple that it is ridiculous that not one writer, columnist or any other type of journalist has asked the owners for their response to this suggestion. Bargain in good faith, don’t threaten the players with the dreaded impasse, and life can move forward with a dramatic conclusion to the 2002 season.

What does the public expect the players to do? Sit back and let the owners declare the impasse and then lock them out if they don’t want to play by the new owner friendly rules.

So, let’s assume someone will read this suggestion and pass it on to the moguls who are terribly scorned by the players action Friday.

Meanwhile, the A’s continue their pursuit of Anaheim, the Giants are crying about their woes on the road, and the Red Sox are in danger of more losses this weekend in Minnesota.

Read on. [Read more →]

Sherry Drobner enthusiastic Bay Area baseball fan shares with us her review of Hanging Curve by Troy Soos. Sherry and her family recently returned from Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame where her daughter Rebekah got to see her mother’s favorite (Sandy Koufax) player’s memorabilia. Thanks, Sherry for the insightful book review. [Read more →]

Funny, but all year I’ve been trying to block out Bud Selig’s words that I heard in spring training during one of his spin stops in Phoenix. Selig clearly said that the owners had given in to the players for thirty years and now during this latest labor fracas they must take a stand no matter what the result (painful was the term he used to describe the result of their decision) or the game would be in deep trouble.

The owners have no desire to negotiate in good faith with the players. I am convinced of that. The owners have drawn a line in the sand and will not cross it.

The players have no choice but to set a strike date and walk out. If they don’t the owners will scrap all the current rules over the winter and implement Selig’s plans.

The only leverage the players have is to inflict some economic havoc on the owners at this time. If Don Fehr didn’t suggest this move his union would be a sitting duck for what the owners have in mind.

Unfortunately, that is the truth.

So, what else is new. There still is some baseball being played which I would prefer to talk about. Let’s do that. [Read more →]

Funny how people can view the same thing and come up with different interpretations.

In the Bay Area, the Giants fans are talking and acting like they are in a pennant race, which they are, and the A’s who are in a pennant race, haven’t captured the fancy of the fans or the media.

Oh, I know that every game counts and the A’s come to play, it just hasn’t hit the fans or the media that this team is for real and with its experience should be the team to beat down the stretch instead of the least respected of the contenders.

The Giants on the other hand, are 1/2 game out of the wild card lead and fighting tooth and nail to stay there. They even considered demoting or trading their alleged number one starter Livan Hernandez, that is until he pitched a gem in a 1-0 loss last night to Atlanta.

Why the difference in perception?

click “read more.” [Read more →]

The A’s get a chance to close serious ground on the Red Sox this weekend when they host the White Sox while Boston concludes a week against Seattle and Minnesota.

Oakland continues its good fortune as they may miss Sox hurler Mark Buehrle in Oakland (turns out they will face the 15 game winner Friday night). The A’s have recently avoided Pedro in Boston, Clemens, El Duque( one inning) and Pettitte in New York and Roy Halliday with Toronto.

How good is the Oakland pitching? Here’s what I think. [Read more →]

by dale

While most baseball fans get extremely excited when their team starts an inning with two runners on base, if you’re an A’s fan you have dealt with that all to familiar heart break when that hope is deferred.

Proverbs says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” and no one can legitimize that statement more than Art Howe and many A’s fans, as the A’s offense continues to struggle with what I call the “R.I.S.P. (Runners in Scoring Position) Blues.” [Read more →]

How many wins will it take for the A’s to make the playoffs?

My prediction? I’m guessing 98 wins to get into post-season.

Seattle gets to 98 by going 26-18 (.591) the rest of the way; they are currently 72-46 (.610) for the season. After facing the twin tyrants of the East, the seafarers schedule mirrors the A’s the rest of the way.

The red suited Halos are 70-48 (.593), which puts them on pace for a club record 96 wins. 28-16(.636) coming home gets them to 98. After a horrid start, the Angels have won 63 of 97 (.650). The Angels play the AL East for the rest of August, including 6 on the road with Boston & NY, and 6 with the lowly flat fish – the TB D-Rays. If they play everyone else to form, I think their season will turn on how well they handle the much-improved Orioles in a 6 game home and away, 3 weeks down the road.

The BoSox are 68-48 (.586) and play the toughest schedule down the stretch of the contenders. They are on 95 win pace, and although they are much improved personnel-wise, I don’t see a compelling reason for them to reverse their laggard late-season legacy.

After stranding T Long’s 9th inning leadoff triple last night, the A’s are 68-51 (.571). The A’s need a hot streak of June proportions to snag a seat at the post-season party. The green and gold has the best record in the AL since 5/24, 48-24 (.667) – that includes an incredible 12-0 mark against the NL Central.

I think the A’s need to go 12-4, (now 12-3), during this stretch against the lesser lights. To do it, they will have to be road warriors, as 17 of 22 will be on the road after this home stand. The A’s then finish against the Twins and the AL West – teams that have given the Elephant Herd trouble. 17-11 in September leaves the Athletics with 97 wins. Just outside the money. The A’s have 6 with Seattle and 8 with the Angels left. If they can repeat their September heroics of the past 2 years, the A’s may yet have a shot to fulfill every A’s fans fantasy – sending Jason home early.

[Read more →]

Every baseball season has its stories and this year the emergence of Roy Halliday is one of the top stories of 2002. Halliday is my guest on Right Off The Bat Wednesday at 11:20 AM Pacific right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, and KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. [Read more →]

One or more of the contenders will face tough tests this week.

With few off days, the pitchers will again take center stage.

Boston plays three in Seattle, then moves on to Minnesota for three more.

The Giants go to the South to play Atlanta and the Marlins.

The Dodgers play in Montreal and New York.

You get the idea, things will be a changin’ this week.

Here’s my take. [Read more →]