It’s amazing what a difference three days makes.

Prior to the All Star break, the second half of the season seemed so far away. Today, the marathon takes a turn and if you are a player, you can sense the change.

The games become more important because there is less room for error. Having 100 games to play is a lot different than the 72-75 games most teams have remaining in the schedule.

Go on a 10 game winning streak now and you may win a division. Go on a 10 game losing streak and I’ll see you in spring training.

Read on for some of the challenges facing the contenders. [Read more →]

Rick Dempsey, a four decade player, is my guest today on Right Off The Bat beginning at 2:50 PM Pacific right here on love of thegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, or KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. Dempsey was MVP in the 1983 World Series as well as one of the foils for Orioles manager Earl Weaver. [Read more →]

Baseball’s All Star game has always been the most competitive of the major sports dream games.

Even today, proposals are being made to reward the winning league with home field advantage in the World Series.

The first game was played in Chicago in 1933 and wasn’t even created by baseball, but was the brainchild of a sports writer, Arch Ward from the Chicago Tribune.

The game was such a huge hit in 1933, that it then became an annual tradition, even growing to two games per year in the late fifties.

Here’s how it all began in Comiskey Park.

[Read more →]

Now that we have seen the first half of the season unfold who will be the end of the season award winners?

Some players have been eliminated because of poor first halves, but it is still tough to make the correct calls.

Here goes. [Read more →]

Carlos Pena. Franklyn German. A player to be named. For Jeff “Dream” Weaver and cash.

Weaver. For Ted Lilly, Jason Arnold, and John Ford-Griffin.

Was it worth it? For the meantime, yes. In the long run, who knows?

Click Read more and I’ll tell you why.

[Read more →]

The first half of the baseball season officially comes to an end today with a full slate of Sunday games.

So far, the season has had few surprises.

Will the leaders finish up with a flourish and enjoy the glow of victory until play resumes Thursday?

Click “read more” and check out today’s top match ups. [Read more →]

Time to assess the first half of the baseball season and no better person to do that with than the SF Chronicle’s Glenn Dickey. Join us at 11:50 AM Pacific right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site or KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. [Read more →]

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Who said life is nothing but a series of

ramdon events? Was that Bud Selig

or Donald Fehr ?

We are getting close to the eighth work

stoppage in Major League Baseball

history. Who is to blame ? [Read more →]

In one of Billy Beane’s classic three cornered trades, the A’s sent Carlos Pena, Franklyn German, and a player to be named later to the Tigers for Jeff Weaver. The A’s then shipped Weaver to the Yanks for lefty Ted Lilly and two minor leaguers.

Once the A’s load the barrel, they pull the trigger on trades. Somehow, this trade feels like just the prelude to two or more trades by the A’s.

Here’s what I think so far. [Read more →]

Charlie Silvera played on six World Championship teams with the New York Yankees from 1949 thru 1956. After his playing days were over, Charlie was one of Billy Martin’s coaches in Minnesota, Detroit, and Texas. Charlie tells some great stories on Right Off The Bat Saturday at 11:50 AM Pacific. My friend, Joe Salvatore sits in for me as host, hear the show on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, and KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. [Read more →]