When I was growing up in the fifties in Brooklyn, the baseball writers pointed out that the teams leading the league (no divisions back then) would be the ones to win the pennant that October.

This year the axiom looks like it will hold true as I don’t see many second half surprises on the horizon.

Can the Mets get back in the race? How about the Angels, can they beat Seattle? What about the A’s,Giants, Astros, and White Sox?

Let’s see which July Fourth leaders are most secure.

Click “read more” [Read more →]

Dick Williams won pennants with the Red Sox, A’s, and Padres during his big league managerial career. Williams is my guest on Right Off The Bat, Thursday, July 4th at 5:20 PM Pacific, right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, or 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. [Read more →]

You can expect more fireworks today as middle relievers will be called to the mound to bail out stumbling starting pitchers.

The five man rotations are heading into their third full week without an off day, so only the strongest pitchers are getting the job done for 6 or more innings.

Once a team uses its middle relief two or three days in a row, unless the next starter comes up big, it gets ugly.

Ergo, yesterday 62 home runs, the most in a single day in major league history.

What’s up today? [Read more →]

Tom Adza calls the shots now on the Fox broadcasts in the Bay Area of the Oakland A’s games, but back in 1991 Adza handled the third base camera during the World Series. Adza describes some of the memorable World Series moments he caught on camera, during his appearence Wednesday on Right Off The Bat. The show starts at 5:50 PM Pacific right here on loveofthegameproductions, the A’s web site. or 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. [Read more →]

Interleague play is over for the year. I was looking forward to it when it started and I’m thrilled it is over.

Baseball should have one week of interleague play matching the traditional or geographic rivals. Eighteen games is just too much. It takes too much of a bite out of the schedule.

Now the races can begin again.

Much to the chagrin of their pursuers, Atlanta, St.Louis, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Seattle and others can have big weeks before the break.

Here’s why. [Read more →]

Ryan Gives us another unique look at the Giants and the A’s in his Voice of the Fan article.

Is Dusty a genius? How about the Twins? Can the A’s cool off the AL Central leaders? Will this be the week from hell for the Giants pitching staff?

Ryan answers all your questions and poses some you might not have considered in his entertaining article.

Just click “read more” and find the answers. [Read more →]

The San Francisco Giants will close their first half of the season by visiting one of the

highest cities in the country and then

one of the lowest.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez gives a complete rundown on the Giants’ chances in the second half of the season in his well reasoned article. You may be surprised when learning his predictions for the Bay Area teams.

Click “read more” and see what he thinks. [Read more →]

Since pitching is still the name of the game, I think it’s only fair that the best pitchers make the all star team, not the pitchers who can fill in the roster merely because each team needs a representative.

Joe Torre has imposed a rule that you don’t make the team as a starting pitcher if you can’t work in the game that Tuesday.

Ridiculous. The best part of the game is the introduction of the teams and recognition of the achievements of the players.

Plus, the game should be played on Wednesday to avoid these issues. This way players can get to the game, everyone can play (with proper rest), the festivities can be extended to a true midseason break, and the season can start back on Friday (weekend) with some excitement.

The actual all star game for the last thirty years has been boring, low scoring, and anticlimatic. Why jam it in on Tuesday?

So here’s my list of pitchers who should be in Milwaukee. Click “Read More” [Read more →]

There is some good baseball being played between the two Bay Area teams as they wrap up interleague play Saturday and Sunday in Oakland.

Last night, John Mabry had four hits against the Giants. After his third staright safety, Giants starter Livan Hernandez drilled Mabry in the back with a fastball. Mabry seemed stunned by the tactic, almost reaching the third base coaching box as he recoiled from the pain.

No problem. A’s pitcher Mark Mulder promptly drilled Shawon Dunston in his next at bat, obviously retaliating for the shot taken at Mabry. Dunston walked to first shaking his finger at Mulder.

Mulder didn’t look at Dunston, a dead give away that the pitch had a purpose.

Let me tell you who handled the situation the best.

[Read more →]

Nothing that happens in baseball ever amazes me.

Bartolo Colon, an Expo. Cleveland traded him because he makes too much money and wants a long term deal.

Colon would have been an AL All Star, does Bob Brenly put him on the NL squad?

The last time I checked the Expos were supposed to be going out of business.

Montreal gave up their top three prospects to get Colon for the rest of the season, which by the way could end in August, if the players set a strike date next month.

What does this trade tell you about the future.

Click “Read More” and I’ll tell you. [Read more →]