One of the funniest and most astute writers in the Bay Area, Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle, joins Marty on Right Off The Bat Sunday at 11:50 AM Pacific hear the show right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s website, or KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. [Read more →]

by Charlie Danrick

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you stopped to consider what would happen in the event of another strike? Would fans be as forgiving as they were after the ’94 one and I have news for you…..too many never forgave and I ought to know because for 20 years I was an entrepreneur in the BUSINESS of baseball and sales receipts were much better pre-’94 than post. And here’s some scary info I took off the NY Post today, 6/14/02 but first….

Click “Read More” to continue reading. [Read more →]

Nigth after night, game after game, Barry Bonds comes up with the tying runs in scoring position or with a chance to hurt the other team in a myriad of ways.

What do you do if you are the opposing manager?

Walk him, let him hit and pray he doesn’t hit one out, hope he hits the ball at somebody who isn’t sitting in the bleachers?

Here’s what I think. [Read more →]

Is there a rivalry between the A’s and the Giants?

You better believe there is.

It starts with the fact that the Giants came to the Bay Area first in 1958 staking claim to Northern California.

The Athletics have been trying to catch up ever since Charlie Finley brought the A’s west from Kansas City ten years later.

The rivalry between the two teams is alive and well and can be seen in many ways.

Click ”Read More” and I’ll tell you about the rivalry. [Read more →]

The schedule shifts to the NL parks this Friday.

Now the games take on a different look as the AL pitchers have to grab a bat.

There is no DH, plus if the pitchers knock somebody down, they may be ducking a few inside fastballs when they come up to bat.

Watch out Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, the hitters you knocked down over the years will be exhorting their pitchers to give you some well deserved payback.

Who has the edge in the weekend games?

Click “Read More” and we’ll see.

[Read more →]

The Athletics aim for their seventh straight win Wednesday against US Gold Medal winner Ben Sheets and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mark Mulder, a 21 game winner last season starts for the A’s against the Brewers.

The lefty is a different pitcher this year.

Arm tightness has changed Mulder into what I now call “The New Mulder.”

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

National League All Star Ben Sheets, one of the top young pitchers in baseball joins Marty on Right Off The Bat Wednesday at 11:20 AM Pacific. Sheets talks about his 2000 Olympic experience and more. Tune in right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s web site, or 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. [Read more →]

Things change over the course of a baseball season. Players come and go, batting orders are tweaked, and pitcher’s turns are skipped when they struggle.

A’s righthander Cory Lidle falls into the latter class.

Now what do the A’s do with their number four starter after another inexplicable meltdown Monday night against the Brewers?

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

Bob Uecker, Hollywood movie star as well as play by play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers is Marty’s guest on Right Off The Bat Tuesday at 5:50 PM Pacific, right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s website, or 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. Don’t miss this show. [Read more →]

As you look at the A.L. West standing in the second week of June, you find that the A’s are back into contention–6 games behind Seattle.

What a difference a year makes! At this point last year, the A’s were 18 games out of the blazing Mariners and trying to detrmine whether they will be sellers or buyers down the stretch run.

But, here’s my intrigue; With all of the predictions regarding the A’s before the year began and now you look at the individual stats and circumstances involving each A’s player, how can this team still be in contention?

Here’s what I think.
[Read more →]