If you’ve been to Cooperstown, then youv’e met Jim Florczak at the Where It All Began Bat Company, he’s my guest on Right Off The Bat at 5:50 PM Pacific heard right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, or 610 AM KFRC, in Northern California. [Read more →]

Now the schedule plays a part in how the AL leader board may take shape this week.

The A’s and Angels play three in Anaheim, Boston has a doubleheader at home against the near bankrupt Devil Rays, and the Mariners take on Texas in Seattle.

Oh, the Yankees play Cleveland, a team trying to divest itself of every asset above the price of one million dollars (sounds strange doesn’t it).

The Dodgers haven’t had a rally in weeks, the Giants are injured, and the Diamondbacks are counting on Junior Spivey to hit third.

I’ll also comment on Amaury Pi-Gonzalez and his article listed below on the home page.

Click read more. [Read more →]

The Angels answered the doubters with a very convincing three game sweep over the Mariners. Now, they face the A’s starting Tuesday night in Anaheim.

The Giants survived the weekend without Barry Bonds.

The Red Sox showed once again that their bull pen woes will drag them down. Jeff Weaver’s performances have got to give the Yankees some concern.

The A’s lack of that one big bat and an umpires call that went in their favor prevented them from sweeping the sleeping Rangers.

All in all, some entertaining baseball was played and more of the same is forthcoming this week.

Click Read More and we’ll talk. [Read more →]

By Amaury Pi-González

Yes, the Oakland A’S have won four World Series since they moved from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 and the Giants have won

none since they moved from New York to

San Francisco in1958.

But the Giants have much more of a historic

presence.

Even when they were winning World

Championship, the A’S were second

in coverage behind the Giants by the

Bay Area Media. It has a lot to do with

the two cities, the markets, San Francisco

a much more corporate town than

Oakland.

When you travel how many times do you

hear somebody in New York, or Chicago,

or Los Angeles say; the Oakland Bay-Area?

Most of the time is the San Francisco

Bay Area. [Read more →]

Many interesting stories developed Friday night leading me to believe in the baseball axiom that you never know what you will see when you come to the park.

Cory Lidle threw the game of his life when all appeared lost in his baseball career. Tom Goodwin, banished to the minors by the Giants and earlier by the Dodgers, won the game in the 12th when he got a hit after replacing Barry Bonds. Freddy Garcia self destructed leading me to the conclusion that Jamie Moyer is the ace of the Seattle staff, a scary thought for Lou Piniella.

How about today? [Read more →]

I have said many times over that for the Athletics to win the AL West and unseat one of the soundest teams in the American League, they must get help.

For the road to the championship on the left coast goes directly through the beautiful Emerald City of Seattle.

Tonight the Angels get their first chance to put up or shut up, to show their three month run is not a fluke but the real deal.

The Angels first game hopes rest squarely on the shoulders of Ramon Ortiz, a pitcher they told to grow up when he pouted on the mound last Sunday in Kansas City.

With all that in mind, here’s what I think. [Read more →]

If you watched highlights of the Indians and Twins game in Cleveland, I’m certain you saw Torri Hunter get hit by a pitch in the ribs. If you followed the season series with those two teams, you know that they have a history of dislike.

(I took a different position in my Daily Dish. AL pitchers get away with this all the time. Marty Lurie)
[Read more →]

The Angels are a very aggresive hitting team, they teed off on Tim Hudson last night. Tino Martinez suffered the fate of many batters when he was late on the fastball, hitting into a game ending double play with the bases loaded against Robb Nen.

Result: Angels strike the first blow in the series against the A’s, while the Giants get the road trip off to a good start in St. Louis.

Today poses new challenges all over baseball. Let’s take a look. [Read more →]

By Amaury Pi-González

Esteban Bellán, born in Cuba was the first

ever baseball player from Latinamerica

to play in the United States.

Presently in Major League Baseball

30 percent of all the players are

Latinos. In the minor leagues the

percentage is even greater.

But it wasn’t like that until 1950. [Read more →]

Marty Lurie here on Right Off the Bat today with Eric Gagne of the Los Angeles Dodgers, now a closer in baseball. That is a rare bird, and it takes a real professional to get the job done. This year you’re the closer for the LA Dodgers. [Read more →]