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.

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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 →]

To be known as one of the top players in the game in any era, you have to show your stuff in the Big Apple.

Miguel Tejada is showing the New Yorkers just how good he is this weekend in Yankee Stadium.

The A’s have a shot at sweeping the Yanks, the other contenders face tough tests, too, on Sunday.

Click below and see what I mean.

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By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

It was a warm night in San Francisco, something that will make Mark Twain

very itchy. . It was exactly at 9:25 PM PDT

when #25 came to the plate in the

bottom of the sixth inning against young

righthander Kip Wells. Bonds used his

maple bat…the count was 2 balls and

1 strike, then…. [Read more →]

The Giants fans await Barry Bonds next home run with desperation, but the games the team has pulled out lately are very big in the standings, bigger than home run number 600.

The Giants have struggled and needed come from behind wins to beat the Pirates and Cubs this week. The Dodgers continue to look like a wounded animal just waiting for a stronger team to take them out.

So, while everyone waits for the historic homer, knowledgeable baseball fans are lauding the gritty victories posted by the SF nine, which stopped the team from falling out of the NL West race. The wild Card is there for the taking, but Arizona could have opened up an insurmountable lead if the Giants didn’t play some clutch ball this week.

On the other side of the Bay, the A’s took two of three in Boston and now head to NY.

Other contenders have tough tests this weekend too.

Let’s look. [Read more →]

Back up catcher, Charlie Silvera played for the Yankees during the late forties thru the mid fifties and collected many World Series rings as well as hefty post season pay checks. Charlie joins me on Right Off The Bat Friday as we talk about Yankee Stadium and other facets of Yankee life beginning at 2:50 PM Pacific right here on loveofthegameproductions.com, the A’s web site, and 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. [Read more →]

Today’s match up of Barry Zito versus Vida blue reminds me of the tremendous battle Vida Blue and Red Sox right hander Sonny Seibert waged in 1971.

Blue reeled off ten wins in a row to start his fabulous 1971 season. Seibert had been just as dominating for Boston winning his first eight decisions. 35,174 jammed Fenway to see this epic battle of unbeaten pitchers. They weren’t disappointed.

The baseball world couldn’t wait for these two to pitch against each other in Fenway Park on May 28th, 1971.

The Red Sox have struggled lately against left handed pitching. Zito is one of the best. Lowe is throwing well in the second half after a shaky start or two.

What do you think will happen tonight?

The Angels and White Sox play tonight as well as the other contenders all over baseball.

Let’s look.

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ML: Marty Lurie here with Todd Helton on the Major League Baseball Players Association interview show, and this is brought to us by the Players’ Trust for Children and Volunteers of America, two great organizations. If you have some time, call Volunteers of America. Todd Helton’s our guest today. Todd, the fans ask questions of you, as you’re having another tremendous season. Let’s go right to the questions. Ashley McCormick asks, “How’s your back? I saw you missed a few games before the break in.” She’s concerned about you. [Read more →]

Baseball fans couldn’t have asked for a better start to the grind of the August schedule as the scores unfolded Tuesday night.

What’s up with Mike Mussina? The righty got whacked around again last night by the Kansas City Royals. Yes, the same Royals who haven’t shown signs of life for the past month.

Whenever a strong pitcher like Mussina gets hit the way he has been getting hit, I suspect physical ailments are lurking.

The A’s and Giants play important games tonight for different reasons.

I’ll explain below. [Read more →]