With the trading deadline old news it is time to get back to the games on the field.

The Giants picked up a pitcher with an excellent arm. Sidney Ponson, knighted in his native Arruba, can throw the ball. His career took a large step forward this season with the Orioles. The scouts told me that along with Kelvim Escobar, he was the premier free agent pitcher to be out in the market.

The Yankees come to Oakland tonight with a new third baseman Aaron Boone. The last time New York was in town the A’s pitching staff continued to do what they have done to NY in the past, that is reduce the Yankees scoring opportunities to one or two per game.

In baseball, good teams have four or sometimes five real chances to score during a game. The A’s give you two, sometimes three and that is it.

New York will have to show me that they can hit the ball with authority against Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder before I believe that they are the powerhouse team of the late 90’s.

Jason Giambi is hittng a solid .265, but .265 isn’t .330. Hideki Matsui was a Punch and Judy hitter last time through. The A’s shut Alfonso Soriano down, Derek Jeter was out, and Bernie Williams was hurting when NY was in Oakland last. Now Boone is here and Todd Zeile is on his way out, that is an upgrade.

Mike Mussina gives the A’s trouble, for that matter every pitcher in the game is giving the A’s fits.

That my friends will be the story of the game. Hudson will throw a beauty and the A’s will claw to get him enough to grab the lead, and then hope Keith Foulke doesn’t spit the bit as the real pennant race kicks in tonight, August first.

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Pitcher Freddy Garcia had his bags
packed and ready to go to the airport
leaving Seattle this weekend. But
today on July 31, after the
Mariners swept the Tigers
suitcases and going home
to his plush condo overlooking
beautiful Elliot Bay in downtown
Seattle and will be back
tomorrow Saturday to start
game one against the
Chicago White Sox.
No big deal here in Coffee Town.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Seattle [Read more →]