As I wrote last week, the A’s had a great chance of sweeping the weeknd series with the Yankees or at least taking the series.

After taking two of three from NY, the A’s now come home to face the reeling White Sox for three before entertaing the Yankees this coming weekend.

By the way, Scott Hatteberg stole Oriole Mike Flanagan’s line about Cy Young and Cy Old. In 1981, Flanagan described himself and Jim Palmer as the young and old Cys, and even included Steve Stone when he faltered later in his career, by calling Stone (the CY Young winner in 1980), Sayonara. So, take it easy on Hatteberg, he stole the line from Flanagan.

Click below for my thoughts on the Yankees and the A’s. [Read more →]

A’s and Yankees meet again Sunday in NY.

Some quick observations on the first two games of the series.

These two teams are the deepest teams in the AL.

If they meet in the postseason the matchups of Zito, Hudson, and Mulder versus Clemens, Wells, Pettitte, and Mussina will be outstanding.

Tim Hudson has a great sinker working right now. His ratio of ground ball outs to fly outs is almost 3:1, amazing. He pitched one of the best games of his career Saturday although he didn’t receive the win.

Keith Foulke shouldn’t have pitched the ninth inning with Johnson, Giambi, and Williams due up. All either hit lefthanded or need to be turned around to the right side, Ricardo Rincon should face the Yankees in the ninth if the lefties are coming up. The A’s let the Yankees off the mat Saturday and were fortunate to win the game.

George Steinbrenner could care less about Miguel Tejada. He wants Eric Chavez, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder. Seeing Chavez homer in the tenth only made The Boss realize Chavez is his next super star free agent in waiting.

Wait until he sees Zito Sunday.

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The baseball season is filled with plots and subplots. Should a team make a trade? Move a player in the order? Change positions on the field?

The Athletics reacted to Miguel Tejada’s slow start with a flourish Thursday, moving the reigning MVP from his coveted third spot in the batting order to fifth behind Erubiel Durazo and Eric Chavez.

By contrast Yankee Jason Giambi hitting under .200 for the season still holds his spot (third) in the NY order.

So, is it a good move to Miguel now?

Click Read More and I’ll give you my opinion [Read more →]

This seems like one of the those seasons for Arizona when whatever can go wrong, does go wrong. Not only did Curt Schilling have an unexpected appendectomy, but now Randy Johnson is gone for three to five weeks due to knee surgery.

Bob Brenly has already blown up in NY, the team isn’t hitting, and rookie after rookie pitcher is getting a shot in the majors. Not a good formula to win the pennant.

So, can starter/reliever Miguel Batista hold the fort? Byung Hyun Kim is hurt too after twisting an anke and might not make his next start. Mike Myers, lefty relief specialist gets hit hard virtually every time out, and Matt Williams has seen his best day.

Baseball tells a story every day and right now even with 135 games to go, the Arizona story is very murky.

The man in the center of the diamond controls the game. Mark Mulder showed how important the pitcher is with his second complete game in a row. Who does he think he is, Catfish Hunter? Complete games are such a rarity that it is nice to see a young pitcher finish what he starts. This type of pitching bodes well for October success.

Other than the Mariners, the West continued to thrash the rest of the league Wednesday night.

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Major league teams change partners once again this week, facing new teams across the board.

The Cubs come into SF after losing two of three to the Rockies in Colorado.

Are the Rockies for real? Once they show they can win on the road, then they will be taken seriously. Of course, if they won 67 home games, a record on the road of 24-57 would give them 91 wins and make the NL West nervous. Nah, won’t happen.

Roger Clemens pitches against Seattle, a team he has handled in the past. Mariano Rivera is due back tonight which will settle the NY bull pen which is showing some signs of wear and tear.

Joe Torre even let a lefty (Randy Choate) face A Rod with the bases loaded in a one run game Sunday and then had to watch as Rodriguez iced the Rangers win with a three run double.

Chan Ho Park, struggling with a 7 plus ERA lost his personal catcher when Texas released Chad Kreuter after Park’s Sunday debacle (nine straight balls to open the game).

Much more to talk about, Click Read more.

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Anaheim received a big boost Saturday night when Scott Shields emerged from the bull pen and gave the Angels five and one third excellent innings in his start against Boston. The scouts raved about Shields and predict he will be a winner for the Angels.

Darrin Erstad is on the DL adding to the Anaheim woes. Now, they get to face Pedro on Sunday night ESPN Baseball and can only counter with John Lackey,who makes his third

Sunday night start of the season, getting rocked in every one so far (he hasn’t had a decent start in any other game either).

Anyone notice Nick Johnson is ripping the ball for the Yankees and is easing Jason Giambi into the full time DH roll?

The rotation is set for the A’s. It’s John (almost no hit ) Halama on Thursday in Chicago then Ted Lilly, Tim Hudson, and Barry Zito against David Wells, Jeff Weaver, and Roger Clemens against the Yankees over the weekend in NY.

A’s will see Mike Mussina the next weekend in Oakland. Is this series a big moment for the A’s? Nothing can compare to opening the ALDS in NY following Sept. 11th, 2001, and most of these A’s players were on that team, so, no, I don’t think this series will fluster anyone on the team including the new manager Ken Macha.

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Mike Mussina is pitching the way he did a few years ago when he came close to throwing two perfect games. Friday night he handled the Rangers in Arlington with the skill of a surgeon.

Mussina’s knucklecurve is sharp, but his velocity is up to the mid nineties, a tremendous jump from last year. Can it last for the Yankee righty? Yes, the Yankees seem to pace their older pitchers very well during the season.

Next weekend The A’s and the Yankees meet for three games in New York. Say what you will, but I think this series will be a preview to the ALCS in October.

I’m curious to see how the A’s set the rotation for the series in NY. Barry Zito will pitch for sure, so will Tim Hudson, but who goes third? If Mulder pitches Wednesday in Chicago, then he’s out in NY. If Lilly pitches Thursday in Chicago, then he ‘s out too. I’d pitch Halama in Chicago Thursday and open with Lilly Friday against the Yankees.

I’ll figure out the Yankees possible starters tomorrow.

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Check out the transaction wire each day and figure out who is the latest major leaguer to go on the DL. Oldtimers tell me that the DL was never used as much when they played.

It does seem like the DL is overworked in today’s game.

Thursday Pedro Astacio came back form the DL which now gives the Mets a rotation of Tom Glavine, Al Leiter, Astacio, Steve Trachsel, and Jae Sao. Not half bad. Now if the Mets could just hit they might challenge in the East.

The Rangers put Ismael Valdes on the DL Thursday which is more bad news for a struggling pitching staff. Sterling Hitchcock is not being used by the Yankees very often. Hitchcock pitched well last night in relief in Anaheim, he would be a welcome addition to the Texas staff.

Kaz Sasaki finally went on the DL and the Mariners brought up Rafael Soriano to bolster their pen which now will feature Arthur Rhodes and Jeff Nelson in the closers role. Seattle plays with a grittiness which can’t be measured, but translates into more wins than one would suspect when analyzing the team.

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It felt like a John Tunis classic baseball novel being written last night in Oakland as 20 year old Jeremy Bonderman former first round pick of the Oakland A’s, seeking his first major league win, matched up against reigning Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito.

Bonderman grabbed the crowds attention by the end of the first inning when he dispatched Mark Ellis, Scott Hatteberg, and Miguel Tejada without blinking an eye.

The story continues just like Tunis’ novels did with the rookie getting stronger each inning, while the 23 game winner showed signs that it wasn’t to be his night to shine.

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Hey Mrs. Robinson, where have all the closers gone?

Seems like everytime I look at a box score whoever is trying to salt the game away in the ninth inning is having trouble.

All except John Smoltz in Atlanta, who may be an MVP if the Braves can win the East for the 12th straight time.

Eric Gagne in LA is pretty automatic, but he is the only other recognizable name doing the job.

The rest are either struggling or new guys on the block who haven’t shown they will be there in August.

Armando Benitez becomes very valuable on the trade market if the Mets decide they aren’t going to resign him. He has closed successfully for four years and even though he is off to a miserable start there is another team out there who will give him a chance and pay to do it.

No lead is safe and that is good for baseball, the games have taken on a sudden death ninth inning quality similar to overtime in football, exciting down to the last play or pitch.

More games today, click below.

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