Notwithstanding the bumps in the road, the A’s and Angels will settle the West today.

Anaheim plays in Texas beginning at 12 Noon Pacific. The A’s will face Joel Pineiro at 3:35 PM Pacific. By the time the A’s get underway, either the Mariners will be eliminated, if Anaheim beats Texas, or the A’s will be Western Division Champions, if Texas knocks off the Angels again.

The Giants have the day off and can watch the scoreboard tonight when Arizona plays Colorado in Phoenix. Randy Johnson goes to the mound to try to get his team closer to the division title.

The Dodgers staved off certain elimination by rallying for two ninth inning runs against Jose Jimenez and the Rockies last night. San Diego takes on LA with Brett Tomko facing LA’s only legitimate starter, Hideo Nomo.

If your favorite team is struggling right now heading into the playoffs is it anything to worry about?

For some yes, for others, no.

Click “Read More” and I’ll explain.

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The season is 162 games, the beauty of the game of baseball is watching how the entire season plays out. Each year we see injuries, missed opportunities, and dreams die within the last ten games of the year.

This year is no different.

The Diamondbacks are limping in to the finish line without the services of their most reliable power hitter, Luis Gonzalez who is out for the year with a separated shoulder.

Things are so bad in Arizona that Bob Brenly is bringing Curt Schilling back today to try to beat the Cardinals and ensure home field against the Cards in the first round of the playoffs.

The Angels have slumped over the past ten days. Now they need to win one more game to qualify for the playoffs.

On the other side of the coin, the Giants veteran lineup is clicking and rolling over the teams they need to beat.

Not only are the Giants going to qualify for October baseball, but a couple more Arizona losses this weekend, may give the Giants a realistic shot at the division.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if SF had to travel to Atlanta to make up the suspended game Monday to win the division, instead of the intended purpose of settling the Wild Card with the make up game in Atlanta.

Barry Zito had number 23 in the bag last night before the bull pen and the A’s defense let it get away.

What did that loss show the A’s?

Click “read more”. [Read more →]

Picking up the sports page this week I’ve noticed that it has become quite fashionable for the ink stained wretches (Ted Williams favorite term for baseball writers who ripped him) to debate the merits of choosing between Miguel Tejada (the top traditional candidate) and A Rod, the “how can we overlook the year he had on a last place team candidate” for American league MVP.

I’m waiting for the writers who line up on the side of A Rod to be consistent and start including Magglio Ordonez, Mike Sweeney, and Jim Thome in their list. These players have had fabulous seasons and while we are at it how about Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, and Eric Hinske.

See, all these players have put up outstanding numbers on teams going no where, the same place the Rangers have gone in 2002.

Nomar’s hitting .313, plays great defense, and has driven 114 runs, and if I was starting a team he would be very close to my first pick.

When was the last time a writer considered Nomar for the 2002 AL MVP award?

Point being, if you want to define the award as the best player in the league, there are a whole bunch more to consider and Miguel Tejada slips from the focus of the debate to seventh or eighth on the list of worthy candidates.

The writers who argue for A Rod are inconsistent in their presentations if they immediately pit A Rod against Tejada or Jason Giambi or Alfonso Soriano and don’t include all the fabulous players in the league in the discussion.

There is more to say, so click below and let’s continue.

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One thing you can always count on during a baseball season is the classic finish the Dodgers and the Giants stage the last week of the season.

Whether it be 1935, 1951, 1962, 1982, 1993 or 2002, these teams just won’t let the other get comfortable, if there is a breath left in their post season hopes.

The Giants lead by two games with six to play. Just let LA close this race to one game and then watch out.

San Diego comes in to Pac Bell Tuesday night, while the Dodgers play Colorado in Los Angeles.

Pitching at home against Colorado will give the Dodgers an edge since the Rockies go into a batting nose dive as soon as they leave Coors Field. San Diego has played every game as if their season was on the line.

This race isn’t over yet.

The A’s are close to clinching the West, needing three wins /or Angel losses / or any combination of the above to close the deal.

Who should start the playoffs for the A’s?

Click “read more” and I’ll tell you. [Read more →]

The playoffs are almost set. The A’s are in, the Cards clinched the Central, and the Yankees and Angels are one win away from joining the party.

I’ve written about the amazing season St. Louis has had this year. Adversity surrounded the team from day one. Pitchers were injured by the week, then the tragic untimely death of Darryl Kile, further tested the mettle of the team.

The Cards overcame it all and won the Central handily over Houston. Now, the team faces long odds against Arizona in the NLDS. With Scott Rolen, Albert Pujols, Tino Martinez, and Jim Edmonds leading the way, watch them give Arizona all they can handle.

Notice I didn’t name any pitchers. Pitching is still the name of the game and the Cards will need Woody Williams, Matt Morris, Chuck Finley and yes, Andy Benes and Jason Isringhausen, to come up big time to beat the Diamondbacks.

It’s not impossible.

The Giants did what they were supposed to do, beat the Brewers and LA struggled once more again against the Padres.

Anyone remember the A’s opening day lineup.

Click “read more” and take a deep breath as you read the names.

[Read more →]

On a bright sunny day in Oakland, Tim Hudson put in a claim to be the A’s number one starter in the playoffs when he beat the Angels 5-3, throwing 7.3 excellent innings.

The A’s used their pitching advantage in taking three of four from the Anaheim. When the starter gives Art Howe 6.6, 7.0 or 7.3 innings pitched, life in the bull pen becomes less hazardous.

Thursday, Mike Venafro and Jim Mecir were only needed for five pitches before turning matters over to the closer, who did his job for the 41st time.

The Angels are a tough hitting team, but there is no doubt that their lack of big time starting pitching will doom them in October. Once Kevin Appier threw 50 pitches in the first two innings, it was just a matter of time until the A’a broke through.

The big blow was struck against relief specialist Brendan Donnelly, who was summoned in the sixth (much earlier than normal for him) as it was obvious to the 25,000 in attendance that Appier was gassed.

The youth and endurance of the A’s starters cannot be overlooked when comparing these two teams.

It is the difference.

Livan Hernandez is a shadow of his former effectiveness, losing 6-3 to LA, keeping the Dodgers one game behind the Giants.

Hernandez’s record of 11-16 speaks for itself and tells you how his inconsistency has hurt his team all year. Now the Giants fly during the night to Milwaukee and the Dodgers take a leisurely bus ride this morning along the Pacifc Coast Highway to San Diego.

The view is better in California for LA, but the weaker team plays in Milwaukee and they are called the Brewers.

Advantage San Francisco.

Here’s how the weekend shapes up. [Read more →]

Two heavyweights squared off last night in Oakalnd with the A’s delivering the knockout blow in a six run fourth inning, erasing a 4-1 deficit.

Barry Zito couldn’t control any of his pitches during his 5.3 innings on the mound, but hung around long enough to get his 22nd win in the 7-4 victory.

Ray Durham again delivered against a lefthander, crushing a game winning three run homer off of Dennis Cook, whose major league career truly looks cooked.

Mike Scoscia could have pitched around Durham to face Scott Hatteberg, who was benched the night before for poor numbers against lefties, but chose to go after Durham who had homered off lefty Scott Schoenweiss on Monday night, getting the A’s even in a game they went on to win.

The Giants are beating up on the LA pitching staff which is so injury ridden that they are pitching people I’ve never heard of in their biggest series of the year.

Odalis Perez is the last line of defense against the Dodgers falling 3 behind with nine to play.

Livan Hernandez tries to send the Giants off to Milwaukee for a much needed weekend rest against a team playing out the string.

Today in Oakland the game has major division implications.

Here’s why. [Read more →]

The Angels have the best overall lineup in the American league from leadoff slap hitters, right through the power slots.

The A’s have many holes in their lineup which are frighteningly exposed by competent major league pitchers.

Tuesday night Jarrod Washburn was cool, methodical, and displayed pin point control, the type of control needed to beat the Yankees or some similar team in October. He was very impressive, not falling behind in the count and getting stronger as the night wore on.

Mark Mulder continued on his fabulous 2002 ride, which is equaling his 2001, 21 win season. Mulder struck out 12, didn’t walk a batter, and was in total control of the best hitting team in the league.

Great baseball, the game decided by a pitch below the hands (where he must not be pitched), to Tim Salmon which he deposited 450 feet away in left field off Billy Koch to win the 1-0 game in ten tense innings.

The Giants outlasted the Dodgers and could open a two game lead today with Russ Ortiz and Kevin Beirne matching up in LA.

For the A’s and the Angels, more of the same tonight, with Barry Zito and Mickey Callaway on the hill.

The Angels have won six straight over lefties, Barry Zito is no ordinary lefty, he’s in the class of Mulder and Washburn and that is saying something.

Click below for more. [Read more →]

The week got off to a rollicking start with the A’s following their second half blue print in a 4-3 win over Anaheim, while the Giants lost to the Dodgers after Jason Schmidt let a 3-0 lead get away.

Cory Lidle faced 26 batters, he started 17 off with strikes, he was in command after the first inning after falling behind 3-0 in the game, the deficit caused by a three run homer off the bat of Troy Glaus.

The A’s broke through against the Angels bull pen, tying the game off Scott Schoenwiess and winning in the ninth against Alan Levine.

More importantly, Brenden Donnelly, Anaheim’s best righty pitched two innings in game one. Donnelly will be needed throughout the series and the A’s were glad to get him into the first one, as he threw 23 pitches.

The Giants lost 7-6 almost tying the game in the ninth, but were denied when Marquis Grissom robbed Rich Aurilia of a home run with an over the fence snag of Aurilia’s blast to center field.

Today, both races are even and more excitement is due, let’s see. [Read more →]

Cory Lildle has been a major contributor to the A’s staff during the teams last two second half runs through the American League.

Tonight, he can solidify his playoff role with a strong game against Anaheim. The key to Lidle is throwing strikes with his fastball. If Lidle has it tonight, he will not be pitching from behind in the count, will pitch at a brisk pace, and will keep the ball in the park.

The Angels won’t disclose their starter for games two and three, but let the A’s know that John Lackey will pitch tonight. In the baseball world, not letting your opponent know the planned pitching rotation is considered bush (minor league).

The Giants need game one in LA and saved Jason Schmidt for the opener. The Dodgers losers of 7 of 9, come back with Hideo Nomo, perhaps their best pitcher.

We are finally at crunch time for these races, let’s look at the openers. [Read more →]