The Angels got a bad break when rain threatened the Boston area, causing the Red Sox to move Pedro’s start from last night to tonight, so their ace wouldn’t possibly lose a turn.

Seattle got well the last two days in Detroit, and the A’s made Cleveland look like a AAA team for four days.

The Expos come into Pac Bell with one of the hottest pitchers in the league after the Mets Bobby Valentine was lucky to leave SF with his job.

The Dodgers face the Braves and then the Diamondbacks in their next two series, meaning this would be a good time to wake up the Giants bats against Montreal.

What a weekend to follow. [Read more →]

The Angels showed how tough they can be winning a very important game in hostile Yankee Stadium Wednesday. The rare mid week day game had the feel and look of a post season game as the teams were tied 1-1 heading into the 11th inning.

Scott Spiezio who Tuesday rang the bell to start the NY Stock Exchange, and drove back to the hotel Tuesday night in a police van, had more fun when he couldn’t lay down a bunt in the 11th and hit a game winning two run homer off Jeff Weaver instead.

Cory Lidle continued his impersonation of Cy Young in Cleveland, while Ismael Valdes celebrated his birthday winning in his Mariners debut in Detroit.

The Giants don’t want the Mets to leave town and the Dodgers avoided a tough loss in LA.

Today, the teams are back for more.

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If you look at the standings every day as most baseball fans do, there is only one division in each league where the top three teams will be vying for playoffs spots, whether they be wild cards or division winners and it’s the West.

The Mets played like the ’62 Mets in Pac Bell Tuesday night, running themselves out of an inning, botching a throw from right field to the pitchers mound which allowed Barry Bonds to score when he had no intention of doing so, and seeing their first six batters of the game strike out.

The Tigers continue to close the deal when they have the lead after seven innings and Aaron Sele’s arm hurt after losing once again in NY.

Today should be even better. [Read more →]

The AL West is living up to its billing as the best division in baseball as three teams are virtually playing .600 baseball.

Location, location, location, the mantra of the real estate industry applies to the west tonight. The Angels play in NY against the Rivera-less Yankes, the A’s play the friendly Indians, and the Mariners face the suddenly “win at home” Tigers in Detroit.

The Cardinals take another get well pill at home versus the Pirates and the Dodgers return to LA to face the troublesome Marlins.

Pretty good for Tuesday.

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All the owners have to do to avert any potential work stoppage is say to the players, the public, and all the teary eyed fans, “We won’t declare an impasse in the negotiations and implement our rules over the winter.”

It is so simple that it is ridiculous that not one writer, columnist or any other type of journalist has asked the owners for their response to this suggestion. Bargain in good faith, don’t threaten the players with the dreaded impasse, and life can move forward with a dramatic conclusion to the 2002 season.

What does the public expect the players to do? Sit back and let the owners declare the impasse and then lock them out if they don’t want to play by the new owner friendly rules.

So, let’s assume someone will read this suggestion and pass it on to the moguls who are terribly scorned by the players action Friday.

Meanwhile, the A’s continue their pursuit of Anaheim, the Giants are crying about their woes on the road, and the Red Sox are in danger of more losses this weekend in Minnesota.

Read on. [Read more →]

Funny, but all year I’ve been trying to block out Bud Selig’s words that I heard in spring training during one of his spin stops in Phoenix. Selig clearly said that the owners had given in to the players for thirty years and now during this latest labor fracas they must take a stand no matter what the result (painful was the term he used to describe the result of their decision) or the game would be in deep trouble.

The owners have no desire to negotiate in good faith with the players. I am convinced of that. The owners have drawn a line in the sand and will not cross it.

The players have no choice but to set a strike date and walk out. If they don’t the owners will scrap all the current rules over the winter and implement Selig’s plans.

The only leverage the players have is to inflict some economic havoc on the owners at this time. If Don Fehr didn’t suggest this move his union would be a sitting duck for what the owners have in mind.

Unfortunately, that is the truth.

So, what else is new. There still is some baseball being played which I would prefer to talk about. Let’s do that. [Read more →]

Funny how people can view the same thing and come up with different interpretations.

In the Bay Area, the Giants fans are talking and acting like they are in a pennant race, which they are, and the A’s who are in a pennant race, haven’t captured the fancy of the fans or the media.

Oh, I know that every game counts and the A’s come to play, it just hasn’t hit the fans or the media that this team is for real and with its experience should be the team to beat down the stretch instead of the least respected of the contenders.

The Giants on the other hand, are 1/2 game out of the wild card lead and fighting tooth and nail to stay there. They even considered demoting or trading their alleged number one starter Livan Hernandez, that is until he pitched a gem in a 1-0 loss last night to Atlanta.

Why the difference in perception?

click “read more.” [Read more →]

The A’s get a chance to close serious ground on the Red Sox this weekend when they host the White Sox while Boston concludes a week against Seattle and Minnesota.

Oakland continues its good fortune as they may miss Sox hurler Mark Buehrle in Oakland (turns out they will face the 15 game winner Friday night). The A’s have recently avoided Pedro in Boston, Clemens, El Duque( one inning) and Pettitte in New York and Roy Halliday with Toronto.

How good is the Oakland pitching? Here’s what I think. [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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