It’s Sunday and it’s officially summer time, a good time of year for a baseball fan.

If you are a fan of a team in the American League, you are starting to get the feel that this race will be very interesting in each division.

Peter Gammons wrote in his column yesterday his just discovered revelation that as the big three of the A’s rotation goes, so goes the Athletics.

Hey, Peter when did you drop in from outer space?

I’ve been saying the same thing for two months ever since Mark Mulder pulled up lame in April.

Plus, Peter, the AL West isn’t going away.

Peter, you better start worying about your Red Sox because all of a sudden they aren’t beating any righthanders and are getting that New England “I told you it wouldn’t last look.”

Plus there’s more, read on. [Read more →]

Sometimes the schedule breaks in your favor and that’s what is happening this weekend as the Athletics face the Cincinnati Reds in a three game series in the Queen City.

The Reds just were swept by the team the A’s and the Angels are chasing across the landscape, the Seattle Mariners.

How bad are the Reds right now, let me tell you. [Read more →]

The formula for success in baseball today requires a steady, deep, reliable bull pen.

As June fades into July, the relievers begin to wear down from overuse during the first half of the year.

I see this pattern develop every season.

The Athletics are a team in danger of falling into the abyss of having overworked relievers as are a few of the other front runners.

Click “Read More” and I’ll tell you what I see.

[Read more →]

Quick tell me who your favorite team’s five starting pitchers are because from now on (with few exceptions), you’ll be needing one of them every day until the All Star break begins July 8th.

If you are the A’s, Mariners, Angels, Giants, Dodgers, Red Sox, or the Cubs you are in decent shape to either hold your position or improve in the standings.

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

It’s Sunday and it’s also Father’s Day, another weekly chapter comes to a close in the marathon season.

Flashback.

Father’s Day 1964, in New York, fans watched Philadelphia righthander Jim Bunning pitch one of the more dramatic games in baseball history, when he threw a no hit perfect game against the New York Mets in Shea Stadium.

I’ve interviewed Bunning, his catcher Gus Triandos, and second baseman Tony Taylor about the game and what they share in their memories about the game is how cool Bunning was that day as the drama unfolded.

In 1964, the Mets were managed by Casey Stengel, at that time a team still racking up 100 losses seasons as easily as Stengel had won AL pennants just a few years earlier with the crosstown Yankees.

Bunning was one of the top pitchers in the NL, on his way to a Hall of Fame career mainly with the Tigers and Phillies.

What a magic game for the Phils that day. Phillie manager Gene Mauch thought 1964 would be their year after the perfect game made every one sit up and take notice of the his team.

But, alas after seemingly having the pennant in hand, the Phil’s blew a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play and lost the flag on the last day to the Cardinals.

But on Father’s Day Jim Bunning put the spotlight on his club and made the nation aware of the Phillies, with a game I’ll never forget.

I think about the game every Father’s Day.

So, any potential gems out there today?

Click “Read More” and find out.

[Read more →]

Nigth after night, game after game, Barry Bonds comes up with the tying runs in scoring position or with a chance to hurt the other team in a myriad of ways.

What do you do if you are the opposing manager?

Walk him, let him hit and pray he doesn’t hit one out, hope he hits the ball at somebody who isn’t sitting in the bleachers?

Here’s what I think. [Read more →]

Is there a rivalry between the A’s and the Giants?

You better believe there is.

It starts with the fact that the Giants came to the Bay Area first in 1958 staking claim to Northern California.

The Athletics have been trying to catch up ever since Charlie Finley brought the A’s west from Kansas City ten years later.

The rivalry between the two teams is alive and well and can be seen in many ways.

Click ”Read More” and I’ll tell you about the rivalry. [Read more →]

The schedule shifts to the NL parks this Friday.

Now the games take on a different look as the AL pitchers have to grab a bat.

There is no DH, plus if the pitchers knock somebody down, they may be ducking a few inside fastballs when they come up to bat.

Watch out Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, the hitters you knocked down over the years will be exhorting their pitchers to give you some well deserved payback.

Who has the edge in the weekend games?

Click “Read More” and we’ll see.

[Read more →]

The baseball season has certain markers along the way.

100 games to go has always been one for me.

The A’s wake up this morning 32-30 (100 left in the schedule), six games behind Seattle and five behind Anaheim.

The Giants have 101 games left in the season, sporting a 35-26 mark, 3 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks and 1 1/2 back of LA.

How many wins will it take over the last 100 games to get into the playoffs?

I’ll tell you.

[Read more →]

It sounds like the opening starters in the All Star Game, but instead it’s another interleague game in Fenway Park.

The Diamondbacks used their bullpen and held on to beat the Red Sox Friday night.

They aren’t going to need their relievers Saurday with Curt Schilling on the hill.

Schilling is heading towards Denny McLain (31-4 in ’68) numbers already and it’s only June 8th.

How far can he go? What about the other games Saturday? Are there other tight games ahead?

You can count on it, just follow me. [Read more →]