Men of Steel!

Road Trip Baby!  My eight year old and I are venturing out man style!  Tonight it is the River Cat game in Sac, followed by Fireworks of course!  Tomorrow, we are in Oaktown, catching the Cardinals--a World Series Preview perhaps?  Then tomorrow night, we are in San Jose to catch the A's Single A team the Stockton Ports take on the Giants Single A team.  More fireworks of course!  Lots of slurpies and good times on the road.  Heat is supposed to reach 110 here is CenCal, so I can only hope in NorCal it will be a little cooler!

Aces, CenCal Love, and Moneyball II

From the Get Down Lounge...Aces Style.

On Wednesday in Oakland it was A.J. Griffin of the Swinging A's two-hitting the Big Red Machine 5-0.  Griffin looked like an ace the way he kept the Reds off balance.  The first hit was a bloop single to center that could have been hauled in by struggling center fielder Chris Young.  Third Basemen Josh Donaldson went yard for the second day in a row, and despite the plethora of talent at the hot corner in the AL, he is forcing himself on the the team with his team high 51 RBI's and a .379 average with runners in scoring position.

With a home record of 24-12, the A's have the best winning percentage of any AL team.  Which then stirred the wheels in my brain.  First they need to secure the best record in the AL, then "simply" win out all home games in the postseason.  Simple formula for getting back to the Big Dance.

With the trade deadline around the corner, I was looking around to find some names of players that might be available.  If the A's can add one bat, another arm in the pen, and maybe some help at shortstop, man I think they would be as good as anyone.  I would still love to see them bring in a true ace, but I just don't think it is going to happen.  So let's throw a little mud on the wall and see what sticks.  Remember former Athletics Killer and Ranger Michael Young?  He is riding the pine with the Phillies, and he would seem like a great guy to have on the bench versus a tough lefty late in a game.  The big  issues with him, the $13 Million big ones he makes.  Jesse Crain of the White Sox is a reliever to be rumored available.  Crain has had a very good career with the Twins and now White Sox.  An athletic shortstop might be on the radar, but the demand for those guys is pretty high.  Another White Alexei Ramirez's name has been floating around. Some big names may be on the move like the Cub's Matt Garza (a CenCal guy), perhaps Andre Eithier of the Dodgers.  The Big Names are pitchers Cliff Lee and the Marlin's Ricky Norasco.  The Catching position in another spot the A's made look to upgrade.  However on Wednesday, the A's recalled CenCal native Stephen Vogt.  (Vogt went to high school at Central Valley Christian in Visalia.)  Vogt brought home his first MLB rbi with a sac fly on Wednesday.  Nice story as he as been referred to as a quality guy, in the same vein as Mark Ellis.  Follow the bouncing ball with me, as Ellis is my wife's current favorite MLB player.

Speaking of the spouse, she gets all the credit for this moving idea.  She proposed that Moneyball II begin with the flood of sewage in the O.CO's locker rooms.  Classic.  She even implied maybe that Lew Wolf had something to do with pipes issue.  Classic cinema indeed!  What I have found very interesting the past week is the silence in the media over the San Jose lawsuit, and even the Biogenesis case in Florida.  The lack of media attention is, well, a real mystery.  Well Mr. Selig not only is dealing with a curve, he also just had a high hard one graze his chin.  Interesting times in the MLB, interesting times!

On Deck:  Well the A's host the Cardinals this weekend in what could indeed be a World Series Preview.  It's like Moneyball vs. Jennifer Anniston.  (One of the spouse's favorite shows is "Friends" so I have been taking in some of the old reruns.  Great TV.  I have just gotta say, Anniston, perfect.)  What a contrast in the teams yards.  This series might give the A's some national attention as well.  Smile Bud, Colon is going for win number 11 on Friday Night.  Don't forget, Saturday is Coco "Bernie-Lean" Bobble head day.

On Deck Deuce:  Get out the whites it's Wimbledon time.  Although Maria Sharapova has essentially digged me for quite a while now, I have to raise a glass of my best Fonseca Port to Portugal's own Michelle Brito.  Brito to was one of the many surprises at Wimbledon thus far, but her Portuguese heritage makes it oh so special.  So remember, 4th of July is Fireworks and Wimbledon!

Triple Play:   Taking in the River Cats Friday Night, A's game on Saturday, and then the Ports.  That is a Green and Gold Triple Play!

To King James, the Hunted, Bartolo "Jaba the Hut" Colon, and a splash of Cool.

Fresh off a night when my 10 year-old daughter was in a mini production of Annie, I am good to go.  The production was absolutely tremendous and uplifting!  Speaking of uplifting, it was nice to see the Cuban Missle Mr. Yo Yo Cespedes go yard twice last night in Seattle.  Yo Yo has been scuffling a bit, and may have been irritated by a nagging hammy.  Man oh man, although at times he can look soooo bad, man can he be veryyyyy good.

The A's needed a win after dropping 3 of four in Texas.  The game on Thursday a killer after as the game ended on a bang bang play at home plate.  The A's left about a guzillion runners on base, and John Jaso missed a go-ahead home run in the eight by just about 3.75 inches.  The lost was one of those 2 game swing types.  Instead of leaving Texas 3 games up, the lead had been shrunk to just one.  I didn't sleep much Thursday night.

Now the question remains to be seen how well the A's do from the lead.  Remember, last year they never lead the division until the final out of the season was made. A lot more pressure on top, when everyone is gunning at you.  In this case, it is Texas, and I hope the rivalry between these two teams heats up a little bit.  Texas still has a very potent lineup, and they are so difficult to beat in Arlington.  It could be another great race.  The Angels of So Cal are still lurking out there, sort of flailing, but lurking!  The trade deadline will be of particular importance to the AL West.  The Rangers could use a starter, the Angels two, and the A's, well, their needs are more subtle.  The A's need one more bat, preferably a player who also has a little speed.  The are a little weak at short defensively, Lowrie can hit, but man, is he the anti-burner.  Add one more power arm in the pen, and the A's just might have the juice to produce a parade in Oakland November 1!

Back to playing from the front, I have noticed in the Golf Majors,  there is way more pressure being ahead to start the last round.  You hit last, you have to wait at the tee a lot more, and that sure can way on a persons mind.  I am not exactly spot on regarding the connection to baseball, but I know it is in there somewhere!

Speaking of playing in front, how about the Spurs being up in Game 6 with less than 30 seconds to go.  In my humble opinion, being up by just a few points late is treacherous.  In fact, I would say finishing off a game like that in hoops, one of the most difficult things to do.  The team behind has a chance, they know, and they are battling like crazy.  That game 6 was epic.  The fourth quarter tremendous.  The Spurs were up to start the quarter, the LeBron just went off!  I have never witnessed a player so dominant on both ends.  Then with just over a minute to go Bron Bron makes a key turnover and Tony Parker delivers an "Are You Kidding Me."  Then comes the defining moment of the series.  Up 4 Manu hits a one of two from the line.  (No threes, no threes.)  What happens, of course, is an offensive rebound, kick to the King and now it is a 2 point lead.  Tony Leonard gets fouled, by new favorite player, and what happens Kawhi Leonard goes, gulp, 1 for 2 from the line.  I have a belief in the game of basketball, if a team makes 75% from the free low line, it won't come back to hurt them.  Anything less--and heartbreak is just around the corner.  For the Spurs it was, after another offensive rebound, Ray Allen hits the clutch 3 of all 3's.  My only thought there was, if you are guarding Ray Allen, he DOES CATCH the ball.  There was a breakdown.  The bottom line is when the game was on the line, the Heat made the BIG shots.  The Spurs, well, 75%, 75%.  The fourth quarters of game 6 and game 7 simply fantastic.  Bron Bron proved he is one of the greats of all time.

Finally, the NHL Finals are locked up 2-2.  Compelling between the Bulls and Celtics.  Just Kidding.  One team wears red and the other, well, I am not really sure, but black, white, and gold I think? (Don't the Pittsburgh Penguins have the same color?  Weird.  Cool schemes, but a little funky to be exactly the same?)  Bruins right winger Jaromir Jagr one of my all-time favorite celebrities, I love that name.  I wonder the names of the rest of his family? With a last name of Jagr, you just ooze with coolness.  Toughness and coolness, JJ is a charter member of the Get Down Lounge!

    

Sue-age leads to San Jose

I hate to say it, but I called this one--finally, finally, there is some movement in the A's stadium situation.  The crap has finally hit the fan--or in this case, perhaps the road. The city of San Jose has filed a lawsuit against the MLB.  Now things get real interesting.  Is there a deal in place?  The Giants have been quiet so far today, which in itself is news.  Were they surprised?  Is their legal team meeting as we speak?  Oh Nelly, this is good drama!

What I was able to glean from the web today, is that the so called legal experts and one bitter Gigos fan in Sacramento are stating that the A's don't have a Raider's fans waste of winning the case. Depending on the source, MLB was awarded antitrust status back in 1922 (or 1916).  Initially, what sticks out is the ruling was      indeed in 1922!  More that a few things have changed in our country's grand old landscape the last century,  and this ruling would seem to be a bit archaic.  Some cites are reporting that there may be a loop hole, where the MLB constitution expired in 2012.  At the root of the problem is the so-called Territorial Rights.  The San Jose area was once belonged to the A's, but back in the early the 90's, former A's owner Walter Haas traded territories so the Giants could build a stadium--in you guessed it the San Jose/Santa Clara area.  Haas believed it was the best interest if baseball for the Gigos to stay in the Bay.  (Novel idea huh Gigos?)  Of course there was an alleged agreement in place for the Giants to be sold to a group in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, but, that seems like ancient now.  Good Drama.  I envision very good theater about to unfold.

In a way, it is a bit sad that this seems to finally be the beginning of the end for Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Sewage in the locker rooms, really, in the show?  Say it ain't so Joe, but it just isn't happening.  I would love to see the O.Co somehow renevated for the Raiders and football, but I just don't see the construction cranes moving in any time soon.  This sure smells like the Silver and Black will end up in So Cal.  This makes me a little sad--man it sucks growing old!  The O.Co needs a Hail Mary, the A's and Raiders, need new homes to play.

In case you missed, what a finish in the NBA Finals, Game  6.  Wow, just a crazy ending.  In the end, it sure seems uncanny how more often than not, the results from the line are the difference.  In the final 20 seconds of regulation the Spurs went 2 for 4 from the line.  Three for 4, and the Spurs would have reached some very, rare air.  In fact, I heard a fact today, if the Spurs win, the Manu-Duncan-Parker trio will be the first
group of 3 NBA players, to win 4 titles, not with the Lakers or Celtics.  Stay tooned for Game 7!

Oh Crap!

So, in my house "crap" is considered a bad word.  Yes it is true, I am not administration where I live. With the news yesterday that O.DotCo/Oakland Alameda Coliseum has a sewer problem.  Really  Some reports say a foot deep? Yucky.  Uugh. Tell me again why one business in San Francisco, can tell another city, San Jose, they can or cannot operate shop?  The time has come for MLB to get off the pot, and make the move possible.  Of course, I guess that is one way to get home field advantage.

Is interesting to note, the A's drew just over 28,000 for the last 6 home games.  Yes they played the Yankees, but they also played the Mariners. Attendance is up, and so is interest in the Green and Gold, now all they have to do is "go the distance."

One thing I have noticed on games that have fireworks after.  Like clockwork you can count on the wave emerging.  Usually the timing is horrible, but hey if it keeps the youngsters involved, why not? All the A's need to do is hit a home run during a wave, and the place will explode!

The U.S. Open really was a battle of attrition.  Justin Rose was the lone survivor, even thought he lipped a 3-footer on Sunday that I thought at the time may do him in.  Phil was runner-up again, and you just have got to think eventually his Father's Day will come.  I guess in life, you just never no.

A's lose a crazy one tonight, 8-7 to the Rangers.  I still believe they are carrying one too many pitchers and need to add another roster player.   In these tight games, where lots of pitchers are used, the lack of chess pieces really hampers BoMel.  Oh well, not many people called the A's 2 up the day after Father's Day!

Father's Day 2013

In honor of Father's Day, I ask this question, why not treat Father's Day like the Super Bowl, and make the occasion Father's Day week?  Start with the Belmont in New York, and finish with the US Open.  The rest of the week filled with dotted with sporting events and new television or golf club purchases.  Imagine a week that included a trip to the NBA Finals and the NHL finals.  Now that is what I am talking about.  Why not Dream Big!

I don't have too many stories of my father, but I do have to give him props for this back-to-back road trip in December 1980.  On December 6, we attended the greatest rivalry game in all of sport, Notre Dame versus USC.  The game was horrible as ND only gained one first down the first half.  USC dominated that day.  I don't remember much, except that ND QB Blair Kiel, didn't seem to throw well, but he sure could punt it!  I also remember there are some seats that are a longgggggggggg way from the playing field in the LA Coliseum.  Oh well, still nothing like the Golden Helmets coming out of a tunnel.  Attending another SC ND tilt has worked it's way on to my Bucket List.  If I had my way they would be wearing those spectacular Irish Green Jerseys, like they flashed in the 1977 game.  Anyone else remember the game in '78?  I do, like it was yesterday.  Now let's set the stage, in '74 was the classic Anthony Davis game where SC scored like a 1000 second half points to overcome a 21-6 Irish halftime lead.  That game in 1975 one of my first real sleepless nights as a sports fan as I recall.  So in '77, I am pretty revved up for  the SC ND game.  The Irish have the comeback kid as their QB, a fellow by the name of Joe Montana.  So just before kickoff, their is this Big Wooden Horse behind the goal post, in the tunnel.  I didn't get it.  I was not then familiar with the whole Trojan Horse bit of Greek Mythology.  Then, as if Lucky Charm himself had blessed my eyes, out from the horse came the Irish in those beautiful Green Jerseys.  The absolute best.  The Irish rolled that day, but what I remember most is the way they busted out in those killer cool jerseys.  Well that game in December of 1980, not exactly a game for the ages.

On to Sunday December 7.  Can you guess where I was?  That's right, the O.Co Oakland County Coliseum.  It was one of the few times, perhaps the only time, Tom Landry brought his iconic self and then America's team to Oakland during the regular season.  Funny Wikipedia said the Boys won 19-13, but I honestly can't remember the outcome.  What I do remember is Dallas wore those really cool kind of Navy Blue jerseys.  If I recall, they were later burnt at the stake for consisting of evil Kharma, but only real Cowboy fans would know that one.  Also I remember that Danny White was the QB at the time, and that just like Kiel of the Irish, he too was his team's punter.  Cool road trip Pops, cool road trip.  Lots of QB punting however!  Too this day, my favorite cheerleaders, the USC Song Girls and those Raiderettes.  Before you start slinging mud, let me tell you, White Go Go Boots, at the top of my list when it comes to ladies apparel!  Didn't see that coming did you?

So fast forward to last night, Friday June 14, celebrating Dad's weekend with my son.  Now the boy, who clearly takes after his mom, is a cross between Ray Romano and the character Sheldon of Big Bang Theory.
I kid you not!  Well, the game is actually kind of snoozer as the A's still look weary from their 18 inning affair with the Bronx Bombers the night before.  However after a Churro in the 7th inning, the boy starts getting down.  You know, Kool and the Gang style, getting down!  As he is busting his moves, sure enough, up on Jumbo Tron he goes.  Yes indeed just another proud parental moment.  He had drank a ton of root beer by the way.  By the way, for your entertainment dollar, the A's put on a great Fireworks Show, my son absolutely loves them! I was just ever so grateful that finally after all of those trips to the East Bay, my son had developed enough soul to overcome his years of brain washing by his George Straight loving mother!

So it would great if Phil won the open, after being the model and Dad and all.  But I have got to tell you, with some zeal, that if my pops were playing in the US Open, shoot my Mom, anyone in my circle--and they came too my 8th grade graduation instead of getting ready to win the Open, man I would be irked.  Fly me and my pals to heckle Tiger, but man, don't come to my 8th grade graduation!  By the way, I attended the first day of the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco last year, and can I just say, it was one of the most glorious days of my adult life.  Don't be hating because Go Go boots and the son have soul now!

Happy Father's Day Everybody!

A quick slant from the Monday (Not Exactly Morning!) QB!

Well, since the A's have the day off, for the first time 18 days, we will make this section brief.  A big series coming up with the Yankees, with the Rangers on the horizon next week.  In between the A's will host the Mariners, and they won't catch any breaks as they will face both the King and Seattle other pitching gem, Hisashi Iwakuma.  Iwakuma was 6-1, with a sub 2.00 ERA heading into tonight's game with Houston.  At this point, the only move I would like to see the good guys in green and gold make is to let go of a reliever, and bring up a position player.  Currently their roster consists of 7 relievers, and two of them could easily be contracted into one.  Bringing up another position player would give BoMel some late-inning flexibility and it would be beneficial to give Josh Donaldson and Jed Lowrie a break now then.  Both of these infielders have been stellar at the plate, keeping them fresh would just helps to keep them rolling once the dog days arrive.l

If you like fireworks, this Friday June 15, after the game against Seattle, it is boom boom tiime.  My kids always enjoy the show at the O.Co--of course, by the time the Fireworks start going off, they are on sugar overload, but oh well, that's how we roll!

In honor of father's day, I had another warm fuzzy parenting moment, this time from 10 year old daughter, who is essentially a cross between, Lucy of the Peanuts gang, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, with maybe a bit of Shirley Temple thrown in their for good measure.  So, this past weekend, sure enough she was at 6 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday watching the French Open Finals!  I was so proud.  I had to tell her that Maria S. has a bit of a "thing" for the her father.   Sunday we watched Raffy do his thing. Again.  Then, to top it off, for the the first time, she actually sat down and watched a Triple Crown Race.  I get teary eyed just thinking about it!  She actually picked the New York Horse Unlimited Budget.  Just like her father, she seems to have the knack for picking a horse who lags behind. Oh well.  I can only hope next year she will actually want to sing my Old Kentucky Home in May!  Serena Williams is such a stud--man I would love to have seen her play Martina in her day.  That would have been two ladies slugging it out, Bash Sisters Style!

Flipping the remote:

*I still think the Spurs and Heat are going 7.  The 2-3-2 format actually hurts the Spurs in my opinion.

*Chicago vs. Boston in Lord Stanley's Final.  This is all I can muster--Boston was literally on the canvas in the first round, training Toronto 4-1 in the Final period before pulling off the Boston Miracle.  Is there something about Boston teams making the most memorable comebacks?  There was Bird stealing the win from the Pistons;  the Red Sox down 3-0 to the Bombers in the playoffs, and who can forget Brady and the  Tuck.  Give those Bostonians life, and they will break hearts! I almost forgot Doug Flutie pulling off the Hail Mary against Bernie Kosar and Miam U.  If any city needs a  championship, I think you would agree it's Boston.  Yes, it would also be nice if Oklahoma U. won the National Championship in College Football!  Oklahoma and Boston, peace to all of you.

On Deck:    Father's Day Baby!  Big Screens and Victoria Secret of course!  No vegetable on the plate, only ribs, chicken, and steak!  Hot wings as an appetizer of course.

Good guys on a roll! Lots of Good Channel Flipping and to all of you, a heart felt Abrigado!

Rolling!

Seventeen out of 20, that's rolling!  It has been a great stretch for the A's, and one item has literally jumped out at me.  When a team is cruising in a good stretch, like the A's are currently, it sure seems like opponents long bombs fall ever so harmlessly on the warning track.  Last night (6/6) in Chicago it was Adam Dunn's possible game winning/heart breaking blast fall softly in the Cespedes glove.  Five more feet, and I am not sleeping last night.  I also seem to recall on Memorial Day in Oaktown, Hunter Pence had two drives die on the track.  Apparently the call of last nights final by Hawk Harrelson was a classic.  If you have never heard the Hawk he can be entertaining, "He Gone" is a standard Hawk line after a strikeout.  It might be worth googling his call last night.  Many of the White Sox games are televised on cable.

Cespedes has heated up recently with 2 two homer games.  I predict if Cespedes has 16 HR's by July, he will be in the All Star Game.  Cespy has heated up at same time fellow Cuban, Dodger Yasiel Puig has arrived on the scene.  We saw Puig in Spring Training, and he looked very impressive.  He has off to a great start and will be a mega glam rock star in L.A. if he keeps it going. If Pug on the scene lights a little fire under Cespy, then light the Puig!

The MLB draft is under way.  I find it interesting that the A's drafted 3 hitters/position players with their first three picks.  The A's have always done well developing pitchers, but hitters, not so much.  (Sounds like another Bay Area team too!).  The Angels are drafting anyone with an arm and a pulse.  The MLB network does a really good job of covering all the teams, and their draft coverage online has been pretty good.  I can only imagine the thrill of being drafted, and the pride of hearing your own son have his name called.  Congrats to the draftees, and to all the mom's and dad's, a toast to you as well!   (If you would like to read up on the River Cats, there is great article in Athletics Nation today on position players who could possibly help the Green and Gold.  There is also another website, A's Farm, that does a great job of updating the progress of the A's minor leaguers.)

So this Miami anti-again clinic fiasco is being handled pretty weird?  Is this new news or is it old news?  Is this just Uncle Bud still being bitter about his own boy Ben Braun and the Fed Ex Pee Fiasco?  Why would MLB throw it's own people under the bus?  What exactly are the facts?  For example with Bartolo "Jaba The Hut" Colon, or Milky Cabrera, is this new news or old news?  Just weird.  I can't imagine the player's union is too happy with how this whole situation has played out.  Interesting I say, very interesting.

Remember how I mentioned the Nats may have offended the Baseball Gods--wow, now Bryce Harper goes down.  Man oh man the Nats need to get involved with paying something forward, and in a hurry!

Flipping around the Dial

*I am not sure if Nadal and Djokovich are the best tennis players ever, but man can they cover some ground. The are incredulous athletes.  In my book, they are #1 and 1B. Fed is still my man though.
*The Women's final in France should be dubbed the High Maintenance Final:  Maria vs. Serena.  Oh Nellie will there be some emotion on the court tomorrow (Saturday, June 8).  Oh there will be style and power too, but oohh la la the drama!
*Is Bron Bron feeling the heat?  Why aren't any of the Heat players ever smiling?  This could be a great series.  Those of you who know me, know I am old school, so I am pulling for the Spurs.  However, it is really hard not to like Bron Bron, the dude is just awesome! I just a have a feeling this series is going 7 games.
*The NHL.  There just simply has to be a few tricks out there to make watching the games a little more interesting?  I have tried to get into it, for my man Tim Cannata's and my favorite sister's sake, but ish is it tough.  What about some cameras on the players?  Or the Sticks?  I do like the lighted pucks.  How about some entertainment during the intermissions? Maybe each team's cheerleaders having a shootout? Demolition Zamboni perhaps?  There has just got to be something--oh I have ideas for Soccer too, but I will save those for the World Cup, naturally!
*Orb vs Oxbow tomorrow in the Belmont.  I am saying another horse from the field pulls the upset.  I sure would like to see another Triple Crown winner in my lifetime.  Man, would I love to be there--anyone want to buy a horse?
*Parents, tired of watching TV, the movie Epic a surprisingly entertaining family movie.  Iron Man 3 absolutely rocks !

A Tip of the Cap, A Toast of the Glass to All of You!

Finally, I want to thank all of you from the depths of may pancreas for taking a look at this website.  It is definitely a work in process, and ideally, soon you will see some improvements.  In the near future, we will have our first SOB, State of the Blog of course, to provide details regarding our future.  For now, I the plan is to write twice a week, once on Friday's, and once on Monday.  Maybe just maybe once in a while there will  be more, but this seems like a good place to start.  Remember, we are still in our infancy.  Take Care!

Even though I am a little old school, we recently just purchased a Samsung Chromebook.  Cutting edge baby!  So far, for the dough, we like it.  Not sure if their is a commercial or advertisement in there, but I am just saying, Google I am here for you!  Be well all!

Monday Morning from the Cheap Seats, June 2. The 33% pole, and French anyone?

June 2, 2013

A little French this morning?

Well, in honor of the French Open I got myself and  my poor vision up at just after 2 a.m. PST to watch a little open French Tennis.  Something just kind cool about those orangish clay courts.  I saw a couple of high ranked Eastern European ladies take care of business, Russian Maria Kirilenko and Victoria "The Grunter" Azarenka of Belerus.  Listening to the interesting commentary Pam Shriver and Chris Evert made me think--I wouldn't mind sitting in a booth with Bud Collins,  Dick "Oh My" Enberg, and my favorite tennis gal, Lindsay Davenport.  Guest appearances by  John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters would all be grand, except I would be pretty nervous will all of them for various reasons! Of course I would also want to meet and greet with my man the Fed. Years, and I do mean years ago, when I worked for the Sacramento Capitals, Davenport made quite a positive impression on me.  Davenport was a competitor, could mash, and also frequently interacted with the crowd flashing some humor and personality. As I am writing Sharapova and young American phenom Sloan Stephens are battling it out to make the Final 8 on the women's side.

The .333 pole.

With just about 1/3 of the season gone in the MLB, things look kind of interesting.  If the playoffs started today, in the AL it would be Boston, Detroit, Texas, with Oakland and the Orioles as the Wild Cards.  In the NL, it would be the Braves, Cardinals, and DBacks, with the Reds and Pirates as the Wild Card.

AL WEST:  The A's are on a bit of roll, taking 14 out of the last 16.  Josh Donaldson has been mentioned lately as a possible all-star candidate, but I believe three others should be in the conversation as well:  Jed Lowrie, Grant Balfour, and Sean Doolittle.  Lowry can hit, with a slash line of .314 batting average, .392 on base percentage, and .441 slugging.  His OPS, which is batting + slugging sits at .833.  Balfour has 13 saves with a 1.48 ERA, and WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of 1.15.  Doolittle has been untouchable until this last week, still he maintains a WHIP of .75, and has fanned 24 batters in 25 innings.  Texas is off do a great start, with Yu Darvish looking like an Elite arm.  We will just see if last summer's Texas two step into second place is lingering in the back of their minds.  The Angels, man I just can't figure these guys out.  The Astros just took 3 in a row from the Halos, in Anaheim! Oh well.  I just hope Arte Moreno, the Angels owner never picks up a copy of Moneyball!

AL CENTRAL:  Cleveland is a great story, but I see the Tigers just sitting there waiting to pounce.  If  these Tigers acquire any good relief pitching at the trade deadline, then the AL banner will once again go through the Motor City. 

AL EAST:  The beast.  The Rays and Yankees each have 31 wins and are sitting tied for third.  The Red Sox have the touch middle of the order with Dustin Pedroia, Big Poppy, and Mike Napoli.  Pedroia and Napoli literally have no strike zone, and how in the world do you pitch to Poppy?  The Yankees were supposed to be banged up, but they just kept on rolling.  I fear the trading dealing, when the all these teams plus the Orioles start looking for arms.  Hopefully there will be a trade embargo put on the AL EAST and the Tigers.

NL WEST:    Oooh, very interesting little division.  The World Champs are "scuffling" to coin a Zitoian phrase, the Dbacks and Rockies are scrapping, and even the Padres of Petco are hanging around at 6 back. "Oh My" how about them Padres, and Mr. Enberg even calls their TV games!  Did I mention the "Can't buy me Love" Dodgers?  I don't know for sure but I am thinking the baseball gods don't like an association guy, that is the National Basketball Association, "Showtiming" around in the MLB.  Hey don't blame me Dodger fans, Mark Ellis photo is up on my wall.  You heard it here first, Tony LaRussa will be the next manager of the Dodgers.

NL CENTRAL:  The Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates are sitting less than 3 games apart.  The Cardinals have been on fire, and nipping at their heals are the Pete Rose's and Willie Stargell's.  The MLB network does a pretty good job of showing all of the teams, and it sure looks like those 3 teams have great parks!  Any one with a an "Ame" is pulling for the Pirates.

NL EAST:  The chop don't stop.  The Braves just keep on keeping on.  The added  the uptown Uptown brothers and things just keep rolling in Coca Cola City.  I am thinking the baseball gods were not happy with the way the Nats handled ace Stephen Strasburg last year, in particualar the way they shut him down at the end of the seaon.  Ponder this one for a minute, the Nats lose a heart breaker--an epicheart breakers-- to the Cards in Game 7 of the LDS last year, and now they are floundering.  Some have said the Nats were a little arrogant in holding him the big righty out of the postseason last year.  The Giants loved it, the baseball gods, well, I just hope for Washington DC residents that RG3 gets healthy!

Roadtrips of the future:   The trip to Milwaukee and Chitown would be fun!  Beer, Bratz, and Deep Dish!

Tonight, June 3:  Can Bron Bron and the Heat make it to San Antonio?

On Deck:    Lots of great drama to be written in the Sports World this week, with the Stanley Cup playoffs, the MLB Draft, the French Open, and even the Belmont on Saturday.  If you were thinking about updating Dad's TV to a more Man Cave friendly size, 55 inches or more, than now is the time!

Here is a noteworthy "Grey" tidbit worth reading.  There is a story in SB Nation that Colin Kaepernick, the beloved 49er QB, was on Al Davis' radar before the 2011 NFL Draft.  Raider radar, hee hee.