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!
No comments:
Post a Comment