Wow have things changes in a hurry! The A's were on a Fox National Broadcast, and wouldn't you know, the day was perfect. The weather was beautiful, the attendance was 32,000 plus; the A's were sporting classic 1969 jerseys, and they even managed a come-from-behind win. The A's would take a 2-1 lead in the 7th on a pinch hit homer by Derek Norris. For DeNo it was his first pinch hit of the season. DeNo has had some big hits before, his most memorable being the walk off homer last year against the Giants in Oakland. Ironically, it was the 4th consecutive game when an A's catcher has homered. With Texas scuffling (that great Barry Zito originated verb), the A's now lead the West by 5 games. Who would have guessed with Cespedes hitting .220, and Reddick .219 that your Oakland A's would be 18 games above .500? Wow. Not many Angels fans, that's for sure! If the A's can take care of the Halos this afternoon, and then have the Angels turn around and take care of the Rangers next week, this pie eating team can really take control of the division. The A's are winning games at over at .700 clip since last June (124-72 per EPSN Buster Olney). These guys really are the Amazing A's!
Looking ahead, I would still love to see the A's acquire Jake Peavy. I would also like to see them make a run at White Sox Shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Current shortstop Bret Lowrie can hit, but he does not cover a lot of ground up the middle. Ramirez would be a great addition, and he would play two more years until A's top prospect Addison Russell is ready. I would still love to see Brian Wilson in the A's pen. Along those lines, with Brett Anderson expected to return in late August, here is a pen I would love to see: Balfour, Cook, Doolittle, Anderson, and Wilson. That is a pen that can win in the postseason! In fact they make their own little Fab 5. So along with Peavy, Ramirez, and Wilson, I would still like to see another bat in Oakland. In Sacramento, A's #2 farmhand Michael Choice has been on a tear recently. He could possibly provide the bat that sends them to the top! Speaking of Balfour, I would love to see the A's sign him to sore sort of contract extension. It would be great for A's Nation to know, the zany Australian will be back in 2014 and perhaps beyond!
Flipping the remote, with a a big bag of popcorn please:
*I have to say, I don't remember the A's sporting jerseys like they did yesterday. I was born in 1966 and and my earliest memory is of Reggie's blast in the '71 All Star game that hit the lights in Detroit. I remember because I couldn't see the ball! It seemed to me they wore the same type of jersey as yesterday, but with more green, Kelly green. My middle name is Kelly by the way, maybe there is a connection somehow?
*I don't usually feel for the Kill-Joy Giants, friend or foe. Oh man, however, were their losses the last two nights painful. Now I would call the last two nights real "torture." Last night the Giants had the bases loaded in the 8th, with Posey, Panda, and Pence up, and did not score. Then in the 9th, bases loaded and one out, and sure enough they hit into a double play to end the game. The Cubs scored their only run on a homer hit by a former Giant. Ouch, Ouch, and triple ouch. On Friday, Brandon Belt has a ball scoot threw his legs--with two on and two out in the ninth--that lead to a 3-2 win. Now, I would like to write something like, see, if the Giants would just pay it forward and let the A's move to San Jose, but I just can't, those games were too too painful.
*Any West Coast types notice the Tampa Rays? The Rays 24-5 in their last 29 games. (21-3 since June 28 per Yahoo Sports.) That my friends in smoking hot!
*Yesterday was movie day in our house, so before noon (after a little time at the golf course) we took in Turbo. Not bad. I would say the movie suited towards the male mind, but it was entertaining. The movie was a little slow in the middle, but it finished with a real bang! My son and I were bouncing to music, which by the way, had some real soul! In fact, my son was getting funky in the aisles as the credits were rolling! The music to this movie definitely "Get Down Lounge" approved! Then in the evening, we rented "42." I thought this movie a very simple and clean look at Jackie Robinson's journey to breaking the color barrier in the MLB. I thought the movie was tastefully done, with glimpses into all of the issues that probably came into play during Robinson's time with the Dodgers. In the end, I really don't think it is possible to wrap one's mind around all of the layers of crap Robinson had to deal with. So to Jackie--and to Turbo, maybe even Snoop Dog--I raise my glass to you today! (By the way, in making improvements to the blog, I may have accidentally pushed or bumped some buttons in the wrong way, I will get with my consultants here shortly!)
**Update--The Sacramento Bee had the A's on the Front Page in Sunday's edition--that worm just keeps turning and turning!
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