Holy Toledo!

From the Get Down Lounge.....

*Wow, so the A's just landed another haymaker!  Even the staunchest of die hard fans would never have imagined the Green and Gold taking 3 in a row from the mighty Tigers.  After the 14-4 win last night--and there is no typo in the score--can the A's complete the quadfecta?  This team was scuffling big time coming into the motor city, and now, man has the worm turned! This morning (10 a.m. PST) the A's will try to finish off the "improbable" by taking 4 in a row from the defending American League Champs.  Today it's the Thursday afternoon special with Max Shurzer facing Bartolo Colon.  You know if the A's can just squeeze another 6 weeks out of Bartolo's right arm.....and Cespedes can catch a little fire here soon....find another arm Billy, find another arm!  (Javier Lopez?)

*Baseball has so many story lines and subplots, but come on now, Daric "Mr. Walk" Barton and Kurt "I can block any ball in the dirt like none other but hitting a fastball another story" Suzuki both in the starting lineup as the A's amassed 21--that' correct--21 hits!  Oh Nellie the thrill of victory!  Ironically, on a night when the A's were on fire at the plate, their hottest hitter, Mr. Crisp, went 0-fer.  Head shaking.  Incredulous.

*Now might be a good time for Billy B. to reward the core group of players who have made the last two seasons so entertaining.  Start with Mr. Perseverance, Brandon Moss.  Moss went yard twice last night for a grand total of 24 this season.  I would reward Moss, Donaldson, Crisp, Balfour, Parker, and Cook to start with.  They have been the core group that just keep going and going and going.

*Manager BoMel's lineup last night simply his best.  No Young or Smith, and Callapso was at the DH.  BoMel also has moved Donaldson up to the two hole.  I hope he stays with the same formula.  Big Nate can platoon with Barton, while Zuke and Vogt can share the catching duties.  Here is the lineup from las night:  Crisp, Donaldson, Lawrie, Moss (After the game on Comcast he actually said he "love" hitting cleanup.)Yo Yo, Barton, Big Al, Soggie, and Zuke.   Keep running it out there BoMel!  Callapso has been solid at the plate, but any ball hit his way is an adventure.  Speaking of Zuke, perhaps, just perhaps, he gives the guys on hill just that extra bit of confidence to throw anything and everything to the plate.  Maybe that extra bit of confidence plays a significant.  Tommy Malone and Dan Strailey looked pretty good the last two nights, and may have a little something to do with a guy who I know you can tell I love his name too:  Suzuki!
(Sa-ZOOK-E;  now say it loud and fast!  Again..and again.....)

*With Brett Anderson back, it's like the old band is back together--the new and improved band!  How good could this team be if John Jaso comes back in the next couple of weeks?

*By the way, tomorrow night at the O.Co, it's Jarod "Popeye" Parker versus the Rays ace David Parker. Parker has an 8-0 record in his last 16 starts.  It is also another firework night--so mom, dad, the kiddies love the show after the game.  One helpful hint:  save a few snacks, the fireworks don't begin until about 30 minutes after the last pitch.  Save one food snack--an ace in the hole so to speak!

*A's radio announcer Ken Korach has written a book "Holy Toledo" about the one-of-a-kind legendary announcer Bill King.  I always thought King was the best calling Warrior games, but man, he seemed to capture the essence of the Raiders with such flair and style.  When he and Lon Simmons were doing A's games together, now that was good radio.  To Bill King, I raise my glass.

*Speaking of King, Martin Luther King that is, I caught a great bit Keith Olberman on the network last night.  Olberrman was telling a story of his father, and the significance of Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech.  Olberman's father shared memories with his son of watching Satchel Paige pitch in the Negro League for the New York Black Sox.  Olberman's father recalled how at the time, back in the early 1940's, it never occurred to the senior Olberman that Satch might want to pitch for the New York White Yankees.  It was a real moving and compelling piece.  I have always felt, that sports is one arena, where color really doesn't matter, and where people of all races come together, sit together, eat and drink together, boo together, cry together, and ideally roar together!  Now I grew up primarily attending sporting events in the Bay Area, so the crowds were always pretty diverse as far as I can remember, at least the professional crowds.  The color of a person's skin never mattered to me, heck we just wanted our guys to win--Reggie, Canseco, Joe Rudi, Eck, Vida, Catfish, Campy,  Cespedes, just win baby, just win.  (Perhaps I should thank my parents and Dr. King!) Hard to imagine that it has only been 60 odd years since baseball was integrated.  As Bill King would say, "Crazy,just plain Crazy."  So to Dr. King, and to the Keith Oberman and his father, I too raise my glass to you!

*Tomorrow, we talk about Bucket Lists--and well, let's just say I might be spinning a slicing a couple your way!