From the Monday Morning QB--on Tuesday!
*Last night in the motor city the A's prevailed in a nail-biting-slug-fest, 8-6. The gritty win featured big hits, a big tumbling run, and just enough big pitching. The Tigers left the bases loaded in the 7th and the 8th innings, and had two men on in the ninth, whew! (For A's fans highlights of this game could have lasted a very long time, although you would never know watching the network.) Start with Coco, who is on fire. Coco slammed his 100th career bomb last night, and as Coco rolls, so does the A's offense! There was the return of Daric Barton from Sacramento. Barton is the flag carrier for much of the angst carried by any A's fan of the 2000's. Years ago Barton was the centerpiece of the Mark Mulder trade. Every female A's fan remembers that one--a horrible day for that demographic! Barton also brings back memories of the Bob Geren Era, (BURRH!) cold and bleak times indeed. Barton has always been able to get on base-he has a keen eye at the plate. However his lack of power, and some immature outbursts way back when, and well, I am sure you can deduce on your own why he is not exactly beloved. This season in fact, he was "outrighted" twice, meaning he could have been picked up by any other team. Yet, here he his, or should I write there he was? Regardless, last night, Barton had two run scoring hits. Perhaps this is finally Barton's time to shine? Then just to add some comic relief, there was Big 6-8 Nate Freiman's tumble around home plate for a big run. Grant Balfour shut the door for his 33rd save, and the A's escaped with the win.
*At this point why even pitch to Miquel Cabrera? He doesn't run well, and the man can hit just about anything near the plate. He is the closest thing to Barry Bonds of the early 2000's. Manny was close there for a while. I would just roll it up there, behind him. The man can hit anything. (Maybe BoMel should call his "friends" across the Bay, the actually found a way to pitch to the big fella?)
*Interesting that with Reddick going on the DL--that is why Barton was recalled; and Chris Young remaining on the bench the A's offense scored 8 runs. Reddick, Young, Seth Smith, and Cespedes are all hitting real funky like, and not in a good way. Daric Barton, who would have thought! The A's will miss Reddick's glove in right, but his bat, not so much. The Albert Callapso trade looking a little better by the day. Al is not a third basemen--just ask any Angels fan, but he can play second, and he can hit a little. Smoke and mirrors Billy, smoke and mirrors. Find another reliever BB!
*Speaking of relievers, things will get very interesting. Brett Anderson will come off the disabled list, probably today. It looks like he is slated for the bullpen, or does BoMel have a little something up his sleeve? Bartolo could be back this week as well--does Big Bart have anything left in the tank? Can the Killer B's of Bart and Brett help lead the A's to the promise land? With Tampa and Texas on the horizon, how the A's set their rotation will be very interesting to see?
*Today, it's the Beast, Justin Verlander. As I like to call him the Verbeast, a true A's killer. The A's have struggled mightily with the Verbeast in the recent past, and how huge would a win over this guy in Detroit be? Lots of moving parts in that A's dugout.
*Saturday's nationally televised 2-1 win over the Orioles was also pretty stellar. Coco hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth. Ironically, Coco "should" have walked on the previous pitch, but the ump called a strike, leaving Coco with a 3-1 count. On the next pitch, BAM, an angst filled Coco crushed one out into the right field pavilion! Balfour followed Coco's lead pitching an absolutely spot on nails 1-2-3 ninth! The win Saturday was just the type of game the Green and Gold need to play. Like last night in Detroit, here is a key stat, no errors! Nice little win on the national stage!
*Parker pitched like a true Ace Saturday, a real bona fide number 1 MLB starter. On a staff and team with great depth, but little star quality, Parker's emergence would and could be critical. He may go head to head with 19-1 Max Shurzer on Thursday. That ladies and gentlemen would be a doozy! High drama for the Green and Gold, high drama. It could just be my delicate age, but that Orioles lineup sure looks very formidable. If the Birds ever get some front line starting pitching, look out in Camden Yards!
*Raiders fans, you all just keep thinking of Terrelle Pryor scampering around the O.Co. I thought the Raiders had made some real strides, but their interior lines are a big, big, concern. With Pryor, McFadded, and Woodson, well, in sports anything is possible correct? Not that long ago, the Niners were looking up and the A's were supposed to lose 100 games. As the great Jack Hacker would say, "sports is the original reality T.V." Daric Barton, Daric are you kidding me, Barton? Anything indeed is possible!
*Don't forget the US Open now? Friday night in the Big Apple is must see look in TV.
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