Raging On!

Is A Golden Age Upon Us?

*Grant Balfour made things perfectly clear in Detroit yesterday:  His team is not and will not back down from anyone!  Wow, what a game, and what a ninth inning!  After the ruckus, the A's now lead the Tigers 2-1, with game 4 tonight.  Wow, whew, and wow.  Balfour is who he is, and although the timing was quite peculiar with a 3 run lead in the 9th, the message he aired is still vibrating in the Motor City:  "Don't bleeping mess with us, we are for real."

*For the second consecutive game injured Tiger Star Miguel Cabrera failed to come up with a ground ball at a key time in the game.  You may recall on Saturday, in Oakland, the ninth inning started with a Cespedes ground ball just to the left of Cabrera.  Yesterday a tough hop led to an error and an early A's lead.  Cabrera was one who got up in the dish of Balfour during the ninth inning "walkabout."  A question for Tiger manager Jim "Old School" Leyland might be why not move Peralta to third and DH Cabrera?

*Cespedes, IS a lot like Reggie.  When they lights are on, so are they!  Each of them both loved to spread mustard so to speak, and both can do things that make you shake your head, oh but man oh man when they are dialed in, amazing feats are possible!

*The environment in Oakland on Saturday simply the best.  Early on it was Tori Hunter pointing at superstar-in-waiting Sonny Gray that awoke the boo juices in the 48,000 green and gold dressed fans.  Later in the top of the 5th, the Tigers would eventually have runners on first and third with one out--you could feel the collective, "oh oh" in the stadium.  (The Tigers did so without a ball leaving the infield--gulp!) One pitch, a full count strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the inning, and the crowd was gassed!  Not only did vagabond catcher Stephen Hoyt have the game winning hit, but that play in the 5th was a huge momentum shift.  From that point on, the A's and Gray never looked back.  Sonny Sonny Sonny, classic.

*Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth, and consecutive single by Cespedes and reborn comedian Seth Smith got things rolling.  I thought both of those balls could have been corralled by nimbler corner infielders?
Smith by the way, with his side kick Brandon Moss, were hilarious during there interviews after the game Monday.  Smith tends to run hot and cold, and if he could stay hot for another couple of weeks, that would bode extremely well for the A's making a successfull run!

*The bullpen has been fantastic thus far.  Former Giant Dan Otero continues to impress--if you notice, he doesn't give up many deep fly balls--and Doolittle and Balfour seem to be packing their "A" games.  Ryan Cook could still be a key factor, but I envision Brett Anderson sealing the deal this evening.  Just a hunch, but I can see the lefty finishing off for Dan Strailey this evening.

*Perhaps, just perhaps, this is a ball club just hitting it's stride.  Back in the 70's, the A's lost to the Orioles in 1971, before that magical ride of back-to-back-championships in 1972-74.  The A's are a mix of young guys, with not-so-young guys, but guys in their prime, sprinkled in with a few veterans name Coco, Balfour, and Bartolo.  Tonight they have an opportunity to make a real statement.  (They actually have two chances, but I would prefer they seal the deal tonight in Detroit, rather than return to the O.Co to face Shurzer and Verlander on Thursday.

*Immediately after the game on Saturday work crews started working the on stadium, transforming the baseball configuration into a Football Field.  Just like the 70's.  Props to the Raider crowd for being there crazy selves late into the Sunday Night.  Terrelle Pryor may just be the real deal, and in fact, the Raiders are a mere couple of plays and a concussion away from being 4-1.  Might we be in the midst of another Golden Age--or perhaps The Golden Age-of Bay Area professional sports?  Stay tuned.

*By the way, growing handlebars on the old mustache a real chore.  I am getting there, but slowly.  As they say, it's a process!  To all Bay Area sports fans, I raise my glass to you!

*Pssttt, hey SF Giants fans, it did look weird watching Brian Wilson in Dodger Blue.  Remember when he first wore those bright orange shoes?  Anyway, will he be the Dodgers Lucky Charm, or will he be a curse with his Black Beard?