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| Welcome back to 100% 3G My son Noah on his 9th Birthday at the O.Co! |
*We are back--and hopefully so are that once fun loving band of platooners called the Oakland A's. A walk-off 4-3 win yesterday ideally can jump start this group that has been scuffling mightily the last month. The issues are simple: to begin with, many in their lineup were way--and I mean way--overproducing. Then you mix in injuries, slumps, and a brutal road trip to Atlanta and Kansas City, and man oh man, the grind is grinding? Did the Cespedes trade affect the A's collective psyche? It sure appears that way. All the factors combined with the fact that the A's played from the lead for so long--the lead is where you can only go one way, and everyone has you on the radar--the pressure to win, may have taken it's collective toll, especially in the batter's box.
*The real issue: the A's don't have an every day player who is a go-to-guy. A leader, a guy the team can count on day in, night out. Coco might be that guy, but he is injured way to much. When times are tough, who can the A's count on to get that big hit? To lead in the clubhouse?
Issue #2. The A's might be the slowest team up the middle--at second and short--in the baseball universe. Jed Lowrie can hit, and he must if the A's are going to play into October. The up-the-middle defense is the one area I feel Beane and Co. did not address adequately in fielding a winning team.
(The main difference between the Giants and A's--in my humble opinion--Hunter Pence and Buster Posey. Every day players, stars, who produce, big time. Guys who always play HARD. The Gigos are rolling....and who is the very hotly contested NL, wants to face MadBomb in a one game wild card? The guys in Black and Orange love the even years this decade: 2010, 2012, 2014? I love the Giants....this weekend. Especially if Panda and co. sweep the Tigers! B. Flave--consider this Giants love your BDay present!)
*Ironically, the Anaheim Angels have quietly flown under the radar. After adding Houston Street, this team appears to have zero issues--even with their picthing injuries. Earlier this month, Josh Hamilton looked as healthy and "bouncy" as I can ever recall. The Angels are scary (their fans are rather annoying, but that's a story for another day!)
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Stanford Stadium--a great football venue! This was my look for the USC vs Stanford tilt, September 6 in Palo Alto. |
*What a gorgeous day on The Farm it was yesterday afternoon. It was fantastic September Bay Area Weather, and two pretty darn good football teams were slugging it out! I thought both teams played it pretty close to the vest at times, regardless, it was a splendid afternoon. The Cardinal, physical. The Trojans, athletic and speedy. Oh man can I empathise with the Cardinal today, as they lament the amount of missed scoring opportunities. Not only did Stanford miss a chip-shot field goal attempt in the first half, they also were held on downs inside the Trojan 4-yard line. I would imagine, if Coach Shaw could go-back in a time machine, he would have elected to put the 3 points on the board! This game came down to Trojan kicker Andre Heidari calmly stepping up and nailing a 53 yard monster kick with just over 2 minutes remaining. I was looking forward to overtime, or overtimes, as Stanford drove to my end of the field! (I was hopeful OT would be on my end as well!) The Trojans came up big, forcing a late turnover, and the Trojans party began. The USC fan base travelled very well to Northern California!
*Boooooooo (I love booing) to USC Athletic Director coming down to the field to speak to the officials. Come on Man, this is a Big Boy game. If it weren't for the harsh-and I do mean harsh--penalties USC received during the Reggie Bush/What's your problem Pete Carroll years, I think the NCAA would come down hard on USC's want-to-be-big-man-perfect-tanned-I-hope-your-health-is-good-athletic director. (When Haden was the QB for SC way back when, could he even see from his helmet?)
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| Fight'en On Baby! |
*I am a bit of an enigma when it comes to college football. Although I want to "bump" with the Trojans, my team resides in South Bend--who, knocked around those Michigan Wolverines 31-0 yesterday. While the Irish are my clear number one, right behind, would have to be, well let's jump across the Bay, to the Gold & Blue of those California Golden Bears. (No worries Tim Lucas!) Thus, my Bucket List tends to go back and forth, ND @ SC, or ND at Michigan in the Big House with 105,000 (literally a gazillion) people going bananas? (How long are the bathroom lines at the Big House by the way?) Thus, I have decided, in my honor naturally, it would be ideal to have the Lira's/Nation's Hamburgers/Seven-Eleven Bowl game played New Years Day at the O.Co, USC vs the Irish. ND must sport the Green Jerseys! (Since the game is in Oakland, might as well have the Raiderettes don the ND unis as honorary cheerleaders for the Irish. Wheh-I need a glass of water!)
*As my favorite color is Green, and I tend to like yellow/gold, the Oregon/Michigan State game last night, extremely pleasing to my eye. The Oregon QB, Marus Mariota, looks like the next big thing!
Speaking of QB's it is onto the NFL....or "Riding in the Carr" shall we say?!?
*With the pride of Central California--the Fresno State Bulldogs--off to an 0-2 start, I am pretty sure all eyes will be on NYC, where Derek Carr will be leading the Ray-duzs into the Meadowlands. Carr provides hope, and hope is a good thing.....it just seems like the Silver and Black need a lot of little things to go their way to be a winning team. If Darren McFadden can stay healthy, Charles Woodson play like he did during his youth, and rookie linebacker Khalil Mack terrorizes opponents, well, that's why they play the games huh?
When a team hasn't been living in rare air, nothing like a fast start to boost confidence. A flight from NYC to Oaktown, after a win, now that is how a team bond's man style! Raiders vs. Jets, also very pleasing to my eye!
*Niners? Oohh....lots of distractions there. Santa Clara, er I mean SF, will probably go as far the mighty shoulders of Kap and Harbaugh will take them. The 49ers "issues" are a journalists dream this season (and a PR department's nightmare!).
*You are wondering about Super Bowl Predictions are you? Well, I believe the real question in the NFL is when the changing of the QB "guard" will occur. Manning, Brady, Rogers, Brees, have been on top for a longgg time. Can the Colts behind luck arise? Andy Dalton and the Bengals appear on the verge of the next step, but it's a Big Step? Kap--is this his year? How about Mr. Underlooked, Cam Newton. The Panthers appear to be the most underrated and under respected team in the league? Will Carr have an impact? RG 3, and Romo, can they ascend to the top? Flacco--can he raise the cup again?
*The Seahawks, hum, as Yoda would say, "very interesting." Will the zebras throw a few more flags (and if so will Pat Haden rush down to the sidelines?) against Pete's boys. Can such a physical team survive the long and grueling NFL season? In our society, winners receive and earn so much adulation, can the 'Hawks maintain their focus? Seattle now wearing the bulls eye. Just how good is Russell Wilson?
*When it doubt it takes luck and prayers, so I guess I am going with: Colts vs Saints (although my pancreas is saying follow the P's, Patriots vs Panthers).
*Enjoy the games everyone--look for us on Sundays! You can also follow on twitter at 100percent3G.
Happy Birthday to my main man Brian, Patrick (O) Flaherty. I owe you linguisa sandwiches big fella!
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