Zito's here for now...

The trading deadline came and went and Billy Beane didn't make any trades.

So Barry Zito is still an Oakland Athletic.

The months of August and September (and, we hope, October) could be his last with us.

I will sleep well tonight...

Game #107: A's 3, Angels 1

July 31, 2006 | A's @ Los Angeles Angels

We're #1!

- Dan Haren is starting a day after his bobblehead day.
- Lew Wolff sits in the broadcasting booth with Ray Fosse and Glen Kuiper and says the site in Fremont is the one that the A's are closest to selecting for a new stadium, but this is still a long way off.
- Ervin Santana appears to be wearing a scapular...
- Nick Swisher starts a double play with quick response
- The Angels have a home run, we have a home run. And it's by Milton Bradley, hero of yesterday's game. He and Swisher then do their famous handshake/leg stomp.
- Jay Payton, who was robbed of a HR in an early inning, tried again and succeeded. That ball sailed right into the rock formation behind center field. Two-run home run puts us back in the lead.
- Chone Figgins comebacker straight into Dan Haren's glove! Easy out!
- Complete game victory for Danny Haren! His second for the season. And he ended the game with a strikeout to Juan Rivera, the same guy he gave up that solo home run.



(Game experience: Action 36 Cable 6)

A's record: 56-50 | streak: W-3 | well-A-meter: 4

Game #106: A's 6, Blue Jays 5

[Updated 11:04 PM: I embedded some video I shot of Beane talking about Chavy. See below.]

July 30, 2006 | A's vs. Toronto

ATHLETICS NATION DAY

What a great day! I went to a game at the Coliseum after a long hiatus. I had excellent company in my good friends No. 19 and Tanner Boyle. Walk-off home run by Milton Bradley seals the win. And, oh, it was the third AN Day and I got to see Billy Beane in person!

Highlights of my day:

Today is Dan Haren Bobblehead Day. You know how much I love Danny Haren. No. 19 and I joined the snaking Gate D line about 10:30 AM, just before they opened the gates. There are only 15,000 of these bobbleheads being given away. I wasn't counting on getting one, but once we passed security I saw many boxes still stacked by the entrance. We each got one!

This is the earliest I ever showed up for a ballgame. So early that batting practice hadn't even started yet. But the pitchers were on the field doing light calisthenics.

Huston Street with full beard and sunglasses casually reclined on the grass. Barry Zito with short hair barely doing the exercises. I watched Brad Halsey and my chest filled, as if I was once more a teenager espying my crush in the high school hallway. I gushed when Dan Haren joined the guys. Around me fans pressed forward, clutching their brand new boobleheads and Sharpies. I took some photos, but with the Coliseum's large foul area, they're not very good. You can see better photos here.

No. 19 and I came to this game specifically for AN Day. Athletics Nation, as you know, is an A's blog started by one-time sports reporter Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski in November 2003, and it currently is one of the most trafficked sports blogs on the web. I went to the first AN Day (and brought GeneralChiang with me) and there were only 30 of us. Last year, No. 19, Celeste and I sat together for AN Day 2 and got to hear Blez's pre-game guest speakers: radio announcer Ken Korach, Chronicle reporter Susan Slusser, and MLB.com reporter Mychael Urban.

This year, No. 19 and I showed up early to hit the buffet at the outdoor BBQ Plaza. Just before we sat down for sausages and hamburgers, a Coliseum staff member approached me with a long box full of black visors courtesy of FSN Bay Area. I happily brought it to AN blogger/AN Day organizer Baseballgirl for later distribution, after I took one for myself, of course. (For those of you taking note, my "treasure chest" now contained one bobblehead and one visor.)

Over our early lunch, I also received a homemade kid's workbook that an AN member assembled. It's full of fun, baseball-themed puzzles like Find-A-Word and Cryptograms. Maybe I could persuade my niece, a traitorous Giants fan, to solve a couple of the puzzles with me.

After noon, the crowd moved inside to hear the mystery guest speakers whom Blez invited. Inside, I saw Ken Korach and Blez settling down on two stools in front of the standing-room-only crowd. But one stool remained empty. As I dug into my bag for my digital camera, I had a fleeting wave of disappointment that Blez had Korach as a repeat guest. I mean, I like Korach a lot, but who else could possibly be here? When I straightened up, I was stunned to see that the second mystery guest had arrived. It was none other than A's GM Billy Beane!

My knees almost buckled and I leaned on No. 19, swooning. "Get a hold of yourself," she scolded.
I didn't take notes, so these are not verbatim quotes from Beane:

On doing any trades before the deadline: We're not anticipating doing so. We don't think there's anyone out there who's better than the guys we're waiting to come back (from the DL).

On Bobby Crosby: We're being patient with him. He's a young player and he's had injuries that have interrupted his development. But he's very talented. He hasn't had two full seasons because of injuries. So be patient with him the way we are patient with him.

On Milton Bradley: He fits really well with the clubhouse. He is intelligent and soft-spoken.

On DJ: He's talented and we'll bring him back.

On Chavy: Eric Chavez is a true leader. He stepped up and played hurt — even though it wasn't known to the public that he was hurt — and that was very big of him. Players have pride and it took a lot for him to go out there and play when he was hurting.

[Updated 11:04 PM: I shot video of Beane talking about Chavy, which I uploaded to Google Video.]



On the thing he hates the most: I really hate it when we have a full house, or a sold-out game, and the A's lose. I'd like for the fans who come to a game to see a win when they do.

As for Ken Korach, he spoke fondly of the late Bill King and it was a bit of a sobering moment when we all remembered, Beane included, the legend we've been living without this season.

Tanner Boyle showed up near the tail end of Beane's remarks. Tanner, recently returned from a Southeast Asia vacation, gave me a present: a very beautiful journal. Thanks, TB!

After Beane and Korach were done and returned to their respective gameday duties, Blez announced he would start a trivia game in a few moments. "I want to win something this year," I told No. 19. "Back in the first AN Day, I knew all the answers [a bit of an exaggeration on my part], but I wasn't picked for the trivia game."

"What do you mean, you knew the answers?" she said. "What kind of questions were asked?"

"One of them was, when did Athletics Nation start. And I knew it was November 2003."

Blez starts the trivia game and the prizes — Oakland Athletics DVDs, t-shirts, A's beanies, etc. — go fast. The questions are all A's-centered and somewhat obscure, even for No. 19 and Tanner Boyle. I knew none of the answers. Stuff like, which player has played the most franchise games with the A's and what year did the A's win the most games.

Finally there's only one prize left. Blez begins the last question, "When did Athletics Nation—" and I raise my hand because I know what he's going to ask.

"NOVEMBER 2004!"

Blez looks confused.

"I mean, November 2003," I cry. "I know it's November 2003! I answered it the first year!"

Blez tosses me the prize, an AN t-shirt, and I'm ecstatic even though No. 19 is berating me, "That was a moochy way to win the prize! That was whiny! You whined your way to it!"

Treasure chest: AN tee, journal from Indonesia, visor, puzzle book, bobblehead. I'm so excited to get this loot, you'd think I'd never been to a tsotchke-filled convention or gotten free t-shirts before.

At this point, I was so elated from being in the same room as Billy Beane and getting a free prize that I didn't care whether there was a baseball game to be played.

Tanner Boyle and I took turns scoring the game in No. 19's program with a blunt pencil. Though it wasn't as hot as it was last weekend, today's 70 degrees felt very warm. When the sun was out, there was plenty of glare.

We were sitting in the right field reserved section, somewhere none of us had ever sat before (we're a bunch of snobs who prefer the third base line, preferably as close to the field as possible). The viewing angle was so unusual for me, I was like a child confusing my left from my right. I once entered a base hit into the score card upside down.

We didn't know how to pronounce Shane Komine's last name. We made fun of Alex Rios's all-strikeout performance from yesterday. We enjoyed the drummers/fellow AN'ers who usually sit in the left field bleachers as they relentlessly beat out a chant or cheer for every pitch and at-bat.

And then... Kiko Calero relieved teen idol Brad Halsey and could not get an out for the life of him. Macha brings in Huston Street to get the last four outs of the game.

No. 19 disagrees with me, but the way I see it, the World Baseball Classic took something out of Huston Street which weakened him and exposed him to injury and he hasn't been quite the same since. To whit: Street gives up a run in the 8th to Hinske, then a two-run double in the 9th to Overbay, and another double that brings the score to 5-3, Blue Jays.

Somehow the A's have to get three runs in the bottom of the 9th. From All-Star B.J. Ryan. Starting near the bottom of our order. Okaaay.

Crosby flies out and we're one away. Ellis gets a base hit! Kendall flies out, but No. 19 and I are both impressed at how far his fly ball carried to left center. I'm proud of myself for noting in the scorecard that Ellis reaches second on defensive indifference. Kotsay faces Ryan in a epic at-bat which included seven foul balls. "Wear him down!" I think. Kotsay walks! We have two outs, runners on first and second, and here comes the soft-spoken Milton Bradley.

I'm tired and languid from being under the sun for hours. I've been ready to go home since the top of the 8th. I project telepathic thoughts to Bradley: "Please hit a home run so we can all go home."

The count goes to 2-1. In the AN section, we're all standing. At the next pitch, Bradley makes contact. We watch the ball rise in the air. Once again, the angle is so unusual for me that, just as with every other play in this game, I cannot quite predict where the ball will land. It's going to center field, but our view is obstructed and I can't tell if this is going to be another F8. But the ball is high in the air, and as I follow its downward arc, I see it still has long way to go. In fact, I can see more than enough of what I need to see: it is a home run!

Like everyone else around me, I'm jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs. No. 19 and I hug each other and high-five the people around us.

"And you wanted to go home," she chides me. Yeah, but I didn't, right? And we experienced one helluva walk-off home run to cap the end of what was already a wonderful, wonderful day.


(Game experience: Sec 248, though I didn't sit in Row 1 Seat 11 like my ticket says. Tanner was to my left and No. 19 was to my right.)

A's record: 55-50 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 4

Game #105: A's 7, Blue Jays 4

July 29, 2006 | A's vs. Toronto

LIVE BLOGGING

Top of the 1st: Troy Glaus grand slam in the top of the 1st. Barry Zito gave up a grand slam this season (Opening Night) and only one other time in his career. No TV coverage today so I'm spared the visual torture. The grand slam took place before we even got one measly out. Ugh. A's 0, Blue Jays 4.

Bottom of the 1st: Nothing for the A's. A's 0, Blue Jays 4.

Top of the 2nd: Zito doesn't have it today as the Blue Jays are collecting hits off of him. Is Zito wondering if he's going to get traded? My co-worker Mike, a Mets fan, tells me the rumors are that Zito's going to the Mets. I know Zito would like it in New York... But would it make sense to trade Zito right now? To me, our rotation is Zito, Haren, and Blanton if it's a good day. Two and a half starters does not a rotation make. If Billy Beane is able to trade Zito for three pitchers ready to take the mound... well that might be worth it. But what am I saying? I dare not try to outthink Billy Beane. Who knows? He just might hang on and let Barry finish the rest of this season and his contract.
Anyway, the bases are loaded and wouldn't it be funny (funny sad, not funny ha ha) if Zito gave up another grand slam? Well, he doesn't. Thank you. A's 0, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 2nd: The A's go down to McGowan. Gadzooks. I don't even know who this pitcher is! We're just not hitting! A's 0, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 3rd: Yay, the A's defense is alive. The Blue Jays leave no one on base this time. A's 0, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 3rd: Chavy gets a base hit! Mr. Tendinitis is feeling much better and I hope he transitions into his traditional second-half form. Chavy opted not to have shoulder surgery in the last off-season. He's been an iron man, starting at third for the last several years and having few days off. I fear this is only the beginning of more injuries for him.
McGowan faces the minimum in this inning. A's 0, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 4th: Nothing for Toronto. A's 0, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 4th: On one out, Milton Bradley's stand-up double scores Kotsay. Good ol' Milton. He didn't have a great night last night, so it feels good to see him do something today to get us on the board. Frank Thomas base hit moves Bradley to third. JayPay drives in a run! On the radio, I can hear the crowd chanting, "Let's go Oakland!" as Swisher comes up to bat, but he strikes out. Chavy walks. Inning is over with Scutaro, but the A's are back in the game. A's 2, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 5th: Nice outs by the A's. Zito has settled down, but his pitch count is at 89. I wonder if he'll make it to the 7th. A's 2, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 5th: Vernon Wells can't make the play so Mark Kotsay's double scores Jason Kendall. Toronto changes pitchers — Brian Tallet takes the mound with two outs to go. Tallet walks Thomas and the bases are loaded. JayPay drives in two runs! We're in the lead! A's 5, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 6th: Amazing play, I'm told by radio, from Eric Chavez that gets the first out of this inning. Chavy also gets the second out. Ken Korach says on the radio that Chavy is setting a record for the most error-less starts at third base. I'm not surprised. [Updated 7/30/2006 - Associated Press elaborates: Eric Chavez set an Oakland record with his 60th consecutive errorless game at third base. Chavez broke the mark set by Mike Gallego over a five-year period from 1985-90. Gallego, who played mostly at shortstop and second base in that period, did commit 37 errors in that span.] A's 5, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 6th: Milton Bradley scores Jason Kendall! And we still have Kotsay on second base and now Bradley on first. But that's all we're going to get for now. Amazing. This game started out so badly, but now Zito might end up with a win! A's 6, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 7th: The crowd is doing the Zito chant at the Coliseum: "Zi-to! Zi-to! Zi-to!" After Zito strikes out Alex Rios for the fourth time today, Macha comes in for a pitching change. Duchscherer comes in. The fans at the Coliseum gave Zito a standing ovation, asked for and got him to come back out of the dugout, something that's usually asked only of big hitters, not pitchers. And of course we must wonder if this is the last Zito start in an A's uniform. Duchscherer gets the third out this inning. A's 6, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 7th: Lyle Overbay error and Swisher is safe at first. Another double that drives in a run, this time it's Chavy scoring Swisher! A's 7, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 8th: Nothing for Toronto. I feel like we're cruising. It's a nice feeling. A's 7, Blue Jays 4

Bottom of the 8th: We're still hitting and still getting on base! But the score remainns the same. Huston Street is coming in for the 9th and he'll face the tough part of the Toronto line-up. A's 7, Blue Jays 4

Top of the 9th: Street gets the save! A's 7, Blue Jays 4

The A's are back in first place. But it's such a tight race in the AL West, every game counts!


(Game experience: KYCY 1550 AM)

A's record: 54-50 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #104: A's 3, Blue Jays 4

July 28, 2006 | A's vs.

LIVE BLOGGING

End of the 1st: Esteban Loaiza struck out two Blue Jays. So far, so good. I wonder when he's going to unravel. A's 0, Blue Jays 0.

3rd: The TV broadcast shows Milton Bradley with his crazy-ass white sunglasses. You gotta love Milton Bradley. The other day one of my sisters said, "Is his name really Milton Bradley? Like the board games?" "Yeah," I said, "it really is." You gotta love Milton Bradley. A's 0, Blue Jays 0.

Top of the 4th: Troy Glaus is sitting in the dugout without his baseball cap. I swear, I've thought this for years and now I'm gonna say it out loud: Troy Glaus looks like he could be Kyle's brother. That's Kyle, as in Celeste's hubby. A's 0, Blue Jays 1.

8:05 pm: TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES! No TV! Radio goes to static. Then both go to commercials...

8:08 pm: I learn from radio that there's been a power outage at the Coliseum. They got the power back, but they're still waiting for the lights to take effect. Meanwhile, MLB Gameday shows me that Frank Thomas is at bat, 2-1 count with two outs.

8:12 pm: I cruise over to athleticsnation.com and chuckle to see a comment, "power outage? I thought that was for the A's offense." Then Ken Korach announces that it'll be another 15 minutes before the game resumes...

8:21 pm: Josh Suchon talks to the radio announcers about the Rangers acquisition of Carlos Lee and I learn that Josh Suchon's nickname sounds like "Sushi." The game resumes. Coverage continues on the radio, but the TV still says "Technical difficulties. Please stand by..." As the inning ends, a TV commercial comes on. A's 0, Blue Jays 1.

8:28 pm: Oh, so this is what's happening. When it's time for commercial, the TV shows the commercial. But they're still not able to broadcast the game.

8:38 pm, bottom of the 5th: Ellis drives in two runs! Swisher scores, Chavy is barely safe at the plate. Nice, very nice. On-screen stat for Ellis: 12 RBI in last 15 games. A's 2, Blue Jays 1.

8:51 pm, top of the 6th: The Blue Jays tie it! Bradley misses the ball as it moves past him in right field. Then they score again. Ah, is this when Loaiza starts to struggle? A's 2, Blue Jays 3.

9:01 pm: I'm distracted, but it looks like the Blue Jays have scored again. Loaiza can go home now. A's 2, Blue Jays 4.

9:08 pm: Frank Thomas home run! A's 3, Blue Jays 4.

9:18 pm: Two on, Crosby up, let's watch him blow it. Pop up on one pitch. He blew it. A's 3, Blue Jays 4.

9:31 pm, middle of the 7th: I love Kiko Calero, by the way. A's 3, Blue Jays 4.

9:33 pm: Brad Halsey is warming up. Milton Bradley is at bat. He needs to make something happen offensively.

9:39 pm, top of the 8th: Brad Halsey comes on. I really think this guy is good-looking. He retires the side and I feel justified in my lust. A's 3, Blue Jays 4.

9:50 pm: Swisher on third, Jay Pay on second, intentional walk to Crosby?! They were right with it. Ellis hits it towards third and the Blue Jays turn a DP. End of inning. A's 3, Blue Jays 4.

9:54 pm: I see an announcement on TV that Joe Blanton will be in Alameda to meet fans after tomorrow's game. I tell my mom about this and for a full minute, she actually wants to go...

9:56 pm, top of the 9th: For the last inning or two, they've been showing a Blue Jays player in the dugout with a bubble gum bubble on his ball cap. I don't know who the player is. He acts like he doesn't know it's there. On the field, a DP ends the top of the 9th.

10:03, bottom of the 9th: Milton Bradley gets a base on balls! Frank Thomas is up... Two outs...

10:06 pm: And he flies out to left center. TV off. A's 3, Blue Jays 4.


(Game experience: Action 36 Cable 6)

A's record: 53-50 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #103: A's 5, Blue Jays 2

July 27, 2006 | A's vs. Toronto

This is the longest I've ever taken to post my blog entry this season. My apologies. I have reason to believe the situation will return to normal next week.

Only comment I can think to make about this game: they showed J.P. Ricciardi on TV. I'd never known what he looked like. He's one of Billy Beane's closest friends and a Moneyball disciple. We're seeing that in the progress Ricciardi has made with the Blue Jays the last few years — Toronto is considered a contender in the AL East against the Red Sox and Yankees.

It's also because of Ricciardi that I feel like the Blue Jays are our cousins.


(Game experience: Very little TV)

A's record: 53-49 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #102: A's 5, Red Sox 1

July 26, 2006 | A's vs. Boston

HAREN'S HEAT MELTS THE RED SOX

After not posting a W since June 14, Dan Haren prevents a sweep by the Red Sox and stuns the Big Papi/Manny Being Manny duo that humbled the A's in the last two days.

Frank Thomas homered twice today and drove in four of the five A's runs. He's pretty incredible. You know that I not an avid fan of him because, to me, he's still heavily identified with the White Sox. But I respect him greatly.

MLB.com's Mychael Urban reported on the income generated by Frank Thomas for his playing time this season. You recall that Billy Beane gave Thomas an incentive-laden contract that, at first glance, covered the A's if the Big Hurt turned out to be too hurt to play.

In addition to the $500,000 he's guaranteed, Thomas has incentive clauses that could push his total take up to $3.325 million, and he's already picked up $1.45 million beyond his base salary. He's made $1.25 million for not being on the DL with injuries related to his foot or ankle on May 1 ($325,000), June 15 ($325,000) and July 15 ($375,000), and with 310 plate appearances this year, he's picked up $200,000 for passing 300.

He'll earn another $375,000 if he's not on the DL with foot or ankle issues on Aug. 15, and there's another $1 million out there, with $200,000 available for every 50 plate appearances beyond 300, up to 550. [MLB.com]

Here's a tongue-in-cheek thought: Maybe Billy Beane can structure all the A's players' contracts in a similar way?



Mychael Urban also reported on Dan Haren's new look today.

Normally one of the A's who wears his pants down to his shoe tops, he went with the high-socks look Wednesday to mix things up and get out of his slump. He'd already tried a new glove, a new hat and a new necklace.

Asked if he was going to stick with the look, he was quick to answer.

"No way. My calves are way too small," he said. "I look the second-worst on the team with high socks." [MLB.com]

Unfortunately I couldn't find a photo of Haren with the socks. :-(


(Game experience: None )

A's record: 52-49 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

[Note to self: I wrote this blog entry and posted it from the shuttle while commuting home from work!]

Game #101: A's 5, Red Sox 13

July 25, 2006 | A's vs. Boston

GONE WITH THE WINDSOR

Gosh, the Oakland A's, the team that's had a reputation for a few years now for its excellent starting pitching, are now grasping at straws.

I don't mean any disrespect to Jason Windsor, but what a responsibility to put on his shoulders! Only his second major league start and he's up against legendary Curt Schilling of bloody sock fame and the Red Sox.

My heart wrenched for Windsor as he struggled through 2 2/3 innings and gave up nine hits and four earned runs. "Where's Saarloos?" I yelled repeatedly at my TV.

The A's rallied when Kirk Saarloos was pitching, even going so far as to be only one run behind, 6-5.

But those Red Sox are for real. I found them -- dare I say it? -- as formidable as the Yankees of a few years back. They can't be pushed over that easily.

Justin Duchscherer took the mound for the A's in the 8th and it turned out to be a nightmare inning that wouldn't end. One of those times when I have to look away. With one eye I saw the Red Sox resurge and win the game.

Our bullpen is battered and we still have the third game in the series -- going on now! I had my own Internet connection issues last night and couldn't post.


(Game experience: FSN BA Channel 40)

A's record: 51-49 | streak: L-3 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #100: A's 3, Red Sox 7

July 24, 2006 | A's vs. Red Sox

When the Red Sox come into town, I feel like the A's are a small-time team full of rookies and unknowns. Not entirely true, of course, but certainly lacking in star power.

We don't have a Big Papi or a Manny Being Manny and maybe it's just as well so that we don't have any of the baggage that comes with it.

But besides Eric Chavez, who's bothered these days by tendinitis in his forearms and whose BA has sunk, we A's fans know we can't count on the guys in our line-up to stay with us for years so we can bestow them with loving nicknames and custom cheers and chants.

Zito was on his game when he started, then he unraveled. Five innings pitched, nine hits. And the Red Sox hit three home runs off of him.

Two of those homers were by Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

Ortiz Warms Up, originally uploaded by Waldo Jaquith.

"It's definitely the toughest consecutive hitters in baseball. Everyone knows that," Zito said. [ESPN.com]

By the way, in the bottom of the 8th, I was very amused to see Kiko Calero pitching to Coco Crisp. Kiko to Coco, ha ha ha.

Nick Swisher hit his 22nd HR of the season, besting last year's rookie total of 21. His buddy Milton Bradley went 2-for-4. Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas got the A's the run when he grounded into a DP. Hey, there's a marquee name.


(Game experience: Radio for the first half, TV for the second half)

A's record: 51-48 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #99: A's 4, Tigers 8

July 23, 2006 | A's @ Detroit

I was out and about all day and missed the game entirely. It wasn't till something like 2:30 PM that I was able to turn on the radio and find out the score.

• Another Esteban Loaiza loss. He had a nightmare of a first inning and... Oh, forget it. I won't go into my usual spiel about Loaiza. He doesn't need me to nag him. I'm sure there are others who are doing that job more thoroughly than I am.

• Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen needed only a HR to hit for the cycle.

DSC_8443, originally uploaded by kbreenbo.

Other things I read about that seemed interesting:

• Scutaro started at short because Crosby's still out with his back problem. Scutaro hit a HR, his second in as many days.
• Frank Thomas was ejected!!! for arguing balls and strikes, I think. This always raises my eyebrows. Though I haven't quite kept track, I believe this is the third ejection from the A's this season. I continue to contend that it is rare for an A's player to get ejected.
• Kielty hit a two-run HR.
• Antonio Perez's batting average still hasn't gone over a hundred. He's batting .099.

(Game experience: None)

A's record: 51-47 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #98: A's 9, Tigers 5

Joe Blanton, originally uploaded by ric4erich.

July 22, 2006 | A's @ Detroit

One of the hottest days I can remember. I carried my radio with me so I could listen to the game. Depressing first inning as the Tigers immediately pulled ahead with five runs. Joe "Batchoy" Blanton frustrated at the umpires.

But in the 2nd, the A's strike back. Kotsay's HR drives in three runs and we're tied at five-all.

After this point, I have to leave the radio and miss the rest of the game. It's hours later when I find out that the A's won, 9-5.

• I didn't know till this morning that Bobby Crosby left the game yesterday with a hurt lower back. Today's news says he might not be out that long. I sure hope so! Stay healthy, Bobby! So Scutaro started at shortstop for Crosby and hits a HR.

• Milton Bradley hits a HR too and drives in two runs. Another guy I hope stays healthy for the rest of the season.


(Game experience: A couple of early innings over 1550 AM)

A's record: 51-46 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #97: A's 4, Tigers 7

17.jpg, originally uploaded by McPhloyd.

July 21, 2006 | A's @ Detroit

Wow. I guess the Tigers really are that good.

• Well it looks like today my favorite A's pitcher Dan Haren wasn't pitching well. Nine hits and seven runs over six innings doesn't sound like him. Having not seen his start, I don't know if he's just having an off day or if he's (yipes!) hurt in some way.

I noticed on the box score that Haren had a pickoff. Forgot who it was, but from a snippet I heard on the radio, it was exciting. Pickoffs usually are.

• Milton Bradley continues to do well. I read in the paper that earlier this week he was brutally heckled by Red Sox fans. Poor guy.

• Good rally by the A's in the top of the 9th, but the additional two runs were too little. Game over at 7-4, Tigers.

This series is important for the A's to show that we really are a contending team. The race is so tight in the AL West, who knows if later in the last week of the season, one game makes the difference on whether the Rangers or Angels go to the playoffs instead of us.


(Game experience: MLB Gameday after Chad Gaudin replaced Danny Haren)


A's record: 50-46 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #96: A's 5, Orioles 1

July 19, 2006 | A's @ Baltimore

Hooray for Zito and his 10th win!

Seven innings, five hits, one earned run. And he got run support — Bradley, Chavy, and Thomas all hit home runs. I was very pleased to read about how well Bradley's been doing since he got back from the DL. He's 9-for-19 in five games since his return! I'm also satisfied with the production we're getting from the Big Hurt.

But let's get back to gorgeous Barry Zito... When he's hot, he's HOT. That's the thing about his physical beauty. When he stinks on the mound, I hate Zito and I think he's vain and distracted. But when he's on top of his game, I love him and I'm in love with him.

Here's a mini-gallery of Zito pics I have floating around my laptop.




I don't remember where I found this, I don't know what's going on here, I haven't found any information on why this photo was taken.











Of course we all know he dated Alyssa Milano from summer 2004 to maybe spring 2005. I don't know how long it was.












Barry Zito, actor. Yes, he appeared in a 2003 episode of "JAG." He played a character named P.O. Crawford [IMDB.com].








(Game experience: None)


A's record: 50-45 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #95: A's 5, Orioles 4

July 18, 2006 | A's @ Baltimore

Argh...I haven't been able to watch baseball lately. This is not related to my vow to not attend a baseball game for two weeks (the two weeks that the A's are away, heh heh). So I missed an interesting game today.

• Bobby Crosby and Mark Ellis back-to-back runs. It's very disappointing to learn that Crosby's last HR before today was May 31. Golly, was it really that long?

• Esteban Loaiza got a win! I'm not all that impressed by his line — 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR — but what the heck. It wasn't bad for a game with an hour-plus rain delay around the 3rd. Loaiza reportedly pitched better after the delay than before.

Esteban Loaiza, originally uploaded by scarls13.

• But I do like Loaiza for his wit. MLB.com's Mychael Urban wrote:

"We will start having an hour between innings [when Loaiza pitches]," said Macha.

Responded a smiling Loaiza, "Good. That will give them time to stop his nose from bleeding."

• This I'm sorry I missed: due to a throwing error by Orioles righty Eddy Rodriguez, Jay Payton scores the go-ahead run.

• This one-run win is the 19th for the A's this season. Also a season-high for the American League this year.

• The Angels are only a half-game behind and the Rangers are one game behind. No kidding around. Every game counts.


(Game experience: None)

A's record: 49-45 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #94: A's 3, Orioles 5

Camden Yards Panoramic, originally uploaded by zizzybaloobah.

July 17, 2006 | A's @ Baltimore

Ups and downs

Funny how I tune into the game just when something big happens. The A's were behind the Orioles 3-2 at the top of the 6th, then the "double steal" by Jay Payton and Milton Bradley. Payton steals home, ha ha!

What's funnier is that Miguel Tejada and Ramon Hernandez were both involved in that play. Well, it's funny to me. Unlike many A's fans, I didn't mourn Miggy or Ramon when they were no longer with the A's. I just moved on.

(And to make a further contrast, John Halama barely registered with me.)

The A's are kinda back to winning a game, losing a game. GeneralChiang noticed that I haven't gotten to a 4 in the well-A-meter this week. Yeah... it's a lingering malaise from before the All-Star Break.

I didn't get to listen to the rest of the game, and when Baltimore moved ahead in the score, I could only shake my head.


(Game experience: Some radio)

A's record: 48-45 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #93: A's 8, Red Sox 1

July 16, 2006 | A's @ Boston

Yes, I know my coverage of this Red Sox series hasn't been up to par. But the weather's been good and there are things to do, places to be.

Also, I've been reading Nick Hornby's "Fever Pitch," his memoir about his lifelong obsession with the Arsenal football club. I can't match Hornby's devotion to his team with my own to the A's. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of fan I can be.

Today...

• Joe Blanton gets a win! I heard in a post-game interview that the 93-degree weather didn't bother him. Last Friday Ken Macha got a nosebleed and yesterday Frank Thomas got dizzy. How much of that is related to the heat? Who knows? But Blanton went seven innings and had only one earned run, the home run to Alex Gonzalez.

• Mark Kotsay is 4-for-5 with three RBI. I hope that slump he was in is finally and completely over.

• Eric Chavez didn't play in this series because of his arms. Instead we've seen Antonio Perez at third (and still Perez isn't hitting) and Marco Scutaro (two errors today alone). Chavy has been so good for so long that I don't even consider him to be one of my favorites — it's too obvious. But when he's not around, Chavy is strongly missed.

• I saw Jay Payton's catch of David Ortiz's almost-long ball in the highlights. There's been talk of Payton getting traded to the Yankees, now that we have Milton Bradley back. I don't know... I like all of our outfielders. I want to keep all of them!


(Game experience: None)

A's record: 48-44 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #92: A's 0, Red Sox 7

July 15, 2006 | A's @ Boston

Tuned in just in time to see Dan Haren's nightmare bottom of the third inning, when the Bosox score four runs with only one out. Rats.

And it only got worse from there. The shutout is the first for the Red Sox this season!


(Game experience: Some TV)

A's record: 47-44 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #91: A's 15, Red Sox 3

July 14, 2006 | A's @ Boston

Zito gets run support!

I thought 7-0 in favor of the A's against the Red Sox was ridiculous, but the 8th inning and the additional eight runs was yet to come.

• Barry Zito, All-Star, pitches for only five innings, but it's enough for him to get the win. He got his hair cut. Pretty short, too, which only lends some credence to my mom's theory that Zito wins when he has short hair.

• Mark Ellis has a homer, a double, five RBI, and a run. Whew!

• Milton Bradley is back for the second half and I hope he's here to stay. He had a four-for-four night with three runs, three RBI, and outstanding defense. I'm glad he's back. I want to shower him with affection.

• Nick Swisher, I heard on the radio, is happy to be at first base because he loves to talk. I recall Jason Giambi and Scott Hatteberg also enjoyed the chance for chit chat as first basemen. For a moment I feel a little sorry for Dan Johnson who's been sent down, but he kinda deserved to go.

• Has Josh Beckett ever been this bad? Technically I don't care. I'm just glad he was bad against us.


(Game experience: Caught some of the early and middle innings on radio.)

A's record: 47-43 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #90: A's 5, Red Sox 4

July 13, 2006 | A's @ Boston

We're back! I enjoyed the short break and the chance to pay some attention to my Real Life, but now it's time to get back to baseball.

And a win is a nice way to start the second half. But let's qualify that.

Esteban Loaiza lasts only five innings against the Red Sox who're able to hit six times and walk six times in that span. Sigh.

The A's were behind 3-1 until the 7th, when Bobby Kielty drove in two runs on an error by Red Sox second baseman Mark Loretta (I don't know him). We'll take what we can get.

What I found encouraging in this game is our bullpen. The best of them had to pitch tonight: Gaudin, Halsey, Duchscherer, Calero, Street, and Saarloos. (Sauerbeck actually got one out between Street and Saarloos, but I'm still not ready to warm up to him.)

These guys weren't all perfect, but they're largely reliable.

Also, Nick Swisher is back to belting home runs — he hit his 21st tonight. Guess the no-booze zone at the A's clubhouse is working.


(Game experience: Some of the latter innings on radio and TV)

A's record: 46-43 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

A's in '06?

Lonely, originally uploaded by dmann2376.

Special Edition: Mid-season mixed feelings

I think I've been lying on my well-A-meter for the past week and a half. While the 'meter gauges my day-to-day feelings about the A's and it's usually tempered by the current win or loss, I've been somewhat negative about the team as a whole. They simply don't look like World Series contenders to me.

There, I've said it. This doesn't mean, however, I won't continue to root for the A's.

And it's one thing to win a World Series and quite another thing altogether to win a division.

Back in 2004, when we didn't make the post-season for the first time in four years, I was so disappointed that I learned something about being a fan. I've now become someone who's happy if the team exhibits a degree of excellence that gets them a playoff berth year after year.

I'd be content to follow a team that's consistently good as the seasons pass, rather than follow a "one-hit wonder" such as the 2001 Diamondbacks or the 2003 Marlins and feel miserable for years afterwards.

The 2006 A's have a pretty good chance of winning the AL West race. I think we're getting back on track of being perennial playoff contenders. I won't think about anything beyond the AL West Championship. That's all I want for the A's for the time being.

We're at the All-Star break with only 54% of the season's games played, and the A's are in first place.

What do you think about that A's at this point? Come on, let's talk about it. Don't be shy.

Game #89: A's 2, Angels 4

July 9, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels

Weren't the Angels in last place just a couple of weeks ago?

I thought the A's had put enough distance between us and them that we didn't have to think about them anymore. They were having their own share of injuries (Bartolo Colon, Darin Erstad) and stocking their line-up with unrecognizable rookie names. Why the heck are they kicking our ass now?

I saw a bit of the game on TV, when Jason Kendall got the score tied 2-2. Payton had a double in the next inning and that was it for offense for the rest of the game.


Kendry Morales hit a two-run, go-ahead triple in the 6th. From there, Mike Sciosia had him attempt a suicide squeeze which was foiled by the A's. Haren threw a pitchout (is that correct, Al?) and Kendall immediately ran up the third base line towards Morales. He tossed the ball over Morales to Chavy and Kendall kinda jogged away towards the dugout. But Morales wasn't out yet. Chavy had to throw the ball to Dan Haren who was backing up home plate and it was Haren who finally tagged Morales.

And here's something weird: hitting coach Gerald Perry got ejected for arguing balls and strikes. It's so rare for anyone on the A's to get ejected. I suspect it was all done for show — ya gotta have someone publicly express frustration for the team.


(Game experience: Some FSN Bay Area)

A's record: 45-43 | streak: L-3 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #88: A's 4, Angels 6

July 8, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels

I missed this game completely, but here's all you need to know:

Jered Weaver pitched seven strong innings and led the Angels to a 6-4 win over the A's. Jeff Weaver's younger brother is now 6-0, the first pitcher in 61 years to start his major league career with this win-loss record.

Also, I got some corrections from Al regarding my post yesterday. Please take a moment to look at the updated July 7 entry.

(Game experience: None)

A's record: 45-42 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #87: A's 0, Angels 3 (updated)

July 7, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles/Anaheim

Lackey takes the high road

[See bottom of this blog entry for update. -wella]

Joker told me he was following the A's-Angels series more closely than the Giants-Dodgers because any possible flare-up between Angels starter John Lackey and our Jason Kendall would be exciting.

But no such thing happened.

Instead, Lackey proceeded to simultaneously frustrate and stun us with a one-hitter. I arrived in time at the Coliseum to see Mark Kotsay's double at the bottom of the 1st, but that was it. The A's batters couldn't do anything against Lackey after that.

His line:

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
J Lackey (W, 7-5)	9.0	1	0	0	0	10	0	109-77	2.88

Anyone in the crowd hoping for another brawl got no such thing. Lackey struck out 10, matching his own career high. He shut out the A's and shut up the bloodthirsty.

* * *

Zito gave up two home runs, got no run support, and went 110 pitches over eight innings. Calero pitched the ninth.

Oh, and Zito did have an awesome out that was selected by Vince Cotroneo as the Blue Diamond Almonds' Nuttiest Play of the Day. Top of the 4th, two outs, Tim Salmon hits a 1-1 pitch that goes straight back to Zito.

But Zito, having just thrown the pitch, is somewhat turned around. His right arm is stretched out and the ball lands in his glove — BACKHANDED. Zito feels the ball in his glove and throws it to DJ at first, beating Salmon for the out.

They showed the play in DiamondVision four times, from three different angles, in slow motion. It was unbelievable. A comebacker caught backhanded.

* * *

The only other thing I'll take away from this game happened in the 3rd inning. Chone Figgins successfully stole second and DJ couldn't pick him off. Apparently Figgins did not stray more than three feet from the baseline.

A baseline is the direct route—a straight line— between two adjacent bases. The basepath is the region within three feet (0.9 meters) of the baseline. Baserunners are not required to run in this objective basepath, however; a baserunner may run wherever he wants when no play is being attempted on him. At the moment the defense begins to attempt a tag on him, his running baseline is established as a direct line from his current position to the base which he is trying for. The runner may not stray three feet away from this line in an attempt to avoid a tag; if he does, he is automatically out. [Wikipedia.com]

I learned something new!

Update 7/08/2006: Lately I've been wondering why I haven't heard from Al. He must be busy, I thought. Well, he's resurfaced and it's about time. Al is not just a reader; he's also an editor. My editor! I'm sharing this email he sent me...

Hi Wella,

For shame! Leaving early ... missing Thomas's home
run. Just another fair-weather, let's-beat-the-traffic
fan. Move to L.A.!! :)

On yesterday's blog:

1. Figgins did steal second base during the game, but
he didn't do it during the play you referenced. On
that play, he made it back to first safely.

2. You wrote that DJ couldn't pick off Figgins during
that play. Pick offs are performed by pitchers. What
DJ couldn't do is tag him out.

Minor things compared to leaving the game early.
Faugh!!! :)

I thought your mother taught you better after that
early blanket-folding episode.

Cheers,

Al

And I'm learning something new again and again. Thanks, Al!



(Game experience: Sec 124 Row 31 Seat 18 with Dave and his folks)

A's record: 45-41 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #86: A's 7, Angels 5

July 6, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles?/Anaheim?

Walk-off home run!

It was cold, the Coliseum was more than half-empty, game's tied at 5-5, and Dave, who came with me to the game, didn't want to sit through extra innings. Frank Thomas launches the two-out, 3-0 pitch from Scot Shields into the stands at left center field, gets mobbed at home plate, and everyone goes home happy. (Well, except for the 50 or so Angels fans there.)

• There were seven home runs in this game:

1. Juan Rivera from Esteban Loaiza at top of the 2nd
2. Vladimir Guerrero from Loaiza at top of the 4th
3. Juan Rivera again from Loaiza again still at the top of the 4th
4. Dan Johnson from Kelvim Escobar at the bottom of the 4th
5. Nick Swisher also from Escobar also at the bottom of the 4th
6. Mike Napoli from Loaiza at the top of the 6th
7. Frank Thomas from Scot Shields at the bottom of the 9th

I thought the Home Run Derby didn't start till next week.

• So I'm not sure what to make of Loaiza. He only lasted 5.1 innings and gave up eight hits (four of which were homers). Definitely a mediocre start. He went 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his first two starts, but we have yet to see if he can string together three good starts in a row. And yet I don't feel like we're better off without him.

Guess I'm just spoiled from the Big Three years, when merely seeing Hudson, Mulder or Zito on the mound made me feel like we were going to win. At this moment, only Zito and Dan Haren give me that sense of security. By the way, Mulder's still on the DL and Huddy has lost his last four starts and got a no decision tonight.

• At the bottom of the first, Jay Payton hits a foul pop up. It goes so high in the air that Angels first baseman Kendry Morales has plenty of time to get under it and he stands there with his glove in the air, waiting, waiting. The crowd of A's fans around me has deflated. We're all waiting for the ball to drop into Morales's glove. At the last second, Dave yells, "DROP IT!" and, on cue, the ball falls behind Morales and rolls on the grass. "It worked!" I kept saying in amazement. Morales gets an error. On the next pitch, Payton hits a two-run single.

• Another favorite Payton play this evening: he grounds to second, but hustles to first base anyway. Escobar gets tossed the ball and it's a foot race to first, with Escobar closer. Somehow Payton sort of leaps and I clearly see his foot hit the bag before Escobar can touch it. SAFE!

Swisher is now at third, then Crosby strikes out and the inning is shot. Sheez, Bobby.

• Mark Kotsay is ever dependable in the outfield, but as a batter he goes 0-for-five tonight. At one point, he hits the ball to left center and it hangs in the air for a moment. But it's just another fly ball.

"So close and yet so far," says the woman seated in front of me. I think, "Shouldn't it be, 'So close and yet so near'?"

• I was pleasantly surprised to run into my dear old friend Eric who's a Giants fan. "What are you doing here?" He was at the game with his girlfriend, an A's fan.


(Game experience: Sec 115 Row 23 Seat 14. Amazing seats! I do believe this is the closest I've ever sat to home plate. The folks in front of me and to my right were oldtimers — someone was wearing a radio, another had a personal seat cushion, the usher was familiar with an older man. And they were all quiet, unruffled, and rather still. I loved sitting next to them!

Here's a confession though. When Dave said he didn't want to stay for any extra innings, I looked at the clock and it was 9:30 PM. So when we finished the top of the 9th and it was 9:42, I said, "Okay, let's go." We listened to the bottom of the 9th on the radio while exiting. Yes, sacrilege, I know. I think this might be the first time since October 2000 that I left the Coliseum before the game ended. On the other hand, this was my first time to experience crossing an empty BART bridge at night. )

A's record: 45-40 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #85: A's 4, Tigers 10

July 5, 2006 | A's vs. Detroit

That's what I get for mouthing off. What made me think the A's could sweep the Tigers when they have this dude starting for them?


Oops! Wrong picture! I meant this dude:


Oh, wait. Can't see his face. Plus that's in last year's team uniform. Here we go:


Kenny Rogers owns the Oakland Athletics.

Notable to A's fans, however, is Marco Scutaro's first HR of the season.


(Game experience: None at all)

A's record: 44-40 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #84: A's 2, Tigers 1 (updated)

Fourth of July, 2006 | A's vs. Detroit

I love these kinds of games! Haren start... pitchers' duel... low-scoring game... extra inning... A's win! To be honest, I was so down from the Arizona series that I was considering taking a break from baseball.

And to make it even more special, I went to this game and so did my kid sister who's never been to a baseball game before. Well, she said she can follow spectator sports — e.g., soccer, golf, tennis — and she knows the basics such as strikeouts and walks.

Not only was she able to follow the game without soliciting commentary, she had a good time soaking up the atmosphere. She enjoyed the crowd, the Cap Caper, the 7th inning stretch. Seeing the game through her eyes rejuvenated me.

• Dan Haren throws 101 pitches in seven innings, giving up only four hits and one earned run, the home run to Detroit catcher Vance Wilson. That HR tied the game at 1-1. Haren got his third straight no decision. He remains at 6-6, but his ERA is 3.40 and WHIP is 1.11.

• By the way, from where I was sitting on the second deck in left outfield, I saw Vance Wilson's home run ball hit the top of the out-of-town scoreboard and bounce back down to the field.

• Detroit starter Justin Verlander was mighty impressive on the mound. He's got 10 wins already, a 3.01 ERA and 1.17 WHIP (if ESPN.com stats are accurate as of this writing). He can throw a pitch as low as 81 mph and as high as 100 mph!

• RHP Joel Zumaya pitched the 8th and 9th innings and did his share of three-digit mph pitching. At one point, the pitch speed display flashed 103 mph then disappeared immediately. At any rate, he is exciting to watch.

• Meanwhile, the A's have Kiko Calero pitching the 8th, then Huston Street for the 9th. When we go into the 10th, Ron Flores comes out and immediately walks Carlos Guillen. Mercifully, Macha yanks him out before further damage is done. Chad Gaudin is brought in.

• And mercifully, Zumaya wasn't going to pitch more than two innings. Fernando Rodney pitches for Detroit and this is what I saw: Kotsay grounds out and Crosby draws a walk. Chavy strikes out. Frank Thomas is up! Just when he gets his fourth ball, Crosby successfully steals second. A good just-in-case move on Macha's part, I think.

Now comes Jay Payton. Payton, is, in short, hot. ESPN reports that Payton has been either tying or winning games for the A's lately. I have a good feeling about Payton. And on a 1-2 count, he hits the ball to right field where no one can get it without doing some running.

Crosby takes off from second and I know we're going to win. I see Crosby crash into Vance Wilson and as the catcher falls backwards I also see the baseball lying on the ground near home plate. The rest of the A's come out of the dugout, I jump up to my feet, and the crowd goes wild...

• This is exactly what the Associated Press reported on Jay Payton: "Eleven of his 16 RBI since June 13 have either tied the game or put the A's ahead."

• Also: Kotsay had two singles in this game, ending his 0-for-29 hitless streak.

Updated 7/09/2006:
I just want to remember that these were my sister's only questions, which I thought were rather intelligent for someone who'd never been to a ballpark before.
a. Are they allowed to bring those drums in? (Referring to the drummers in the Left Field bleachers. The answer is yes, but George Steinbrenner asked the same thing in 2001.)
b. So how does someone win? (Asked when we went to extra innings. I explained the top and bottom innings and the position of the home team in it which she got immediately.)

Also, she was amused by a man wearing a (fake) Zito jersey standing in front of the second deck railing. He was dancing and waving a white shirt 'round and 'round. When another guy carrying a beer wanted to pass, the Zito fan merely pointed to his back with his thumb as if to say, "Just walk around me 'cause I'm not gonna move."

She also pointed out to me a young teenage boy sitting a few seats away who "claps louder than you." This made me prickle and for the last two innings, I tried to beat him. He was, however, really good.


(Game experience: Sec 232, Row 9, Seat 3)

A's record: 44-39 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 3

Game #83: A's 5, Tigers 3

July 3, 2006 | A's vs. Detroit

Way back when MLB was creating the 2006 season schedule, did anyone suppose that when the Tigers faced Oakland during a series on the 4th of July, Detroit would be the number one team in all of baseball?

Joe Blanton wins the game and is now 8-7. There was a letter to the sports editor in today's Oakland Tribune where the writer disdainfully stated that Blanton needs to lose weight to become more athletic, otherwise he won't achieve true greatness as a pitcher. I think the letter writer is being more than a little unfair. As I watched Blanton pitch this evening, I thought he looked fine. More than once he had to tag first base himself to get the runner out. And of course I'm watching all this while eating cream puffs from Beard Papa...

Bobby Crosby is 2-for-4 and has a two-run single. OK, he also had an error (his 11th), but never mind that for right now. The A's won the game.

Yes, yes, that's key. The A's won!


(Game experience: Partially watched game on FSN Bay Area)

A's record: 43-39 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #82: A's 1, Diamondbacks 3

July 2, 2006 | A's vs. Arizona

I can't believe we were swept by the Diamondbacks!

Several of the A's are struggling and if it weren't for Frank Thomas home run, it could've conceivably been another shutout.

Zito had another loss, unfortunately. (So much for my mom's short hair theory.)

Why is it when I did catch a glimpse of the game on TV, it was to see Eric Byrnes scoring a run?

The series loss is putting a bit of a damper on my holiday weekend.


(Game experience: A little bit of radio and a smidge of TV)

A's record: 42-39 | streak: L-3 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #81: A's 2, Diamondbacks 7

July 1, 2006 | A's vs. Arizona

So we lost. Again.

We didn't merely lose. We were beat by Arizona in a game where their starter Miguel Batista flirted with a perfect game, until Bobby Crosby got a walk. It could've been a no-hitter for Batista then, but Frank Thomas hit a home run.

(Game experience: Caught up on ESPN.com after the fact.)

A's record: 42-38 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 2

Game #80: A's 4, Diamondbacks 6

June 30, 2006 | A's vs. Arizona

Many happy returns of the day... not.

• The return of Eric Byrnes. His first time to play in the Coliseum wearing a Diamondbacks uniform. Unfortunately Steve, Suzanne and I were still making our way to our seats so we missed the first half-inning of the game. When Byrnsie was introduced I heard some cheers, but not quite a roar from the crowd.

In the top of the 7th, Byrnes was on third, Conor Jackson on second, two outs and I thought it would be poetic justice if Byrnsie got thrown out at home plate.

Flashback: Game 3 of the 2003 AL Division playoffs. Byrnsie is called out for not touching home plate. The A's lose that game and the next two to the Red Sox and our playoff bid is over. End of flashback.

Instead, Halsey throws a wild pitch and Byrnes scores a run for Arizona, breaking the 3-3 tie. Arizona would score a total of three runs in this inning.

So Halsey had a bad outing. I'm not giving up on him. Instead I'll blame Byrnes or Saarloos, even Melhuse or Estrada if I have to.

• The return of the Big Hurt! 1-for-3 and a strikeout. We pinned our hopes on him with each at-bat and his base hit was exciting for a single, but Frank Thomas's appearance tonight after missing 13 games couldn't turn the tide.

By the way, I think it's odd how several fans always cheer wildly for Frank Thomas. I know he's had an illustrious career blah blah blah, but to me he's a single-season serving of a player. Like a loaner. Think David Justice. I'll appreciate Thomas's contributions when he makes them, but... he'll always be a White Sox guy to me.

Steve, however, says we've already gotten our money's worth from him.

• The return of Mark Ellis! He recovered quickly from his broken thumb and the A's were eager to put him back in the line-up just within a month (May 31 to June 30). We had excellent seats along the first base line and Ellis looked good scooping up those grounders and throwing to first. There were a few speedsters that he couldn't get which made me think he's still easing back in, but there were no errors in the game.

• Kirk Saarloos hasn't been returned to the bullpen, I see.

• Adam Melhuse's hits came at times when the A's really needed to get something going. He always comes across to me as dependable and reliable — tonight he got a single, double, RBI. Hard to believe he actually broke a 0-for-14 hitless streak.

• With Thomas and Ellis back, Doug Clark and Mike Rouse returned to the Rivercats in Sacramento. Doug Clark had his first major league hit during this stint in the show. I doubt I'll see him again. Mike Rouse, however, was arousing.

• The Diamondbacks had a 5-20 month of June. The losing streak was attributed by some to the whole Jason Grimsley/HGH/FBI statement controversy. But, hey, any baseball team can have a bad month. It's a long season. Maybe what we saw last night was the Diamondbacks' return from the dead.


(Game experience: Sec 108 Row 15 Seat 9 — though I think I was actually sitting in Seat 11)

A's record: 42-37 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2