Game #161: A's 6, Angels 7

September 30, 2006 | A's @ Los Angeles Angels

GASP! I can't believe we lost!

We had a huge lead in the 1st inning. Five-zip. And we let it trickle away?

I'll stop here and say no more on that.

• Jason Kendall became the first player in major league history to catch 140 games in eight different seasons, breaking Hall of Famer Gary Carter's record.
• Tim Salmon is cool and all, but I don't want his 300th HR to come from an Oakland pitcher.


(Game experience: Some TV and radio)

A's record: 92-69 | streak: L-3 | well-A-meter: 4.25

Game #160: A's 0, Angels 6

September 29, 2006 | A's @ Los Angeles Angels

Zito will start Game 1 of the ALDS and Loaiza gets the ball for Game 2.

That was the big announcement yesterday. Like the A's, I'm slacking as I wait for the playoffs to start. Here are my highlights of the Friday game with the Angels.

• Esteban Loaiza was limited to 75 pitches so he was removed after four innings. Ken Macha keeps calling him E-Lo and that drives me nuts! At some game last week, they showed a close-up of Loaiza's shoes and he had "E. Lo" stitched on them. Ugh!
• Joe Blanton relieved Loaiza and pitched through the 7th. Much has been said about Blanton being a good sport for not being given a clear spot in the rotation for the ALDS, but come on. I don't see Blanton as being the type to throw some prima donna hissy fit and demand a start.
• In the bottom of the 8th with Kiko Calero pitching, Chone Figgins got an inside-the-park home run. Hiram Bocachica, playing right field, slipped and fell and couldn't get the ball in time and Figgins made it safely all the way home. Poor Bocachica looked mighty embarrassed and they kept showing him on TV!
• Also announced Friday: Antonio Perez (gasp!) broke his index finger and cannot play in the post-season. What a huge disappointment that must be for him.
• [Updated 9/30/2006 10:55 PM: Forgot to add, Jeremy Brown geared up and went behind the plate as catcher for an inning or so.]

Part of me doesn't care that the Angels are winning these games, but part of me also wants the A's to beat them. I mean, let's pour some salt in the wounds.


(Game experience: Radio and TV)

A's record: 92-68 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #159: A's 0, Angels 2

September 28, 2006 | A's @ Los Angeles Angels

DSC_0254, originally uploaded by wchien.

Despite the loss this was still a fun game to watch. And despite the loss, this was really a meaningless game.

Nice play at the bottom of the 6th when Melhuse faked throwing to second which made Tim Salmon try to steal home from third. Melhuse threw to Antonio Perez (who was playing third for Chavy) and Perez was going to run down Salmon. Salmon broke for home, Perez dove after him, and got him out by landing on him before Salmon reached the plate.

Zito was the losing pitcher with seven hits in six innings with one run, a walk and five strikeouts as John Lackey shut out the A's for eight innings. K-Rod closed and when the Angels won, he pointed with both hands to the sky and yelled and blah blah blah.

The A's are still the AL West champs, ha ha!


(Game experience: TV)

A's record: 92-67 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #158: A's 7, Mariners 6

September 27, 2006 | A's @ Seattle

Ha ha! I can't believe we won! The Mariners overtook the A's for the lead in the 4th, but then the A's tied it up in the 9th and won the game in 10 innings. We've beat Seattle in 17 out of 19 games this season.

The day after clinching, this is the line-up for the fifth to the last game of the regular season:

1. Hiram Bocachica, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, 2B
3. Bobby Kielty, RF
4. Nick Swisher, LF
5. Dan Johnson, 1B
6. Adam Melhuse, C
7. D'Angelo Jimenez, SS
8. Jeremy Brown, DH
9. Antonio Perez, 3B

And instead of Barry Zito as previously announced, Jason Windsor started this game for the A's.

And how'd these mostly second stringers do?

• Dan Johnson had his first career triple. Antonio Perez also had a triple. (And for the third point in the triangle, Ichiro hit a triple for Seattle.)
• Jeremy Brown got on base for the first time &ball; he walked. This is only his second appearance in a major league game. Gosh, he really is... heavy.
• Bocachica went 2-for-4 with two runs.

All in all, not bad. If we had lost this game, I wouldn't have minded. As it is, now I'm confident about going to the playoffs. Even though I still don't know who we're going to face.


(Game experience: FSN Bay Area and KYCY 1550 AM)

A's record: 92-66 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #157: A's 12, Mariners 3

September 26, 2006 | A's @ Seattle

The A's are the 2006 AL Western Division Champions!

How the west was won:

• Rich Harden returns! Five strikeouts in five innings, only two hits. (It was Saarloos who had an off night and gave up the two back-to-back homers in the 6th to the Mariners.) Harden has never lost any of his starts this season. Okay, he only had eight starts, but still...
• The A's garner a season-high 19 hits against Seattle.
• Home runs from Swisher (solo) and Bradley (for three runs). Here's to seeing them do their special handshake-kick routine in the playoffs.
• Jason Kendall is 4-for-6, two RBI, and a run. He will go to his first post-season in his 10-year career. Nine-year veteran Mark Kotsay didn't play tonight, but he's another on the A's who hasn't been on a division-winning team till now.
• Jay Payton played center and went 4-for-6 with a run and an RBI.
• Thanks, Rangers, for dispatching the Angels for us tonight. Good job.

[Updated: 9/27/2006 11:41 AM - Here are a couple of photos of the clubhouse celebrations.]




(Game experience: FSN Bay Area and KYCY 1550 AM)

A's record: 91-66 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #156: A's 9, Mariners 10 in 10 innings

September 25, 2006 | A's @ Seattle

It's the last week of the regular season, have we clinched yet?

I'm throwing out everything else I was going to say about this game. It doesn't matter. Huston Street gave up five hits and three runs in the 9th, allowing the Mariners to tie the game at 9-all.

All I can think is, "Are guys like Huston Street ready to go to the playoffs?"

And, "Are we going to go the playoffs at all this year?"

10:38 PM - Mariners win. Disgusting. That's all I have to say.



(Game experience: Action 36 Cable 6)

A's record: 90-66 | streak: L-3 | magic number: 2 | well-A-meter: 2.00

Game #155: A's 1, Angels 7

September 24, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels

Ervin Santana pitched eight strong innings, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels kept Oakland from winning the division for the second straight day with a 7-1 victory Sunday. [ESPN.com]

(Game experience: TV)

A's record: 90-65 | streak: L-2 | magic number: 2 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #154: A's 2, Angels 6

September 23, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels

Juan Rivera hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the sixth, John Lackey pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels prevented Oakland from clinching the division on Saturday with a 6-2 victory over the A's.

"No party today," Oakland manager Ken Macha said. [ESPN.com]

(Game experience: KYCY 1550 AM)

A's record: 90-64 | streak: L-1 | magic number: 2 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #153: A's 5, Angels 4 in 12 innings

September 22, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels

This game turned out nothing like I anticipated. Except for the win. And it wasn't an easy one.

I'm about to nod off, so I'll write this up after some sleep.

[Updated 9/23/2006 11:46 AM - I successfully downloaded the photos we took with Celeste's cell phone. Because of course this game of all games, I forgot my camera.]

This is the view from our seats in the Loge box. We liked it. Unobstructed view, no people walking around us. Though no vendors either.

This was bizarre. We had three seats, but one of the seats was missing. In its place was a folding chair with the upholstery torn and the padding oozing out. Can you believe this seat still cost $30? I'm complaining to the A's. Celeste, however, cheerfully takes things in stride...

Further updated 9/24/2006 9:31 PM:

• I really wanted Zito to pitch a gem then we'd all chant ZI-TO! ZI-TO! ZI-TO! and we'd all feel good and we'd all have this really wonderful memory even when Zito plays for the Padres next year. But no. Bad Barry showed up on the mound. Tsk, tsk.

From where we were seated, we had a nice overhead view of the Left Field Bleacher fans. They did some ZI-TO chanting by themselves. I could not join in. It was just . . . wrong.

• Top of the 3rd, Kendrick's on first and Chone Figgins is in the batter's box with one out. No. 19 says, "What are the odds that Zito would get a double play?" It's a rhetorical question; we both know Zito's a flyball pitcher. But she calls it — Figgins grounds into a DP! This turns out to be only the first of prophetic utterances.

• Celeste made a few of her own fulfilled predictions. She called Swisher's HR in the bottom of the 5th (that put the A's score at 2-0) and also Chavy's in the 7th that tied us with the Angels. Of course it could be more wishful thinking than actual prognostication.

Celeste did, however, correctly guess that the ice cream was hidden under the third hat in Cap Caper. And she really guessed it because none of us were following the animated hats at all.

• Speaking of Chavy's solo homer in the 7th, it sailed over the out-of-town scoreboard and into the right field plaza. Close to a sign that read, "ZITO IS NEAT-O."

• Still speaking of Chavy's solo homer in the 7th, No. 19 missed the entire inning. She went to get a Philly cheesesteak and also, "change our luck."

• Worst of all: one of the three boisterous guys behind us shouted, "A's in 12!" during the 6th inning. I wanted to turn around and berate him. No. 19 glared at him. I don't want A's in 12, I thought. You know me, I want A's in the top of the 9th and we all go home early.

Imagine our increasing horror when Huston Street blew the save and we had to go to extra innings. At the end of the 9th, I turned to the row behind us and said, "Who the hell called A's in 12?!" The guy sitting behind No. 19 owned up to it. And that became their cheer/mantra for the rest of the game.

• In the 11th, Milton Bradley is ejected for arguing balls and strikes. I jump out of my seat when the umpire makes the "you're outta here!" motion while Bradley's walking away from him. No. 19 says Milton could've still been talking back to the ump — good point. But when Bradley turns to rush the umpire and has to be stopped by Macha and Ron Washington, I side with him. I feel very protective of Milton Bradley at moments like this.

(In the bottom of the 8th, Bradley had his own solo home run. When he took up his position in right field at the top of the 9th, the fans above him gave him a standing ovation and wanted him to acknowledge by tipping his hat or something. But Bradley played it cool. I pointed this out to Celeste and she only said, "Chip on his shoulder." Poor Milton. He can't afford to do that kind of thing.)

• In extra innings the concession stands are closed. I ran out of bottled water when Zito was still pitching. I'm thirsty. I'm annoyed with the A's-in-12 guys for bringing this on. But it's the 12th inning already and something's got to give.

Then Mike "Chipmunk" Scioscia does something interesting. He goes to the mound and all the infielders gather. At the same time, Chone Figgins runs to the dugout from center field. I've never seen this happen before. I think Figgins is going for a bathroom break or something. Fortunately I'm listening to my radio in one ear and Ken Korach explains it all to me as I watch the action on the field.

Figgins switches gloves (I guess I didn't know till that moment that outfielders use a different glove than infielders) and joins the conference at the mound. When the meeting is over, Figgins becomes a fifth infielder.

I'm fascinated. Not only had I never witnessed this before, I'd never heard of it. The infield looks crowded and the no-man's land in the outfield looms large.

Kielty had already doubled and Swish was intentionally walked to first. Scutaro was up. And I'm thinking, "What is going on in Scioscia's head? This is Scutaro! Scutaro can get the ball out of the infield."

I lean forward in my seat and rest my chin on my arms folded on the railing. It's my turn to speak my wishes out loud, to call what will happen next in the game. But all I can do is mutter, "Come on, Scutaro. You can do it, Scutaro." And I'm confident that he will. This is the guy who's had seven previous game-ending, game-winning plays in the last two years.

Scutaro hits the ball and it bloops to left center over the five infielders' heads.

In the pandemonium that follows, I only remember a few things:

The A's running out of the dugout to mob Scutaro at first seemingly before the ball even hit the grass.

High-fiving No. 19 and Celeste and the guys in the row behind us, even the one guy who says over and over, "What did I say? A's in 12!"

Wanting to cry, but being too dehydrated to produce tears.

• I didn't even bother to stay for the fireworks show.



(Game experience: Loge 66 Row 1 Seat 2 with No. 19 to my left and Celeste on the folding chair !!! to my right)

A's record: 90-63 | streak: W-4 | magic number: 2 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Zito's last regular season home start with the A's?

I'm going to the game tonight with No. 19 and Celeste.

The A's, first place in the AL West with a magic number of 4, vs. the Angels, 7 games behind.

Tonight's starters are Barry Zito (16-9) vs. Jared Weaver (11-2).

Let's see some fireworks (both figurative and literal).

Game #152: A's 7, Indians 4

September 21, 2006 | A's vs. Indians

The magic number is down to 4. The Angels are off today.

Rich Harden pitched three innings and the bullpen took care of the rest.

We see the Angels starting tomorrow!


(Game experience: None)

A's record: 89-63 | streak: W-3 | magic number: 4 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #152: A's vs. Indians in progress

Did anyone see how Harden looked?

So far the A's are ahead, but the Indians just scored so it's 4-2.

Let's go A's!

Game #151: A's 4, Indians 3

September 20, 2006 | A's vs. Cleveland

"MILTON BRADLEY'S GOT GAME!"

As GeneralChiang would say. Milton Bradley's solo home run puts the A's on the board, then his single drives in the tying run with Cleveland. Team MVP Frank Thomas (as far as only the A's are concerned) gets a double that puts the A's in front. Naturally. And there they stay.

• Esteban Loaiza goes 7.2 innings. He could've pitched longer. Why'd Macha put Joe Kennedy in? Could Loaiza have done worse than Kennedy, i.e., let Grady Sizemore reach home and score the Indians' third run of the game?

• I missed Frank Thomas's double when I stopped at an ATM. Can't wait to check out the highlights online tomorrow.


(Game experience: KYCY 1550 AM and FSN Bay Area)

A's record: 88-63 | streak: W-2 | magic number: 5 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game 3 with the Indians

Argh! Working a little later tonight than usual and I may be cut off from all media during the commute home.

I hope Esteban Loaiza continues to sizzle down the stretch.

Let's go A's!

as of end of yesterday's game:
A's record: 87-63 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 6 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #150: A's 7, Indians 3

September 19, 2006 | A's vs. Cleveland

I saw Bobby Kielty's first career grand slam!

I went to the game with Lucija, Samir, and their houseguest. Many thanks to Samir for these tickets. They're great seats — nice view of the A's bullpen mound. (Above is a photo from later in the game when Huston Street warmed up

As we settle down for the first pitch with our ultimate nachos, Lucija happens to mention that she's a jinx. "I've been to four games and the A's lost," she said. I told her, "Don't worry. I'm here." Then at the top of the 1st inning, Saarloos gives up a run. After three innings, the Indians are ahead, 2-0. Hmm...

I wasn't keeping score and Lucija and I had a lot of catching up to do, but I noticed that the Indians would get on base often. However, Saarloos would work his way out of it. Usually with a strikeout. By the end of five innings, Saarloos would rack up 11 strikeouts.

(The only other A's pitcher to strikeout 10 or more batters in five innings or less is Tim Hudson. Huddy did it during his June 8, 1999 major league debut in San Diego. I heard this on the post-game radio show.)

Bottom of the 4th and Lucija mentions she needs to get up from her seat. "But let me wait for Frank Thomas's at-bat," she says. Thomas strikes out. "I'm the reason," Lucija says. Then Payton pops out. "Um, why don't you go to the restroom now?" I say to her. She leaves.

Then Chavy comes up to bat and crushes the ball over the center field wall. The crowd cheers loudly. Samir and I high-five. He says, "Lucija's not here!" over and over. I laugh hysterically. Then I look at the aisle and see Lucija doubling back to see what's the commotion. "Get out of here!" I yell, but lovingly. She goes to the restroom. We welcome her back afterwards, wondering if the A's will do better or worse.

Saarloos continues to give up hits to the Indians, but gets himself out of jams with those strikeouts. Meanwhile, Cleveland starter Cliff Lee keeps the A's from doing any damage. Until the bottom of the 6th. The Big Hurt walks and Payton singles. With one out, Swisher goes to a full count then gets hit by a pitch. Bobby Kielty comes up.

Lee throws the first pitch of the at-bat and Kielty kills it. The ball flies over the left center wall. I can't see where it lands because we all stand up to go nuts. It's a grand slam. The crowd refuses to cease clapping and shouting until Kielty is forced out of the dugout for a curtain call.

At the top of the 7th, when Kielty goes to position in left field, the Left Field Bleacher fans — they of the crazy signs and large flags — goad him into tipping his cap to them. All of us in left field give Kielty another round of hearty applause.

(A's fans are getting all New York with these standing ovations and demands for curtain calls this season.)

The score is now 5-2, A's and everyone breathes easier. "We're gonna win this game," I say confidently. I'd been saying that since this morning, but I hadn't said it since just before the first pitch.

"You're released," Samir says to Lucija. She says, "My jinx is over!"

To assure her, Nick Swisher hits a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 8th.

• For the first few innings of the game, the A's seemed rather lethargic. At one point, three players converge to catch a fly ball, but it drops to the grass in the middle of them. Instead of saying, "Mine!" maybe they each said, "Yours!" Even the infielders, particularly Chavy seemed content to let groundballs and foul pop-ups to get by. Hmm. The A's don't get an off day until the end of the season, 12 games away.

• The tattoo on Swisher's elbow is NOT real. He announced this on Robert Buan's Extra Innings show tonight. Apparently Swish went to a henna shop at Busch Gardens and got the black widow design to spook Chad Gaudin.

At last Friday's game, Tanner Boyle and I noticed the "tattoo." I tried to take a picture of it, but this was the best I could do. Click on it for a larger image.

• I saw SteveO outside the Coliseum while waiting to meet Lucija. Yes, SteveO recently became a father, but the got the chance to attend tonight's game while the wife and li'l O visit the grandparents.

• No. 19 calls my cell. She's at the game and only two sections over. "Stand up!" I say with the phone to my ear and she rebuts, "I WILL NOT STAND UP!" As Huston Street gets the last out, I spot No. 19. We meet afterwards and she and Lucija get to catch up. Gee, I should've corralled SteveO for this mini-reunion...


(Game experience: My ticket says Sec 128 Row 13 Seat 7, but I was actually sitting on Seat 5 with Lulu to my right.)



A's record: 87-63 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 6 | well-A-meter: 5.00
number of cars stolen from me this game: 0

Game #149: A's 2, Indians 7

September 18, 2006 | A's vs. Cleveland

Oh, well.

Jake Westbrook outpitches Danny Haren. The Indians score runs like it was going out of style.

The A's magic number remains at 7. And I did make a mistake. The Angels didn't play today so even if the A's had won, they still couldn't clinch until Friday. We'll see how this goes. I don't do very well with this type of prediction!

Good news: Rich Harden comes back. He starts Thursday, the rubber game against the Indians.

Better news: Barry Zito starts Friday. I'm going to the game on Friday which also happens to be a fireworks night. This is likely Zito's last regular season home game in the A's uniform.


(Game experience: First couple of innings on radio, the rest on TV)

A's record: 86-63 | streak: L-1 | magic number: 7 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #149: A's vs. Indians starts 7:05 pm PST

September 18, 2006 | A's vs. Cleveland

In less than a couple of hours, Dan Haren (14-9 with a 3.79 ERA) matches up with the Indians's RHP Jake Westbrook ( 12-10, 4.27 ERA).

Danny, of course, got the A's started on their latest winning streak last Wednesday. The Indians hold a sad 69-79 record in the AL Central where the Tigers and Twins are in the thick of their pennant race. With Cleveland currently 19.5 games behind the first-place Tigers, could this be easy pickin's for the A's?

The Athletics magic number is at 7. We could conceivably clinch during this four-game series, if the Angels cooperate. (But how much sweeter it would be if we clinch when the Angels come to town this weekend!)

Enough daydreaming. There are still actual games to play.

If I'm lucky, I'll be home in time for first pitch.


as of yesterday...
A's record: 86-62 | streak: W-4 | magic number: 7 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #148: A's 5, White Sox 4

September 17, 2006 | A's vs. Chicago White Sox

Frank Thomas for MVP!

Jump on the bandwagon! The Big Hurt makes a compelling case for MVP with this afternoon's performance. Just the latest in a string of game appearances where he gives the A's the tying run or the lead.

Why do they continue to pitch to him?

Frank Thomas's three-run home run erases the 2-0 lead of the White Sox whose playoff chances are also dwindling.

Joe Blanton picks up his 16th win despite a mediocre outing. Eight hits in five innings, including that homer to the despicable A.J. Pierzynski. Like Zito yesterday, Blanton can thank Thomas for carrying the A's to the win today.

Let's take on the Indians!


(Game experience: Some TV)

A's record: 86-62 | streak: W-4 | magic number: 7 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #147: A's 7, White Sox 4

September 16, 2006 | A's vs. Chicago White Sox

A COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN AGAINST THE WHITE SOX! Thanks to Frank Thomas for his homerun in the 6th and the walk in the 7th that tied the game.

As is common with the Big Hurt's big plays, the A's come alive and usually go on to win the game.

This game started out badly. I worried for a while. And I was mostly worrying about Barry Zito, who was having a baaaad day. I stopped counting Zito's walks after he reached four. At one point, Zito even inspects the three baseballs with Kendall and the umpire.

But today was Zito's lucky day. He's still the pitcher of record during the satisfying bottom of the 7th when Thomas ties the game with his bases-loaded walk and when Chavy gives the A's the lead with a consecutive bases-loaded walk.

• Today was Frank Thomas mask giveaway day. Many people at the Coliseum wore, displayed, or waved their mask. It made for some amusing shots on TV.
• When Jermaine Dye hit his two-run home run in the 3rd, I simmered. I liked him when he was with the A's, but did that time have to be the DL years of his career?
• Kennedy, Duchscherer, and Street come out of the bullpen and blank the White Sox.


(Game experience: Fox Sports Network Bay Area)

A's record: 85-62 | streak: W-3 | magic number: 9 if the Angels lose, 10 if they win | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #146: A's 4, White Sox 2

September 15, 2006 | A's vs. Chicago White Sox

We won, but so did the Angels.

The Athletics magic number is now 11.

I watched the game with Tanner Boyle from his supreme season ticket seats behind the A's dugout. Great view of some fantastic plays.

• Esteban Loiaza's five strikeouts as he pitched seven innings and gave up only three hits and two runs
• Jay Payton's backward flying catch with one-legged landing into the back wall
• Mark Kotsay's one-out triple in the 3rd to score Scutaro
• And Scutaro's own triple in the 8th (I love triples)
• Swisher's sac fly that scored Chavy and Ellis's sac fly that scored Payton -- really fun to watch from our seats
• Speaking of Scutaro, why didn't I mention him first? He was four-for-four today. He and Loaiza were interviewed in the post-game radio show and you could hear the blaring dance music in the background. A happy locker room for the A's tonight.
• Duchscherer's two strikeouts following Kennedy's one which comprised the perfect top of the 8th
• Huston Street's battle with Jim Thome in the 9th (We were all standing at the Coliseum and I felt that anticipating the end of the game when there were only two outs would only induce a walk. Sure enough, Thome walks.) Street gets the last K needed, of course, to get the save.

And best of all, when I walked back to the Coliseum BART parking lot, the rental car I drove to the game was right where I left it.


(Game experience: Sec 121 Row 6 Seat 12 with Tanner on my right)

A's record: 84-62 | streak: W-2 | magic number: 11 | well-A-meter: 4.00

And our magic number is 12!

Yup, the Oakland Athletics magic number as of last night is 12.

I'm excited!

So what's everyone planning to do for the last 10 home games of the season? I myself am planning to attend at least one game of each series.

As for the post-season, has anyone purchased any rights? What has your experience been like?

Would you attend every playoff game at home if you could? Of course we know our first answer is yes, but would you really?

Because my car was stolen along with my laptop, I have been preoccupied with the inconveniences of dealing with insurance companies and borrowing friends' cars. I finally picked up a rental this morning. I'll be back on IM later today when I re-install the right software on my replacement desktop PC.

Also, I'm not springing for season tickets for 2007.

Why? Reason #2 is my impending decision on replacing my car. This was not an expense I planned on incurring this year. Let's just say every dollar counts.

Reason #1 is, I attend more games when I don't purchase season tickets than when I do. And I have stats to prove it. Check this list. By the way, this list is not complete. I don't have the heart yet to put in the September 5 game I attended. That, of course, was the game when my car got stolen.

Game #145: A's 1, Twins 0

September 13, 2006 | A's @ Minnesota

What a score!

Dan Haren stops the Twins in their tracks.


I'm going to borrow a page from Blez at Athletics Nation and create an Open Thread for the A's games we have to come, particularly day games. I know you get antsy and want to share.



(Game experience: Very little. Peeked at Gameday a couple of times. Got an update or two from Dr. Dan)

A's record: 83-62 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 14 | well-A-meter: 4.00

PS - Magic number subject to change!

Game #144: A's 5, Twins 7

September 12, 2006 | A's @ Minnesota

I only heard the beginning of the game... you know, when things were good. We scored two runs, we were taking advantage of the Twins (wild pitch), our hitters' balls were ripping past the outfielders.

And then I had a meeting to go to and by the time I came out, WE LOST!

I've got to post this right away so I'll be brief. Joe Kennedy was on a streak -- what was it 15-plus innings without giving up a run? The streak had to end sometime. That's baseball. The numbers catch up with you sooner or later.

DJ was 0-for-11 then he hits a bomb. Showing off for the home crowd? Maybe. The numbers catch up with you sooner or later.

The A's were hot for the month of August and then some. Perhaps it's time to cool off for a little. But -- please! -- only a little!



(Game experience: KYCY 1550 AM for the first two innings only)

A's record: 82-62 | streak: L-2 | magic number: 14 | well-A-meter: 4.00

Last call!

Anyone notice I put a calendar of A's games on the blog? Yeah, I know, I do it on the last month of the season.

Foolishness aside, we're down to one final homestand for the season. Yes, check the calendar again. There are only 10 more games at the Coliseum over three final home series. We have the Chicago White Sox here this weekend, a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians next week, and then a weekend series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (hate that name).

Even the A's sales office is offering an interesting promo. You can get tickets for these last 10 home games and get postseason rights.

As for me, I feel like a trader at the stock exchange floor. I'm fielding calls and emails about which games to go to and with whom.

Gotta decide soon. The time to go to the Coliseum to see our A's is this weekend or next week. Or, if they're good, we still get to go next month. And if not, then next year.

See you in the stands.

Game #143: A's 4, Twins 9 final

The Metrodome, originally uploaded by Paralyzed Playa.

September 11, 2006 | A's @ Minnesota

[Updated 9/11/2006 11:42 PM: I got the correct A's magic number at the bottom of this post, thanks to Al's sharp editor eyes!]

LIVE BLOGGING

5:55 pm
Top of the 4th, I take a peek at Gameday and the A's are on the board.

After reading the comments from GeneralChiang and Al about the A's and the post-season, and after having lunch with Tanner Boyle today, I'M NERVOUS!

This series with the Twins is so important, I almost can't watch! I'm scared of the Twins. They put the fear in me back in October 2002.

On another topic, I'm going to keep posting the A's magic number and if I get it wrong, please call me on it. I know amongst you are hawk-like scoreboard watchers!

7:00 pm
Omigosh isn't this what I was talking about? Blanton allows Torii Hunter to hit a HR. Blanton out, Halsey in. Halsey gives up two runs. Come on! This is a nightmare and a half!

7:22 pm
Going offline for a little bit. I'm still commuting!

~8:30ish pm
Cut off from any media and standing in line for cheap but good Japanese food on College Avenue, I call the one person I know for sure is watching the game, the one person who will answer the phone, the one person I can rely on no matter what. "Mom, what's the score?" To my surprise, it's still the 9th, the Big Hurt is up, and two are on base. But in the pit of my stomach I know the game's over and indeed the game ends with the score of 9-4 Twins.

• Frank Thomas's HR for a sixth consecutive game is a career-high. Bravo, Big Hurt!
• Blanton struggled tonight. Michael Cuddyer was the other Twin who hit a HR off of Blanton. Blanton gave up nine hits, six runs, one earned, over 5.1 innings -- ouch!
• And we had three errors!
• As Tanner pointed out to me at lunch today, Zito and Haren have had rough starts leaving August Pitcher of the Month Esteban Loaiza as our "ace."

(Game experience: Some MLB Gameday)

A's record: 82-61 | streak: L-1 | magic number: 14 | well-A-meter: 4.50

Great Baseball Names

Everyone knows baseball has produced some great names. The Mop Up Duty blog has put out their list of favorites.

At least three former or current A's are on there: Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Milton Bradley.

What? No Kiko Calero?

Great Baseball Names at Mop Up Duty.

Game #142: A's 9, Rays 6

September 10, 2006 | A's @ Tampa Bay

What a wacky ending!

• I confess, I wasn't sure if Huston Street could do it. But a mini-powwow on the mound with the infielders and then... Line drive right to Dan Johnson who can't beat Cantu back to first. DJ gets up and throws to Scutaro who tags second to get Norton out. And it's a 3-6 double play to end the game. Whew!

• Exciting game with each team taking turns at the lead. But once again, the A's don't give up when they lose the lead. That tenacity is buoying the well-A-meter.

• The Big Hurt homers for the fifth consecutive game. There's also been talk of his signing to be DH for the A's next year. I'm all for it!

• Thomas isn't the only one with the home runs. Chavy, Swisher, and Scutaro also homered today.

• This is embarrassing, but when I heard Rays's starter Jae Seo's name over the radio pronounced as J-So, I thought they were coming up with a hip-hop nickname for Johan Santana of the Twins.

If the well-A-meter is not at max, I'm feeling a twinge of fear that we're too hot too early. I hope the A's sustain their winning moves for the next 20 games... and then some!


(Game experience: Some radio and TV)

A's record: 82-60 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 15 | well-A-meter: 4.95

Game #141: A's 6, Rays 9

September 9, 2006 | A's @ Tampa Bay

I'm stunned.

These are the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for crying out loud.

According to Esteban Loiaza, who lost for only the second time in his last eight starts, "The only thing I can say is that they hit everything."

Frank Thomas with the A's, originally uploaded by WellaOnTheWeb.

• Frank Thomas homered in the top of the 2nd. He's jacked the ball for four games in a row! Doesn't it make you wish we were going to the World Series tomorrow?

• Chad Gaudin came in at the 6th after Brad Halsey got the first out of that inning. Gaudin gave up a run, his first since the All-Star Break.

• Saw some friends today and told them the whole story about last Tuesday. I said, "I was forced to park on some side street because the BART lot was full. People came early for Frank Thomas bobblehead day. At the end of the game, my car was stolen." Sue said, "It's the Big Hurt."

(Game experience: Some radio, a smidgen of TV)

A's record: 81-60 | streak: L-1 | magic number: 17 | well-A-meter: 4.95

Game #140: A's 8, Rays 6

September 8, 2006 | A's @ Tampa Bay

Yet another downside to my car getting stolen: my total commute to and from work is now a whopping 3.5 hours a day with the addition of public transportation. The wifi wasn't working either way and I lost precious writing/blogging time.

I'm cranky.

With the A's away, neither did I get ANY information on the game. It's a consolation, I suppose, to hear that we won.

Frank Thomas had yet another three-run home run (his second for the week) and Nick Swisher hit a grand slam (his second for the season)! Dan Haren picks up win #13 and Huston Street is back as closer and finally nabs save #30.

Feel free to correct me if I got my facts wrong.


(Game experience: None)

A's record: 81-59 | streak: W-2 | magic number: 17 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #139: A's 9, Rangers 6

September 6, 2006 | A's vs. Texas

The day after...

I got a loaner laptop at work and a new one will be issued to me. I spent chunks of my afternoon in meetings and retrieving my backed-up data. So I didn't find out about the game until the evening.

• Mark Kotsay two-for-four, four RBI, zowee! I read about how he's playing through his back pain because this is his first time in nine years in the bigs to get a good shot at the post-season. I forgot that since Kotsay's been an Athletic, we have NOT gone to the playoffs.
• Frank Thomas homers again! I must say, I was deeply impressed by his electrifying performance yesterday. He really brought both the A's and the fans back to life at the Coliseum last night. I'm glad he's on our team.
• Joe Blanton gets win #15.
• Justin Duchscherer racks up another save. I'm liking him as a closer! We don't have to rush about bringing Five A Rent-a-Space spokesperson Huston Street back. Though he will be available, according to reports, on Friday.
• The Texas bats were good, but the A's were better. The fact that the Rangers have several .300 hitters and the A's don't make victories like this more satisfying.

(Game experience: None)

A's record: 80-59 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 18 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #138: A's 4, Rangers 5

September 5, 2006 | A's vs. Texas

I'd like to write more about tonight's game, but I'm too upset. My car was stolen from around the corner of 75th Avenue while I was attending the baseball game this evening.

Kudos to Frank Thomas and the A's for not backing down. And a big thank you to Robie for the free ticket to a very exciting game. While I'm at it, thanks to Officer McKellar of the Oakland PD for the filing of my police report.


(Game experience: Sec. 128 Row 24 Seat 16 with Robie on my left and GeneralChiang on my right)

A's record: 79-59 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 4.90

Game #137: A's 1, Rangers 8

September 4, 2006 | A's vs. Texas

We can't win every game, that's what I told myself all afternoon.

A strange game with Rangers rookie outfielder Nelson Cruz going three-for-four, two runs, and five RBI. And he had an exciting inside-the-park home run, in part thanks to Jay Payton. Poor Jay Pay missed Cruz's fly ball as well as two other plays in the game. And it wasn't all his fault; Zito walked three in the first inning! Texas scored first and never stopped. The A's stranded 12.

At one point, the TV broadcast showed Billy Beane sitting in the stands. Somewhere right behind home plate. If Beane wasn't throwing chairs around, then we don't need to.

Maybe we'll win tomorrow when I go to the Coliseum again.


(Game experience: Some Action 36 Cable 6)

A's record: 79-58 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 4.90

Game #136: A's 10, Orioles 1 updated with photos!

September 3, 2006 | A's vs. Baltimore

Today was Build-A-Bear Giveaway Day. Unfortunately you have to be 14 years old or under to receive a bear. I thought of borrowing one of Dr. Dan's daughters (and even discussed it briefly with him), but that's simply unrealistic.

• The A's scored nine of their 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. I settled into my seat just in time for Dan Johnson's grand slam. This is the second of his young career and came at his first at-bat since he was brought back from the minors. It was the first pitch!


• I hate being late for games and today's crazy 1st inning is only one reason why. I was still eating my sandwich and cradling my radio on my lap. Usually I like to get food and settling in business out of the way, before the first pitch. When that doesn't happen, I feel like six-time hotdog-eating champion Takeru Kobayashi.

• Orioles starter Hayden Penn faced the entire A's line-up and started again from the top. The A's scored seven times already when Russ Ortiz relieved Penn. No change to the O's fortunes as Ortiz gives up a two-run HR to Mark Ellis. Ellis has been sizzling lately!

• The 10th run of the game came from Eric Chavez in the 4th. Like everyone else, I was pleased to see the A's continue to compete in this game despite the huge lead. More than just an opportunity to pump up one's stats, it was time to show fans that this team is serious, focused, and determined. Likewise, I didn't leave the game until the last out was recorded.

• Most of the excitement took place in the 1st, so by the 6th inning I actually nod off for a little bit!

• I've nothing but words of praise for Adam Melhuse. An effective and exciting pinch hitter, he doubled in his only at-bat.



• Today will also be noted as Jeremy Brown's major league debut. He came in as DH in the 8th, but flied out. I've seen Jeremy Brown at the Coliseum before, but this is his first at-bat in the majors.

• Antonio Perez confounds me. His BA is not even in triple decimal digits. Today he doubled in the 8th and I cheered for him loudly, sincerely, and purely without irony.

• FOUR double plays in this game! If I understood correctly, that means the A's have tunred 149 (?) DPs this season. The most exciting one today turned a the top of the 5th with runners on first and third to end the inning. The game ended with a DP, too.

• Once again, I'm giddy that the A's win at hme and don't have to play the bottom of the 9th. There's something beautiful about that X in the scoreboard.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
BAL (61 - 75)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	8	0		Final
OAK (79 - 57)	9	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	X		10	16	0

• When did everyone start calling Esteban Loaiza "E. Lo"? What a horrible nickname! I won't stand for it!

• By popular request, the well-A-meter goes decimal this month of September. The A's are dominating and I'm so confident in them, I haven't needed to lower it from 5.00 since we reached this level last week. And, yes, 5.00 is the highest the well-A-meter goes.


(Game experience: Sec 203 Row 10 Seat 2)

A's record: 79-57 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 5.00

Game #135: A's 5, Orioles 6

September 2, 2006 | A's vs. Baltimore

Out all day and I heard nothing — NOTHING — about today's game.

I saw a couple of guys with A's hats and I thought of asking them if they knew what happened.

Later, I finally got my cousin to use her cell phone to go online and let me see the score.

I know we can't win every game, so I'm cool. The A's will probably start another win streak tomorrow.


(Game experience: None)

A's record: 78-57 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 5

Game #134: A's 5, Orioles 4

September 1, 2006 | A's vs. Baltimore

COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN TO START THE SEPTEMBER RUN

This is a good omen. In the 7th inning, Milton Bradley ran for second base on Melvin Mora's error. Then Frank Thomas slugged the ball to the left field seats and put the A's in front of the O's. Baltimore sags after this point.

How many times did I think that about the A's in years past, especially when the A's were up against strong teams like the Yankees. The A's are not the underdogs tonight. They weren't underdogs in the entire month of August during a 21-6 run!

I was happy with:

• Antonio Perez's tagging a baserunner between second and third was an unusual out for me. I don't recall seeing a play like that before.

• I LOVE MARK ELLIS! Three-for-four with two RBI. He hustles and is safe on first at the bottom of the 7th which loads the bases. Even though he didn't touch the bag as seen in the instant replay.

• Justin Duchscherer makes for an excellent closer. We forget he's an All-Star.

• Brad Halsey gets the win, not Joe Blanton. But Blanton wasn't awful.


(Game experience: Some FSN Bay Area)

A's record: 78-56 | streak: W-4 | well-A-meter: 5

Bay Bridge Closure

If you live in the Bay Area and you still don't know that the eastbound Bay Bridge will be closed for the entire Labor Day weekend, then your loved ones must've paid the ransom for the kidnappers to release you today. Welcome back.

The lower deck of the bridge will be closed starting 11:59 PM tonight, September 1 and won't re-open until 5:00 AM Tuesday, September 5.

So what about the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers? They have to come to Oakland from San Francisco for the games this holiday weekend.

I heard on KCBS that the buses for those teams will be allowed to cross the bridge with an escort.

I LOVE IT!

Let everyone in the Bay Area change the way they're getting around for three days, but let the Oakland A's games continue!

Bay Bridge Pictures