Gander

[SCUDSBROTHER]

I was watching the A's last night.Most every damn game they are down a couple runs,and get them easy as pie to win.Last night that piece of crap Seattle actually had a 1 run lead on them into the bottom of the 8th.In the 6th,and 7th,Seattle had some stud out there throwing nice bee bees,but of course he's gone come the 8th,and Hargrove(even though he can't buy a win against this team) won't put in the closer(PUTZ..ain't making that name up.)So,I am tortured here.Some fat lefty(brought in to get the lefty Chavez)throws some hanging piece of dung,and Chavez drills it for a single.Hargrove wallers out to the mound to get rid of the fat lefty.No,still can't bring in the closer.How many games in a row have they lost to this team? But no.Can't go to your top weapon just yet.So,he brings in some AMANOTHERBROTHER(do you remember that horse) LATINO in.The Oakland play by play guy says that this pitcher is a good pitcher when he is healthy,but that he was on the disabled list 2 weeks ago.I know it's trouble.Then I see Swisher come to the plate.The man I least want to see.The lefty who swings for the fences with every cut he has ever taken.Every damn cut he takes looks like he is swinging an axe at a tree that needs just one more cut to come down.Not to mention that Swisher's grandma died a year ago to the day,and he is pointing to the sky with every hit on the night.I tell my friend that this guy is going yard.He says that maybe they will walk him.Sure enough Swisher sends one deep to right.Ichiro looks like he might have a play.No.No, it's an ice pick in Scud's back,and a 2nd one in his right ear canal. Just one more game where I have to watch the A's hug'n,and kiss'n in euphoria.Unless they have some injuries to their 5 offensive guys(Swisher,Bradley,Frank Thomas,Payton,and Chavez)I honestly don't see anybody beating this team.Period.The turning point seems to be about the last game that they played Boston(when Haren was dominant.)Since then they have been incredibly good,and incredibly confident.If they are full strength in the playoffs,they are gunna get rings.Their achilles was Loaiza,and injuries to key offensive people.Loaiza is onboard,and the guy has all of the sudden got the smoke back on his fastball.If the post started today,they would roll on by everybody.They are playing like the '76 Cincy Reds.They are loaded with pitching and the defense is incredible.You simply are gunna have your hit total cut in half by these people.You'll get nothing through the infield that isn't above the infielders heads,or scorched in the holes.If you think you are gunna get a hit down the line over the 1st or 3rd base,then you're on dope.Ain't gunna happen. I have never seen 2 guys field their positions better than Chavez and Swisher.Never is like 35 years in my case.You go through these guys if you want a ring.They have had offensive problems in the past.I guarantee you they don't now.If they want on base,they can damn near will it be done.Unless they have injuries,you'll be watching these guys celebrate a whole lot come October.

[Gander]

Oakland has beaten Seattle in 13 straight if I am not mistaken. And I guess I wouldnt be too shocked if they were to go all the way. I think Chicago is still the team everybody has to beat but I guess right now Oakland is more likely than any other AL team to do it. I dont get a chance to see Oakland all that much, I do get their games but they are on way too late for me.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Gander

Oakland has beaten Seattle in 13 straight if I am not mistaken. And I guess I wouldnt be too shocked if they were to go all the way. I think Chicago is still the team everybody has to beat but I guess right now Oakland is more likely than any other AL team to do it. I dont get a chance to see Oakland all that much, I do get their games but they are on way too late for me.

Well,a lot has changed since I played the Angels to win the division.Lackey was pitching consecutive shut outs in early July,and saying the ball is going exactly where he wants it to go.I don't know wtf happened to that guy.He went to the mound on a hot day in July(7/19,)and had nothing at all,and has never come close to the way he was pitching in his 2 starts in early July.That killed me.Without him being dominant,I knew I was in trouble,and I covered the bet(so I won't lose anything when the A's take this.)At the same time as Lackey was regressing horribly,the A's got back Bradley,and also Swisher was just starting to get over MONO type symptoms.This was 3 or 4 days into the 2nd half.Then,after throwing a shut out at Seattle(right before the allstar break,)Colon can hardly get one out in the 2nd half of the season,and officially is in the can until forever (probably.)As this is happening,the Halos manage to take a couple series against bad teams while the A's lose a couple series to red hot Detroit,and Boston.Then the A's offense starts to really heat up with Bradley,Thomas,Payton,Swisher,and Kotsay starting to really hit.Then,Chavez comes back to play 3rd base.At first, he doesn't hit well,but not a thing,barely the wind,gets by this guy at 3rd base.He is a f'n freak.About 10 days ago,Chavez starts to hit the ball better,and now he is a tough out(like Bradley,Thomas,Swisher,Payton,Kotsay.)The last brick in the wall came on August 2nd.On this day,their worst starter,Esteban Loaiza,came to the mound with newfound mph on his fastball,and he has been tough to score on since.Like they are right now,they are almost impossible to beat in a series.Toronto has tried.Halos have tried.Seattle has tried.Texas has tried.Tampa can't come close to a legit try.I can see things changing only if Loaiza struggles,or they get injuries to Bradley,Thomas,Payton,or Swisher.It would make a big difference too if Chavez(who was out a great deal this year with real bad forearm soreness) went down.Things are click'n,and if they stay healthy like this,they will be extremely tough.