And they come through for Jason on his birthday. Nice job, Jamie.
Can anyone else believe we’re only 1 1/2 games out of the wild card? Does anyone really think this team could win a playoff game right now? Would Justin Leone be on the roster if he was born in Port Orchard? These are the things that keep me up at night.
In other news, a pretty weird “Bob Melvin may be fired” rumor is apparently circulating. Besides the fact that he deserves to come back next year (as shocking as you may think that is, I actually kind of like The Box), there is no way ownership is going to pay him to not manage. If they won’t cut bait on Jeff Cirillo’s contract, they certainly won’t pay someone to take Melvin’s job next year. Lest we forget, Melvin is a rookie manager, and despite his warts, I think he’s done a decent job. He has some flaws, but he improved as the season went along, and I don’t think anyone could have managed to make the playoffs with Ichiro turning into Roger Cedeno in the second half.
Speaking of Roger Cedeno, I find it amusing how people forget that he was a guy Gillick wanted. How many moves has Gillick been saved from by someone else? Cedeno, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Contreras, Aaron Boone. Even the guys that Gillick doesn’t get suck. But, he’ll be leaving shortly, so we can finally bury that hatchet. Hooray.
And, to answer the most commonly asked question I hear, no, I don’t think there’s even the slightest chance that the M’s hire Paul DePodesta. Personally, he wouldn’t be my top choice anyways. Give me Chris Antonetti (Cleveland’s Asst. GM), Tim Purpura (Houston’s Asst. GM), or Derek Zumsteg (USS Mariner’s President, CEO, and Hall of Fame writer).
Alright, lets all chime in:
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birhtday to You
Happy Birthday to Jason
Happy Birthday to You
OK.
I don’t do this very often, but here goes — I’d like a win today for my birthday. Is that too much to ask?
Thanks,
Jason
Although it’s only postponing the inevitable, I will say “thank you” to the Angels for scoring three runs in the bottom of the 9th tonight to beat the A’s.
Particularly embarassing: Oakland may use the last series against the M’s to re-set their rotation going into the division series, gifting Seattle with some mercy wins against the Sacramento Rivercats.
Congratulations to the 2003 American League Western Division Champions, the Oakland Athletics.
If you’d like to look on the positive side, you can always view the countdown on the left as the time remaining in Pat Gillick’s tenure in Seattle.
From the “Too little, too late” file: The A’s have lost OF Jose Guillen for the rest of the season with a broken hand.
New Big Board. Not much doing… the M’s called up Luis Ugueto, and that’s about it. That should be all she wrote as far as callups go, unless they get creative and bring up Bobby Madritsch. I don’t think they will, though.
Since there’s nothing good going on with the M’s right now, it’s time for…
Last Game at Everett, redux
The field at Everett Memorial Stadium. I’ve always thought it looked like a suped-up little league field, though I will admit it looks nicer than what you get down in Tacoma. And that’s AAA baseball!
Aaaaand we’re underway. Sam Hays delivers the first pitch of the game.
Despite it being the last game of the season, the stands down the third base line weren’t exactly packed.
“Kids, Lionel Hutz no longer exists. Say hello to 3B Nick Orlandos!”
Adam Jones, the M’s first round pick this June, waits for his turn to hit.
“Garbage, garbage, garbage!” No joke — there’s a high school kid in a tux who collects garbage. I couldn’t make this sort of thing up.
More to come…
M’s lost, Boston won and Oakland’s up 7-0 in the 7th. If you’re keeping track, that drops them 1.5 games back in the WC and will drop them 4.5 back in the division once the A’s wrap things up. I’m ready to call the division a done deal, even if some people keep pointing to those magical six games with the A’s in the next two weeks. Remember, even taking 4 of 6 only nets you two games in the standings.