I wonder what Obama will say when the A's show up at the White House next spring to get their congratulations for winning it all. Cuz, folks, that is what they're going to do!
The news about Alberto Callaspo coming to the A's for Grant Green is good for several reasons. Callaspo bats well against left-handers, he's got solid experience as a utility infielder and can give Bob Melvin an option to rest Josh Donaldson at third or Jed Lowrie at shortstop and platoon with Eric Sogard at second. And Callaspo has good bat control, can hit to the opposite field and add some depth to the team.
Let's skip over the A's 5-0 loss to wily Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays last night. What a joy it was to watch last night's game when Cespedes, Reddick, Donaldson and Seth Smith all got solid hits Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays. And Yoenis finally got back on the home run track since his awesome Home Run Derby display (still wonderful to watch). With 55 games remaining in the season, our Oakland A's are in first place by five games and a 63-44 record, 19 games above .500.
Even with AJ Griffin giving up three homers to the Blue Jays (and leading with AL with 26 'taters) and Grant Balfour's stunning blown save against the Astros last week, it's pretty clear that America is finally taking notice of our guys. I think we can go all the way, past the divisional playoffs, win the American League pennant and knock off the Dodgers in the World Series. Imagine Cespedes against Puig!
I'm actually worried whether the Coliseum plumbing can hold up through a lot more sell-out games, but I'm pretty confident the team is on a roll.
Nothing is a done deal. Look at the Dodgers in first place, the Tampa Bay Rays pushing the Red Sox in the AL East, and the poor Giants eight games below .500 after Lincecum was pummelled by the Cincinnati Reds dissing him after his sweet no-hitter.
But I hope the Oakland A's really take it to the Majors for the rest of this season. They have played well many more times than they played badly. Loved they way they came behind three times to beat the Angels. On Sunday, when the Rangers had lost to Cleveland, the A's found themselves in a 5-0 hole after two innings against the Angels. They could have shrugged their shoulders and given up the game, They would lose no ground. But no, they chipped away, then pounded the Angels to win 10-6. The next day they pummeled the Blue Jays 9-4.
