As many of you know, I was in Estonia this past year, but I'm finally back.  I got back like a week ago and it's been crazy.  From family and friends to my dog, to all of the comfort foods, 700 channels and TiVo, I'm realizing all of the things I took for granted before moving to Eastern Europe.

But the one thing I was missing most?  Our Oakland Athletics.

No doubt that I had you guys this past year, which was tremendous in terms of satisfying (and intensifying) my baseball addiction throughout the offseason, spring training, and the first half, not to mention the all-inclusive MLB.tv package I got by forking over $100 (~€77.8).  But this was no comparison to actually going to the games in person and feeling the Oakland mojo flow.

But as my job search has yet to fully materialize, I've made it a point to get to as many games as I can, while I still can.  I hit up the Coliseum Yesterday and Today (well, I guess technically it's yesterday and 2 days ago, but who's picking nits...besides monkeyball?) for the 2nd and 3rd games of the Rangers series, and I had a great time both days, but the games were entirely different, as you guys know.

Tuesday night was one of the best games I've been to in recent memory, as it was exciting throughout, not to mention the fact that I was sitting 5th row behind home plate thanks to some tickets my friend somehow acquired.  I was there with 5 high school friends (wow, high school was 6 years ago, I feel old), so it was great to see them, and the highlight of the game was definitely the Back-2-Back magic of Swish and JayPay.  When "Nicholas," as the people next to me were calling him, hit his 3-run homer, the stadium erupted. Then, just as we all were realizing that the game was starting again and that we needed to calm down, JayPay unloaded, as if to say "Keep cheering, OAKLAND!!!"  It was the encore of encores, and I slapped 5 with complete strangers around me.

Saarloos came in and dominated, which made him the player of the game, in my opinion.  He bailed the rookie out; I hope Komine was taking notes.

Street gave us a scare in the 9th, as we easily could have lost the game, or at least gone to extras, but he got the job done.  Or rather, Kendall got the job done.  But regardless, a win is a win, even it is not the prettiest thing in the world.

Less than 14 hours later, I was back at the the stadium formerly know as The "Net-Ass Coliseum," where I was hoping to witness a sweep of the Rangers and the A's head to an off day with a 7 game winning streak.  Problem is...exactly the opposite happened.

14-0?!?  That's a football score, after the first quarter.  Zito gave up 4 homers...what gives?  I mean, we haven't had a loss like this since Opening Day, when the Yankees trashed Zito.  But luckily, he bounced back after that start, and hopefully can do the same thing this time.  I'm not worried, but this wasn't pretty today.  But, then again, just as a win is a win, a loss is a loss.  It doesn't matter if your opponent scores 1 or 14 runs, if you don't score any yourself.

But while the A's just didn't have it today, it still was a lot of fun at the game.  Today I was in the more economical (though nothing compared to the $2 seats of old) left-center field bleachers with my parents, and as the game progressed, I scarfed down 5 dollar dogs.  YUM.

Before leaving for the game, I'd posted back and forth briefly with saint , and knew that we'd be in same the vicinity during the game.  So when I spotted who I thought to be him, I went over and said whats up.  Nice meeting you, bud!  I also met Duke of Left Field, high street, and JLaff.  Hopefully sometime soon I'll get a chance to catch a game with them and chill drummer-style in left field.  They definitely do it right and the energy, mojo, or whatever you want to call it, that they generate is off the charts.  It's definitely one of the reasons I love the A's so much, and one of the reasons that catching games live in person is so much fun.  Rock on guys and gals.

Even though it was H-O-T, I had a great time, and can't wait to get back to the Coliseum again soon.  I'm out of town for the TB series, but I'm back again Monday and think I'll catch at least 2 of 3.  I'll definitely be going to the Wednesday game-- would anyone be down to do a mini-tailgate before, possibly in the BART lot, and then hit up the $1 Dogs inside while watching the A's mash the Mariners for the 15th straight time? {crosses fingers} {knocks on wood} If there is interest we can definitely make sometime happen.

Well, it's great to be back, to be going to A's games, and to be meeting some of you guys.  Let's hope our August mojo continues-- 6-2 so far, with the D-Rays and the M's next.  Go A's!!

[editor's note, by rungood]

{crosses fingers} {knocks on wood} {breaks finger} {cries} {bandages finger} {types using hunt & peck method} {injures back while squinting at keyboard} rungood placed on 15-day DL