heard the fireworks and thought.. thank gawd it's finally over.

They got what they came for.

Can't stand Bonds, but heart Aaron. So classy.

they suck.

and, surprisingly, it is contagious.  Cust wasn't having too much trouble hittin' 'em out, making good contact, until he'd been around the clubhouse a while.  Now the mentality is affecting him too.

Guys think about "not failing", or "I gotta succeed" instead of savoring a pitcher in trouble.  It's almost Pavlovian.  It's like a dog who used to see a rabbit, and would be "off like a shot" after the rabbit.  Put an unseen electric barrier in there and shock the dog every time he goes so far, and soon he'll yelp in pain at the sight of a rabbit.

So goes the A's.  When Cust came in and hit a bunch of homers his first week, it had two effects.  First, he didn't have to press because of past failure, and he was certainly not expected to be a force.  So he swung with success.  Second, with Cust providing a lot of run support, other guys returned to a more productive mindset.

But run 4-5 games like the Mets series, like the Twins series, and everyone is pressing, no one succeeds. The "new blood" (e.g. Cust joins the team) phenomena is absent.  Instead, the guys see Swisher shake his head at the plate after a swing and a miss, they see Johnson wince like  his only child just fell overboard, and every player batting wants to "make up" for the shortfall.  And so it snowballs.

The A's almost got no-hit for nine innings last night.  That rekindled (or, "re-Kendalled") the mental weakness, rolling into today.

I used to be against "set lineups" but I'm beginning to think that a set lineup, at least for a lowest-scoring-in-AL club, might be the best of bad choices.  Lefty, righty, no matter who is on the mound.  Tired, not tired, 0-for-your-last-22, ...you'll be in there, unless it's 10-1 in the 8th.  Us or them winning.

And, if you cannot single regularly, ... bunting is in order!  Even Cust!  Even Piazza!  OMG that was dreadful.

Musing about this as I proofread...you know what, I think the historic failure of Kendall at the plate during April-May basically torpedoed this season.  Every man on the team respected and admired Kendall.  He starts in April as the leadoff hitter.  His failure, lack of success, strikeouts, GIDPs, it simply infected, then corrupted, the whole mindset of the team, and it won't recover effectively this year.  Now that the pitching has reverted to expectations, it's like pouring hot water on a fevered patient (the hitters).

5 excellent starts in a row? His emergence/lack thereof for the 2008 season may be the single most important factor in the A's hopes--especially considering it could determine whether or not the A's can afford to deal a starter (Blanton?) to get hitting help.

replays of the HR.

So if Bonds' alleged use of steroids render his accomplishment as "not real."  So what does that make of the A's 1989 World Series Championships?  A fraud as well?  Remember the Bash Brothers?

I hate Bonds as much as the next person.  I think he is a very horrible human being and somebody who plays the race card too quickly.  He should know better and not take so much for granted, especially when he was a kid in the clubhouse when his dad played, when there was real racism out there.

Using steroids as the reason to dislike Bonds is hypocritical.  I bet you that every team in the majors had a fan favorite on 'roids.  If you hate Bonds for that, then you must hate all baseball.

Let him have his day.  This record does not mean has much as Hank's nor will it last as long.  I'm sure A-rod is waiting patiently in the wings for this one.  I have my issues with A-rod, but at least he deserves it more than Bonds ever will.

is watching other teams have productive ABs with RISP. Sigh.

Still...Let's not lose sight of the positives b/c there are several. Andrew Brown looks very good, each week Suzuki looks significantly better than the week before, Donnie Murphy shows some promise--at least for a utility role if not a starting platoon role--and Braden has put good starts together back-to-back while Meyer is looking great in Sacramento.

I feel a bit better now seeing that the Giants can't seem to hold a lead

Strangely, I've noticed the A's and Giants seem to be following a similar path

If I recall correctly, on the 6th at around the same time, the A's faltered against Francisco Rodriguez while the Giants fell to Hoffman. Yesterday, both teams won in extras. Today, it appears neither can hold a lead as the Giants are also facing at least a 2-run deficit heading into the 9th

that starts, "If you're watching this, then I'm dead..."

nervous about the off-camera gunmen.

he handled the media attention very well

I liked the answers he gave

just as tarnished? If when someone approaches your record, pitchers refuse to pitch to them so that the record can't be broken...That's a record?

himself. Guess it's from long practice.

Wrong!

Limbo!

Heh heh.

Bradley saying, "I've never fought anybody in my life"! Other than possibly his wife, the law, every organization he's been with, and his own credibility, that may be true.