a special feature coming to AN for the offseason or is that just me suffering from withdrawal?

I'm sad the season is over. I really wish that the A's could have made it to the post season (obviously) but I had a great time this year despite it. I think that all the bad things that happened this year have made me more excited about 2008. Next year is going to be awesome, I just know it. I'll enjoy watching the post season, but I'm already looking forward to Spring!

Thanks for a good year, AN! I wouldn't have kept my sanity without you. :)

that the A's will challenge the Angels for the AL West title in 2008.

All the pieces are here now...  a good top of the rotation and if Harden is healthy an excellent overall rotation.  We've got a good core of good young hitters in Swish, Buck, Barton, Cust, and Suzuki and, maybe even Hanahan.  And, let's not forget our gold glove caliber 2nd baseman, the underappreciated Mark Ellis.  If Chavez comes back healthy and productive, it'll just solidify what is potentially a very good offense.  After seeing Barton play the last couple of weeks, it doesn't look like there is room for DJ on this team next year.  Of course, we're still stuck with Kotsay, but I'm hopeful BB finds some way to replace him, even if it costs the A's the full $8 million to do it. And, next year is Bobby Crosby's year...  30/100, I'm sure of it!  ;-)

May have to rearrange our bullpen, but Beane is more than capable of shoring that up in the offseason.

I see good things for the A's in 2008.  A new dynasty is born!

we didn't finish last.  I'm telling you, I've been watching the Rangers games, and they were playing HARD to finish out of the cellar.  At least we managed to hold them off ... it's somethin' at least.

watching my team play... if not win most of the time. I'm ready for another season already. One in which we show our strengths, and not our weaknesses. Can't say I'm excited about Harden coming back, as I don't see him ever being healthy again, but, we'll see. :)

I'll be happy with a healthy infield, stellar starting pitchers, and some hits with RISP. I think we're almost there.

After being in our seats for about 40 games this year, we made sure to say goodbye to the A's today, and they didn't disappoint. Barton homered, Gaudin was outstanding, and we won on a walkoff from Suzuki.

With the game over, Geren kept the team on the field for a bit, and they waved to the fans. Some threw caps and tossed balls to the crowd above the A's dugout. We didn't have a great year, but we did have a great day.

We'll miss the 2007 season, and are ready for 2008 to start, real soon now. Thank goodness AN can help bridge the gap.

will be this off season?

Thomas was a great steal.
Piazza not so much.
Here's hoping a gold mine is out there somewhere.
Please not Bonds... Please oh Please.

I just got back from the game. Some impressions:

Gaudin got into an all too typical bases full no outs jam from walks in the second inning. We were shouting to him to get himself together "you can do it Chad, throw strikes!" ...and he did. I think he struck out the side that inning, on the way to an eleven strikeout, 70% strikes game, easily his best effort of the second half. He got a standing ovation after that inning, and also when he finished in the eighth inning.

As he has done for the past few weeks, Piazza kept making those "got fooled, half swing" outs...until the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line. He got a real nice ovation when he came out for a pinch runner (he actually started coming out of the game before Geren indicated he was going to take him out!). I kind of think he's done, but it was a nice send-off to a classy guy.

Barton is the MAN!! Suzuki is the MAN!! Ellis is the MAN!! Actually, the young guys were fun to watch. And as the A's poured out of the dugout after the win, they gathered in a group in the middle of the diamond as Geren addressed them. Then they walked toward the dugout, stopped and applauded the fans as we applauded them. Lot of balls, hats, and gloves got thrown out to the stands, and some lucky kids in the front row received bats as well.

It was a beautiful day at the ballpark, where we also cheered the Raiders, the Phillies, and the Rockies and thanked the A's and the coliseum staff for another season together.

I'm looking forward to seeing what changes take place to this team over the winter.

I especially would like to thank Blez, Nico, Monkeyball, baseballgirl, and louismg for all their hard work to make this site what it is.  I would also like to thank all the regulars who have made this season entertaining.  If it wasn't for all of you I would've went crazy.  Misery loves company.  Looking forward to discussing/debating the off-season and continuing my anti-Cust rhetoric with you all.  Thanks again!!!

BTW...Cust has the most K's in the least amount of AB's in one season in MLB history ;)

FROM OAKLAND

so the 2007 A's season really is over <sigh>

I don't see it as a lousy season at all. It would've been lousy if we ended the season like this with everyone healthy.
With everything this team's been through, it definitely could have been a lot worse. I think Bob Geren did his absolute best under the circumstances. All the unexpected and expected injuries allowed us to make some nice finds in Suzuki, Gaudin, Buck, Barton and Cust. With these guys, the addition of another solid bat, and others returning to good health, the future all of a sudden looks a lot brighter. 2008 here we come!

;( It feels kinda weird not winning as many games as the previous years, but overall I think the A's played pretty well with all the injuries to their veterans.  I'm super optimistic about 2008 with Suzuki, Barton, Hannahan, Buck, and all the new guys.

Still waiting for the AN v. MCC softball game. I'll be MVS (Most Valuable Specator).

We;ll whoop 'em like Tron beat the MCP!!

of an exciting 2008 season.

A's will do great.

we'll keep in touch and....

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!!

The A's may not be flashy and they may be searching for an identity (in baseball terms) but one they always are is classy. They win and lose as professionals, and I can live with that. We can talk injuries until we're blue in the face, but 1) alas, they are part of the game, and 2) sometimes you find out what you're made of in times like these. The kids did alright, and surely it bodes well for the future.

Like to thank AN, also. I came in at the tail end, and for a minute I felt as if I had overstepped unspoken boundaries, but mainly I just hope to blend in next season, and offer my two cents every now and again.

Soon,

Today might have been my last gave ever in Oakland.  I am moving back to Canada in December and at this point in my life flying back to attend games is not likely to be a priority.  
My next home A's game may be in Fremont, if ever.

I got really choked up as I was leaving.  So many years and so many moments.  My first game was in 84 watching Rickey, Murphy, and Mike Davis run around the outfield like whippets.  I remeber seeing the awesomeness that was McGwire's rookie year in 87.  That was the first season that I followed closely from start to finish in spring training.  I was 10 and I cried when they were elimiated in late september that year.  I remember the excitment of 88, being the favorites all year and winning 104 games.  I was at Rickey's first game back in 89, when Ken Phelps broke up a perfect game with 2 out in the ninth with a dinger, Olmedo's walk off in 99, when they scored 27 against Texas in 2000 on the second to last game of the season, and so many more games.  I came of age there as I ventured out going to games myself as a young teen, taking bart.  So many good momenents.  Goodbye, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum.  I am going to miss you.

the 12th overall pick in next year's draft.  

Tampa got the #1 overall again.  Justin Smoak will look good in green (and blue and grey).

I STILL LOVE THE A's!!!!!!

i cried when piazza walked off the field probably for the last time as an Athletic.

i cried again when swisher ran out after the game to hand out bats and other stuff and i saw him with a really sad look on his face.

i can't believe this season is over!

what a fun win today though!

GO ROOKIES!! GO 2008 A's!!!

and GO PHILLIES! i'm SO happy they knocked the Mets out of the playoffs!

I always hate when our season ends but am very happy that we won the last game and avoided 4th place.  It doesn't mean much to some but does to me for some reason.

I am looking forward to watching the playoffs this season because I've had time to adjust to our losing for some time now.  Normally I can't stomach another baseball game after we lose in the playoffs or barely miss them.  Can't wait for 2008.

Pretty cool to see some fans that had an enjoyable "last" day--

http://www.purplerow.com/story/2007/...

TBS will televise the playoff game tomorrow and I'll be watching.

...to avoid last place, although I wasn't home to see it. :P

Personally, I won't miss the 2007 A's season, and I'm glad it's over.  Call me one of the resigned and jaded.  It was nice seeing some of these rookies give hope for the future, but I just can't say this season was fun.  I'd prefer to toss this box into the basement next to the unused exercise equipment and try again next year.

But first, I'm hoping for an exciting playoffs, preferrably with Cleveland in the World Series.

I missed the entire last weekend of baseball, but I was driving home today from out of town flipping radio stations and just happened to catch Ken and Vince about 200 miles outside of Oakland. (And I literally thought - I may even miss listening to Vince - and then I snapped out of it.) So I was stoked, even though the feed kept going in and out. What a great way to end a less than satisfying season, win-wise. Like everyone has mentioned, there are some serious bright spots for 08, and I can't wait! Spring training here we come!

the right side of my head is about two shades darker than the left side thanks to sitting in the same spot two day games in a row!

my friend and i ended up staying as long as possible after the game ended to try to soak in every last bit of the A's and the coliseum as possible! i didn't think i'd be so sad the season was ending after this disappointing year but it was really sad!

• gaudin warming up in the bullpen before the game. he was outstanding today!

• another gorgeous day in the bay area!

• barton trotting home after his HR! i <3 BARTON!</li>

• jerry blevins - he's so skinny!

• huston warming up ... before giving up the game tying HR to the angels.

• shannon stewart scoring the game winning run!!

• THE A's WIN!!

• the team gets together for one last meeting in 2007!

• the A's waved to the fans to say thank you!

• the players threw out their caps, gloves, and even bats to the fans!

• swisher, the fan friendliest player EVER, came down the third base line to high five fans!

• he even went back into the dugout to grab a couple of bats to give away!! (seriously, how can somebody NOT love swisher?)

• more swisher! he looked sad the season was over too!

• aww.

what a GREAT game to end the season!! THANK YOU, A's!!

for the season to end the way it began