I went to the game last night.  The festivities were outstanding.  My crutches got me past the huge line at gate D and got me on a wheelchair to my seat.  Probably got me the Rudi jersey too as it looked like they were running out.  See, maybe there is an upside to a broken femur.

The older players came in on 70s muscle cars.  70 GTO, 69 Mustang, 69 Challenger, all beatiful and full of 70s A's greats.  Then they brought out 3 WS trophies.  I can't help but think in other universes the A's would have won another of those in the last 10 years.  But it is great to honor the team of the early 70s.  The pirates unis were at least as good as the A's too.

Then came the game.  Cahill is really good, and all his pitches seem to have movement.  The Pirates looked Dazed and Confused out there.  I don't know if anyone has touched on this, but what I see is Coco Crisp eating into the playing time of Rajai Davis.  Well that and Connor Jackon, who was batting 3rd?  Well if he keeps hitting .320 what are you going to do?  Somehow it seems like Kouz should always bat higher than 6th.  But maybe I'm quibbling.  As far as Coco, that dude appears locked in, and scored on a Barton double 3 times.  Of course Barton appears quite locked as well.  

Now I have to add some critical comments.  The A's were slumping til the Pirates came to town, but the Pirates are just the team to get the A's some wins.  This team is full of guys who either I never heard of or guys where when they come out I say, "that guy is still in the bigs?"  Did everyone know Dotel was their close?  I didn't. Sort of the witness relocation program for MLB.  In a way it is sad to see what looks like a AAA franchise out there.   

Then there was just one other hiccup in an otherwise great game.  Cahill was shaky in the 6th, dominant in the 7th then shaky in the 8th.  And until the 8th he had only given up 1 infield hit and had 10 Ks!  But in the 8th he was over 100 pitches and his body language out there didn't look how I'd like to see it in a pitcher throwing a 2 hit shutout.  He was looking down at the bullpen and looking into the dugout. Kurt went out to talk to him.  I guess he is young, but he's winning 5-0.  I would have rather seen him keep throwing strikes and finish that 8th, pitch count be damned.  Breslow and Bailey were more than up to the task of finishing this one off though.  Sweep today sounds excellent.  If I were them I'd break out the yellow jerseys again today.  What the heck?