I laughed all day...until the 10th.

It's too bad ... the story could have been "Big Frank gets revenge" ...

".. The Yankees on Monday recalled former A's outfielder Terrence Long from Triple-A Columbus and signed former A's designated hitter Erubiel Durazo to a Minor League deal. Durazo will be assigned to Columbus, where he'll join former A's first baseman Carlos Pena. Eric Karros, Billy McMillon, Chris Singleton, Eric Hiljus and Ariel Prieto are still retired."

Thanks, Mychael. It put a smile back on my face after the downer of tonight's game's end

The A's get well against the M's, win a thriller on Friday night, have Halsey hang in there against Schmidt, blow a couple of chances to win on Saturday and get blanked yesterday.  So they go to Chicago, the reigning champs who didn't want any part of the A's in last year's post-season.  FT has a glorious return, Guillen gets tossed, the best available starter is cruising but still can't keep that pitch count down, the closer comes in after seemingly being back in form, promptly gives up a tying home-run, more chances and a failure to make the return more glorious by FT after Employee #3 wisely got his ass down to second.  That was the game right there, we all knew it.  Now the White Sox have the momentum and may have turned the corner around them pesky A's.  Hopefully in 48 hours the A's will have taken the series and this will be a short-lived stick in the eye.

It's frustrating because Los Kirk against Vazquez scares me tomorrow.

I do agree with you Nico in the sense that if you're willing to use Street for four outs, why not five?  But the problem then becomes, someone will say why not six or seven outs.  Not only do the A's have so many pitchers on the DL, but it seems like Street has a problem right now too because his velocity isn't where it should be.  Does anyone ever remember the A's, outside of Hudson's oblique, having this many pitching injuries when Peterson was here?  That's not to insinuate anything, it's a serious question.

• Scutaro needs to be sent down to AAA, at least.  He is over matched at the plate, and doesn't look to be into it mentally in the field (Today's grounder by Thome.  Yesterday's non-relay throw).  Give Perez a couple starts.  Bring up (dare I say) Keith Ginter.
• Was Street even ready to come in for Keisler?  It seemed like they rushed him into the game in the 8th.
• I had to listen to the WhiteSox TV during tonights game.  Wow.  Enough "He Gone"'s, and "Stretch"'s for lazy fly balls.  Saying how the strike zone was complety one-sided for ZITO....some of the worst homerism ever witnessed by these two ears.
• I'm sure Ozzie Guillen will get props for being thrown out of the game..."Having his players backs", etc...what a joke.
• The game winning bunt was so predictable.
• Swisher and Chavvy are starting to look very mediocre at the plate.  Time for others to step it up.

I hope we at least take the series...that will help me (me, thinking of me, me, me, me)

There. Are. No. Words.

some thoughts;

Thomas's fireworks were...um...AMAZING! The place had just given him a standing O for the first AB, and it went deathly quiet, weirdly so, like they were all thinking about how it was when he hit 'em for 'em, not against. 2nd? mostly boo's, scattered with a few cheers, and me yelling "go DEEP, Frank, go DEEEEEEEEPPPPPP!"

Scutaro at 2nd tonight, in the end, was a killer. that play should've been a double-play.

DJ loooked bad swinging, and in a funk after the last K, where he swung at a funky (read "bad") pitch.

Ozzie's a dick, and I'm sure he'll be championed in the papers like someone else has already mentioned. to me, he's still a dick, and it makes me happy for Macha.

Street looked hittable and then nasty, just at the wrong times.

Rob Macowiak? Are you kidding me?

Crosby's shot was a bomb, almost in the same place as Franks right before him, but Franks seemed like it was headed for the moon. Epic. Truly a stunner for that whole crowd, and one of the best baseball moments ever for me to witness.

Sending Kendall not such a bad idea, in that it meant Swisher had another chance at it next inning, which he almost crushed outta the park.

Zito. 6 BB's. weird. had to make some nasty pitches to maintain. Feel like I jinxed him by tipping my A's hat while he was on mound, and I swear he tipped back, and then was out after that inning.

I like Scutaro, but I think...how do I say this...needs to be Menechino'd. Either that, or Perez, um, needs to STEP up, or I'm all about giving Ginter another chance...

cold. very cold...until about 6th inning, several beers into it...warmer...cold.

choakland. hearing Sox fans chant that walking outta there made me want to vomit on someone's new Sox hat.

more notes from tomorrow's game.

'fish.

I didn't see this earlier cause I was on my way home from work and just missed it. (I turned on the TV just as the ball went into the crowd, so yes, I did see Bobby's HR! =D) But I TiVo-ed the game and just now watched the first 2 innings.

I have to say, I was very touched by the response that was given to Thomas coming to bat. From what I could tell, there was a lot of respect given to him and it was a very nice moment. Then even after he hit a home run, there was still a lot of cheering and standing for him. It seemed like a really nice moment for Thomas to enjoy.

I am very happy that the Chicago fans were so mature and kind to him. He totally deserves it!

I just wanted to share my reaction to that moment cause it really touched me.

Au contraire (at least for the first 2 at-bats;-) - it was a standing O, which makes the first shot SO amazing. It went from that deafening roar of applause to silence, and the place was stunned.

I should point out that this wasn't a game the A's lost any more than one where the White Sox did a heck of lot right in the last 3 innings. Mackowiak had a clutch pinch-hit. Jenks threw the ball great when he needed to. Ozuna got the bunt down perfectly.

And if the A's are halfway healthy, they still win it.