Open Thread: Game 162 - Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners

Okay, I'm not going to lie. While I will miss very little about this season (Willingham, McCarthy and the Mrs, and Moscoso, I'm looking at you), I have to admit I did get a little choked up looking at the game thread queue. Our next game is April 6th, against Seattle (OF COURSE), and that seems like a very long time away. You can ask me again in January, and my answer might be different, but for now, I'm just as happy to leave 2011 behind. I really hated this season; it's one of my worst as an A's fan, and if it wasn't for you wonderful people, I never would have held it together for six months of twice-a-week gamethreads for this team.

We get to start at .500 next year, and that sounds pretty great right now. The very best the A's can do with a win tonight is 74-88. They will not be playing in October; again, yet some more. But we will see Gio one more time tonight, and he will try for his career-high 16th win. He'll be facing some rookie for Seattle, and I'm certain that Vasquez will pitch well against the A's offense.

And it must be said: As a baseball fan, you HAVE to love the playoffs this year. Right now, we're in the middle of two games that will decide it all; Boston is playing Baltimore, and Tampa Bay is playing the Yankees. Boston and Tampa Bay are neck-and-neck for the Wild Card. If that wasn't wacky enough, Atlanta and the Cardinals are in the same exact position; playing the Phillies and Houston respectively. Currently, Tampa Bay is being SMOKED by the Yankees. Their only chance at the playoffs is for Boston to blow the 3-2 lead they have going on. St. Louis is smoking the Astros; the Braves are clinging to a 1-run lead. Weird how all of those games have the same current score.

And this October? The playoffs are going to be good. And if nothing else, go root for Ziggy.

Game starting at 7:00 PM. I love you all!

Here are your lineups: (Thanks, Baseballpress.com, for being there for us ALL YEAR!)

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!