GameThread #143: A's @ White Sox

There isn't much to say. The A's have to win. I still maintain that a .500 September will get the A's into a wild card spot, but of course, with 20 games left, now would be a great time to find a way to start reeling off some wins. End the season on a high note, host a wild card game with Jon Lester on the hill and the team brimming with confidence.

My goal for the last 20 is 13-7. The A's play a lot of games against the White Sox and Rangers, so I think that is doable. The mood here would improve by leaps and bounds if that happened.

Now is the time. Just remember, all's well that ends well, and we still haven't written the final chapter on this season. That starts today, in my opinion. The division is all but officially won by the Angels. Time to just get back to playing good baseball, and perhaps a hitter's park is what the doctor ordered.

I cannot think of a more favorable pitching matchup than Sonny Gray vs. Hector Noesi. Noexcuse for losing.

The White Sox are not really playing a bunch of call-ups, but perhaps we'll see some mid-game substitutions. Paul Konerko is out, so the old lions Konerko and Dunn won't get to face off, but I'm sure they can at least meet up. The two erstwhile teammates have combined for over 900 career home runs. Konerko is planning to retire at the end of the year. Dunn was planning to retire, but has mentioned that the hunt for the postseason has re-invigorated him. Would love to see him go deep a couple of times in his old stomping grounds.