goldenshadeofgreen-blog

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Game 2: Tuesday, July 18, 2015 - Oakland Athletics v Los Angeles Dodgers

OAKLAND, CA - So, I’m usually the most photo-journalistic sports fan I know. It’s a can’t miss, I mean really - here we have a storied franchise with an elite pitcher on the mound, and I’m not even taking photos.

I take that back - I was shooting video mostly, experimenting with my director’s itch to be somewhat Spielberg in my approach toward an idea of what I picture my “Field of Dreams” to be. Instead I’m treated to an A’s/Dodgers game posing as a Raiders/Anyone-Dumb-Enough-To-Be-The-Other-Team. Between the fights and ruckus, I got glimpse of what it’d be like to be at a SF/LA love fest. 

Something tells me I need to mark it off my bucket list. 

Of course, the game played on, which meant this year’s version of the A’s bullpen will and does blow the 1-run lead against LA. There’s a back and forth battle of comeback runs runs with the Green and Gold finally prevailing in 10. 

So ends my short “season” and I go 2-fer-2 for the year. Until then, I’ll check you guys on the fly ball home run trot to the plate.

GSOG 8.25.15

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Game 1: Saturday, July 18, 2015 - Oakland Athletics v Minnesota Twins

OAKLAND, CA - To this, our wonderful day in the park.

 So, our first time out involved a lot of flying balls and some athletic guys swinging the hard wood around in the hopes of smack a few out in public. This as the beating summer sun makes everyone into a sweaty mess. Thank goodness we did it under the shade.

 The only naughty we could think of though as we sat in our seats is that Tyler Clippard de facto closer committed the ultimate sin of allowing Minnesota to score two off him on the top of the 9th with just one out left to finish the game!

 Alas, would our first sporting event together out in the ghetto part of Oakland known as the O.Co for some Athletics baseball turn our like the rest of this miserable season?

 Rough, I’m sure though on a side note, the former Coliseum, unlike the glitzy spectacle that is AT&T Park, is a unique kind of experience to behold in all its antiquated glory. Not to run afoul, but between saying, “Hello Kitty!” as in it was her bobblehead day, and sporting the Green and Gold threads to what turned out to be a nail-biter of a game, I would say it was pretty much a successful kind of weekend.

 In short, it was everything and then some, a memorable place in our short dating history. Whether they win or lose, it was enough to hang out with a sweet girl with the lovely golden curls. (Yet, deep down inside, I desperately wanted the upswing of a win to solidify a home run of kisses later) However, it was even better that on a swirling wind of a Saturday afternoon, she supported my love for this team with her own kind of fashionable statement: A strand of green highlights on the front end of her bangs.

 And bang up job it was, for the home team. Despite clinging to a one run lead, thanks to the weakened state of a very shaky bullpen relinquishing it to the visiting Twins, it was very much the olden days. Sort of like last year, when the specialty of that team was to beat all the odds and have a little luck on their side. It was here on a July evening when the All-Star Stephen Vogt came through and the boys ended up winning last at bat in extra innings on what turned out to be the very last game Scott Kasmir would ever pitch for the A’s.

 Such is the rotating life of being a player in the clubhouse one moment, and then going off the trade winds next. Still, it was fun for the both of us. For her, I could easily tell by the way her cutesy smile glowed in the Oakland evening she had a wonderful time.

As she clutched her Hello Kitty in hand along with mine we walked out into the streets, threaded in our own Green and Gold splendor, memories abound on what turned out to be of the most wonderful day in the park.

 GSOG 7.18.15

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SAN JOSE, CA - A whole lotta something went down in an offseason filled with several questionable marks. Yet for one magical opening night, new faces made us fans forget just how tumultuous 2014 happened to be. Quite a good night at the office actually for starting pitcher Sonny Gray and crew. Thanks a lot to those powers that be who considered blacking out this game in favor of the team in the other side of the Bay - I couldn't even physically watch the game. Sucks too because from what I heard, there were several long balls, big sticks, and precision pitching going on at the O.Co this evening. In turn the team won their first game to start a season in like forever, while #54 kind of made more of a name for himself myself as he flirted with a no-hitter in giving Cecil Fielder and Texas a big fat donut in the process. Even better was that some of the newbies (Zobrist) and a couple of the wily veterans (Vogt and Sogard) on the roster provided some instant offensive punch to back Gray's near perfection. Granted a few of the acquisitions (Butler, in particular) will require a little more time to acclimate themselves to the Green Collar way of doing things. Yet, at least in this game, some of that Spring Training mojo is rubbing off quite nicely - still, let's temper things a bit, shall we? While I wont jinx it with the implausible idea of a division championship this year, I will say it'd be nice if the club happens to rock it like it was 2012 all over again. Until then though, I'll simply keep my (now heightened) expectations muted, till the next at bat. GSOG 4.6.15

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SAN JOSE, CA - Turning the corner has long left the point of reasonable return for a team, which at the halfway point of the season was considered "World Series Contenders." On that note, when finally recognition from a biased media relented, and admiration and accolades came raining down from those who at the time realized the A's were legit, the world was Oakland's oyster. 

Now the team is raining down on its own parade.

This loss simply epitomizes everything that has gone terribly wrong the last half of the season - the bullpen has forgotten how to close a game; granted, there's more to it than that, and Doolittle is getting back from an injury.

But seriously, surrendering 6 runs in the 9th, totally unacceptable.

If the team even manages to sniff the playoffs, I can only hope that the players on this club play with some dignity, and prove to everyone out there, their belief in this team wasn't just a passing fad.

GSOG 9.17.14

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BURLINGAME, CA - Despite all the turmoil this team has gone through the last few weeks, they are after all still my team.

And I receive no better joy than to experience the opportunity to meet the players, live and close up, as I did last Saturday at Lefty’s Sports Collectables in Burlingame.

  In tow, Sonny Gray and John Jaso, who mingled with us fans and signed autographs. Even better was the fact I got to hang out with some A’s fans – sort of felt like I was at the Coliseum again.

  Anyways, it was a good time had by all; maybe, just maybe the team can get out of this funk, and if there are more A’s fans supporting it, we can expect Crisp, Donaldson, and the rest of the gang to make repeat appearances?

  Let’s get the Wild Card first boys, and then we can talk up a ‘parade’. Until then, go A’s!

 GSOG 9.13.14

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At Home Plate - The End is Near: Or What Really Happened to the A's in the 2nd Half

SAN JOSE, CA - After last night’s 4-2 submission to the Mariners, the A’s find themselves precariously holding onto a Wild Card spot by only ½ a game over the Royals.

  So, what the hell happened?

  It’s one thing to have a bad day at the office, but to turn losing into an everyday routine, not acceptable. The once promising run in the 2014 Oakland baseball season is disintegrating right before our very eyes with every mounting debacle of a loss.  As a fan, I’m doing my best to stay positive and not be cynical in these cases, holding out some sliver of hope, as many do, that the team turns the proverbial corner.

  Of course, I’ve only been saying that for the last 2 months now.

  The so-called light at the end of the tunnel dims with each new day and new game.  Worry rewards my loyalty as the A’s continue their bad run of ringing up big fat “L’s”. Bad is basically staring me right back in the face.

  And ultimately, the finger pointing is aimed right at the direction of Billy Beane, for the ego of his pet project has sadly run its course. Everyone’s patience is past the point of wearing thin, with message boards announcing the savage act of pitchfork carrying fans wanting blood. As for me, I’m still keeping my anger in check, and posting my grievances through the written word.  Yet, there wouldn’t be enough paper in the world to account for the insane ways in which Beane’s need to constantly tweak perfection has become a great example of an ego run amok.

  Less hitting for more pitching - fine and dandy, but the results are less than admirable.

  World Series aspirations are now a pipe dream on paper, a what-if scenario made us fans think there was something more to this all along when in fact, we’ve been taken for a ride in a lemon.

  The miscalculation on Beane’s part has brought out conspiracy theorists spending hours analyzing the ins and outs of this and that. For the purposes of this discussion, however, I’ll state what the trade has done:  undervalued the importance of this team chemistry, which for the first half of the season was the standard formula for success.  Best record in baseball and the entire world’s an oyster. Of course, we’re not eating well, now are we?

  Fans cry for Yoenis Cespedes’s return. And rightfully so.  But keep in mind even for all his good graces provided an every now and then ESPN Sports Center highlight show, he still wasn’t quite the offensive firecracker he was made up to be.  Sure he’d belt a few home runs here and there, but in the end his numbers were generally pedestrian.  

  No, his contribution laid in the fact that as a teammate, he brought comradery and stability to the crew. Basically, he kicked ass.

  Yet, for a short period of time, the team continued their winning ways without him. However, one cannot overstate the influence the Cuban Missile had when he was there.  I mean this was an A’s club that after much anger over the lack of media exposure finally ended up with 6 All-Stars for this year’s mid-summer classic. NOTE: I don’t count the Shark as he was technically with the Cubs for a majority of the year.

  They laughed. They joked. And they did things like a machine steamrolling opponents to an insane run differential.

  Then, he gets traded.

  Yup, take away Cespedes from the minds of his teammates, and suddenly everyone is average.

  Were the guys hard up for him? Possibly, if anything, someone to mentally crutch on for guys like Donaldson, Norris and Moss.

  Unfortunately, leaving them to their own devices hasn’t worked out quite that well.

  Goes to show that these players have the inability to handle the pressures and burdens of being All-Stars, or let alone to even get to the next round. Or in this case, even make the playoffs. Personally, the trade has affected them to psychologically overthink as they press pitches at home plate. In turn, the lack of confidence feeds the cancer, and casts doubt cast upon everyone – pitching in particular, but more on that on a later post.

  So, the questions is when, not if, the team doesn’t make at least the Wild Card, the season will be considered an epic fail, much like a bat making contact with a fastball and splintering upon impact.

  But what about injuries?  Ravaged with every imaginable hurt there is, the A’s sure got the short end of the stick when it came to these untimely situations. Understand that things like a strained neck, etc., are all part of the game. But by and large though, it doesn’t mean a professional player forgets how to play baseball.

  In the end, I’ve resigned to the fact the inevitable is coming. There seems to be a bit of me who wants the A’s to completely tank the rest of the season, to make the pains overwhelming to the point of it being a multi punch to the gut. When the AL West leading Angels stroll into town, I want the brooms to sweep the team under the rug. It has to be that bad. The Giants fans had their ‘Torture’, and what Oakland loyalists are currently going through is painfully obvious as well.

  Yet, despite being dragged along the baselines as the team limps toward the end of the season, there is a silver lining: Next year can’t come fast enough.  

GSOG 9.13.14

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Game 7: September 1, 2014 - Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners

Here’s putting a little sugar on my Frosted Flakes folks, because what I saw today show me when things are going good, they’re great!

  By far, the most complete, well played games the Green and Gold has put together in like forever – from Hammel (who pitched brilliantly) to the multiple hit barrage coming in the 1st, it was defensively crisp enough that Coco would’ve given the game itself an Afro Seal of Approval for the total performance each member put on show.

  Speaking of Coco, it happened to also be his replica jersey day giveaway. Sam Fuld, Crisp’s current replacement, God bless him, did his best impressions of the veteran with some eye-opening pair of sliding catches definitely on par for a Sports Center highlight.

  Add the fact the perfect end-of-the-summer day (a “blistering” 81 degrees) and the energized crowds, and ultimately, something familiarly magical about what the sold-out crowd witnessed. I mean, why deny what each and every eye in the stands saw? Especially when the A’s got it ‘Dunn’, as in newly acquired designated hitter, Adam blasting a homer at his very first at bat (#461).

  And back on Hammel for a moment – the guy was simply pitching like he has the Cy Young in the bag.

  Yet, during the long, hot days in August,  the empty feeling of apathy crept into the mindset of every member of this club, a feeling made worse and low without Lowrie to at least add a little punch to the offense – he returned on Sunday, sparking the crew by lighting up his bat for a couple of timely hits.

  As I said before, contagious – but when the infection is happiness of all of what this team is capable of doing, then good things are bound to happen from plate to plate.  

  Overall, I am pretty confident with the awesome sauce, as the guys needed some sort of assurance to get off the psychological trip of demented losing that’s chipping away at their collective brains. Granted, Bob Melvin’s closed door meeting planted the seed. It was up to the rest to stem from those problems and get off from the damn dirt.

  So, like any playoff contender, they finally played like one, serving up the Mariners, and grilling them, 6-1.

  Now, I apologize if all of what I’ve typed the last few sentences as commentary seems quite middle school in nature – please understand, I’m way too giddy as a kid on a first date with the hottest girl in school right to contain my enthusiasm of what was put on the field today.

  If games like this keep on happening, I’m pretty sure the A’s will themselves rounding the bases and dusting off home plate toward another familiar post season in the process.

GSOG 9.1.14 

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At Home Plate: When Even the Green and Gold go Cold - My Thoughts on a Miserable (Losing) Month

SAN JOSE, CA - It’s been forever and a while since I posted anything on site. As you can probably see the cobwebs in my mind seem to spin over to the page itself as I dusted off the covers and decided it best I do some writing every so often.

  So here I am, contemplating the kind of words to put on screen that pertains to the world of the Green and the Gold. Granted I haven’t put much thought into it, not because of my waning interest in the subject, but because there aren’t enough colorful ways I can thoroughly describe my current frustrations with the whole team.

For those following Oakland from the very start of the season, you’ll know exactly the seething anger boiling from within when a first place team suddenly loses their mojo, and forgets to play baseball; the whole thing tailspins into the traps of a month long losing streak that ripples in large waves and crashes into the head cases of the players.

  And that my friends is the skinny, because once something like that grabs and takes hold, even the best players succumb to such wills. As in the case of All-Star staff, which, to me has been a so-so group of current better-than-average individuals no longer capable of pitching for long stretch innings.

  Which leads to our hitters inability to, you know, hit the ball in crucial stages of the game. Or provide our pitchers some run support. Which, for a team piling 1 win for every three loses, it goes from, “Oh, we have a comfortable 4+ game lead,” to, "Damn!" real quick.

Yeah, that's basically worry and nervousness realizing a surging team is now lurking over their shoulders to take first place. 

  Fans like to talk about such conspiracy theories, like Beane trading Cespedes for Lester to be the start of the potential downfall into the depths of obscurity, to be the catalyst for the team’s struggles. I’d like to be more reasonable in my line of thinking, as in, the whole club went on cruise control and forgot about the other teams in the MLB.

  One loss is manageable, two is fine, three to four, well then it becomes a dimly lit place. And when it hits five plus, there rounds the question concerning one’s own abilities to even play the game of baseball. When that happens, and players over think their pitches or press at the plate, it lingers and it rots, till the whole thing stinks and you turn into something formally known as the best team in the league to a sinking club falling quickly to 2nd place, and beyond.   

Not to say any of this wont be corrected. 

Even as I write this, Oakland is ‘only’ 1 game from tying the Angels for first place, and tonight Lester is pitching. They are still Masters of their Own Destiny, and there's another series coming up next week against the dreaded Halos. However, one can merely hope that last night’s gut-wrenching win (Doolittle, an All-Star, not only almost blew Gray’s wonderful outing, but the game too), is the start of something good, something to build on.

Though for a team currently built for higher aspirations, this ought to be the norm, not an idea for a Hallmark greeting get well card.  

I’m crossing my fingers, because as a fan waiting since 1989 for a World Series Championship, I’m hoping, as all others, that the A’s exercise their demons. Or what could’ve been will haunt their dreams way past October.     

GSOG 8.23.14

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Game 6: August 9, 2014 - Oakland Athletics v Minnesota Twins

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Game 5: July 19, 2014 - Oakland Athletics v Baltimore Orioles

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Game 4: July 5. 2014 - Oakland Athletics v Toronto Blue Jays

Between the innings, and throughout the minimal crowds spread thin at the antiquated stadium, there amongst the hot dogs and garlic fries lied the most refreshing of the Oakland Athletics promotions for the year: Beer Fest.

  Yes, despite the crafty though limited array of spirits lining the walls of the Eastbay Club at good old O.Co Coliseum, I shall regrettably say this ought to be my first and last visit to the liquefied party atmosphere.

  Why the lack of say, buzz when it comes to something to quench one’s thirst on a hot summer day?

  My compadre said it best during his quickening pace up and down the packed corridor as he looked for his ‘specialty’ beverage, there ain’t much specialty when the beers can easily be bought at a local supermarket.

  “Should’ve been called the “Bevmo Beer Fest,” he grumbled clutching his miniature pint in hand. “This thing isn’t even glass!”

  He tapped the plastic touristy mug, the dulled tink echoing both our hollow feelings about the whole event.

  Still, the band got the crowd a-moving, and a-dancing during this A’s vs Jays match up.

  Plus, I got my groove on. I’m not much of a drinker, so call me lightweight as I downed my two ticket minimum and got enlightened once I cleared glass.

  All in all, I still had fun. The game still needed to be played. Toronto kept in interesting enough to keep Oakland somewhat engaged. After 9 stops, a pedestrian win is a walk in the park for these guys, nonetheless.

  As for me, a fan attending Beer Fest, juggling myself falling down and leaning forward is simply the hard line up after having a couple of brews. 

  Cheers!

GSOG 7.5.14

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FLUSHING, NY - Word out of the Big Apple: Mets take a cue from the now former offensive minded Athletics, and throttle Oakland at their own game.

Yeah, looking at the score, one could surmise not such a good start to the road trip. Though anyone who's been a fan knows that history this year serves as a reminder the Boys are pretty good about bouncing back from embarrassing beatdowns such as the one NY took with their bats. 

I'm cautiously optimistic this is merely a bump in the road (trip).Still, my valid concerns involve the pitching staff, who I feel aren't doing a better job of handling their business.

Between Milone (on Sunday), and now Kazmir today, a potentially glaring problem looms on both sides of the ball that even casual observers of the game will point out: The pitching staff falls behind so quickly, that the players now feel the need to make up the difference by shooting for the stars. Instead, Donaldson, an All-Star in the making has been whiffing on a regular basis (and dropping his average to a pedestrian .249). Add this quotient to the rest of the culprits, Lowie, etc, and the team has a faster strikeout ratio than before.

Even more disturbing? The Halos are playing much better (sweeping the Rangers) and are in position to chip away at the A's lead in the AL West. 

Granted, it would take a complete meltdown for the 2-time defending AL West champs to falter. (This team, despite their recent struggles offensively, is battle tested to combat these problems)

So, in short, there's time. But guys, I implore you, let's make every second count. Anaheim, my friends, is clock watching.

GSOG 6.24.14  

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Game 3: June 22, 2014 - Oakland Athletics v Boston Red Sox

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Game 2: May 31, 2014 - Oakland A's vs Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles - 5.31.14

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All A's, all the time.

I need to start being a more active participant on my blog; as of late, other things in life have turned my run to my own warning track quite a tedious journey of one mishap after another. Since my first game of the year at O.Co, my interaction overall interaction has been relegated to receiving alerts such as this one informing of recent wins, and mounting losses. 

Still, when I do manage to attend promotional days, such as the 1974 World Series reunion, and get a SGA in the process, i.e. a Catfish Hunter bobblehead, it makes for icing on the cake I have and eat too!

And that's what I'm needing right now, especially with Anaheim swinging into town. Last night's win over a much hated rival definite bodes well for the boys in Green and Gold. Here's to hoping the feel good vibes carry over into today's game against the Halos. 

Of course, I plan on attending the festivities early, and line up. My Instagram popped a bit once I posted my intent to game my Saturday in favor of an Oakland excursion. I don't get too many relatable responses, but a few fans, those who follow me, and those who happen to come across me like a happy accident (haha, see what I did there?), dropped some science in kind. It's pretty interesting that despite some of the lulls in social media, that people can actually play nice with each other, experiencing joys in a common thread.

In this case, it's an Oakland thing; you'll never quite understand. 

GSOG 5.31.14

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Game 1: April 19, 2014 - Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros

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The Washout: Or How I Paddled My Way Around the 2014 Oakland A's Fan Fest

by GoldenShadeofGreen (RCP)

- OAKLAND, CA - 2.8.14

So, here in Year #2 in this Oakland Athletics fan’s life visiting the Fest, and I’ve come to personally know now how the weather has completely rained down on my parade.

Ah, let me count the ways:

1) Soaked shoes

2) Which, incidentally were caused by huge ripples of lake shore type puddles, kicked up by enthusiastic children. Said waves end up splashing into the feet of waiting patrons, or simply gathers there thanks to the less than adequate drainage system of the ancient ballpark.

3) Large Mary Poppins type umbrellas turning inside out thanks to the wind swirling as fast as a Sonny Gray pitch, and so on and so forth.

You get the picture.

Writer’s side note: Granted, I’m quickly drying up on puns at this point, but the gist is that when landscapes in the valleys of NorCal start resembling a National Geographic photo expose’ on Africa, believe me, the rain is a welcome sight.

So, despite the inclement weather, no fan in their right mind would even let what many considered a few drops falling from the sky completely dampen the spirits of everyone in attendance. Still, I have to think, between the wicked cold front from ’13 and the slant of rain dancing sideways into our faces, lining up just to enduring the weather and the waiting game that is an Oakland A’s Fan Fest is enough to test the dedication of anyone threading Green and Gold. 

Now, for anyone who has ever attended either a SGA or a post season game, then you know exactly what I get at when I say it was unbelievably crowded.

Well, not San Francisco Giants crowded, but full nonetheless.

Funnier still was the announcement made earlier this week that the event (eventually) sold out. All 20,000+ tickets - A's promotional management must've banked on two back-to-back division titles as enough of a foundation to dig those formerly embarrassed fans out from under their ostrich holes from which they were hiding for so long.

But I digress - I ought to give them folks in upper sports management a bit more credit...then I realize, even with two venues open to the public, I guess organizers didn’t take into account the remote possibility of Mother Nature on the rag at this particular time.

Ask me again, and I'll tell you that I totally dig the idea of me being a sheep herded into tight corrals of a antiquated complex just to run endless circles in different directions. Because who doesn't love cramped claustrophobia with other like-minded individuals, many of whom only had 3 things in mind when they first got there: Food, photos, and autographs.

As for me, I decided to hold off on the munchies (expensive!) till I got back into San Jose, and work on getting some much needed souvenirs – including the quite fashionable item on rack that caught my eyes. Sure, I had some slight buyer’s remorse in picking up the new dark green A’s jersey (expensive), but damn if that thing didn't look so cool.

Everything else afterwards was merely a quick point and shoot session on the fly, my main mission being the aforementioned voucher for an autograph. 

Which, I stumbled upon after following some sprinting A’s fans doing their best impressions of base running on the wet concrete during a winter rain shower.

All in all, it wasn't a complete wash – though, I would've liked to got some bigger named players, ahem, Coco Crisp or Cespedes to ink some of my collectables. At least I got something, as I got to immerse myself in their atmosphere, even with the heavy clouds above that stormed the event. 

To that I say, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

GSOG