From one nation to another:
http://www.colbertnation.com/?p=247

He's first on the list, so presumably that means he'll be on Monday (11:30 pm, start your TiVos).  No idea if he'll talk about anything related to the A's.  (Or even if it's the same Michael Lewis as Moneyball fame, but probably.)

For those who don't know the Colbert Report (the Ts are both silent), it's a parody of the Fox-News style punditry shows, much like the Daily Show is a parody of the Nightly News.  He rarely breaks character, so it can be startling at first, but it's brilliant, in an Andy Kaufman sort of way.

Ellis HRs:
June 1, vs. Tampa Bay, off of Hendrickson
July 20, vs. LAAaAoA Angels, off Byrd
July 29, vs. Detroit, off Douglass

August 24, vs. Detroit, Bonderman
August 25, vs. Detroit, Maroth
August 27, vs. Baltimore, Baldwin
August 28, vs. Baltimore, Todd Williams
August 29, vs. Baltimore, Julio

Nice week!  Thanks for the birthday present!

Because I've bought tickets to Mariners' games in the past, Ticketmaster sends me Mariners Mail.  Usually, this isn't terribly interesting.

But today's is offering discounts to next week's series with the Athletics in town.  The marketing line is:

Mariners Mail EXCLUSIVE
Ticket Discount vs. A.L. West Rival A's
As a Mariners Mail member, you can get a look at Jason Kendall and the Oakland A's new lineup with discounted tickets for the first two games of the Mariners next homestand!

And the prices:
(Location/Normal/Discount)
View Reserved    $10    $7
Field    $24    $11
Terrace Club Outfield    $29    $14

I think you can go to the ticketmaster.com site and use these directions:

1) Click the "T" link on either the 4/20 or 4/21 game vs. Oakland above.
2) Select the total number of tickets you want in the MARINERS DISCOUNT section.
3) Fill in the password -- "RIVAL" -- in the MARINERS DISCOUNT section.
4) Select either "FIELD SEATING," "VIEW SEATING," OR "TERRACE CLUB OF SEATING."
5) Click "LOOK FOR TICKETS."

If that doesn't work, send me a note (kirbyk at idiom.com) and I'll forward you the whole thing.

I dunno if I'm going to be able to go, but I figured there might be someone up here interested.

Every year, Tom Tippett of Diamond Mind does a simulation of the upcoming season - actually, a bunch of simulations. They've proven to be above average in accuracy, compared to other analysts, in previous seasons.

Link is Here.

The good news: The A's are projected to win. And surprisingly, the offense is projected to score 873, fourth in baseball behind the Yankees, Red Sox, and a hair behind the Cardinals. The not-so-good news: The A's win only slightly more often than the Angels, and the Rangers and Mariners take their share of titles too. Overall, the A's won the division 31% of the time, and a 1% wild card. So, it's very close. And the pitching staff was only average. Honestly, there's a lot more unpredictability coming into 2005 than typical for this team. But for the rest of this week, at least, there's plenty of reason to be hopeful.

-- Kirby

John Sickels is profiling Rich Harden, as part of a series on Young Pitchers, on his blog today.  Check it out!

http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2005/2/23/1581/39530

He has some very nice comparables.  I wouldn't mind him having Clemens' career path (minus the trip to New York, of course.)

Like many of us, I've been ruminating on the potential, inevitable departure of one of the big three.  It might not happen this year, but it will happen, and it will be the end of an era.

... Which is what we said when Giambi left.

... Which is what we said when Tejada left.

And Damon, and Isringhausen, and all those players that got expensive and we didn't keep.

But see, that's where the real genius of Billy Beane comes into play.  Yes, I'm not happy about seeing Hudson or Zito or Tejada playing in anything other than the green and gold for life.  But we're not trying to sell loyalty to individuals here - we're trying to win ballgames.

Every year, we lose at least one key player.  Every year, there's much gnashing of teeth.  And the bottom line is, we do about as well on the field anyway.

Can it end?  Sure.  It's all about the minor league pipeline producing cheap superstars to replace the ones we just lost.  Or be enticing in trades for the parts we need.  And if there's one thing to be hopeful about as an A's fan, it's our minor league system.  It's stacked like a lifeguard from Baywatch.

Beane operates largely from the strategy to make the best available team, not any particular kind of team.  With the Big 3 + strong supporting pitchers, we've been heavily defense based.  If they leave, maybe our pitching trends back towards league average - but while that's happening, Beane's bringing in some more offense.

Weep not for the departed.  We are a constantly evolving unit, optimized for victory.  Some leave, some stay, but there's always a plan, and it works.  The era is not about to end, just yet.

Now we know.  92 games wins the AL West.  91 watches from home.

A best of three playoff, entirely at home.  I have to think that the odds favor the Athletics ever so slightly.

But the Angels have been healthier, and playing much better down the stretch.

I suppose, if the A's can take two out of three from them, no question, they deserve a playoff berth.  If the can't, well, Anaheim is a worthy team to take on the Yanks, and I'll pull for them in that series.

And regardless, congratulations to the DePoDodgers, hope to see you in Oakland next month.

This is baseball.