WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN

Where to begin? We have received over 200 emails in the last 9 hours…we want to get to as many as possible.

Some of the emails aren’t about the game but an ongoing issue we’ve been having on the message boards.

Here’s a little tip to all you baseball fans;

JUST BECAUSE IT IS A BUNTING SITUATION DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BUNT!

On the first pitch to Ramon Hernandez, Bill Mueller was in Tim “if it’s a controversial call, I’ll make it” Welke’s pocket. Nomar went to cover second to try and cut down the winning run or take a throw on a pick off play.

The point is, NOBODY was within 15 feet of the 3rd base bag when Derek “I grab my crotch not to taunt the A’s, but because I am an asshole” Lowe let go of ball one. Eric Byrnes could have carried Jose Guillen to second and still waddled to third by the time Jason Varitek would have been able to get rid of the ball. Further, the pitch was in the dirt. Lowe’s a sinkerball pitcher trying to get a double play or ground ball – of course the pitch was going to be low! Why wasn’t Byrnes moving to third on the first pitch?

Ken Macha should have sent Byrnes on the first pitch knowing that the runner at 1st base would follow and still be in scoring position with one out, even if Byrnes gets thrown out. Which, as we stated, would be physically impossible. Mueller would have had to make up 30-35 feet in a round trip effort, stopping to turn 150-190 degrees, to get into position to make the tag, catch the ball, find Byrnes and tag him. Byrnes would have had less than 45 feet to over to Mueller’s 30-plus, and Mueller would have to avoid all physical contact because YOU NOW there would have been an argument made for obstruction if Mueller so much as looked at Byrnes. Further, Byrnes would have been at full speed by his third step.

Macha didn’t send Byrnes. He was going to show everyone he could one-up Art Howe and play Small Ball.

Small Ball is for small-minded people, and, okay, people with small balls.

On the second pitch Hernandez dropped the bunt.

Adam Melhuse pinch strikeout looking, Terrence Long even being able to get into Network Associates Coliseum, notwithstanding, having Hernandez bunt on 1-0 was the worst decision a Major League Baseball manager has ever made.

Take a strike.

Make Lowe work for the gimmee out.

Use some Bugs Bunny stra-jah-dee.

Boston knew the A’s we’re going to bunt.

So, then, why do it with a 1-0 count?

Why do it with you best opposite field, two-strike hitter?

The infield was playing so shallow you’d think it was a Howard Stern fan fest.

The outfield was so deep you’d think that William Faulkner was playing catch with Stephen J Gould on the BART ramp.

Instead, Ken Macha made his move and it back fired.

The he made two more moves that were the second and third worst moves EVER by a Major League Baseball manager.

Then he pinch-hit for a player who makes $11 million dollars a year and hit the only homerun for the A’s in the series 16 hours earlier. Why? Lefty – Righty match up gobildy-gook. Lowe is a ground ball pitcher. You want a fly ball hitter. Especially if a sacrifice fly brings in the tying run. Especially if a fisted base hit with a shallow infield and protracted into the cheap seats in the outfield win you the series. Especially if you’re last move as amnager for the season is going to have a player with a .293 OBP be the final out of the season.

The A’s are lucky.

The California Recall Election is today and it will dominate the news.

Otherwise, Eric Chavez might have been seen fleeing from 10,000 girls who wanted their money back for buying his jersey and his T-shirts.