Both the SF Giants and the Oakland Athletics possess the worst and best pitchers.  The Giants have Lincecum with a 238 ERA and the Athletics have Duchscherer with a 1.91 ERA.  Both pitchers have dominated thus far in the season, have extremely low ERA's, almost have 10 wins, and both look good to make the All Star team.  Each team also has the worst pitchers in Zito and Blanton.  Zito has a 5.91 ERA and three wins while Blanton holds a 4.97 ERA with only 4 wins.  I don't know if it has ever happened that two bay area teams have each had such a spectrum of pitching with the best and the worst.  It seems funny that both teams would be going through the exact same thing and that both sides best bets for All Star contention would be in pitching.  Even though we fight fans on all sides of the Bay have things in common.  

The past two days saw standout performances from two Bay Area pitchers on opposite sides of the bay.  Wednesday saw the Zito of old make an appearance, which was a welcome change from the Zito of late.  He recorded his third win of the season and the Giants soared to a 4 - 1 victory.  Zito it seemed was finally able to get out of his head and pitch with out thinking.  All to often he would get in his own way, and I believe the Zito of old has been hiding under his muddled mind this whole time.  He had 6 2/3 dominant innings before being taken out but he should be proud of finally getting out of his own way. The Giants manager Bruce Bochy had this to say about his dominating performance, "That's the Zito we knew.  He had a good rhythm out there, pounded the zone and went after them." Zito was able to throw fastballs, sliders, curveballs, and changeups all for strikes and ended the night at 109 pitches.  Zito had previously lost velocity all year on his pitches but on Wednesday he pitched in the high 80s for most of the night.  When asked about his night Zito had many comments and if you know Zito they will make you shake your head and say "Oh Zito." Really Zito is one of those few players that possess a loud personality and are a true character of the game.  "Just letting it fly and trusting yourself was the key.  That's the hardest thing to do in life, the hardest thing to do in baseball.  When you do it, you usually see good results, which I haven't been able to do a lot this year. You've got to try something different.  I've tried to do so many different things, tweaking my mechanics.  Sometimes you've got to just let it go and stop trying to control things and let things run their course.  It's about self trust."  Yes he is a bit on the eccentric side but his words can ring true for many of us.  I hope he keeps his self-trust up and doesn't get bogged down in self-doubt any more.  I am sure the Giants hope the same. 

 

On the other side of the bay Harden threw another fantastic game Thursday.  I have no idea how he is either 0% or 100% but when he is 100% he is a phenomenal pitcher.   I pray to the baseball gods that he doesn't get hurt for the rest of the year.  Behind his masterful pitching the Athletics won Thursday 5-0.  It looked like Harden was going to have a no hitter all the way into the fifth inning when the Phillies got their first hit off of the Athletics 26 year old right hander.  He struck out 11 batters a career high and left in the eight inning after 85 pitches.  Harden was able to last in to the eight inning because he recorded quick outs and had not one bad inning.  When talking about his game Harden said, "Maybe it was just being able to locate pitches.  I wanted to stay away from getting in trouble - sometimes I rear back and throw as hard as I can, but today it was more abut having a purpose behind every pitch."  Rob Bowen the back up catcher caught Harden's game and did a really great job.  I love it when players that are not day-to-day get a chance and shine.  Harden is 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA while Duchscherer has a 1.99 ERA making both All Star contenders and the Athletics only hope to make the team this year. 

 

The saving grace of both Bay Area teams right now is their pitching.  I hope the amazing starts continue on both sides and that the Athletics have some pitchers in the All Star game. 

It has been a while since my last post.  My computer hard drive died, finals arrived, and then I went home for a week to decompress and relax.  So these are the reasons there have been no new posts recently.  While I was home I went to an Athletics/Yankees game and truly felt like I was home.  Walking into the stadium the smells hit me like the waves at the beach.  The combination of sausages, beer, nachos, old cement, human sweat, pizza, and french fries combine to make the greatest scent known to man (or woman in my case).  Sure many people probably think the scent is disgusting and they have every right to think that but to me, the ballpark smell is heaven on earth.  I grew up with that smell and whenever I catch a whiff I know I have come home.  It being a Yankee game the stadium was bustling with people practically clad in more Yankee blue than Athletics green and gold.  Being a true baseball fan I hate the Yankees and everything they symbolize.  Their logo has come to stand as a national symbol for cool, hip, rich, success, status, and in my mind corporate greed.  While I was in middle school Limp Bizkit rocked the red Yankee hat and ever since then people across the nation have been rocking Yankee hats with no real allegiance or rationale.  The hats can be bought in any sports store or even Oakland AM PM quick marts that oddly enough often don't sell Athletics gear.  So when the Yankees come to town I rock my green and gold and try to drown out the Yankee cheers with my own.  Of course the Athletics lost as they often seem to do when I am in attendance but it was a fun game to attend. 

 

At games I am a creature of habit and they always begin with a large lemonade and a baked potato with lots of fake cheese and broccoli.  (Where would our life be with out fake cheese?) If you know where to look the Coliseum has some interesting food.  Personally I have yet to and want to try the chili cheese fries, the tofu dog, and a beer in the pub.  (I am a vegetarian who doesn't drink so ballparks are the perfect place for me! Right...) I always go in the team stores to see if there are any sales or hot new items I want but can't afford.  (Poor college students should not be purchasing $ 100 jackets or $ 30 Athletics tank tops as much as we may want them.) My favorite part of any game I have to say is getting there early and just sitting and soaking in the park.  I love watching the opposing team take batting practice, watching the jumbotron, no lines at concessions, talking with my father and having the park to myself before the hordes of people arrive.  My father and I get to the park at least 1 or 2 hours early and juts sit and talk baseball.  Honestly it is one of my favorite things to do in life.  We talk injuries, who is hot and who it not, the match ups for that day, our favorite games, favorite plays, and favorite players.  We could go on for hours which drives the rest of my family crazy.  I wish every day could be a day at the ballpark.