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Hold on to your hats, girlfriends, the Oakland Athletics- That is correct- The Oakland Athletics have made their cuts. Repeat the Oakland Athletics have made their cuts. We now return you to your normal programming..... After winning it all in '98, it's been a steady decline for the Hawkeyes. I guess for you 'Glass is half empty' people, at least they finished with a winning record this time. That and a quarter will get you the proverbial....Injuries were Scottsdale's chief excuse...ahem...reason for the playoff absence this time as 3B Fernando Tatis, SP Carl Pavano, RP Ugueth Urbina, and CF Mr. Mxyzptlk missed most of the season. Jason Giambi (.329, 29, 655) led the team with his breakout season, while Albert Belle struggled to the tune of .280, 19 Peppers and 549 points, falling to an unheard of fifth on the team point-wise, trailing even rising star Miguel Tejada (.266, 18, 599). Jose Vidro provided a huge spark until taking off during the stretch run, finishing with a .350 average. Pitching wise, Carl Pavano won 11 games by mid-season- tying a team record no less- before pulling up lame with a case of the Mad Cow Disease. Jeff Weaver and rookie Javier Vazquez helped pick up the pace with 10 wins apiece, while Armando Benitez paced the bullpen with a team record 11 saves. But hey, when you finish fourth who cares, right? I thought so. Another former champion fallen on hard times. Sounds kinda like a 'Different Strokes' reunion, eh? The Rowdies did make a spirited run at the final playoff spot, making up 10 games on Chicago in the final month, until dropping 5 of their last 7 games. Once again, Edgar Martinez played the role of Edgar Martinez and put up....well, Edgar Martinez-like numbers (.340, 26, team record 106 RBI, 699). Carl Everett hit .310 with 25 homeruns in between the tantrums, while Dante Bichette continued his slide to mediocrity (Wasn't that a Zeppelin tune) with 14 Hyundai's and 486 points. Brian Jordan spent the first part of the season on the Owie list, playing in only 90 games. Kevin Tapani won a team record 13 games, along with his team high 122 strikeouts, to lead a woeful pitching staff that turned in a 4.99 team ERA. Peeee-eeuuuwwwww! With Jordan for a full year, and about 6 more of those Edgar Martinez'ez'ez and they might have been there.... Can you say Former Champion? I knew you could. The team formerly known as the Colorado Rocky Mountain Oysters moved to Orangevale and promptly put up a stinker of a season unprecedented in team history. David Justice came out of nowhere to lead the team with 30 Grudens and 590 points. Ivan Rodriguez was well on his way to yet another stellar season when travelling secretary Wim Guffmeier misplaced him and he missed the last 30 games. Likewise Manny Ramirez, who only managed 68 games before jumping ship. Speaking of the MIA's, no one was more noticeable in his absence than Juan Gonzalez (.290, 17, 404) who played in only 90 games. Why does it seem like the whole team only played 90 games.....Oh, that's right- they were 53-67. Now it makes sense...So, who did the Crush turn to in there moment of need you might ask. Well, don't ask. Cuz the answer is the immortal John Flaherty, the incomparable Glenallen Hill, and the inconceivable Butch Huskey. Things are getting so much clearer now, aren't they? On the hill, Mike Mussina and Kenny Rogers paced the staff with 13 wins apiece, while rookie Derek Lowe nailed 11 saves from the pen. Keep an eye on rookie Gil Meche who went undefeated over 4 starts, compiling a 1.90 ERA. Overall, alot of injuries, and we didn't even mention the crash landings of 3B Vinny Castilla and DH John Jaha. I didn't want you to start ballin' for chrissakes! The Yankees started the season in last place, ended the season in last place, and spent everyday in between in- you guessed it- last place. You have to admire that kind of consistency, folks. For reasons, look no further than the unfulfilled promise on the mound. Rick Reed (7-8, 4.24), Sidney Ponson (5-6, 4.92), Shawn Estes (5-6, 3.93), Dustin Hermanson (4-9, 6.93), and Mike Sirotka (1-7, 4.88) have all failed to capitalize on their potential. Throw in Jose Lima's sharp decline from 10-7, 3.48 a year ago to 4-9, 6.50, and...... that's just too sad to even continue.....Oh alright...The offense is no whiz-bang outfit itself mind you, but they held their own, specially this new kid, Jeff Cirillo, who set four team records. Carlos Lee turned in a superb sophomore campaign, knocking 20 dogs to go along with a .288 average and 580 points. Centerfielder Gerald Williams came out of nowhere- well, Las Vegas, actually- to finish third on the team with 510 points and a surprising 15 Winnebagos. Sean Casey dropped over 200 points from his great rookie season, while catcher Todd Hundley enjoyed a little comeback, popping 14 Barney's. A little more here and...Oh, what the hell, they finished in last, OK? There was no hope, no hope at all. This, I don't understand. I thought they'd breeze throught the regular season and battle Crabapple in the playoffs, but, they fell into third place early and couldn't even hold on there. But remember, they were only a year away from the World Series, and they added 2 big time starting pitchers in the Free Agent Draft. The only concern at the beginning of the year was how well their kiddie korps would hold up in starting roles. Okey dokey, pokey. Second year players Eric Chavez (.271, 14, 412) and Paul Konerko (.288, 11, 63) performed admirably while rookie OF Terrence Long (.297, 6, 254) provided a big spark in a limited role. On the down side, rookie Ramon Hernandez was overmatched, finishing at .225 and 264 points, and Matt Stairs hit only 16 gondolas- 11 fewer than in 1999. The offense, still wasn't bad, as both Jermaine Dye (.317, 28, 641), and Andruw Jones (.308, 24, 629) made the AL All-Star team. The pitching staff received a huge boost from All-Star Tim Hudson (13-6, 4.13) and a little boost from Chuck Finley (6-8, 3.78). Bartolo Colon (7-8, 4.33) battled injuries all year and just wasn't the same pitcher the Devil Ray's came to expect. The biggest hole in the team came about due to Mike Jackson's decision to join the cast of The Real World, instead of playing for Las Vegas. Jose Jimenez took over in the closer's role and recorded 2 saves. But they were both really, REALLY tough saves, man. Alright. Worst record in the league, ya know, but damn I still expected more from this team. Alrighty then, that's all from me now, check back in two weeks for another exciting episode! Until then, I'll just have the C.R.A.B.S. Cakes on the side, thank you............Aces |