I’m sure you remember what you were doing on September 11, 2001.
But do you remember what you were doing exactly one decade earlier? Here’s what I was doing on September 11, 1991:
This happens to be a picture of Todd Van Poppel’s first major league pitch, to Tim Raines. And of my shoes. And of some orange seats.
Man, I had almost forgotten about those orange seats. They are better left forgotten, I think.
Also best left forgotten is how excited I was that Van Poppel might be a huge star, especially after he struck out five of the first six batters he faced. Unfortunately, the second time through the order, the White Sox figured Van Poppel out. Carlton Fisk took Van Poppel deep, and well…that was the last time I had dreams about Todd Van Poppel.
1. And maybe the shoes are best left forgotten, too.
2. Those orange seats were my hangout during my year of grad school at Berkeley in 1987-88.
3. They were back to green by the time I was a regular, '98-'03.
4. Orange seats are a small price to pay for real bleachers and no Mt. Davis.
5. So true, Kenny.
6. I'm with Kenny. I didn't much mind the orange seats. But the real bleachers, the ice plants ringing the outfield, the three scoreboards around the outfield (message board, diamond vision, hand-operated out-of-town scoreboard) -- that made the Coliseum as nice a place as a multi-sport stadium can be. Not to mention that those were the days when we had an owner who viewed the franchise as just another philanthropic effort, like kicking in money for a first-rate philharmonic or ballet. Good times, good times...
And I happen to think the shoes are OK, too.
7. Those were good times. Cutting class, hopping on BART and getting the "Student discount" to catch a day game. I hate Mt. Davis and everything it stands for. I heard Beane mention that the upper deck will be closed. So I guess no more scalping of the cheap Wed night games by all the hoodlums in Oakland.
With the fury in Boston I wouldn't mind seeing Beane strike fast with a Kotsay or preferably Crazy Uncle Milton for some Beantown young pitching. Anybody else see something wrong with that?
8. Send the Red Sox Jay Payton again! ;)
9. I'm happy with the A's team the way it is, and I see no reason to help out the Red Sox. Right now, the A's have the better team.
Plus, Kotsay has a full no-trade clause through 2006.
10. I forgot about Payton. That would be glorious on so many levels and would probably be the ideal trade to benefit the A's. I actually like JP, but the Sox are desperate and ripe for a fleecing. You could pull Mom v. Dad "but they said it's OK" on the two-headed GM monster (supressing evil laugh) and snipe another promising arm. Beane is wily enough to smell blood in the water.
I too, think the A's will be a fun team to watch in '06. I just hope they can find a way to keep from digging themselves in the April Hole again (which they showed improvement on last year).