FREE KRAUT! ← Often in error, never in doubt.

Coda 286

Sep

30

2024

The end is important in all things. So said Yamamoto Tsunetomo, and his acolyte Forest Whitaker. And so it was for the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, September 26, 2024. And so it will be for Free Kraut, eventually, and maybe sooner. We outlasted MLB in Oakland, Farhan in SF, and Pete Rose in purgatory. I ...

Games 154-162: The love you take is equal to the love you make 201

Sep

19

2024

When I was staying in Cordelia for the golf tournament in Napa this past weekend I woke up after one of those weird dreams. Not a wild alcoholic dream, because if you’re walking 36 holes a day you’re mostly avoiding alcohol. It was after the final A’s game at the Coliseum (which I won’t be ...

Games a One and a Two and a Three, through 153 210

Aug

16

2024

122 down, 40 to go, minus any rainouts. Which could happen, with road visits left at Cincy and both Chicago teams. 22 remaining games in Oakland, with a nine game homestand starting Saturday, weirdly after a Friday off-day. In other sports news, the English Premier League season kicks off this weekend. I am still all-in ...

Games 102-122 , or, the first 21 of The Final 61* 134

Jul

22

2024

Running the table with a 61-game winning streak would produce the sixth 100-win season in Oakland history (Dick Williams 1, Tony La Russa 2, Art Howe 2). On the other end of it, 24-37 (.393) or better is required to avoid the fourth 100-loss season (Jim Marshall 1, Mark Kotsay 2). Their current winning percentage ...

Games 81-101: Winning is incredibly hard, Wash 231

Jun

23

2024

The A’s hit the halfway point of the final season on Monday in Anaheim. They’re playing the entire season series against the Angels in the next five weeks, 13 out of 28 games between two of the three sub-.400 teams in the American League. Since that glorious early May day when the A’s reached .500 ...

The start of the last hundred. Games 62-80 186

Jun

3

2024

Game 62 starts the series with the Mariners, then the Blue Jays. then to San Diego and Minnesota. The A’s are staying ahead of the Angels, which has been delightful. I kinda like Scioscia this year, but he is still Scioscia. Hate watching their games have brought me joy. Seems as though the gambling scandal ...

The Last Waltz (or, MLB Stops Making Sense) 27

May

30

2024

Maybe Scorsese will make a film about it. Though I like Jonathan Demme’s concert opus better. Anyway, my procrastinating has allowed Fisher to poke a sharp stick into my eye one last time. Ticket demand is high for the last ever MLB game in Oakland* and now the only seats left are upper deck outside ...

Games 41-61 138

May

11

2024

It’s Mid series but a roundish number. There is a guy Named Estes scheduled to start for the A’s today. The internet tells me he pitched for the A’s last year. I have my doubts. He was drafter by the Braves, so I assume he came over for Olson or Murphy. He faces a team ...

Games (4)20 – 40: This is what space smells like 144

Apr

18

2024

The A’s head east for a 10-game road trip starting Friday, visiting the Vogts for 3, the Yankees for 4 and then the Orioles for 3. Fisher may get a chance to see Aaron Judge hit some exciting home runs. Judge is at .183/.330/.380 through his first 88 PA of the season so he might ...

Oakland Year 57. Games 1 – 19 212

Mar

28

2024

There’s always money in the cabbage stand.