7 1/2 back on August 31...

Well, it COULD be worse I suppose. But, truth be told, this is an uphill battle. The only real saving grace is that there are seven games against Oakland in our future. Very simply, anything short of 5-2 in those seven makes this defecit really difficult to overcome.

With all of the rumblings going on here and here about fandom and faith in your team, I feel a little bad for saying that the season is over a few days ago. However, I think I was right then, and I think I am right now when I say, "The season is STILL over."

The Season is over...

Simple as that. They won't be going to the playoffs this year folks. Methinks that 5 1/2 games in the next 6 weeks is a bit too much for this club to overcome.

There are a few reasons this team will, most likely, come up short in 2006. They are:

Casey Kotchman getting sick and the revolving door at 1B that ensued.

Adam Kennedy playing much worse than anyone anticipated and Mike Scioscia not doing anything about it.

A much less effective bullpen than in years past.

and...

Not enough offense from 1B, 2B, 3B, CF and DH.

RIP, 2006.

J-Mo starts third straight game...

With Mike Napoli (aka side salad) in a month long slump Mike Scioscia has reverted to his J-Mo fetish.

I really wish that 60-80 at bats was seen as the small sample that it is instead of a reason to make a change. Napoli has seen his batting average drop almost 100 points in the last month, but his OBP is still sitting at a robust .382 and his defense has been stellar. Molina has heated up with the lumber this month, but come on, he is Jose Molina.

Here is my question: "Mike, why don't you go with the guy that has a chance to be an above average major league catcher instead of the proven mediocrity"?

I'm back...

Well - another three month hiatus is out of the way so it must be time for a few busy days of massive posts before I take a nap until Christmas.

Anyway, since I last contributed to this blog:

Edgardo Alfonzo was released...

Jeff Weaver was released...

Esteban Yan was released...

Jered Weaver turned into Cy Young...

Joe Saunders turned into Jimmy Key...

Jeff Mathis was dismissed to AAA after 39 AB's...

Mike Napoli was promoted and started hitting like Adam Dunn v. 2001, then slumped and started hitting like Adam Dunn v. 2006...

Casey Kotchman got mono and is dizzy...

Dallas McPherson got hurt - again...

Kendry Morales was promoted and looked great, then not so much. Unfortunately, just as he started looking good again Stoneman demoted him to AAA...

Howie Kendrick was promoted and holy crap does he look good....

Kelvim Escobar has a gimpy elbow...

Juan Rivera is hitting like Sammy Sosa v. 1998...

Bartolo Colon has an injured shoulder...

Orlando Cabrera is earning his salary this year...

I still think that Maicer Izturis is better than Orlando Cabrera...

Brendan Donnelly, Hector Carrasco and J.C. Romero aren't any good anymore...

Thank god for Scot Shields and a sometimes shakey K-Rod.

The team stunk from April through June...

The team rocked in July...

Bill Stoneman didn't do anything stupid at the trade deadline - but he didn't do anything inspired either...

The team is smelling a little funny in August and sits in 2nd place, 3 games back of Oakland...

Anyway, that about sums up the season up to this point.

Enjoy.