Fatrolf’s Sunday Sketches: I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE TIED FOR FIRST PLACE Edition

HEY!! THE OAKLAND A’S ARE TIED FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE AL WEST!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY CANOLI, THE OAKLAND A’S HAVE TIED THE HOUSTON ASTROS FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE AL WEST. It has happened! Finally! And I still have not yet been called a “bandwagon fan” by a Cubs rooter like in 2014. So things are going pretty good over here.

The A’s have stolen the show in feisty fashion, taking the first game of the series with a walk-off tenth inning bomb from Matt Olson — his first WO of his career! The fanfare didn’t stop there, as Oakland slapped the Astros silly last night in a 7-1 victory. So here comes Sunday, a matchup between Veteran Verlander and the Throwin’ Samoan. Not only does the game decide the winner of the series, but will break the tie for first place.

No pressure, guys!

Saturday was made even more fun by the A’s honoring of the 2002, 20-win-streak team prior to game time. With a cast of characters from the roster of 16 years ago there for the fun and riding high on a come-from-behind victory the night before, no wonder the A’s were ready to kick some Houston butt once game two of the series rolled around.

Our week started out with a 7-6 win over Seattle, and just as importantly, National Left Hander’s Day.

The first “player to be named later” in the Fiers trade ended up being RHP Nolan Blackwood, who was sent to the Tigers yesterday.

If anyone remembered that Matt Joyce was still on the team somewhere, he’s started live batting practice and slated to start up base running soon. No timetable for his return yet. Oh well. (Starts rehab Tuesday, though.) However, Cotton, Blackburn and Triggs have all started throwing again. While the A’s surely are not lacking in arms, knowing these guys are back on track health-wise is comforting.

In brighter news, Jed Lowrie surpassed not one but two milestones this past week. First, on Monday, he grabbed his 1000th career hit (999 of those have been doubles*) and as if that wasn’t enough, on Wednesday, he hit his 100th career dinger. Go, Jed!

(*believed to be not factual, will need to be fact-checked)

In his first two seasons with Oakland, Khrush crushed 42 and 43 home runs respectively. This year, he’s already at 34.

There are five guys on top of the list for consecutive 40-homer seasons. They are Babe Ruth (7), A-Rod & Sammy Sosa (6) and Ralph Kiner & Duke Snider (5). Not a bad class to chase!

With all this talk of record-breaking, we can’t forget to mention the birth of the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame, which was announced this past Tuesday. The first group to be voted in were Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Dave Stewart and Charlie Finley. No arguments to be made here. More will be voted in each year by committee.

Today concludes the series against Houston, while Monday brings the other Texas team to town for another three-game stretch. (The Astros will head up the map to Seattle for three). After that, we take off to Minnesota for four games before taking on Houston again, this time on their home turf.