SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting

Athletics Nation

The Long Road Ends...And Another Begins

The A's have won the 2006 American League West Division championship.  It's a celebration that should last...well, at least seven days.  And we can celebrate into the offseason no matter what happens in October.

The A's won tonight because their offense was able to take advantage of a young pitcher that repeatedly caught too much of the plate.  This was a closer game than will ever show on the scoreboard.  And the reason it wound up being a 12-3 spanking was simple.  King Richard.  His performance in the third inning was just awesome.  He had a bases loaded situation and was down 3-0 to Raul Ibanez.  Not too many pitchers can throw five straight fastballs and still get a major league hitter like Ibanez on a strikeout.

If Harden has one more nice final tuneup, he could be the element that really helps the A's do something they haven't done in Billy Beane's regime and that's advance past the first round.

Kudos to Ken Macha on a great job managing this season and usually (note the use of the word) making the right decision with the bullpen AND the lineup night in and night out.  

Kudos to Billy Beane for assembling a team that had so much depth that it survived injuries that very well could've crippled other organizations.  You also built a bullpen second to none in the American League, had the foresight to build a defense that ultimately was the difference in the American League West and you stuck to your guns and kept Barry Zito despite a huge amount of outside pressure to deal the A's pitcher.  And finally, the decision to bring in Milton Bradley and A's MVP Frank Thomas.  Both were instrumental in this victory.  It was also appropriate that the guy who was possibly Beane's biggest under-the-radar steal of the year in Chad Gaudin wound up on the mound when the A's made the final out tonight.

If you'd asked me last night if the A's had a chance this postseason, I would've answered a resounding NO.  Course that would've probably been the tequila and emotion speaking.  I still think it's going to be tough sledding no matter who the A's get.  

But right now, I don't care.  The A's are one of the eight teams in the majors that will have a chance to win the World Series.  And that's all you can ask for.

Lucky baseballgirl, she made the trip to Seattle and is probably awash in champagne right now.  Lucky AN, I'm traveling for business tomorrow and baseballgirl will be able to probably regale you with tales from the Emerald City where I'm sure she will be partying late into the night.

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!!!!!!

0 recs  |  280 comments

Comments

Celebration on Thursday
around 5pm? In ANaheim?
wow
it's been so long since i've been able to see the team clinch. this was great. i love this team.

fyi, for those that asked in the other threads, check out this link for your AL West Division Championship gear. :)

Thanks Blez and everyone else for a great season. It's great to be able to celebrate with so many people without getting off the couch. :)

I woke Maya up
and she's pouring Skyy Vodka all over her Papi right now.
Way to hook 'em while they're young!
Well, she is 20 months old now
I figured what the hell, she's almost 21!

Wait, what's that, it's YEARS?  Oooops.  Here comes Child Protective Services.  I gotta go.

A wee bit o' taste to the tounge
Never hurt a babe! It'd do her good to go back to slumber now, anyways.
aw, how cute.....
soon she'll be as drunk as huston!  well, almost....he was pretty smashed....
She might actually already outweigh Huston
can she finish her pitches?
If yes, let's clear space on the 25-man (uh, "-person") for the first round!
tonight's pasting
was the best response to last night's debacle. The A's showed an edge that their last few postseason bound teams might not have had.
OK
Is the Coliseum store open tomorrow?  If so, I know where I'm going for my lunch break.
Love that clip
"That's only in the mo'ning!"
Is it open this weekend?
I can be there first thing Saturday morning....

Ooooh, maybe they have extended hours this week to accommodate all of us....

Hey, is AN going to have a special playoff t-shirt? ;)

If the A's get past the ALDS
We then shoudl get AN playoff shirts.
YAAAAAAY!!!!!
I'm so excited they won (even if I was in class the whole time haha)!!!!! This weekend is going to be amazing. I can't wait to show them how much we love them (even on the road! HA!) So do we have a card stunt that says "2006 AL West Champs"?? Because we totally should! Thank GOD they can get some rest now!

AAHHH!!! I want to go out and celebrate! I am definitely rockin' the green and gold tomorrow, even if I need to do laundry by this weekend. WEAR IT ANGEL FANS!! WOO!!!!

AN is amazing, I'm so glad I found this place. WOOO 2006 AL WEST CHAMPS!!! GO A's!!!!!!!

CLINCH VIDEO
Click here, and give youtube a little chance to work itself out.

LETS GO OAK LAND!!!

love it
I'm going to watch that every day for a week....heck, can someone be sure to post that in the DLD each day??
How awesome is this?
Thank you Blez and Thank you A's.

Random factoid my bro just told me: Frank Thomas was the hot prosect that forced Mr. Baseball to Japan to play ball

it was a movie
so it was a character played by frank thomas that forced mr. baseball to play in japan.  it wasn't really frank thomas beating out tom selleck (although he does resemble mattingly, who knows maybe tom and don are one of the same and it was actually don who was magnum pi) for the yankee's first base job.
Special heads up to some AN originals
Blez, Jennifer, Sharon, Alaska A...obviously I'm leaving out a lot of people, but I'm typing fast and that's what I can remember. It's been a loooong two years, and I spent a lot of convinced we were the curse. But, actually, we're the fucking solution! There's been a lot of changes around here, but thanks to all the original peeps for making this a fun website that I'd want to keep checking out for that long.

Let's steamroll someone from the AL Central now....

I should add
That's not meant to leave anyone new out, either. There have been a lot of great additions to the site, and I really started to appreciate all the different perspectives, ideas, and thoughts this season.
Aw!
Thanks.

<hugs>

you're like the kotsay of AN!
So if we poke Jennifer's back
it makes weird crunching sounds?
i just meant in terms of facial hair...
I thought it was my great ass.
<dies laughing>
does this mean ...
... Jennifer's going to start complaining about the way we use her in a platoon with Sharon?
<hugs>
And one other thing...This was the nicest win, bitches!
Baseballgirl is such an awesome fan...
She's my AN hero for sure!
I work with BASEBALL GIRL...
and might I say darn her, cause as I am working tomorrow, she'll be recovering from her eventful night in Seattle
Congratulations And Thanks A's
Get some rest
ESPN SportsCenter
And I Quote "last in the league in batting, not always top flite defense"  

What...?

Which one of these statements is wrong?

which of the following statements is right:
Fuck espn
I agree
Feck USPN.

I'm just so happy right now, I feel like I'm gonna cry...  :)

espn news
Red sox high lights were before the a's high lights.
I can't believe
I have to rely on Fox and that dumb "final score" show with the highly irritating announcers (at least one of them is outrageously despicable) because ESPN/Baseball Tonight is so damn weak and biased.
I also loved "A's clinch AL West..."
"Now if they could only avoid getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs."

Fortunately for our TV, I was too happy to care this time.

how about
A's clinch AL west, we talk to Teixeira in a bit. It was Swisher interview they showed.
quick question
how do you post onto the main page?
holla!
Let's go A's! Crack a beer and celebrate!
Holla as in 'hello' or Holla as in 'holler'?
Holla holla holla holla holla holla holla holla holla holla..........dc show
YAY!!!
I am SOOOOOOO NOT Sleeping tonight!!!
<cries>
<drunken rambling> I am so happy that I found this site and all of you guys. No matter what, this night will be one of my favorite memories. Not just because I got to see Jason Kendall in a wet, tight, AL West Champs shirt smiling his ass off(thud!), but because I got to celebrate with everyone here on AN. I really want to say how much this site has meant to me as an A's fan, and I can't wait for next Tuesday night!</drunken rambling>
Damn...
An hour ago I couldn't stay awake, and now I've got insomnia, and ,best cure for that is to listen to Robert Baun drone on .AN RULES!
There is nothing that I can say...
...that hasn't already been said. But I was sitting in a local Mellow Mushroom pizza joint here in Nashville on Saturday talking with a buddy about how sports takes on a profound depth by the fact that it is something that communities of people can rally around together. In a day and age which seemingly seems to endorse individual success and gratification over all else, sports then is one of the few bastions of society which truly is about community. Thanks to Blez, this site embodies that ideal perhaps as much a anything else in all of sports. It is a true privilege to be able to celebrate in community even while being physically located in TN. Thanks for that gift, Blez. And thanks to the A's for an amazing, unforgettable (Zito's game against Toronto right before the trading deadline and Milton's encore the next day, or the 17-inning marathon against the Dodgers and the Father's Day encore the next day) 2006 season. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE AL WEST. Soak it up friends...this is a magical day.
If anyone ever wants to ask me
why I created this site, they can always just read this post.  

Beautiful post, man.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
Blez and nico and his goat and baseballgirl and tony who is bitchin' and louismg for the cartoons and monkeyball who inspires me and saint and duke for the rhythmic support and harold the doctor and the entire AN family for making this the best sports-related blog ever and such a fixture in my life.  Long may you run, friends.
thank you
for including me in that great list, I want to say one more time, that I really love AN and every single ANer, my A's life has changed for the better since I came here. Love you all.

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!!

11 TO GO BABY!!!

Thanks, brother
Nice work this season.
one door closes, another opens
in the words of the old spiritual

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON...
Great post emperor!!
Fri. Sept 22
    One of the most thrilling games in the annals of the the Oakland  a's and certainly the summation of this great season.
it was
and i was there whooppeeee
DITTO!
And I have the baby ulcer to prove it!
a game for the ages
and to be on the field of dreams afterwards, it made me feel like a little kid

<tears up>

Me too!
And I have the vocal fold nodule to prove it!
So
When's Game 1? I can't buy tix, but I might have to skip work...
games...
they are as follows:

10/3
10/4

10/6
10/7

10/8

But
at what time(s) of day? And where did you find this info?
Never mind
I found it, and the times ain't up yet. I was just being lazy, and will now hang my head in shame.
I couldn't sleep very well,
so I thought I'd say thank you to everyone again.

You made my first year on AN one to remember for a LONG time. I hope to eventually see a few of you at the coliseum.

We can go apeshit in person!

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!

I loved the first caller
on Extra Innings. Give Frank Thomas a raise! Give Billy Beane a raise! lol.
Also sounded like that first caller
was calling in lockdown from the Oakland County jail.
local news showing news about a's
Got back from the game a little while ago...
Woohoo!  
We clinched!

Quite a few A's fans there to cheer on our team.

I nearly got another foul ball, too.

Got last night's foul ball signed by Zito, Blanton, Swisher and Melhuse.

Going to try to get a few more sigs tomorrow.

Hopefully, I will have some pictures worthy of posting.  Probably not. :(

Anyways, tomorrow a nice relaxing meaningless game at Safeco.

And, by the way.  Mariner's fans are classy and the staff at Safeco is top notch.  I think I will try to hit all the A's games there next year. (Maybe I should post that over at Lookout Landing.)

Donner
(Transplanted from the East Bay to Seattle this year via a lot of years in SoCal.)

Where's the celebration?
My wife is in Seattle, where should she go to find the cool parties with the A's?
Man I gotta work in the morning...
Congratulations to the A's...and to AN
What an amazing feeling just 24 hours after that kick in the teeth last night. All day I was telling myself that last night would make the clinch all the sweeter, but I wasn't sure I really believed it. Man, this is awesome.

Thanks, Blez, for bringing us together and thanks to everyone here for your passion, insight and humor.

Enjoy the next week, everyone, then let's break through in the playoffs!

YAH!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Pachyderm of the Game:
EVERYONE!

Hahahahaha!

and here to present the award
for pachyderm of the game, connie mack.


Oh
So THAT'S what a pachyderm is.
Ask John McGraw....
....about the origin of the pachyderm as the Athletics mascots.
Oh... they're
just a bunch of White Elephants...

Thanks AN! Thank you A's!

Memo to Lew Wolf: Bring back Thomas!

Beautiful, J... :-D
here's a little clip of the celebration!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1UuMv4fPZA
i'll try to upload some more clips tomorrow
for those who were not able to watch the post-game celebration on FSN!
Heh, I forgot about the Curse of AN
... and of AN 2.0, blamed by some for last year's miserable September.

Blez, you're off the hook now.  The A's were perfectly capable of losing in the first round of the playoffs without your site, so no one can blame you if the team loses this year.  And if they do win the ALDS, you get to take the credit.

and now, your moment of zen
My New Favorite picture EVER!!!
Why cant I
have that photographer's job? Of course, I'd probably be too tempted to get plastered right along with them.
Nick "Gene Simmons" Swisher!
A little makeup, a wig, electric bass and bloodspit would make it hard to tell the two apart!
You mean...
...Nick "Chaim Witz" Swisher?
Sent that to all my friends!
Kielty's goggles=Priceless!
Nick's tongue... hmmm...
fricking priceless! champagne goggles?
drink it up, bitches!
Kiko Kudos
he didn't pitch tonight, but helped us win the game.
I'm not talking about cheering either.
   Even though Calero was the losing pitcher last night, he helped us win today by knocking Susuki out of the lineup.  If I.S. plays tonight, Harden gives up at least 3 runs, and this game may have had a very different ending.
   
emotional roller coaster ... worth it
Congrats to the A's and thanks to AN for having a place where we can all share our collective joy.  What a last 24 hours!  It's why I love baseball and this team.  

In a way, our emotions mirrors the team itself. Like the team, we can rest up and enjoy a low stress week and build our energy up for the playoffs, where the A's are going to rock!

The last few days were getting US FANS ready for what will only be an even more intense experience next week, with every pitch counting.  Are we ready?? Of course we are.

Go A's!

They definitely need Harden for the post-season
So, forget all the nonsense about there being some question if the A's will keep him on the roster--gimme a break sportscasters.
man, they work fast!

you can get your AL west champions gear at the mlb shop NOW!

damn mlb.com
won't accept my a's giftcards!
Yeah, I'm still up
EI gives subscribers a promotional code for a percentage off of any MLB.com Shop purchase. The stupid code isn't valid on these items.
Does anyone know
if these will be available at the team store at the coliseum, and more importantly, if it will be open over the next few days? If not, is there somewhere we can go to pick these up? I want mine NOW! Don't want to wait for shipping!
Hey. those really are beautiful caps.
Get your lady one of those instead of some ugly burka.
How's this for a successful season?
Before the season I bet on the A's to win the West, the Royals to lose at least 99 games, and Ryan Howard to win the HR title...hahahhaaha, somebody's getting paid on Sunday, bitches!!!
Yeah,
aside from my complete emotional/spiritual fulfillment, I also have dough riding on the A's, but I only win if they take the AL Pennant and then, separately, if they win it all.  It was an easy choice when leaving Reno already down a few hundred bucks.
First of all,
wooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second, I'm making a pledge for this post season.  I will try my best to appreciate every inning--no matter what happens.

 

Everybody, keep trashing the A's
They keep saying in the locker room how everybody badmouthed them and never gave them a chance--seems it's motivated them--and a little liqour really brings out the truth.
And a lot of liquor will bring out the kind of
language only appropriate for HBO.

WOO!!!

YES!!!!!
Super, Super Pysched about this team.  Totally deserving of the Division Title, and more...

I've seen this team win plenty of division titles over the years, but this one seems extra, extra special.

Tears in my Eyes, Special!

Thanks A's!  Thanks AN!

Cheers,

CF

BIG FRANK
"I've been through these celebrations before, but this one? This might be the one I'll remember most when it's all done, and I hope we have three more just like it in the next few weeks."

YES!!!!

shit
if the starters are taking tomorrow off dont you think we should take off work also.  After all this clinch is just as much a clinch for us as it is the players right?

OK, well maybe I cant speak for everyone, but I am NOT going in tomorrow!

I'm saving my day off
for playoff game next Friday!!

Yee-haw!!

comin' in yay-haw!
I am just back from hanging out
in the Seattle Fairmont lobby.  No, I am not a stalker but I did hang out from a distance to watch our boys celebrate (I'm shy so I didn't approach them or even take pictures lest I give myself away!).  Most of the players came down to the lobby at one point or another after getting back from the game.  Kotsay (who was SO excited and could barely sit still!), Ellis, Chavvy, and DJ held a table with their girlfriends/wives in the bar.  One of the women had an A's division champ hat on.  Many of the other players came down for a minute and then headed out on the town.  Off the top of my head I saw Scutaro, Haren, Saarloos, Perez, Halsey, Zito and Street (the latter two together!) and others who I know I'm forgetting now!  I didn't take any pictures because I didn't want to make myself known and just wanted to sit and watch them celebrate.  It was fun to see and even better to witness this game in person!  Go A's!
Shoot Indigo,,,
You had your ideal chance to ask them for some extra cash while they were all there and drunk out of their minds.
I know!
(And the drinks were flowing so I could have at least gotten a high five or something!)  That said, I was very happy to just sit there with nobody noticing me and observing it all.
Cool stadium moment...
I had great seats tonight...about 10 rows back right behind the A's dugout.  In the middle of the 9th a lot of A's fans came down to this section wanting to be part of the impending celebration.  There were tons of empty seats but the ushers would not let them down even though it was going into the bottom of the 9th.  In response to the ushers, the Mariners fans in the area started chanting "Let them down!  Let them down!"  That was very cool!  But it was to no avail and the A's fans had to wait further up until the end of the game.
perhaps never in the history of sport
has one team loved another as much as the Mariners and their fans have loved the A's this year!!
hey ...
i couldn't get to a tv so I didn't get to see the clubhouse celebration + interviews.  If anyone has it recorded and doesn't mind posting it, I'm sure a lot of people who missed the coverage would appreciate it.  Thanks!
MLB.com
Has interviews and some pixs.  
We celebrated good times tonight!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Wow!
I'm impressed!
Sheeeeeeit
You shoulda invited me! I was listening on the radio, at home, alone. (Poor me!)
Has the apt. been like that since last Saturday?
Gotta love the devotion!
Sadly
yes it was like that since saturday We were getting very sick of the plastic
i'm both impressed and disturbed
It looks like you could've
taken someone out mob-style in that house.
Wow!
I thought I was committed with my beers on ice celebrating with my friends... Now Thats commitment!
And after you're done celebrating...
...the room's already set up so you can paint the walls!  

Or not... :)

And when you're done celebrating...
...the room's all set up so you can paint the walls!

Or not...

Paint the walls, have an orgy...
Both would probably work out okay.
Yup--a few gallons of...
...Wesson Oil--fix you right up.  

Procuring the distaff partiers, however, is your responsibility--good luck on that.  

That is fucking legit
Lucky baseballgirl girl here
<disclaimer...I'm sort of sober>

Just got back to the hotel. In all seriousness, my main priority was getting back to a computer, because I simply had to read AN.

When I was a little kid, I used to grade days with a letter grade. Today earned an A+. No question. From the moment I arrived in Seattle (and I worked until 1 am last night to make sure I could fly out), to the moment when the Angels' lost, everything was perfect. You could feel the energy. The players were bouncy, if that makes sense, as soon as Texas took the lead that they would never relinquish. The players knew in the seventh. The only thing I was praying for was that Tex/Ana would be over before the A's, so they would know that they had clinched. And, of course, it worked out perfectly.

With no planning or direction, every A's fan in the stadium quietly made their way to behind the A's dugout (third base line?!) and simply waited for them to clinch. They did, and I honestly felt myself tearing up. What a moment. What a moment. I can't even describe how it feels.

For the good of AN, I took pictures; I'll have them developed. ;)

In all seriousness, I love you guys. Thank you for being with me the whole way; thank you for making this moment even more special than it would have been by myself.

I went to a bar right afterwards and the song 'Celebration' came on and I teared up AGAIN. I love this team; I love you guys.

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!!!!!!

<hugs, kisses>

P.S.
My best friend Marilyn couldn't get the game on TV, so she followed AN all night, and left me a message, "I'm relieved to know that there are other people as crazy as you."
PPS
If the A's had won last night, it would not have been NEAR the fun of tonight, since they would have clinched in the 7th instead of winning the game.

Just .... FYI...

Wheeeeeee
Good that you are having such an excellent trip, baseballgirl :)

I was at the games yesterday and today, and will be there tomorrow too.  Gah, I wish they hadn't clinched, now I don't get to see Zito pitch!

I seriously considered wearing an A's shirt today just because I figured it'd be a pretty good party after the game, but figured the Mariners fan friend I was going to the game with would kill me.  Besides, saying that "every A's fan snuck up to the dugout" is almost like saying "every person left in the ballpark after the 7th inning"... man, that was one deserted stadium tonight.

Unfortunately, most of my pictures today didn't come out well because I was either stuck in the upper deck or working against a lack of light during BP, but here's a few from the clinch and from the pregame.

Melhuse in mid-air:

Kotsay is pretty happy:

King Richard the Brokenharden warming up (I swear, this is one of the weirdest baseball pictures I've taken, it's like "look at my cute smile while my arm moves faster than your shutter speed!"):

Smiling Cupcakes:

Mr. Zito:

We're not selling bats here!

A new shave for Swisher for good luck (it worked), but what's the deal with those sideburns?!:

"Swish, you're the best shortstop ever."

I hereby propose...
We adopt Deanna and Jeff as our own, and hold an AN indoctrination ceremony in the coming weeks.
You rock, baseballgirl.
I don't think I've ever been happier
for a total stranger. I'm so happy you got to see Friday's game and lie on the field for the fireworks, that you got to meet Milton Bradley, and that you were right where you wanted to be when the A's clinched AL West.

It's like when I hike and I think of the insanely gorgeous backcountry I'll never be able to see because there's no other way to get there but by foot... it may be inaccessible to wusses like me, but major props to those who can find their way there. Strange analogy, but it's the only one I can think of right now. Apologies. The cheering and clapping are still ringing in my ears.

Soak it all up, bbg. This is as much your moment as it is the A's.

My Story
Well I am happy as SH!T. I thought I would feel a little left this year. You see I am in the Air Force and currently deployed to Cyprus until November. Finding this site has given me a bonding feeling. You see there are no A's fans here with me. There is a Tigers fan which could become interesting.
I get up in the early morning here hoping to catch a game or update on Armed Forces TV. I have been able to see quite a few games down the stretch luckily. I've been an A's fan since I was little guy watching the teams of the 70's win three in a row.
So I just want to say a big THANKS to AN for keeping me in some good reads and bonding with fellow A's fans. This is so sweet but the job is not done yet.
Wow didn't realize this site reached so far
I'm glad you can receive some happiness and comforts from home at this site. Thank you for volunteering your time to protect our country.  Let's see the A's do it this year!  
Dear Afskycop,
Thanks for being out there and serving our country.
You must be  a "lifer". I vividly remember those World Champion A's of the '70s, also.
Isn't Cypress a beautiful Greek island?  Hope you're also able to enjoy some of the island during your stay.
Well, if these guys are able to play as well as Charley Finley's boys did--then they'll be awesome--you and me know that.
Take care and God Bless.
Yep a lifer
19 years in and soon to be done.
Is that a joke?
"Cyprus a Greek Island"
I looked Cyprus up last night after my post...
My Geographical Dictionary says Cyprus is basically owned by the Turks, but with apparently heavy influence by nearby Greece.
Obviously, Cypress is a Mediterranean  Island with a great tradition and ancient history behind it.
In my backpack/world travels days around the Mediterranean I witnessed many traders from Cypress along the Southern Turkish coast=a sight to see=their like a bunch of old gypsies or pirates right out o a Hollywood movie set.
Sorry for all the mis-spellings--it's CYPRUS !
isn't Cypress ...
... all the articles about Johan Santana?
Gaaah!
You really are trying to start a war, aren't you?

First Cyprus is a "Greek island" and now it's "basically owned by the Turks".

It is neither.  There is a lot of Greek history on Cyprus and there is a lot of Turkish history on Cyprus. The two sides have often come to violence over the question of who "owns" the island.  Let's wish them success in coming to accept that it belongs to both.

Doesn't Cyprus belong to the Cypriots?
and neither Greece nor Turkey?
Depends on who you ask
The Greeks, Turks, or Cypriots
This sounds familiar, somehow...
You are right. Go to the Cyprus Tourism site
they tell you it's the Cypriots. My probably outdated Geo-Dictionary says Turkey. Ask me during a spell of insomnia and I'll tell you Greece.
Folks, as of right now, until the next war, Cyprus is it;s own country with it's own Constitution run by people from both Turkey and Greece.
Cyprus belongs to the Swedes.
my source was a greek cypriot
so she was in favor more on the greek side.
So happy yet a little sad....
I'm so happy A's finally clinched the AL West but it looks like I have midterms in October...grrr I might  get some F's if our A's go all the way.  
Stating the obvious
Blez, the AN community, and the A's rule! Word up!  Thanks to all; I appreciate this forum.
Its Been A Long Time Coming
I Remember When I Joined This Blog In 2004, One Of My First Thoughts Were Of How Rockin It Would Be To Celebrate A Championship With So Many Fellow A's Fans. I Am Very  Stoked Tonight. Its Been A Wild Ride Since That Summer In 2004, And Allot Of Us Have Been On It Together Through The Thick And The Thin, And It Feels Damm Sweet To Have The AL West Championship Once Again, And A Legitimate Shot At Another World Championship Here In Mighty Oakland. Fuck Rich Harden Really Could Be The Difference Maker For Us In The Next Few Weeks, And He Just Might Put This Team On His Back And Carry Them To The World Championship. World Series Or Bust.....
I'm happy
simply amazing.  Go A's.  Love this team.  Love AN.  Like a big bar full of A's fans.
Finally!! congrats to jason kendall and Mark
Kotsay!
How sweet it is -- I just wish..
Bill King was able to call it.  Just listened to the radio broadcast (online), and Korach made a comment about being in the clubhouse while King was in the booth during these moments.

I suddenly heard King in my head:
"Swung on! Deep drive to left field! It's at the warning track.... the wall... It's GONE!  HOLY TOLEDO!"  

Congrats to our scrappy team!  Now I don't have to constantly listen to the Yank fans in the office brag.

I heard that a few times last night too...
but only because I used my A's bottle opener to pop open a few cold ones :)
Now I'm even dreaming about the A's.
Last night I dreamt that I was in the dugout after the clinch, chatting with Melhuse.

I wouldn't mind dreaming about the clinch every freakin' night.

ZITO! on Thursday! YAHOO!!!
Much better to see Zito in Anaheim on Thursday than to have to wait that long (as I originally was sorta hoping) to see them clinch in person. I fucking love Barry Zito and the A's. I love the global celebration that is AN. Now let's see if Windsor can get a big league win (or at least a win against the M's).
For the first time
in a 160 days or so I can watch a game tonight and really enjoy it.  If I am really lucky, I will see Melhuse, DJ, D'Angelo, Perez, Bocachica and a few other guys I haven't seen in a year.  I don't want to see Street, or Duke, or Calero on the mound until Sat. or Sunday at the earliest, and then only for a few pitches.   I read this morning this morning that  both Bonderman and Verlander will not pitch again until the playoffs and THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT FOR POSITION.  Macha would do well to heed that advice.  Minnesota has said they will not start  Santana on Sunday no matter what their position or how important the game is.  Those two managers understand that their players and pitchers are tired, and exhausted after a late season run, I hope our ESTEEMED manager recognizes the same thing.
I couldn't sleep last night.
I'm still celebrating.
<high five>
You missed out.
Nonsense
Now don't leave me hanging...

<high five>

<segway dance>
I'm wearing an A's shirt today and I'm getting some sneers!
sporting the starter jacket!
Oh, and
<high five>
I slept really well last night.
And that's unusual for me.
I didn't sleep.
I had more of a nap. :)
You also died a few times last night...
...so you're probably well-rested anyway. :)
The A's have given me insomnia
the last couiple weeks--so I hope they fricken better suprise us all and finally win and put away that first team in the playoffs.
I love this team
I love this website!!!
So, when is the party in Anaheim?  I live in Los Angeles and would love to get together with those down here who bleed green and gold.
Slusser on KNBR!
Harden is our best pitcher and should pitch game1:
I know that this organization is not going to do that.

But I would.

Harden
Zito
Haren
Loaiza
Harden/Zito

If you pitch him fourth it is possible that your best pitcher may never pitch in a 5 games series.

I'm with you
Side Session for Harden Friday:  He could give us 6 or 7 innnings (90 pitches) on Tuesday Night.  If it's a shorter outing than that, bullpen is very, very fresh.

As the Leader, Zito should recommend this scenario to Macha/Beane.  

I think
Game three should be on Friday...don't be suprised to see Rich out there on the bump.
not to steal from Tony
but "Congratulations Bitches!" The best team won the division this year...

Good luck in the playoffs!

Rock On
Had the computer off last night, but first thing this morning I came to AN to read and soak it in here.  Awesome threads from last night.  It's funny to me how I post here so seldom but totally feel at home here and part of things.  It's cool to see others who feel the same coming out of the woodwork to celebrate!

ROCK ON A'a!!!!!

I was afraid to type it when folks were having fun with it last week, but now I will:

2006 AL West Division Champions.  

Yeahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Angels fan base
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDuYJCtHN8&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f=b

Just for your viewing entertainment

typical...
And yet sooooo satisfying! Goes down smooth!
Time to give congrats
The A's stuck out last night and played like a team, looking ready for October and I felt so happy watching Kotsay, Kendall, Bradley, and Thomas getting ready for a real chance in the postseason, thank you 2006 Oakland A's you have made this year one of the best in recent history, now it's on to face the central winner.
Radnich
Declares it "A's Time." And invites A's fans to call in. Welcomes them with "open arms." Brings a smile to my face. Well, a smirk to be sure.
HAHA!!!
Radnich keeps calling him Robert Braun. Silly man.
Radnich always keeps a snifter nearby
or under his news desk.  Helps with the pronunciation!
Let's go Oak-land.
Clap, Clap, Clap-Clap-Clap.

Let's go Oak-land. Clap, Clap, Clap-Clap-Clap.

Let's go Oak-land. Clap, Clap, Clap-Clap-Clap.

Let's go Oak-land. Clap, Clap, Clap-Clap-Clap.

Fear the 'Phants!
The pace of the elephant is slow, but crushing

Motto of Cuban League team Cienfuegos circa 1955.

That's very cool.
And if you've ever seen a bull elephant in the flesh, you hafta wonder why anyone would call the lion "King of the Jungle."

It's impressive--...all those downtown ladies call him tree trunk lover..."

Do your own google image search.

But don't tell Nico.  

   

<snerk>
That is soooooo naughty.
Don't mess with the elephants . . .
. . . or Tony Jaa will kick your ass.

This Tony Jaa looks like
Nick Swisher with a hangover
Let's pretend that elephant is stomping a tiger
Like this one better?
Awww.
So nice to see Milton and Swisher being playful with Frank.
Quick! Deputize that elephant in the ...
... Royal Peninsula Ladies Lunch and Ultrasonic Cougar-Hunting Auxiliary, Junior League and Nonhumanoid Division.
A Choir of Fat Ladies
Looking back at the last game thread, there are SO many photos of opera ladies!
Absolutely hilarious and awesome!

I can't sit still I'm so happy today!

I missed it! But I am very happy!
I was volunteering at an art festival last night and was a little sad that I missed the A's clinching! (I mean, dang, couldn't they have clinched on my schedule? ;D) But I am very happy that they got it done, and I'll be there at the first home game!
I have been grinning from ear to ear since last
night. It was nothing short of awesome. Got my tix to the ALDS on Monday. Thanks Blez and all of you on AN who made clinching that much sweeter. Also, feels good to rub it in and to go to LAAAAA with the division locked up. Lets do this!
Blez...put an x- next to the A's in the standings.
WOOOOOOT!
Yay A's
I keep running into smiling people in A's gear today.  

Let's go to the WS this time, huh?

Oh yahhhhh.
Last night was a joy. I wanted them to call it after the eighth just because I wanted that moment to come sooner than later. That moment when I knew we WON!

I also made my twice yearly visit to HH, and their bitterness was sweet. Apparently we should be thankful that "the superior team" (the Angels) let the "inferior team" (the A's) win the division.

Note to Halos Heaven: Superior teams usually, oh, I dunno... win, right? Oh, and also: noone gives a shit about the series in Anaheim. If it makes you feel better, sweep our B, C and D squads. Cuz we have playoff games to think about!

I just downloaded the free game from the mlb site
It's a nice thought to put these clinch games up for the fans to keep (for free) but come on, they put up the Mariner's feed! What in the world makes any sense about that? I download almost a gig of data, and it's not even the sportscasters for the team that clinched.
They also managed
to cut off the clubhouse celebrations and bubbly. Why couldn't they use the FSNBA feed anyways?
I am so, so, so happy.
I ordered my A's AL West Champs shirt and hat yesterday, and I want them to ship NOW. I even shelled out for overnight shipping. Yeah, this was at 1:40 ET when I should have been in bed, but instead stayed up to watch - once I gave in and saw the score, no way was I leaving. NO WAY. And I'm glad that I did.

I was lying in bed last night, too keyed-up to go to sleep, literally tearing up and crying  because I was so happy. A couple times this year, things have been bad, really bad - enough that I question why I love this team so much and then they keep breaking my heart and leaving me lethargic and miserable, feeling as if I've gotten hit with a semi.

Did I remember why I love them? Hell yeah, I remembered.

I WAS THERE
Hey all, just got back from Seattle. What a night. I guess there is a perk being an A's fan and living in the Northwest. (Portland) Sounds like Windsor will go tonight. Zito will rest a day extra.

Go A's  !!

Portland has lots of A's fans.....
We should unite for the up coming serie(s)
I'm up for it...
do you have a suggestion for a place?
The Monkey has been silenced
This game was a microcosm of the season.  A day after suffering a devastating loss, this team bounced back like it always does.

Although it was nice to see our guys celebrate, why did I find myself secretly wanting to see a camera in the Angels locker room, seeing Frankie and Donnelly fogging up their goggles with tears, or seeing Lackey slack jawed (oh sorry he always looks that way), or most of all that cry baby face on Scioscia.  The Monkey rallies no more in '06.  Let there be much rejoicing in Baseball Country.

Street was hilarious in postgame.
I still worry about him physically, but psychic-ly he's fine:  "I told them when the score got to be 12-2 that it was okay to put me in."  

Balls of steel!

That was so funny!!
You know the only reason he said that was cause he had already consumed a lot of that champaign dripping off his head!! It was really cute though! At least he can laugh at himself! And Zito calling him his little brother, ADORABLE!!
Yeah, that was awesome!
mmmf. mmfggh. mmmmf.
me too
i posted last night i wish we had finished before angels so they could show players and fans in LA after it was shown on scoreboard.
Congratulations everyone,
I'll just echo previous posters sentiments with a big WHOO FREAKIN WHOOOO!  
OMG! I thought I would have calmed down by now!
But I am hyper as ever! I have been listening to the club house audio on the website, and searching for pictures, and enlightening a friend of mine to the joys of GettyImages.com! It has been an AWESOME morning!!!!

Is it weird that I want to go home and watch the game again? I get chills when I watch the little clips and hear the feeds of the last catch!

I am such a sap! I get all teary eyed when I think of Kotsay and Kendall finally getting to celebrate! And then to think this may be Zito's last chance to win a WS Title in the Green and Gold... OK! Here I go again with the tears!!

I am just so happy right now! I am going to totally ride this high through the off season, well, at least until the high of winning the World Series comes in and replaces it!! WOO!!!

Alas...
Both Macha and I sleep well. And niether one of us has to pick up Bradley off the ground and carry him to the dugout. I went to bed at like midnight and got up a 7 but felt like I had 12 hrs of sleep! Ohh so stress free. But what makes me sleep even better is when Zito the pacifist came to the mic telling everyone they can shove their A's choke in the post season crap cuz were coming out firing.
Peace.
The A's win another West.... Whats new?... Not rhetorical... waiting for answer from Halos Heaven. (Oh Angels, congrats on NOT having a losing season 3 years and running, a franchise record... HA)
Can't look away
ESPN, you are officially ridiculous.  You are stupid, media puppets bowing to T.O. the Madonna of the NFL.  He has a publicist.  There is real sports drama going on, and you don't care.  It is so ridiculous to hear Michael Irvin talking about these non-issues.
FWIW
It's a pretty big story. I don't blame them.
It's a pretty big NON-Story you mean.....
It's the media
blowing it out of proportion and running with conjecture instead of facts
plz
dont give it the time of day, I just hope Fosse and FSNBA cover our postseason instead of Fox Chnl. 2  jumping on the bandwagon like last Sat. against the angels. Let them ignore it. ITs our victory
Unfortunately
I think all postseason coverage is taken on by a "national" (sh*tty) outlet. Can anyone confirm this?
Postseason is generally FOX or ESPN...
I think ESPN just picks up the extra divisional series games, with FOX taking the championship sereis and definitely the World Series. Or something like that. All I know is it's not gonna be Glen and Ray. ;)
If you can get the radio feed
just mute your TV and listen to Korach, Fosse, and Cotroneo. Way better than listening to McCarver for 3 hours
Anything is better than McCarver for 3 hours
well, except for Morgan for 3 hours
Yeah
that's usually what I do for those kind of games, I need to run the radio feed through my computer so it's synched up right with the delay of dishnetwork... I'll think of something.
Under the radar
That's how suprise attacks work
<jumps out at ArakSOT>
<soaks him with Sam Adams>
I read that as "out of."
Now that would be a surprise.
<grabs Sal with massive forearms>
FIRST TIME, BABY!
We need to have some viewing parties.
I'm going to work on finding a place with a big screen TV.
Atwoods...
Everybody there already knows I'm an A's fan. Slighly further away for you, tho'. Not humunguos sports-bar screens, but pretty big flats.
ooooh, sounds good!
I'm out of town 6-8th
Too late to concoct a scheme to sabotage the brother's wedding, I suppose
where is atwoods?
is that some place outside the bay area? forgive the ignorance...
They're both in the Boston area
from what I understand. But one of them's got a Segway and should be arriving in Oakland any day now...
You know that scene from Remember the Titans?
When Gary, the injured guy, is watching the championship from the hospital on TV, and he sees them win, and just lifts up his arms and basks in it?

Yep. That's how I've been feeling all day.

All Day I have been
feeling the same way.  I have been feeling very elated to the verge of tears on more than one occasion.  
you know that scene from RAISING CAIN?
Where the woman wakes from her coma -- only to see her husband smooching her doctor, and then dies from the shock?

I'll bet that's how Rev Halofan has been feeling all day.

Brilliant.
Let's bask in the glory of a halo-free post season
I think it's more like
Raising Arizona, with Rev Halofan attempting to steal the AL West because he feels like we have too many.
Lil' AL West, Junior!
He's an angel! He's an angel straight from heaven!
biology and the prejudices of others
conspired to keep them winless.
Vlad is the Lone Batter of the Apocalypse
Is it greedy of me?
To say that I at this point would be dissapointed if Frank Thomas didnt get 40 jacks by Monday?
Rev is too busy eating humble pie.
Feels good to shut that guy up. What a season...luckily, it continues.
I made a wallpaper for everyone!!
[IMG]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n226/Jennarae12/2006ALWESTCHAMPS.jpg[/IMG]
Nice!
Got it on my work computer now. Thanks!! :-D
Awesome! Thanks!
I was just trying to update my MySpace profile, do you mind if I use this?
Please feel free
Good Stuff
Thanks
i was gonna do something similar...
but thank you for doing it for everyone... its awesomee whooooo
Very nice
Much appreciated.
I posted up
the crappy looking video from my digital camera real quick last night to help people out in a hurry, but now I've got the real deal digitally copied over to my hard drive. I'll split it up into a few pieces and throw it onto my youtube. I will keep everyone updated.
does anyone have video of
the celebration party after the game?
here you go
http://cbs5.com/

http://www.ktvu.com/index.html

Friggin' great stuff!!!
Those guys are yelping like cowboys!  Congratulations, Oakland Athletics!!!
Let's go Tigers!
numbers the past month:

verlander: 4.82 era. 1.64 whip 2-2 record.

bonderman: 4.36 era 1.61 3-1 record

I'm sorry but these two guys (much like the entire detroit lineup)don't really scare me

You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.