What a great way to celebrate and begin the new season. The dark days of winter are behind us - and the bright days of spring bring a new season for our Oakland Athletics. Yoo Hoo!

Rumor has it - there will be an ANers + friends tailgate (OK - it's not a rumor, it's happening) and if you wish to join in the festivities - comment below what you can bring to share. If you can bring a grill or other supplies handy for a tailgate (table, plates, utensils, napkins, drinks, etc). - let us know that as well. Our usual spot is in the North lot around rows 12 - 14 on the end closest to the BART station.

We will NOT be in the usual spot and this post fell off the front page - so I hope people see this!!!

We will gather in the group tailgate area which is in LOT K. This lot is located just off the North lot - see the star in the picture below. (It's that little gate where you always saw cars and wondered WHO are those people that get to go in there!!!?) For this tailgate it's US!!

via i842.photobucket.com

Bryan C is planning on getting there fairly early (2 PM or so). You must pay for parking and park in the lot - although he has been told you can get to the gate there to drop things off before you park for good. We shall see. Coliseum Staff is going to be directing traffic into parking spots....not really sure what time. The lot is open at 2 and one staff member told me that the parking detail begins at 4:30. See you all soon!

Counting the HOURS!!!....GO A'S!!!

A few of us got together in SAC last summer to see our AAA team try their luck.  We had a good time and decided we would do it again!  The summer is quickly slipping away  -  so I just made an executive decision (since I am the organizer)  that we will try again on Fri. and Sat. July 22 and 23 - both evening games.  (Day games in Sac. are just too darn hot!!).  A's will be out of town that weekend - so there is no home game conflict.

Tickets will be $23. per ticket per game to sit in the Delta Box section. (Stadium Seating Map) I will need to know how many tickets are needed and will need the money for tickets sent to my paypal by NEXT WED, July 13th as I will be leaving town again for a wedding and would like to take care of tix before I leave.  I will not be organizing hotel rooms - but there is a Holiday Inn very close to the ball park in downtown Sacramento. 

Paypal:  joberryjo@gmail.com

If you have any questions - feel free to email me at the joberryjo email!  I hope you will consider joining us!

Fourth of July weekend seems like a great time for an AN get-together.  So - let's get together (yeah, yeah, yeah) before the fireworks game on Sat. July 2nd.

This will be of the sort of unplanned, unorganized sort. No group tickets for this one. More of an if you're coming to the game, come to the get-together first.  If you are coming to the game - plan to bring something to share and plan to come hang out with the AN-amily.  Wacchampions will bring a grill and a table, I will also bring a table and some chairs.

So here's what we need to know....are you coming to the game?  Will you join us at the tailgate?  What will you bring to share?

We will gather in our usual spot in the North parking lot right at the end of row 12 or 14.  Check into the post later this week to see what time and for updates on what is needed for the meal.  

Can I get some recs??  Let's Go Oakland!

So here's what I know so far:

A grill, 2 tables, some chairs, a salad, some chicken, desserts (cookies or kettlecorn, a cake, brownies), garlic bread.  We also have some boneless ribs and pork blade steaks, guac and 7 layer dip, too.   Post below if I have missed your contribution to the meal.

WAC will be there around 2 or 2:30 to grab us a good spot and I should be there by 3 or so.

Mrs. Mc Carthy is an AN favorite, already!   Many of us follow her tweets [@Mrs_McCarthy32] as well as the tweets of Mrs. McCarthy's husband, Brandon [@B__McCarthy].

Recently she contacted us through the Twittterverse and asked that we publicize some events that are near and dear to the hearts of the wives and girlfriends of our Oakland Athletics.  The wives & GF have some charity events coming up in the next few weeks and they would certainly appreciate your support in whatever way you can help.  Listed below are the events and the ways you can help.  The first event is tomorrow.

Event 1:  June 1st   - Canned Food Drive.   Some of the wives have volunteered to collect cans at the ballpark from 10:30-12:30. There will be three stations set up at the different gates.  This is a day game against the Yankees so come out and donate. The proceeds will go to Alameda County Community Food Bank.

Event 2:  June 17th -  Gift Baskets for Auction.   This event's proceeds will help the victim of the tornadoes which have stuck very close to the Willingham's hometown.  They are making baskets that represent their husbands. They will have personal items as well as promotional ones. There will also be a basket that represents the wives. They have added a few items fans will want to auction on. "Not every fan wants sports stuff." 


Event 3:  June 30th - Root Beer Float Day - All proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, more information about autographed items will be posted on the A's website.

Event 4:  July 15th - Dog Day at the Park.   A few ladies will be out there before the game to judge the costume contest. There will be giveaways for the pet owners.  Obviously, Mrs. McCarthy will be there as a judge, and Hobbes (her adorable doggy)  just might come to the game!

Event TBA:  -Also they will be auctioning signed balls from players throughout MLB. They haven't decided what day,  so I will keep you posted.

If you wish to simply donate - I am happy to organize this and use my paypal account to collect your donations. Be sure to specify the amount you wish to go to each event. Pay pal to:   joberryjo@gmail.com

Rec. this so it won't fall off the page, please.

Final details - we are a go for Sunday.  We will gather starting at 10 or so in the North Parking lot on the side closest to the BART tracks.  We have a grill and a variety of foods - seafood, breakfast casserole, fruit, coffee, munchie type snacks.  We have people bringing plates, napkins, tables, etc.  We also have PLENTY of sweets and are planning on gathering after the game for our dessert course!!

What we need:  No one really signed up for drinks (other than coffee & juice) - although I will be bringing breakfast cocktail makings for those of us that like that in a breakfast drink.  So if these don't strike your fancy - you're on your own.

I think these items would also be nice - any takers?

• Breakfast breads or muffins
• Sausages
• Potatoes or other such side dishes

If you have any last minute questions on SAT you can call me at 925-699-7090 or email me at joberryjo@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hanging out with my AN friends.....

and GO A's!!!!

Okay - so we don't really want the season to end - but we DO want to celebrate games and friendships and stand in line for the Dallas Braden bobblehead giveaway.  C'mon - you know you want to!

The details:

When - Before the game on Sunday, September, 26th - 10:00-ish AM until first pitch.

Where - The usual spot in the North parking lot, around row 14 or so.

What - Bring your favorite breakfast/brunch type foods to share.  We also need some of you to kick in things like paper goods, plates, utensils, things to drink.  There is a gmail survey linked below for you to RSVP and for me to keep track of what people will be bringing.  I will update here as I get responses.

Tailgate RSVP Survey 

Tickets:  If you do not have tickets you can send $12.00 to my paypal account for each ticket you want.  Paypal account is joberryjo@gmail.com by SEPT 23, 2010.

So - take the survey and pay the $$$ (if you need tickets) and come back here for updates!

What We're Bringing:

BerryJo - Egg, Spinach, Cheese Strata

mikev - grill

lynnzgal - The usual suspects (seafood for breakfast!);  a table;  plates, napkins and utensils

wacchampions - whatever we need ...

Englishmajor  - Medium-sized round table, Napkins, Trash and recycling bins, Something sweet...I'm thinking brownies

gigglingone  - Not sure yet -- depends on how early I get there, but it will be a food item.

Oakland Sí   - only BART-able items, chicken parmesan sausages

Feeba  -  red party cups, pretzel bites, and some sort of snack mix-- caramel popcorn or chex mix or something.

ChickenStanley - something dessert-y

67Marquez - mom's cookies

As you know, AN Day is coming up on July 10th. Our Boys of Summer will be playing that team from the Southland - you know the one we all love to hate.  The game is a fireworks game as well....so how can you lose?

Lynn began the organizing for the Tailgate and I agreed to help her with the tickets (because I didn't pass the intelligence test after getting the River Cats tickets order together!).  I will order and pay for tickets on July 7th- which is only ONE WEEK so you're gonna need to act fast.

Paypal me at the following account:  joberryjo@gmail.com   I am collecting $23.00 per ticket although they may NOT cost that much.  I will have the tickets for you at the tailgate.  I will be trying to get the tickets at a deep discount  and if I am able to do so, I will also have a ticket rebate for you as well.  

If you have any questions - you can email me at joberryjo@gmail.com

GO A's!!

Hey boys 'n' girls - there is still time if you wish to join us at the River Cats games on Friday July 2 & Sat July 3.  Tickets are only $19.00 per ticket.  The games are both evening contests AND both have fireworks following the games.  So far this is the guest list - but you can join this list by sending me a Paypal payment by noon on FRIDAY, JUNE 25.  I will be ordering tickets Friday PM before heading out to the game.  If you wish to stay overnight email me and I can send you a lodging link.

Paypal Info:   joberryjo@gmail.com

Friday Guest List:  Berry Jo, OakAthleticGrl15, Wacchampions + guest, Lynnz, LibrariAN + Guest

Saturday Guest List:  Berry Jo, OakAthleticGrl15 + 2 guests, Wacchampions + guest, Lynnz, Feeba, Wes7, gigglingone

Hope you can join us!!

Your friend, Berry Jo

It's time to get it together and get your tickets for the AN Day in Sacramento to see the River Cats play at Raley Field.  If you have never been to Raley Field it is a GREAT ballpark.  AND just for us...both these games will feature fireworks - YAY!!!

By popular vote, the games we will attend are Friday, July 2 and/or Saturday, July 3.  You may chose to attend one or both games.  We will be sitting in the Senate Seats which are $19 per seat per game - if we reach the minimum # of tickets. (I think this will be no problem if everyone that said they wanted tickets can still attend!)  These seats are in sections 108 - 116.  If you look at the stadium map it is the area in blue.

I will email the group that has already responded and let you all know who wants to carpool.  Anyone who did not respond to the earlier survey, can email me at joberryjo@gmail.com and I am happy to include you in any emails about the event.   I will leave carpool arrangements to you. 

For those of you that want to stay in Sac,  wacchampions has offered us a link for booking rooms through the hotel group he works for.  You can use it to book rooms if you plan to stay overnight.  There are two Holiday Inns close to the park. Sacramento-Capitol Plaza is the closest but West Sacramento is not very far either.  Discounted prices at these hotels using the link below range from $69 to $89 per night.

To reserve tickets you need to do two things:  1)  Paypal me your payment at:     joberryjo@gmail.com    AND  2)  email me with the ticket dates and # of tickets for each date.  I will individually confirm when I have received your payment.  I need all payments by Monday, June 21.

This should be a bunch of fun!  Hope you can join us!

Booking Link for Hotels
Email:  joberryjo@gmail.com

So much has been going on this week what with the shower for BBG and the injuries and the games being played out of town.....I didn't want this post getting lost but if we're gonna do this - I want to get on it!!.

I had this harebrained idea about getting a group of interested AN folks together to take in some games in Sac to see our AAA Rivercats team play and perhaps hobnob with the NRAF Sacramento contingency.  I need to gather info from anybody who wants to join us so I can make the arrangements.  Raley Field is a great place to go to a game.  The dates listed are fireworks games, IIRC.  They like fireworks at baseball in Sac.

There are several weekends we could do this over the summer and I just chose a few and put together a survey to see what would be best for the group (thanks gigglingone for this idea).  I would like to see two games with an overnight stay but that may not work for everybody - so I think the plans can be flexible. If you only want to go to one game or do not want to stay overnight - I think that's fine. 

The survey tries to get at what the group wants to do.  I asked wacchampions to look into rooms at one of his hotels and there is a Holiday Inn in West Sac that has availibility on the weekends in the survey.  (Unfortunately, the one near Old Sac is booked during the summer months).  Neither is very far from the ballpark. 

As soon as I have an idea of how many people are interested, I will get the details on costs and either re-post or email the details.  Email me at joberryjo@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas.

Go A's!!!

SURVEY LINK

The day in Oakland was sunny and warm.  The grills were hot and the company was just as one would want for a relaxing day at the ballpark.  A last minute scratch on the NBAG was deftly handled by Dr. K and another ANer (sorry - I don't know who else filled in).  We missed the mikester but the food was awesome....lamb and lamb kebobs and sausages and hotdogs and asparagus and sweets and bellinis and and and.......  This group knows how to cook and we ain't talking your typical BBQ fare.  I'm sure those that were there will chime in about their favorite dish of the day.

Baseballgirl and her fiance were the hit of the pre-game festivities and by all indications had a fabulous time at the foodfest and at the game as well.  We ordered the shut-out win just for them and it was probably the best shower gift of all.   Kind of ironic that Epat got two meaningful hits and even made one nice catch on a day when mikev was not there with his knife.  There's some life on this team and it was great to see the good Gio today.  Think good thoughts as Daric Barton gets his pinkies x-rayed.

The attendees included some newbies and the oldies welcomed them like they were long last family.  YonYonson took a bunch of pics which I hope he will post or link here and Lynnz as well.  ANybody else that took pics should post or link them.

Honestly AN - You really shoulda been there.

Spring was already my favorite time of year.  It’s the time of year when the dark winter weather and days fade into the blissfully fabulous lengthening days of temperate warmth.  The days when you begin to go outside without a coat and might be able to start your car in the morning without scraping ice off your window or shivering in your seat until the car warms up.  It’s the time of year when my favorite foods  - artichokes and strawberries - are beginning to be at their best. Mmmmm.

I look forward to the beginning of the baseball season - at just the time when it seems I cannot bear another week without it.  I did not realize the depth of my fandom until I began hanging out regularly at AN.  I struggle to understand the stats, but I LOVE this game.  I cemented my relationship with baseball last summer at the hall and this spring ventured to Arizona for Spring  Training for the first time.  Oh My Goodness!!!!  How could I have missed this laid back fun in the sun welcome spring vacation for so long??  I made the trip because people here at AN spoke so highly of it.   I must say I was not disappointed. 

The weather, the games, the R & R, watching the kids play with the big boys, the relaxed atmosphere, the restaurants, the strangely beautiful landscapes of AZ.   Will I go again?  Undoubtedly.   It was such an easy trip to make and can be done easily in a few days.  I wanted to stay for much, much longer.  It's a trip any baseball fan should try to do. 

It was a great shot of baseball - at just the time I needed it most - and I can hardly wait  for this week to pass!   Yes, I know, we'll have rain this week and, yes, we are all hoping our first baseball of 2010 will emulate the lovely spring days in AZ.  

Now, it's time for you AN to wax a little nostalgic about your memories of ST in the recent or not-so-recent past.   May our stories help to get us through the week as we wait, like kids on Christmas Eve, for our team to take the field!

My Story in Pictures

I know every week and weekend that passes, a few of our lucky AN family make the pilgrimage to fun in the sun (except when it rains!!).  And we edge hopefully toward the 2010 season.....I am going for the first time - but I have some tickets (2) for Monday 3/22 that I am not going to be able to use.  They are for the Mariners game in their house.  Is there anybody that can use these tickets??  They are in section 116. 

Please email me if you are interested at:   joberryjo@gmail.com

Go A's!!!!!!!

Note:  I have only done a couple of DLD's and I am not sure if this belongs in a fan post or fan shot.  If it's in the wrong place - I'll move it.  I placed it here because it is potentially of interest to many on AN and was a question that came up in a recent thread.  At that time, there was no info to be found. 

A's finally put info about the Fan Tailgate on their website.  Read about it here. 

2010 Fan Appreciation Tailgate will occur before the April 3rd Athletics game against the Giants.  The tailgate event is free and there are $5.00 game tix and discounted parking that go on sale THIS SATURDAY, Jan 30 at 9:00 AM.  Tickets will be available online, by calling (877) 493-BALL (2255), and at the Oakland A's Box Office.

Some of us probably already have tix for the game and now we can revel together in our A's and the much anticipated end of the looooooong winter - er - beginning of the season. 

Here's waiting until we can say "Let's Go Oakland!!" altogether once again!

WHAT?!?!??  The first DLD for 2010.

Dave has his Top Ten.  And he has targeted Baseball more than once.

Here's a possible Top Ten (Plus) reasons to be a baseball fan - in no particular order. 

1.  Because the fans are the best. 

2.  Because you're a stathead and baseball is the best sport for crunching numbers about any aspect of the game.  We have really cool baseball websites - and one should not join the thread without 'em

           Reference                 Real Time                    Stats                    History                   Everything Else

3.  Because your bobblehead ALWAYS agrees with you.  Be careful though...collecting can be dangerous.

4.  Because there are promotions and the giveaways are amazing.  Best to stay away from these giveaways!!  Sorry - 2010 promotions are not listed yet.

5.  Because we have the BEST poetry about any sport, hands down.

6.  Because no other sport has a song that brings the fans together regardless of which side you are rooting for.  Even if you speak another language!

7.  Because it's our National Pastime. I can attest to the fact that I have spent MANY MANY hours watching and posting. (Tell the truth AN - I know you have too!).  And if the game is not that engaging you can waste time doing this or this.  How much do YOU know about baseball??

8.  Because of the best mustache in baseball ever.....Rollie.Fingers.

In addition to his pitching ability, he was noted for his waxed handlebar moustache which he originally grew to get a $300 bonus from Athletics owner Charles O. Finley. (From Wikipedia).

9.  Because the foods of baseball are classic. Don't forget our AN homegrown favorite.  Just be sure to study this before you dress your dog.

10.  Because of this video.  Anything that ties Dan.Johnson, Hyphy and baseball together is epic.

OK AN - I'm counting on you to post your top ten!!! WITH links......have at it.

Well AN - here is my first foray into a fan post - spurred on by  67Marquez.  Partially in response to his question - "What are we gonna do now?"  I wondered whether a topical DLD is better than a random one.  I'll leave you to decide, AN.

You could see a movie or just skip to the short version or the 30 Second Bunny Theatre Version.

I know some of you have been neglecting your reading...so here are some suggestions for these long winter months 

• The Big Book of Baseball Brain Teasers

• Generation A's Fans: A Family's Long Love Affair With One of Baseball's Best Team (there is an AN connection with this one!)

• And if you want to wow us all with your Baseball acumen there's always this

If you have been putting off all those Honey - Do - This projects you can get your inspiration here.

You can waste a lot of time over at You Tube and might find gems like the newest version of baseball (Go here if you wanna play) or freaky stunts that also involve the tools of baseball.

But I caution you that with all the time off you might be tempted to get into a little trouble.  Just don't do what they do in Florida (really?) or Minnesota. And here's an after story of what happens when the po-po need some bucks!

So - tell us AN - what WILL you be doing in the off season??  Have fun!