I have an idea for a fireworks game music playlist of all East Bay artists.

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So, I know not everyone is interested in going to a game alone, but if you enjoy sitting with friendly strangers (and the occasional scout), here's an opportunity to sit in a great seat.  I am called out of town to deal with family issues and will miss several games in the next week or so. 

My single seat is in 117 (dead center behind home plate), 5th row.  $38 plus $9 for VIP parking if you want it.  Yankee games $50 each (unless you buy a Baltimore game too, then $38.).  Available dates:  4/15, 4/17, 4/18, 4/20, 4/22.  If you're interested, email me at *skigurl*at*sonic*dot*net* (remove the ***). 

On a recent transatlantic flight I caught this documentary about the attempt to bring the game of baseball to Israel.  Maybe it was just the perfect thing to entertain me while I was in the air, but I found it fascinating.  It's going to be shown tomorrow night (Sunday, 1/10) at 7 p.m. on KQED.  Here's the link so you can read more about it.  Link  I'll look forward to knowing what other people think about it. 

Note by baseballgirl: I LOVE this pick. I thought the voting was really reminiscent of when Street won, but I was worried about Andrus. Bailey took the award with 13 first place votes, 6 second place votes, and 5 third place votes. He won with 88, Andrus finished second with 65, and Porcello took third with 64. Didn't think it would be such a big gap.

I LOVE IT!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS ANDREW BAILEY! (Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, and it's nice to see the A's get a little recognition.)

From the A's press release:

A’s reliever Andrew Bailey was named the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday, becoming the third A’s player in the last six years to earn the honor. Bailey, 25, posted an Oakland rookie-record 26 saves in 30 chances and a 6-3 record with a 1.84 ERA in his first full season as a closer. Named to the All-Star team in July, Bailey also delivered a 0.88 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) and 91 strikeouts against 24 walks in 83 1/3 innings over 68 appearances. Bailey, who was transformed from a starter to a closer in the summer of 2008, follows in the footsteps of A’s winners Huston Street (2005) and Bobby Crosby (2004) among the seven Oakland A’s to have won the award.

The A's and ESPN.com are reporting that Andrew Bailey has won the AL Rookie of the Year award.  Woot!  At least someone has been watching our boy(s).  Way to go, Drew!! 

Heard a rumor to this effect and tried to find it on MLB.tv but they weren't posting results yet.  Just saw it on Facebook and Twitter, though, so it must be true!   More words needed:  OK, let's say it again:   Way to go, Bailey!  Awesome way to finish your season.  Can't wait to see more next season.

Just in case someone hasn't yet reached the saturation point, I have three single tickets to sell at face value.  They are located in section 117, 5th row (actual row #17), dead center behind the umpire's butt, um, mask.  Dates are Saturday 9/19, 1:00 pm (Cleveland), and 9/21 and 9/23 (both 7:00, both Texas). 

$50 includes VIP parking pass, $40 without parking.  This is a fantastic seat, with scouts nearby and long-time fans all around (including possibly LongTimeFan herself!).  Do yourself a favor before the season ends and enjoy a game from an awesome viewpoint.

Edit:  Someone or something just signed me up for a porn site, perhaps based on the fact that I posted my (munged) email address here.  So, if you're interested, respond here and I'll get in touch with you some way, somehow.

You've probably seen the story about Josh Hamilton's alcohol relapse back in January, complete with photos.  link here

Apparently, when the Rangers added him to their team they instituted a "zero tolerance" policy toward any incidents of alcohol-related behavior.  Well, now the team is saying that they do not plan any disciplinary action, nor do they intend to ask him to take a leave of absence.  Even though he isn't hitting as well as in prior years, he still is a threat in their line-up, and they are, after all,  in a pennant race (of sorts).  So, gee, let's just let him slide on this one and hope he doesn't relapse again and, say, get behind the wheel, and kill someone.  THEN will there be consequences?  Do people ever learn before it's too late?

Robert Bobb for Mayor of Oakland?

If this has been posted elsewhere I apologize, but I didn't see it.  I think this is the best news we've had in a long time about the chances for the A's to find a new home in Oakland.  Bobb was our champion when no one else was, and I will do anything I can to help him get elected.  According to the article, he is currently looking for a home in Oakland.  There's a really nice house down the street from me that just went up for sale -- now THAT would be grand!

Much as it pains me to miss the game, it would pain me even more to sit for 3 hours with a sore back.  So...my ticket for tonite's game is available at face value -- $40, plus $10 for VIP parking pass if needed. lt's in section 117, dead center, 5th row behind home plate. Posting limits require me to say that it's the best seat in the house.   Email me at ski gurl at sonic dot net (remove spaces) if interested. 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090402&content_id=4114394&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak&partnerId=rss_oak

(Not sure if this link will work as I've presented it -- I'm new at this)

This is the latest statement from the A's Ken Pries about the status of negotiations between CSN-CA, DirecTV and Dish Network.  Hopefully everyone within reach is watching the A's/Giants right now (although not in HD, unfortunately), and it looks more promising than ever that things will be resolved by the end of this weekend.

Well, seeing as how we don't yet have a ticket buy/sell function available, I'm back to offer my ticket in 117 for next Wednesday's game.  Yes, I know the team sucks, and yes, I know it's hard to get rid of tickets right now, but here's your incentive to come out to the ballpark.  You can watch a truly remarkable Rays team (and how can one not root for them?) from a truly remarkable seat right behind the plate (5th row center).  If you're lucky, you'll be sitting right near assorted scouts and dignitaries.  If not, you'll be sitting with some of the best A's fans around.  Plus:  No crowds at the concessions, no crowds at the bathrooms, and easy Coliseum entry/exit.  As usual, face value:  $40 without or $50 with VIP parking pass.  Drop me a line at REMOVETHISskigurl@sonic.net. 

Having recently succeeded in getting Firefox to work with AN, I am now able to post again -- thanks to the SBN tech people for their great help. 

Is there any interest in a permanent "tickets for sale" area on the site?  I frequently have a ticket for sale, and I'd much rather it go to an ANer than a stubhub or craigslist reader. I've mentioned this to Blez and he's looking into the feasibility.

In fact, my ticket for the 7/29 and 8/13 games is available.  It's in 117,  row 17 (5th row, right near some MLB scouts), pretty much dead center behind the plate.  It's one seat, and it can be purchased with or without VIP parking.  I'm asking face value:  $40 or $50 with parking. 

I go to pretty much every game, but I'm willing to part with my ticket if there's a particular game you want to attend in one of the best seats in the park, so feel free to email me at REMOVETHISskigurl@sonic.net.

(edited to change an incorrect date)

I remember seeing a fanpost last night concerning the difficulties people were having getting through to purchase the $4 tickets.  This morning, the post has disappeared for some reason; either that or I'm losing my mind (again).

My experience was similar to that of the caller to Buan's show -- I started trying immediately after the game, and when the "hits" code started to work, I got multiple messages saying that volume was too high, then that the number of tickets I was requesting (4) was unavailable.  At that point, I switched my request to one ticket, and still got the "can't seat you together" message.  Hah.  I finally gave up after an hour of trying.

I can certainly understand that the A's were overwhelmed with the unexpected demand for $4 tickets.  I hope the promotion is wildly successful and that they will do other similar promotions in the future.

What I can't figure out is why they would choose to combine this promotion with another one that is bound to be very popular:  The Campy jersey.  Why on earth wouldn't they do the ticket promo for a game that would otherwise not draw as many people?  I don't understand their marketing (il)logic.  All this will do is make it much more difficult for people who bought tickets to Sunday's game so they could get the jersey. 

I am once again offering my single seat in section 117, row 7, for a number of games throughout the season.  This is one seat, dead-center behind home plate, in the vicinity of scouts and other assorted dignitaries (not to mention some very cool ANers).  I will be selling my ticket whenever I can't make it to a game.  Right now, I have a ticket available for both the 4/22 and 4/23 games against the Twins.  I'm asking $50 per ticket, which is the box office price.  ("Premium" games, if available, will go for $55.)  For an additional $10 I will include the VIP parking pass.  If you're interested in these games or any others,  please email me at skigurl at sonic dot net. 

I'm unable to use my ticket for Saturday's or Sunday's games.  Section 117, row 17.  Dead-center behind the plate, 5th row, very near the scouts.  One ticket for each game.  As usual, $44 ("retail" face value) each, or $50 each with VIP parking pass.  Indulge yourself!  Respond here or preferably email me at skigurl 5 5 5 at earth link dot net (remove all spaces).  

I have two tickets to Monday night's Reds/A's game, June 18, section 130, row 21.  Face value - $30 each.  I will include a VIP parking pass (value $15) at no additional cost.  These seats are down the left field line, first row above the walkway (so good sight lines with no one sitting directly in front of you).  Also pretty accessible to the Left Field Bleachers!  

Please email me at skigurl 555 at earth link dot net (remove all spaces) if you're interested.  

I've never posted a diary to sell my tickets before because I go to just about every game. But I'll be out of town on a family trip this weekend, and my single seat for each of the Twins games is for sale at face value.  Saturday is a fireworks game and Sunday is Kids Cap Day.  

My seat is in section 117, row 17 (5th row), dead center behind the plate and right in front of several Major League scouts.  The scouts are working, of course, but willing to talk and answer a question or two, and the best part is when they "network" with one another and get into "discussions" about the comparative skills and values of Player A and Player B.  It's like having a Baseball Encyclopedia in your ear.

I'm asking face value for these tickets, which is $44, plus $6 for a VIP parking pass.  So, for $50 you can have one of the best seats in the house, where you can read curve balls and sliders and sit with a great bunch of true fans.  

Please email me at ski gurl 555 at earth link dot net (remove all spaces).  I will be at the games this week Monday through Wednesday, so that would be the easiest way to do it, but I live in Oakland and would be willing to meet at a convenient spot.  

Just wanted to give a huge thanks to Robert for giving a few of us the chance to see his very personal film about his baseball trip with his dad last summer.  He graciously hosted a great party where we also got to meet his dad, the "star" of the movie, who has Parkinson's disease.  The film was really three stories:  A baseball trip, a father/son relationship, and a chance to see what Parkinson's is about and how it affects those who have it and their families.  He's got lots of talent as a filmmaker but, more importantly, he has a wonderful family and was very open about sharing them with us.  It's rare for people to be as open about who they are in front of a camera, and I think it's a great story that will hopefully get wider distribution.  If you want to learn more, go to www.baseballdoc.com.  

Anybody see Koufax at the game last night?  He was on the field before the game and a number of Redsox players were having their pictures taken with him.  Then, he walked up through the stands accompanied by a woman from the A's (I assume), and not one person stopped him.  I believe he might have been doing radio for the Sox.  

Also, today is the day that Zito and Byrnes are on ESPN's Teammates.  I believe the correct (West Coast) times are 1:00 on ESPN2 and 4:30 on ESPN.  

Enjoy!