There IS an "A" in mirAcle...

  
     Let me tell you a story of a true underdog team overcoming tremendous odds that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history. The location was Lake Placid, New York and the time was 1980. The Winter Olympics was the back drop for a massive nation verses nation battle among the favored Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and a surprise pack of rascals, the United States of America, in the medal round of hockey play.



     The game seemed out of reach for the Americans, who were lead by head coach Herb Brooks. That was until late in the third period when the United States tied the game 3-3 with a Mark Johnson goal. With the end fast approaching they pressed and showed their grit and determination by scoring the game winning goal off the stick of Mark Pavelich, completing America’s “Miracle on Ice”.

      I bring this up because the 2012 season for the Oakland Athletics’ seems to be all but a loss. So many fans are feeling down in the dumps, especially after the trades of three All-Star Pitchers: Gonzalez, Cahill and Bailey. With a five year absence from the playoffs, and the lack of a winning season since the 2006’s division championship team, it’s been hard for fans old and new.

     But, fear not fellow brothers and sisters. This coming season should excite you. We are celebrating two teams that provide us with many warm memories: the 1972 World Champion, the Swingin A’s; and the 2002 twenty game winning Streak team. Mix that history with the talent of the coming season: Jemile Weeks, Yoenis Cespedes, and the new addition of Manny Ramirez; and we could be looking at the “Miracle A’s” of 2012.This year’s team will help the Franchise rise like a phoenix to reclaim our great legacy.

     The Swingin A’s was the start of the proud Oakland Dynasty. They won three World Titles in a row from 1972 to 1974. The Moustache Gang racked up 93 wins behind stellar pitching by Blue Moon Odom, Vida Blue, Ken Holtzman and Catfish Hunter. While the power and speed were provided by “Captain” Sal Bando, Bert “Campy” Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Reggie Jackson and World Series MVP Gene Tenace. Anchoring the team was Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers. Rollie will be honored this year with a bobble head on April twenty-first at the O.Co with his fellow teammates.

     Following this team the Athletics hit a major dry spell and were absence from many peoples minds until 1988- 1990 when the Athletics went to three World Series and won one against the Giants in 1989. Another dry spell awaited the Athletics from 1993-1999. In that time they did not make the playoffs at all.

     Enter The “Money ball” Era: the Athletics won four Division Titles and a wild card from 2000-2006. The biggest team that came to national relevance was the 2002 club that won twenty straight games. This set an American League record. That year the Streak team won 103 games and produced the American League Cy Young, Barry Zito, as well as the American League MVP, Miguel Tejada.

     The twenty consecutive wins started on August 13th and ran until September 4^th. There Scott Hatteberg hit a game winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Jason Grimsley. My fondest memory of the Streak team was the mini streak of the late Cory Lidle. He did not allow a single run for 32.2 innings and posted five wins himself. Lidle was a great player that the game lost too soon. Even with out him, it will be an amazing weekend in August when Justice, Dye, Tejada, and Scott Hatteberg reconvene at the O.Co, with events such as the Scott Hatteberg Bobble head game.

     Since this last great run in 2002, the Athletics have fallen on some harsh times. With public battles of moving to Fremont or San Jose, the dismantling of talented players, and the fears of truly losing our OAKLAND Athletics we may fall in the land of contraction. Even though the thought of the Green and Gold no longer existing stays in the back of our minds, we must focus on the bright future that lays ahead of us.

     Think about what could be a magical season in Oakland, my friends. Though our pitching is the biggest question mark of the season, we do have a perfect game winner in Dallas Braden. He is coming back and battling to prove his place as a top pitcher in the American League. Also we have emerging talented hitters in the form of Jemile Weeks and Yoenis Cespedes.

     Weeks was a major spark last season and in my eyes should have been the Rookie of the Year for the American League. He posted a .303 average with 123 hits, 22 stolen bases, and 36 RBI’s in 97 games. Cespedes has been titled a five tool player and posted a staggering .333 average, a record 33 home runs in the Cuban League and 99 RBI’s. Could this be the second coming of a bash brother in Oakland?

     To round out the thought of a miracle season the Athletics brought in Slugger Manny Ramirez. Manny will be serving a 50 game suspension for using PED’s. However, this could be like the addition of Frank Thomas back in 2006. Wrap this around the brilliant managing of Bob Melvin and the Athletics’ could write the “Miracle on the Diamond” story. A story of overcoming the super powers: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the two time defending American League Champions the Texas Rangers.

     So my fellow A’s fans, to you I say enjoy the ride as we try to resurrect our dynasty. To the players that are battling it out during spring training like: Daric Barton, Brandon Allen, Chris Cater and Michael Taylor; remember this is your time to shine. Reach for it and run with it.

     I’ll leave you guys with a quote from Herb Brooks. He said this to the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team during the second intermission. “ You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This IS your moment.” Go get them Athletics this is your moment!