Good morning - or bad morning, depending on how you feel about the Boston Red Sox being the World Champions. It’s not what I was rooting for, but I can’t be mad that the best team won, and that’s what happened.

How about that Ronnie Mac? From cut by the Oakland A’s to game-winning World Series home run. I’m happy for him, even if he did shave his head and didn’t have the hair to fluff out after the home run. I’m sure he’ll be looking for a new home this offseason, but it’s no doubt he’s feeling good coming out on top of the baseball world after a season in which he got cut by an under .500 team.

Oh, and thank goodness for Mike Lowell - I came this close to having to write “I Love the Red Sox” on my forehead with a Sharpie. OK, not that close, but Kielty still did more than I thought he would.

Now that the World Series is over and it’s officially the offseason, what do we have to look forward to in the near future? Well, the announcements of the awards should be coming out over the next couple weeks, and we’re likely to see our six-time Gold Glove third basemen be unseated. It will be sad, but understandable given Chavez’s recent injury woes. Mark Ellis could nab a Gold Glove at second base, but I’d bet against it as Placido Polanco made headlines with his errorless streak. As much as I want to see Ellis get recognized, maybe this under-the-radar thing is good for the A’s. They can sign him to a long-term deal and keep him as the green and gold secret weapon.

And in other news, it sounds like the A’s may start the 2008 season in Japan against the defending world champs. I really hope this won’t be considered a “home” game for the A’s because that would be an extreme ripoff. Not only would they be in another country, but they’ll be playing in front of a crowd that will no doubt be rooting for the Red Sox. I still think it’s cool after our boys missed the opportunity in 2003. I remember getting all excited about watching the season opener at 3 a.m. After a long winter, I don’t care what time I have to get up.

And this Japan thing also sounds like it could mean pitchers and catchers reporting a few days earlier. “Pitchers and catchers…” - no three words sound so sweet in the winter!

Go A’s!!

Today is more than just Wednesday though - it’s World Series Wednesday! I’m looking forward to watching this series get started. I’m blogging the World Series on Sports Cartel’s main page; you can see my series preview here and my Game 1 preview here.

But even with the Fall Classic beginning today, there are actually a couple A’s items to talk about:

1. Lew Wolff created some buzz with his statement yesterday that there is no way the A’s will stay in Oakland. There’s still a lot of uncertainty around the plans for Fremont and Cisco Field, so a statement like this just makes me roll my eyes. Don’t start throwing out the “it’s out of the question” smack until you have something finalized.

Being a non-resident A’s fan, I don’t feel strongly about where the A’s end up going (unless they come to my backyard - Green Bay, anyone??). I care that they get out of the concrete piece of crap they play in now and start becoming more Macy’s and less K-Mart, like a team that plays in the sixth largest television market in the country should be. I also care that, once they move, they are still called the A’s, still green and gold, and keep the elephant and the white cleats.

2. The A’s brought Hayward-native Don Wakamatsu on as bench coach. They’re still interviewing for one position - Rene Lachman’s vacancy - though there’s no indication what that will be as the coaches could be shuffled around before spring training. Bucky Dent and Tony DeFrancesco are both interviewing this week. The A’s seem to like to promote their AAA managers regularly so I expect it to be DeFrancesco, but I can’t help but like the idea of Bucky Dent, if only for the reason that the guy knows something about clutch hits. Anything to solve the A’s RISP woes…

3. J.J. Cooper of Baseball America answered my question during his chat today on ESPN.com. I asked him about Alexei Ramirez, who I brought up in the center field post the other day.

Kelly (Appleton, WI): J.J., what’s the word on Alexei Ramirez? What kind of attention do you think he’ll get on the FA market, and does he project as a starter?

J.J. Cooper: (2:15 PM ET ) There has been a ton of money wasted on Cuban prospects over the years so it’s hard to forecast stardom for anyone making the jump from Serie Nacional to the big leagues. But in Ramirez’ case he projects to be an everyday big leaguer, whether in the outfield, maybe third base or even shortstop. He’s got a good line-drive bat with a little bit of power. Teams will be interested.

So there you have it - likely not A’s-related, but it’s always fun when my question gets picked.

Enjoy Game 1 tonight. Former A Bobby Kielty should get in against the lefty Jeff Francis, so there’s a reason to watch - as if you needed one.

I’ve been watching the playoffs, as I usually do - A’s or no A’s. But I’m doing two things quite different than I do most A’s-less playoff years - I’m watching the National League almost exclusively, and I’m getting behind one team all the way.

It’s very easy to root for the Colorado Rockies right now. Not only do they never lose, but they are a young, exciting team that is clicking on all cylinders. They are what I’ve thought and hoped the A’s could be at times over the past several years.

The A’s were that once, but it was in August and not late September and into October. Now that the Rockies are 20-1 in their last 21 games, it’s finally been pointed out that the A’s had a similar run back in 2002. Who could forget that 20-game win streak? It definitely secured their spot in the playoffs, but it would’ve been nice if it had carried over, like it has for the Rockies.

I usually find myself rooting for the lesser of evils in the playoffs, and couldn’t care less about the National League. It is nice this year to feel like I’m rooting for someone to win instead of rooting for someone to lose.

Still, I have to feel for the Diamondbacks a bit. At this point, they are exactly where they A’s were three games into the LCS last year. They came off a Division Series where they swept a team that many thought would beat them, and were riding high into the LCS with home-field advantage. And yet here they are, down three games to none, as the A’s were to Detroit last year. I’m certain the D-Backs will meet the same fate as the A’s did last year and have a winter of wondering what if.

Whether it comes with a walk-off, three-run home run by Matt Holliday off Jose Valverde, as Magglio Ordonez did to Huston Street a year ago yesterday, is yet to be seen. But it’ll happen, one way or another.

By the way - I do find it odd watching Eric Byrnes bat third and be The Guy on the Diamondbacks. This guy was a platoon player for the A’s and was traded for Jay Witasick and Joe Kennedy. He’s a good player, yes, but The Guy? I just find it amusing. He is fun to watch, indeed. But he’s not a guy I’d want to pin the majority of my offensive hopes on.

So since I can’t tell the A’s to go today, I’ll say - Go Rockies!

And, uh… Go A’s in 2008!

Today is my birthday. Being a baseball fan and having an October birthday can be quite the curse - especially the way the A’s have treated me on my special day over the years.

Since I became an A’s fan in 1988, the A’s have played seven postseason games on my birthday. I really don’t remember the games that were played on October 6 of 1988, 1989, and 1990. Being a kid at that time, well - I cared more about cake and presents than than the A’s. The green and gold were 2-1 on those October 6ths, and won the ALCS all three years. So I didn’t have much to worry about anyway.

In 1992 and 2001, my birthday came and went before the A’s began their postseason runs. They lost both of those series - 2001 being the second of that awful four-year stretch of Game 5 losses (the worst of the four, as I noted yesterday).

And I honestly don’t remember my birthday game specifically in 2000 either. The A’s lost that game, won convincingly the next day to force Game 5, Terrence Long lost a ball in the sun, and the rest is history. I do remember having a birthday dinner out at the Macaroni Grill on the day of that Game 5, and making my way to the bar every few minutes to check the score.

But this isn’t a post about I don’t remembers. There are three birthday games that will forever stick in my mind. Decades can pass, and I will still be able to feel my heart thumping and stomach twisting into knots the way it was those October 6ths - 2002, 2003, and 2006.

In 2002, I went to my one and only Major League Baseball playoff game. It was also my last year as a resident A’s fan, as I was planning to move to Colorado after Christmas. When playoff tickets went on sale, I bought one ticket to Game 5, knowing it would be on my birthday and hoping I wouldn’t need the ticket. But alas, Game 5 happened, so I made my way to Oakland that fateful Sunday morning.

I remember Jermaine Dye nailing Christian Guzman trying to stretch a double into a triple in the first inning. I remember the yellow Thunderstix. I remember Billy Koch trying to keep it a one-run defecit in the ninth and A.J. Pierzynski and then David Ortiz crushing those dreams. I remember Mark Ellis hitting a three-run homer to bring the A’s within one, and the OMG look I gave another A’s fan in my section. And I remember Ray Durham’s popout, the Twins mobbing each other, and this moment I shared with an A’s fan after the game.

Game 5 of 2003 was on a Monday. I spent the day at work building up nervous energy for it. I made the mistake of agreeing to a little birthday party get-together at my brother’s house with him, his wife, and my boyfriend (my now husband). I remember Manny Ramirez hitting a home run and pointing into the Red Sox dugout. I remember screaming, “It’s my freakin’ birthday!” and burying my face into the couch. I remember the green and gold birthday cake that Leslie made. I remember Adam Melhuse pinch hitting for Jermaine Dye and Terrence Long taking strike three with the bases loaded to end it.

But for the first time in recent birthdays, the A’s finally gave me a reason to celebrate last year on October 6^th. My boss let me take a half day so I could go home and watch the game. I remember putting the Indigo Girls Despite Our Differences in my CD player when I stared my drive home, and telling myself that if I got home before the CD played in its entirety, the A’s would win. I remember screaming “Wooo!” as I pulled into the garage while the last song was playing. I remember Brad Radke pitching with him arm secured by duct tape. And most of all, I remember this – the single greatest moment in my life as an A’s fan.

I remember Justin Moreneau rolling his eyes as he rounded first base on a meaningless home run trot. I remember Huston Street and Jason Kendall hugging after the final out. And, for years to come, I will always remember birthday #29 and that present that came packaged in green and gold.

Here’s to many more – good or bad – birthdays with the A’s!

I love watching the playoffs. Even when the A’s aren’t in it, I enjoy October baseball.

But this is something we’re going to have to get used to, A’s fans.

From Jayson Stark, at ESPN.com:

The Phillies are now in deep doodoo in this series. Of the 21 teams in history that have lost the first two games at home in any best-of-five series in history, just one — the 2001 Yankees — came back to win.

This was mentioned by the TBS announcers in the final innings of yesterday’s NLDS game too. And it will be mentioned about 800 times tomorrow night, and in every postseason in baseball for the rest of our lives.

That team who blew a 2-0 lead going home? The Oakland Athletics, of course! Thanks for reminding me!

…and his name is Ted Lilly. Mark Redman is NOT the starter for the Rockies today as I had feared yesterday. Congratulations on restoring your sanity, Clint Hurdle.

And am I the only one who gets sick at the fact that Redman will forever have the “All Star” badge on his Baseball Reference page? Ugh.

The A’s season may be over, but there are still some ex-A’s out there enjoying some October baseball. Crack open a beer, watch the games, and remember these guys back when they donned the green and gold.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Eric Byrnes - Be mad at him for being a stud after leaving Oakland all you want, but I don’t think you can ever hate Byrnsie. He may be in a different uniform, but that crazy flailing and mop of blonde hair still makes me happy to be watching baseball.

Juan Cruz - He’s pitching well for the Diamondbacks now after stinking it up for the A’s and being flipped for Brad Halsey. Yay. And I’m not going to mention where we got him to begin with. You know.

Boston Red Sox
Bobby Kielty - So we’re not exactly thinking back that far to remember Kielty. If Bobby Kielty is the World Series MVP, I’ll write “I Love the Red Sox” on my forehead with a Sharpie.

Chicago Cubs
Jason Kendall - OK, so this is another not-so-distant memory. Jason was bitching about lack of playing time recently. Sound familiar?

Ted Lilly - Lilly is starting Game 2 of the NLDS for the Cubs. Remember how he effectively became Bobby Kielty, and then Kielty became, um… nothing?

Cleveland Indians
There is not a single former Athletic on the Cleveland Indians. Root against them! (Actually, I will be rooting for them in the AL - sorry).

Colorado Rockies
Mark Redman - Listed as the Rockies’ Game 2 starter on Yahoo! Sports but not on the Rockies official site, Redman had an unsightly 7.62 ERA and 2-4 record this year. He was one of the guys we dumped on Pittsburgh to get Jason Kendall, before we dumped Kendall on the Cubs.

Coaches Mike Gallego and Jamie Quirk - If a couple guys from the late ’80s glory days don’t give you some warm fuzzies, I don’t know what will.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
There’s not a former A in this bunch, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

New York Yankees
Luis Vizcaino - He was an A in his early days and ended up being traded to Texas for Justin Duchscherer. I really don’t have many memories of him as an A, so picturing him in an A’s uniform is going to be much like picturing him in a chicken suit.

Jason Giambi - Oh, Jason. “I want to stay here forever.” Not that I wish we kept you, but I still remember the Letterman appearance and that silly grin on your face as you posed in your Yankees uniform for the first time. You were The Man when you were an A, but I will never, EVER have a smile on my face when you do something good on a baseball diamond EVER AGAIN.

Johnny Damon - Damon was never really a true A, as he had a down year the one year he was here. After that, he became an idiot. Mark Ellis is BY FAR the best thing that came out of that deal for the A’s.

Philadelphia Phillies
No ex-A’s here, but Jimmy Rollins was born in Oakland and grew up a Rickey Henderson fan.

Whether it makes you root for them or against them, former A’s can definitely add to the A’s-less playoffs for A’s fans.