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By Administrator
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May. 5, 2004 |
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Baseball by the Bay is experiencing a renaissance of epic proportions. The past year, the sport has seen the rise and continued dominance of the Bay Areas crown jewels. Reminiscent of the magical Earthquake series of 1989, the region is now at the top of the baseball world because of its beloved San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics.
The Bay Area couldnt have dreamed of a better year in sports, sophomore Charlie Cutler said. It was almost unreal to have two Bay Area teams in the playoffs at the same time.
The Bay Area couldnt have dreamed of a better year in sports.
Sophomore Charlie Cutler |
Oakland extended its streak of consecutive playoff appearances to three years. The As manage to contend every year though they operate with an austere budget chump change compared to those of big market teams such as the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers.
The Yankees boast the highest payroll in Major League Baseball with a roster that includes big, expensive names such as Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter, inflating the tab to a whopping $175 million. The Texas Rangers inked a 10-year deal with shortstop Alex Rodriguez worth a reported $25.2 million per year, the most lucrative deal in sports history. The As total payroll barely scrapes the $40 million mark, but their 21-game winning streak set an American League record for most consecutive victories, a streak unchallenged by both Texas and New York.
Through general manager Billy Beanes shrewdness, the Athletics pull off blockbuster deals year after year. The acquisitions of outfielder Jermaine Dye, second baseman Ray Durham, and closer Billy Koch strengthened an already potent squad, featuring American League MVP Miguel Tejada, slugger Eric Chavez and Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito.
Beane is a perfect example of someone who is able to make something out of nothing, junior Emil DeAndreis said. He practically took the As from rags to riches.
And if the As were not enough of a blessing for the Bay Area, the Giants have answered San Franciscos prayers with their first World Series appearance in 10 years.
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With Beanes business savvy, one can only wonder what magic is in store for next season.
The As style of play is reminiscent of baseball in its purest form - a time when players competed for the love of the game.
And if the As were not enough of a blessing for the Bay Area, the Giants have answered San Franciscos prayers with their first World Series appearance in 10 years. Despite a heartbreaking loss to the despised Anaheim Angels, the underdog G-Men were able to defy all odds by vanquishing the favored Atlanta Braves and Saint Louis Cardinals.
Rallied by former manager Dusty Baker, San Francisco scrapped its way into the playoffs by beating the despised Dodgers for the prized wild card position. With veterans Rich Aurilia, Jeff Kent, and National League MVP Barry Bonds at the helm, the Giants came within eight outs of capturing their first World Series title since their exodus from New York to San Francisco in 1958.
Barry Bonds continued his crusade to be one of the greatest players ever to set foot on a baseball diamond. In shattering several seemingly untouchable milestones, such as most intentional walks in a season and highest on base percentage, Bonds has more than secured his place in Cooperstown beside other immortals like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. In his campaign to become the oldest player in history to win a batting title, Bonds reached the 600 home run mark and batted an extraordinary .370 batting average.
Avoiding Bonds by way of the intentional walk proved to be a win-win situation for the Giants, who were fortunate to have a solid lineup of offensive threats around the feared slugger. With Kent in the three-spot and Benito Santiago in the fifth, Bonds free passes turned into San Francisco runs.
The Giants successes can also be credited in part to general manager Brian Sabean. Through several key acquisitions such as Kent, Santiago and, more recently, Kenny Lofton, Sabean has provided the Giants with solutions instead of problems. Right-handed reliever Tim Worrell added to Sabeans potent list of powerful pitchers when he stepped into the crucial middle-relief role in the postseason.
With homework piling on, and tests piling up, the As and the Giants served as beacons of light for everyone here at Lowell."
Sophomore Charlie Cutler |
Armed with the tools to go the distance, it was only a matter of time before the Giants fulfilled their potential.
The Giants surpassed the wildest dreams of all those who eat, sleep and breathe San Francisco baseball, junior Rory Davis said.
The San Francisco Giants and Oakland As have risen to the top of Major League Baseball, and, in doing so, kindled the spirits of fans from the farthest reaches of the bay. Here at Lowell, the baseball spirit captivated students who fervently pulled for their hometown heroes in the dreamy October of 2002.
With homework piling on, and tests piling up, the As and the Giants served as beacons of light for everyone here at Lowell, a misty eyed Cutler said. Ive been blessed to live in the Bay Area where both baseball teams are great year after year.
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