Granted, the 2009-2011 editions of the Athletics weren’t exactly anything to write home about. The Yankees have continuously overwhelmed, and outplayed our East Bay heroes. It hasn’t been fair, really. While the A’s trotted out band-aids such as Adam Kennedy and Lenny DiNardo, the Yankees have composed a veritable All-Star team season after season. With that established, the 2013 version of the Bronx Bombers doesn’t quite hold the same fear factor at the present moment.

Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

I suppose the argument could be made that they’re still an All-Star team. With a middle of the line-up highlighted by Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, and Ichiro Suzuki; one would be impressed if the year were still 2006. However, the 2013 Yankees appear to be biding their time milking what they can out of the former stars and waiting for nearly 95 million dollars of their injured payroll (Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez) to return in the future. At a record of 18-12, manager Joe Girardi has impressively held his team together during the early portion of the season and it would not at all be surprising to see them playing in October, once again.

Until then, Girardi is playing cut and paste with his roster of marginal players and past-their-prime sluggers. Nevertheless, the Yankees are the Yankees. To avoid falling to the pratfalls of intimidation, and the history of classic failures from last season extra-inning home run bonanza, to the playoffs failures of 2000 and 2001 is huge even at the fledgeling stage of the 2013 season. As Frank Sinatra’s ”New York, New York” played on cue after the recording of the final out, as it does during every Yankee Stadium home game, it signified the A’s had made a successful escape from New York. With Sinatra’s ode to the greatest city on earth ringing hollow through the depressingly empty stadium, the A’s can finally relax and maybe even catch some much deserved sleep on the flight to Cleveland.

May 27, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Jemile Weeks (top) forces out New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher (33) on a double play attempt during the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. Yankees designated hitter Andruw Jones (not pictured) was safe at first base. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The Athletics have not seen the New York Yankees since the 27th of May.  This was during a time that nobody wants to remember but is hard to forget.  The A’s were swept in three games by the Yankees in the last weekend of May when they were out scored 17-5, which was right in the middle of the Athletics’ 9-game losing streak.  The positive side to this is at the A’s were playing their worst baseball the last time New York was in Oakland, and now they are visiting during a time the A’s are playing their best baseball.

As of today the A’s are the hottest team in baseball during the month of July.  On top of that, Oakland is coming off their Major League leading 9th walk-off win against their division rival; the first place Texas Rangers.  The Athletics are going to have to play fundamentally sound baseball against the Yankees and execute on every play if they want to win.  Pitching, hitting, and defense will need to be grade “A” perfect during this 4-game series.

The Athletics will look to the rookie A.J. Griffin to start them off in game one of the series.  It will be young versus old as the Yankees will be sending the crafty veteran Freddy Garcia to the mound.  A.J. Griffin, who finally received his first win in his last start, is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA and has pitched tremendously since being called up on June 24th.  As for Freddy Garcia, things have been a little rocky for the seasoned veteran.  Garcia has spent some time in the bullpen for the Yanks and is 4-2 with a 5.25 ERA.

Probable Pitchers

Game 2: Ivan Nova (10-4, 4.18 ERA) vs Tommy Milone (9-6, 3.54 ERA)

Game 3: Phil Hughes (9-7, 4.22 ERA) vs Jarrod Parker (6-4, 3.16 ERA)

Game 4: CC Sabathia (10-3, 3.27 ERA) vs Bartolo Colon (6-8, 3.88 ERA)

May 19, 2010; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Eric Chavez (3) stands on the on-deck circle during the second inning against Detroit Tigers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The news of the A’s losing 3B Scott Sizemore for the entire 2012 season struck a certain chord inside of me. The news, of course, for an A’s fan was not surprising; players who wear green-and-gold are constantly fighting the injury bug or so it seems. Sizemore, 27, was projected as the A’s starting third baseman this year, but his injury now opens the door for another player seeking to establish himself as an everyday starter.

The loss of Sizemore, though, is definitely a tough loss to overcome. Oakland was expecting a great deal from Sizemore, who managed to hit .249/.345/.433 with 11 HR and 52 RBIs in his 93 games with the A’s last year. Now, the A’s will have to look at some in-house options to fill their vacant third base position. This situation, though, seems rather familiar, doesn’t it?

Oakland hasn’t had a true everyday third baseman since the days of 3B Eric Chavez, who is now a member of the New York Yankees. In his final years with the green-and-gold, however, Chavez found himself in the same boat as Sizemore: injured and looking for a way to get healthy. The A’s former six-time Gold Glove winner struggled, however, keeping himself on the field in his last three years with the team.

He appeared in just 64 games from 2008-2010 and hit just .222/.265/.330 with three home runs and 25 RBIs over that time span. Still, for some reason, I actually miss Chavez. This Sizemore situation, while unfortunate, will likely get resolved in the form of one Josh Donaldson, but I wouldn’t have minded seeing Chavy making a grand return to the bay area this year.

Last year, in 58 games with the Yankees, Chavez managed to hit .263/.320/.356 with two home runs and 26 RBIs. Not quite the Chavez of old, but at least Chavez did enough to earn a return to the Bronx this year. He’s a nice veteran bat to have on the bench and he’s still useful defensively. The Yankees got Chavez for a grand total of $900,000 this year; not a huge amount of money.

I consider myself a huge Eric Chavez fan; I copied his batting stance during little league games, for crying out loud. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see Chavez back in Oakland this year, but I realize the guy is way past his prime. His health is constantly in question and his power seems to have left his bat, as suggested by his .094 ISO from last year.

I wish Chavy the best, though. Regardless if he’s wearing pin-stripes, he’ll always remain an Athletic to me.

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