Rusty Priske - Future Hall of Famer

[rpriske]

We didn't have long to wait. The A's beat the Blue Jays 5-0 to take the series.

The A's last won the World Series in 1984, over the Astros.

The last time the Giants won the World Series, they were the New York Giants.

Game one will be Doyle Alexander facing Bruce Hurst.

Time to make history.

[rpriske]

1987 WORLD SERIES GAME ONE

We are in Oakland, but every game is going to feel like a home game for both teams.

The A's are pitching Bruce Hurst (15-12, 3.50 / 1-0, 3.18)

The Giants have Doyle Alexander (0-0, 9.00)

None of us have ever faced Hurst, though Doyle has experience against the A's.

I was the first to get the opportunity and I grounded out back to Hurst.

I got the second out for Doyle, catching a Mark McGwire pop.

I came up in the 3rd with Jerry Mumphrey, our DH in the AL park, on 1st. I reached with an infield single. We were left.

The A's opened the scoring in the 3rd when Craig Reynolds crossed on a sac fly by Jose Canseco. I handled a Pete Incaviglia grounder for the 3rd out.

A's lead 1-0

In the 4th I caught a Reynolds pop up for the 2nd out.

We tied it up in the 5th when Robby Thompson scored on a sac fly by Jerry. I came up with two out and Chris Brown on 1st. I grounded out to Reynolds at short.

Game tied 1-1

In the bottom half I took a Canseco grounder for the 1st out. Later that inning McQuire scored on a Carney Lansford single. Then Icaviglia scored on a Donnie Hill single.

A's lead 3-1

We got one back int eh 6th off a solo shot by Steve Stanicek.

A's lead 3-2

Things to a turn for the worst in the 7th when Hill launched a three-run homer. Nestor pushed Doyle too far.
Mark Davis came in after that, but he suffered a similar fate as the first batter he faced, Matt Williams, sent one over the fence.

A's lead 7-2

I came up in the 8th with none out and Jerry on 1st. I struck out.
Jerry ended up scoring on a Child Davis sac fly.

A's lead 7-3

In the bottom half Mickey Tettleton scored on a double by McGwire.

A's lead 8-3

And that is how it ended.

I went 1 for 4 with a single, but much more importantly we trail 1 game to none.

Tomorrow it is Rick Sutcliffe facing Fernando Valenzuela.

[rpriske]

1987 WORLD SERIES GAME TWO

Today in Oakland we are facing an old nemesis of mine, former Dodger Fernando Valenzuela (13-14, 3.54 / 1-0, 0.00).

We are going with Rick Sutcliffe (1-0, 1.12).

Both have been quite successful thus far in the post-season.

When he was with the Dodgers I went 1 for 30 against Fernando. Let's see if I can do better now that he has swapped blue for green.

I kicked off the game by striking out.

Oakland struck early when Rickey Henderson scored on a Mickey Tettleton fielder's choice in the 1st. Then Tettleton scored on a Pete Incaviglia double. Mark McGwire crossed on a Carney Lansford sac fly.

A's lead 3-0

We turned things around in the 2nd. Rob Deer and Robby Thompson both singled before Rob scored on a Bob Brenly single. Robby and Bob both cashed in on a Chris Brown double. I singled with one out, moving Chris to 3rd. I stole 2nd and then we both moved up on a Mike Aldrete groundout, scoring Chris.

Giants lead 4-3

In the 3rd Rob hit a one out solo homer!

Giants lead 5-3

Chris was hit on the knee with a pitch that inning. He went down hard and was replaced by Bobby Grich as a pinch runner, who was then replaced by Tom O'Malley to play 3rd.

In the bottom half Tettleton reached on an error by Tom and then scored on a Incaviglia single. I ended the inning with a Donnie Hill groundball.

Giants lead 5-4

I led off the 4th, now facing Bert Blyleven. I grounded out to Craig Reynolds at short.
Mike followed me with a solo shot!

Giants lead 6-4

In the bottom half Jose Canseco launched a two run bomb to tie the game.
Nestor went to Scott Service after that.
I finished things off for him with a nice snag of a Tettleton liner.

Game tied 6-6

I came up with two out in the 6th and dropped one into centre for a single.
I stole 2nd but was left there.

In the bottom frame Matt Williams scored on a Henderson groundout.

A's lead 7-6

I came up int he 8th with two out and Jerry Mumphrey on 1st. Oakland closer Greg Harris was pitching. I put one up the middle for a single, sending Jerry to 2nd. We were left.

Lansford led off the bottom of the 8th with a home run.

A's lead 8-6

We were unable to score in the 9th and we are now down 2 games to none.

I went 3 for 5 with a couple of stolen bases but it is pretty hard to be happy about that.

Chris got banged pretty hard on the knee. I know he will play through it if he can. We'll have to see how it goes.

Now we have an off day before heading back to Candlestick. If we don't we at least two of three there, the series is over.

We have Bruce Ruffin going against Jose Rijo.

[rpriske]

1987 WORLD SERIES GAME THREE

Oakland is up two games on the Giants.

San Francisco is pitching Bruce Ruffin (0-1, 3.86).

Oakland has Jose Rijo (13-5, 3.54 / 1-1, 2.38).

None of us have ever faced him, but that is mutual with them and Ruffin. We are at home, though, and ready to turn this series around.

As expected, Chris Brown is still playing, despite being sore.

I led off the bottom of the 1st by striking out.

Pete Incaviglia led off the 2nd by taking Bruce deep.
I got the 1st out for him, off a Carney Lansford grounder. And then got the 2nd by getting the same from Donnie Hill.

A's lead 1-0

In our half, Steve Stanicek and Bob Brnely both reached via walks and then scored on a double by Chris. I guess he isn't hurting that bad!

Giants lead 2-1

I got the 3rd out in the 3rd, catching a John Marquardt pop up.

I led off the bottom of the 3rd by grounding out to Marquardt at short.

Lansford led off the 5th with a game tying homer.

Game tied 2-2

I got the 3rd out in the 6th off a grounder by Incaviglia.

I then led off the home side by striking out again.

I got the 1st out in the 8th off a fielder's choice ball by Jose Canseco. Then I made a nice double play, stepping on 2nd to get Canseco and firing to 1st to get the batter, Mark McGwire.

I led off the bottom of the 9th, facing Oakland closer Greg Harris. The game was still knotted at two. I walked on four straight pitches.
Mike Aldrete hit into a fielder's choice, erasing me.
We were unable to score and went to extras.

I got the 3rd out in the 10th, catching a little blooper by Canseco.

Bruce allowed the fist two men in the 11th to get on before Nestor went to Dennis Eckersley.

(SIDE NOTE: The game somehow switched to human control, when it is supposed to not be that, so Ruffin got pushed way more than he should have been before I noticed.)

McGwire ended up scoring on a Matt Williams single. Then Mickey Tettleton hit a Grand Slam.

Brutal.

A's lead 7-2

I led off the bottom of the 11th, facing Matt Keough. I put one over the 2nd base bag for a single. I moved to 2nd on a ground out by Mike. Chili Davis walked. Steve Stanicek flew out. Rob Deer flew out.

It was over and we were now down 3 games to none.

[rpriske]

1987 WORLD SERIES GAME FOUR

We are up against it now. We can't look at what it will take to win the series. We just have to look at what it will take to win today.

Oakland is pitching Scott Sanderson (14-7, 3.84 / 1-0, 0.00)

The Giants have Eric Show (1-0, 0.00)

Both were great in their previous post-season outing.

I have never faced Sanderson, but Bob Brenly has had some success against him, so we got a pretty solid scouting report.

Here we go.

In Eric's previous playoff start, he didn't allow a single run. Today he walked the leadoff batter, Rickey Henderson, and Jose Canseco followed with a two run homer.

A's lead 2-0

I led off the home side by striking out.
Chili Davis hit a solo shot to narrow the lead to one.

A's lead 2-1

I came up with one out in the 3rd and dropped one into left for a single. Then I moved to 2nd on a Mike Aldrete single. I led a double steal but they didn't even try for me, gunning down Mike going to 2nd. I was left at 3rd.

I made my first defensive play in the 4th, getting the 3rd out off a Carney Lansford grounder.

In the 5th I came up with two out and Bob on 2nd. I drove one up the middle and Bob scored! Game tying RBI! I stole 2nd, but was left there.

Game tied 2-2

Oakland got the lead right back in the 6th when Mickey Tettleton scored on a wild pitch.

A's lead 3-2

I came up with two out in the 7th and legged out an infield single. That was it for Sanderson as Oakland went to Tanver Vantrease. I stole 2nd again but was left there.

We had pinch hit for Eric, so Nestor brought in Scott Garrelts.
I got the 1st out for him, handling a Canseco grounder. I then did the same to Tettleton for the 2nd.

I then got the 3rd out in the 9th off a Donnie Hill grounder.

Bottom of the 9th, down by a run.

Closer Greg Harris on the mound.

Robby Thompson hits one to deep right centre for a double.

The A's pull Harris for Curt Young.

Bob Brenly grounds out, but Robby moves to 3rd.

Chris Brown hits one to deep left, Canseco catches it but Robby scores! Tie game!

Alan Cockrell pinch hits and makes the 3rd out, but we are going to extra innings!

Top of the 10th. Dennis Eckersley is in to pitch.

Matt Williams is in as a pinch hitter for Young. He strikes out.

Rickey Henderson flies out to Rob Deer in left... but no! Rob dropped it! That could be a devastating error!

Jose Canseco flies out to Steve Stanicek in centre.

Mikey Tettleton grounds out to Chris Brown at 3rd... but no again! Another error! What is going on!

Mark McGwire grounds it to Chris... he botches it again! Errors on back-to-back plays!

Bases loaded.

Pete Incaviglia hits one into the left field corner. All three runners score.

John Marquardt grounds one to Chris... and he throws it away. Incaviglia scores.
I try to support Chris, but he is devastated, and he has a right to be.

Mark Clear takes over on the mound, but NONE of this is on Eck.

Carney Lansford singles, scoring Marquardt.

Donnie Hill doubles, scoring Lansford.

Matt Williams flies out to Rob on left.

A's lead 9-3

Chris has gone down into the tunnel. I can only imagine what he is feeling.

I can't dwell on it, because I am up first, facing Matt Keough.
I ground out right back to him.

It never gets better.

It is all over, because of four 10th inning errors, three by Chris Brown and one by Rob Deer.

What an awful way to end the season.

[rpriske]

You know how they sat 'there is always next year'?

Not for a lot of our players.

Here are all the free agents as of the end of this season:

Dennis Eckersley
Atlee Hammaker
Dan Driessen
Bobby Grich (retiring)
Doyle Alexander
Jerry Mumphrey

Not to mention some of the bigger name guys in the minors, life Eddie Milner and Steve Nicosia.

Personally, I am due for arbitration for the first time. I made $79k this year. It is time for a real raise.

[rpriske]

I expected a raise, and I didn't really want to go through arbitration, Thankfully the team agreed.

I just signed a one year deal for $268,000

Wow. That is a lot of money

A bunch of other guys avoided arb too.

[rpriske]

The Gold Glove Awards were announced and I won my third straight!

I take great pride in my defence, so it is quite an honour.

[rpriske]

The Silver Slugger Awards were announced and both Chili Davis and Rick Sutcliffe won them! Well done guys!

The SS one was won by Gary Sheffield in Atlanta. Yeah, I can see that.

[rpriske]

Dennis Eckersley came 3rd in NL Reliever of the Year voting, Frank DiPino of the Astros won.

[rpriske]

This is the first award announcement I am mad about.

Chuck Tanner of the Mets won Manager of the Year.

Nestor was robbed. Straight up.

[rpriske]

Bruce Ruffin came 6th in NL Cy Young voting.

The top 3 were all Mets, with Ron Darling winning.

Can't really argue that. Those guys are tough!

[rpriske]

The Giants have signed our first Free Agent of the year.

Andy McGaffigan has played with San Francisco before (before my time), and is a seven year vet. He was sharp out of the pen with Seattle and should fit nicely in ours!


At the same time, we also got word that Doyle Alexander has signed a two year deal with Milwaukee. We will definitely miss him.

[rpriske]

We needed to replace Alexander and the Giants have done it!

Frank Viola has signed a huge, six year deal to come play in San Francisco!

He is a heck of a pitcher and it is great to have him on board!

[rpriske]

The Draft happened.

Honestly, it was a pretty unexciting year.

[rpriske]

Dennis Eckersley signed with the Orioles.

That hurts.

[rpriske]

The Giants have signed a real vet to shore up our bullpen - none other than Goose Gossage! It looks like he is going to be our new closer!

[rpriske]

1988

[rpriske]

Our next signing wasn't a new face at all... Atlee Hammaker resigned!

He still has a torn UCL and is out until mid-year, so this really shows the boys the the team values loyalty.

[rpriske]

Nobody was voted into the Hall of Fame this year? Not even Willie McCovey or Willie Stargell?

Wow.