So after writing my last post, the next time I fired up the internet at the hotel, I was writing my post, and the internet just stops working as I frantically hit ‘Publish’.  I try again, this time hit ‘Save’, and "you are not connected to the internet".  Well that’s just great.  I’m home now, and finally getting things back to normal, for the first real post on here in a month.  I’m sorry it’s been that long, but both Oz and I are really busy heading into the home stretch, before Opening Day.

Last year was a some-what busted year on Nat Notes, after getting sour reviews from players and management, we decided not to go full-out as in 2007, but in ‘09 it’ll be bigger and better than ever.  Let’s just start by reviewing the World Baseball Classic.

The 2nd WBC was definitely a fan favourite, if the number of Netherlands jerseys I saw in the States were any indication, after their cinderella run against the Dominican Republic, and I couldn’t help but take glimpses every couple of minutes on my phone to see the Puerto Rico/USA score in a win or go home game. 

Capped off by a stellar and historic all-Asian final, between powerhouses Korea and Japan, the 3rd classic is highly anticipated, and apparently there may be another format switch, and a chance for more teams to enter the tournament.  Unfortunately, however, for South Africa, a country that may not be guaranteed a spot in the 3rd installment.  My personal favourite, and hopefully that of Canadians fans seeing as how our Manager skips the RSA bunch as well, were 0-2.

South Africa did show strides of improvement, including that of pitcher Barry Armitage (left), our Nat Notes interviewee for the squad, who pitched well against the Cubans in Round 1.  OF Gift Ngoepe, a Pirates farmhand, and Martin Gordon, a college ball player, were my two picks for players of the tournament, from South Africa.  Look out for those three players in the upcoming Baseball World Cup.

That tournament is in September, and pitts South Africa in a group with Cuba, Spain and Puerto Rico.  Remember no MLB players are in this, so I’d give RSA a shot. 

Moving onto my trip…

Spring Training is an awesome experience for any baseball fan, I’d recommend it to anybody and everybody.  Whether it’s to catch a glimpse of Carlos Zambrano with a bat in his hands, or Brad Ziegler sidearming his way to a save, or even to see Jeremy Barfield bat for Kane County, it’s worth the trip to Phoenix.

For the 11 days we were there, we caught 4 MLB games, 5 days of Minor League Games/Practices and the rest were travel days.

It helps it’s in the 80’s or 90’s every day too, but even watching baseball is a treat in the dog days of winter. 

The first few days was all practices at Papago Park, home of the A’s Minor Leaguers, but we managed to catch an Oakland A’s game against the LA Dodgers.  It was a Split-Squad for Joe Torre’s bunch, so Russell Martin, Blake DeWitt and Manny Ramirez (who was hurt) didn’t show up to Phoenix Municipal.

Oakland had some of their stars in the lineup, as did the Dodgers who put ex-Canadian Andre Ethier (left), Brad Ausmus, Matt Kemp, James Loney, Casey Blake and Jason Repko into the batting order.  Another ex-C, but one of the AAA variety, Danny Ardoin pinch-hitted for Ethier in the late stages of the game, and drove in a run.

Jason Schmidt started for LA vying for the 5th job in the rotation, and gave up only a hit in 2 innings, before Jeff Weaver, who I’d say is washed-up, relieved him and allowed 4 runs to 4 batters.  Shawn Estes who is fighting with Schmidt for the 5th spot allowed two runs later on.

The Dodgers tagged Trevor Cahill for 4 runs in the 2nd, before the A’s relieved those 4, and scored 5 more in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 9-4 lead.  Oakland’s offensive production was lead by 2005 Canadian Travis Buck (3-4, 3 RBI, 3 Runs, HR), and Nomar Garciaparra who was 1-1 with a double, an RBI, R and a BB.  2004 Catcher Landon Powell was 2-3 with a run batted in and he scored himself, and Gregorio Petit, Daric Barton and Josh Donaldson all had doubles.

Pitching wise, Cahill lasted 3 innings giving up 4 runs, while his relievers up until the 9th, Mike Wuertz, Jerry Blevins, Henry Rodriguez, Andrew Bailey and Jared Lansford failed to yield a run.  Andrew Carignan, of the AA squad, gave up four runs in the 9th, but held on for the A’s to win, 10-8 final for the A’s.

Wednesday night was a rare night game in Cactus League action, pitting the Seattle Mariners against the host-Kansas City Royals in possibly the nicest baseball stadium around, in Surprise, home of the Rangers and Royals in Spring Training.

This game saw rotation-strong Kansas City put Zack Greinke on the hill, facing ex-Canadian Jarrod Washburn of the Mariners.  No Ken Griffey Jr for Seattle, or Ichiro, or Jose Lopez, or Kenji Johjima, or well you get the point, the WBC took away the club’s best players. 

Seattle did have Yuniesky Betancourt, Franklin Gutierrez, Mike Sweeney, Adrian Beltre, Russell Branyan and Mike Wilson.  Betancourt was 2-4 with a triple and a home run, while Wilson, a minor-league call-up went 3-4 with 4 RBI, 3 R and two home-runs, off of Greinke and reliever Robinson Tejeda.

Kansas City’s lineup had the likes of Coco Crisp, Mark Teahen (2002 Canadian), David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, Mike Jacobs, Billy Butler Alex Gordon, Tony Pena Jr and John Buck.  STACKED.  I think Kansas City could surprise people this season.

Teahen had a blast, as did Jacobs, and Billy Butler went 2-3 at the plate, while the ex-Red Sock Crisp was 2-4.

Greinke gave up 6 runs on 11 hits in 5 innings, and Washburn yielded only a pair in 5.2 innings.  Seattle won 9-3.

Friday afternoon saw the A’s travel to Goodyear against the Indians.  This was my favourite game of the trip, with Brett Anderson facing Carl Pavano and the Cleveland Indians.  Anderson and Monday’s starter Cahill are a pair of young hot prospects, trying to make the A’s rotation. 

Rajai Davis lead the way for Oakland, going 3-5, as did Aaron Cunningham, who will start in either AA or AAA, who went 2-2 with 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R, and a HR off of Pavano.  Jason Giambi, Travis Buck, Nomar, Sean Doolittle, Bobby Crosby and Landon Powell were the notables for the A’s.

Cleveland came out on top, thanks in part to Jeremy Barfield’s brother, Josh, who was 1-3 at the dish, but made two absolutely spectacular catches, to keep Cleveland in the lead.  He made the club as a utility man, but he was amazing on this day.  Jamey Carroll was 2-4, Asdrubal Cabrera 2-3 with 3 RBI and Victor Martinez had an absolute shot off of James Simmons, a top A’s prospect who happened to give up 6 earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Andrew Bailey, ex Canadian, kept his scoreless streak in tact, failing to give up a hit in his lone inning of work.  After 10 innings of relief work this spring, Bailey has not given up a run, the only A’s pitcher all Cactus League to do so.  If he doesn’t make the team, I don’t know how anyone can.

The final MLB game we saw was on the Sunday, and had Seattle’s Erik Bedard facing Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs.  Chicago had their OD lineup minus Fukudome and Ryan Theriot.  Seattle lost 5-3, but the minor leaguer Mike Wilson, who had two homeruns when I saw him Wednesday, had another today off of Carlos Marmol.  Wow, this kid can flat out hit.

Wladimir Balentien was 2-3, and Chris Woodward, ex Blue Jay, went 3-4 with 3 RBI and a homerun off of Big Z.  Chicago was great at the dish, with Milton Bradley going 2-3, and Alfonso Soriano picked up a pair of RBI.  And yes, Zambrano picked up a hit, a double off the wall.

Check back later tonight for a recap on Minor League Camp, and who we think will break camp with who.