by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–Four of the five California major league teams made it to the playoffs in 2014, that is a first. If all California teams were in a “California Division” this is the way they would have finished last season (prior to playoffs) 1-Angels 98-64, 2-Dodgers 94-68, 3-Athletics 88-74, 3-Giants 88-74, 4-Padres 77-85. The San Diego Padres were the only California team that did not advanced to the postseason. Is this California’s golden age for baseball? A strong case can be made, especially during the past few seasons, since the balance has shifted from the East to the West in both leagues.

How about World Series winners for our California teams? The Dodgers are still on top, with a total of five World Series championships, followed by the Athletics with four, the Giants with three, the Angels with one, and the Padres, still searching for their first. It took the Los Angeles Dodgers only two seasons to win their first World Series championship, after playing in Los Angeles for the first time in 1958, they won it in 1959. For the Oakland Athletics, who moved from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968, they did in five years as they won their first of four in 1972. For the Los Angeles Angels, who were born in LA in 1961, it took them 41 years to reach the top, when they won it in 2002, while for the San Francisco Giants, who moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958, it took them 52 years to win it for the first time, in 2010.

How about periods of dominance? The Oakland Athletics won three consecutive World Series, 1972,1973 and 1974, that’s three in three consecutive seasons and is the only team to accomplish such dynasty in California. The Los Angeles Dodgers won three World Series in a span of seven years, 1959, 1963 and 1965. And the Giants have won three World Series in a span of five years, 2010, 2012, and 2014. The Oakland Athletics became the first team in the expansion era to win three consecutive titles, led by a pitching staff of Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Ken Holtzman and Blue Moon Odom. Their offense was also one of the best in baseball, led by a young Reginaldo Martínez Jackson(Reggie). Of course you can throw the word “dynasty”all over the place in a very subjective matter, but nobody has been close to the New York Yankees in that regard, not only because they have won 27 World Series, most in history, but because they ruled baseball in various different decades.

Loading and Unloading for 2015:

Four of the five California teams, were extremely active in the recent Winter Meeting held in San Diego. The reigning champs San Francisco Giants were mostly the “spectators” here in the west. The Giants still could use another experienced starter, since nobody knows what Tim Lincecum is bringing in 2015. They will need a very healthy and effective Matt Cain, coming off surgery, and Superman MadBum at his best, plus another right handed bat, preferably an outfielder.

This off season(to date)the Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres were the most active. For starters, The San Diego Padres will have a brand new outfield with Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton, among other new players, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have a new double-play combination, at shortstop with Jimmy Rollins and second base with Howie Kendrick. The Dodgers still have the best pitching rotation in the west with the three-headed-monster of Clayton “All World”Kershaw, Zack Greinke, who is actually a #1 in most places, except with the Dodgers, and Korean Hyun-Jin Ryu.

The Oakland Athletics, no strangers to dealing in the off season, did a lot of remodeling, or cleaning house if you wish,or retooling(a much more politically correct word) with starters Jon Lester, Jeff Samardzija, reliever Eric Gregerson, first baseman Brandon Moss, shortstop Jed Lowrie and third baseman Josh Donaldson all gone in trades mostly for young talent, and some(in the case of Josh Donaldson to Toronto) in return they received third baseman Brett Lawrie. who although prone to injury while in Toronto, still an accomplished major league player.Veteran infielder/utility Alberto Callaspo was also send packing, plus Derek Norris their All Star catcher last year went bye-bye.

Hard to doubt General Manager Billy Beane, since he always seems to have “the magic touch”, getting veteran players that do not produce anyplace else to produce at Oakland, as well as unknown young talent beginning to make a name for themselves. Beane still might have a couple of deals left, before pitcher and catchers report to Mesa, Arizona and their new Spring Training facility in the middle of February.

It is just very hard for A’s fans to keep up with the incoming and outgoing players every winter. If you are an A’s fan, just buy the Oakland Athletics Jersey (plain )without name and number, and then you can buy the names and numbers as they come, and just attached to the back. However, if you are a real nostalgia fan, you can still buy all the old stuff you need.

Some 50 days, remain in the calendar until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training camps in Arizona and Florida.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com