READ: WMAL.com - "Locked-Out Officials Could Be Back This Week," By Missy Zielinski

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WMAL.com - "Locked Out Officials Could Be Back This Week"

WMAL.com: NFL 'Admits' Fault In Disputed End To Monday Night Football

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NFL 'Admits' Fault In Disputed End To Monday Night Football'

Athletics Ready to 'Tough-Up' Tough Road Ahead

BY MELISSA ZIELINSKI

Despite having the toughest schedule out of the 14-15 baseball teams still in the playoff race (based on A’s team’s to face winning-percentages), a rookie-loaded starting rotation and injuries that include starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy’s emergency brain surgery the Oakland Athletics have kept relevant.

Boasting a 14-5 road record since August, being ‘streaky’ by compiling a nine-game and six-game win streak in August and September and having one of the best bullpens in baseball have all contributed to Oakland’s argument.

When crunch time began in the middle of August it looked as if Oakland had a long road ahead. Yet they’ve made strides since that have often kept fans on the edge of there seats, but confident at the same time.

Maybe it was the dramatic exit of McCarthy during a game against the Angels in early September? (Though his condition was critical, he’s often let fans know he was ‘okay’ with entertaining “tweets” on his Twitter account).

Or maybe it was the total runs Oakland hitters were able to tally after playing separate series against the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox? In those two series the A’s outscored their opponents by a combined 47 runs.

Whatever the case, Oakland’s success hasn’t only been a good feeling for fans, but for their own momentum too as they head into the final weeks of the regular season.

But it’s still a tough road ahead for the green and gold.

After nearly sweeping the O’s, Oakland will face the Detroit Tigers during the week (they lost to the Tigers in the series opener Tuesday 12-2) before a three-game set with the New York Yankees this weekend.

While the bombers have often coasted to October they have found themselves knee-deep in a fight for first with a surprising foe and even more surprising division-rival this season Baltimore.

As the possibility of being dethroned by the Orioles looms, a team who’s only been in the postseason three times in the last 29 years (1983 World Series champs and two back-to-back losses in the American League Championship Series in 1996, 1997) the Yankees will certainly not be coasting this September.

Then comes the most important series of the season, one against the division-rival Texas Rangers.

Currently Texas holds only a half game lead on first place in the American League West. Next week's four-game set could very well determine who’ll be taking first and who’ll be headed to a one-game, winner takes all, Wildcard game against Baltimore, New York, LA or whatever team clinches a Wildcard spot

If the A’s can keep pace with the Rangers and continue to produce similar results as they have thus far, fans may be looking at a new division champ for the first time since 2006.

Oakland’s 2006 season was also the last time they made it to October.

It’s a tough road ahead, but if the Athletics can show resiliency as they have through the past six weeks, the pavement may find itself just a bit smoother.

Too Early For Tannehill

BY MELISSA ZIELINSKI

Since the departure of Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins have attempted to salvage a franchise quarterback to reinvigorate fans that remember the glory days of Dan the Man in the 1990’s.

First they tried Jay Fiedler.

Four seasons later came A.J. Feeley.

Then Gus Frerotte, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon, the Chads (Pennington and Henne), followed by Matt Moore and last but not least, the starting quarterback of the 2012 season and first round draft pick (eighth overall) Ryan Tannehill.

It’s been a long time (12 years to be exact) since Marino graced Miami’s presence and the Dolphins have only three playoff appearances to show for it- in 2000 Miami ousted the Colts in the Wild Card, but were then shutout by the Oakland Raiders in the next round.

They made it to the playoffs again in 2001, for the fifth year in a row, only to lose to the Baltimore Ravens by a 17-point margin.

Then after a seven-year dry spell they met the Ravens again. And lost again.

It’s been a tumultuous branding project for the Dolphin’s marketing team over the 12-year span in a countless search for the Fins next quarterback, but maybe taking their chances on another quarterback to start the 2012 season wasn’t the answer.

Yes Miami had a sluggish start to the 2011 season, going 0-7 with QB Chad Henne taking the snap to start the year (does 1-15 ring a bell?). After Moore took over though (starting the last 12 games of the season) the Fins went 6-6.

A .500 season isn’t exactly great even mediocre to say the least. Moore did show potential. Miami went 6-3 to end the season including two gut-wrenching defeats to the Dallas Cowboys and division-rival New England Patriots by a combined four points.

So why didn’t they stick with Moore?

It’s nothing new in South Beach- in with the new out with the old.

Not only did the Dolphins put themselves in quarterback limbo during the preseason leaving fans guessing would it be David Garrard? Moore? Or Tannehill? They also put too much pressure on Tannehill to perform.

With the Dolphins starting the season against the Houston Texans (including Arian Foster and Andre Johnson), Tannehill was the wrong choice.

Tannehill was expected to play and play he did, but to an utterly better defense and team.

Miami should have started the veteran, instead they fed their ‘face of the franchise’ to the wolves.  After two picks and still a chance to comeback you might ask yourself, why not put Moore in after it was clear that Tannehill was not ready? I asked the same question. Yet, you cannot bruise the ego of a rookie who’s expected to bring life back to a drought of a team.

So stay with Tannehill they did. Even if it was for better or for worse.