Great wrapup, WEG. You're my hero.

Our mojo worked! Long live the GAMEDAY THREADERS!

Damn. I love how many days we've had where pitching has been the extraordinary story of the afternoon. Coming into the season, it didn't look that way -- it's always nice to end the day able to say that the pitching needs to get some props. Saarloos is a hell of a number five guy, I'm proud to have him as an A.

The refusal of this team to lose back-to-back games is refreshing and wonderful.

Are you saying there was some special AN event happening at the Colliseum?  Couldn't prove it by the traffic on AN!

Highlights of the game for me:

-- Kirk Saarloos: best 5th starter in MLB
-- Bobby Crosby: this kid is about to break out all over the place
-- Jay Payton: this year's John Mabry
-- Mark Kotsay: drives in the final nail, welcome back to CF!
-- Huston Street: I think he was just trying to make it interesting for himself

that guy gets so much credit, so much that its forgotten what he does day in day out.

Then again, theres so many guys that really deserves recognition everyday for the little things.  Melhuse, also definetely needs big props.  

In fact, when I attended the game yesterday, I saw him play bullpen catcher.  Whats wrong with buck?  Melhuse has been providing pop for the catcher role, he's been more than gracious in a very inconsistent position of DH/C/Backup something.

Another guy is Ellis who keeps doing his thing no matter where he is in the lineup.  He quietly has the second highest batting average on the team providing near-gold glove caliber defense!  All this after what happened last year.

And with so much love to our bullpen, Guys not named Streetcherer deserves some love too, they ALL have been lights out.  

People like to say the A's are balanced, and thats why they are different.  I like to think that we're not balanced, which seems to mean that we have no weaknesses, but that we have a strength in EVERY one of our clogs.  Thats better than being balanced, thats being unbeatable.  

This is OUR version of the post gamme recap.  Who needs Blez or Nico?  :P

Huston street is on right now.

Question:  After tough game last night the a's offense shut down, important to even things up?
Huston:  Last night was a great pitching duel, Haren did evewrything he could do.  Today, we had a little momentum with Ecks jersey retired, fed off that, give credit to bullpen and sarloos.  Great team win.

Question: Kirk undefeated in daytime now.  He's pitching so well now.

Huston:  Our whole starting staff is pitching well right now.  Stay focus and continue down the road

Question:  The 9th inning put guys on 2nd and third.  Kendall came and talk to you what did you guys talk about?

Huston:  Just on being not tentative.  Which I was, he calmed me down, we got the tying runner on the plate just get them out and don't worry about anything else.  If the guy on the plate doesn't score we win and thats all that matters.  Ellis ssaid the same.

Question:  With Eck Day, was it easy to put things in perspective as a closer?

Huston:  That was the most nervous thing, being in his presence.  I could have sat there and ask him a million questions.  Today is just one of the most exciting days to meet him.  I want him to autograph my save ball.

Question: With meeting a guy of that magnitude what was it like?

Huston: All I could do is let him do all the talking because I have all the learning to do from him.  

Question: great crowd, nice win.

Huston: thank you.

[NOTE: A lot of ad libbing.  I can't type THAT fast.]

during the 5 games on this homestand, but he has hit 2 HR and has 4RBI.  He started the 7th inning rally on Thursday (Walk off Sulk day), and hit a 3 run shot today to give the A's the lead that they never relinquished.
Oh, and his other it was a leadoff triple in the Wednesday game, in the 7th inning against Shields.  We all remember what happened after that.

GO JAY PAY!!!  :D

is beating cleveland 4-0 in the third.  Seems like Indians are hitting a bump in the road right now.  They're behind the Yankees in the WC race and everyone picks them to be there down the stretch cuz of their easy schedule.  So its good to get a few losses in their record right now to give breathing room to us in the strech run if we need it.

I dunno about you guys, but I really wish Huston Street would grow a moustache just like Eck... the girls might not like it, but I think it would kick ass!

Of Eck's ceremony... I'm getting all choked up!

what the heck was in that gift they gave Eck!