"Just listen for the screams coming from Athletics Nation."

Chron articles: A's Report and Game Report.

Bobby Crosby appears ever more likely to be ready Monday, and that would be not a moment too soon for the A's sickly offense.

and more hope for Crosby.

The A's grounded into at least one double play in their eighth straight game, a season high. Catcher Jason Kendall has grounded into an American League-high 25 this season, including six in the last six games before Saturday.

Owie.

Also, a letter you wrote to your personal deity (or to yourself) in May.

Dear God, If somehow by mid-September, the A's can crawl back to .500 from 15 games under, I promise to drink a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and giggle like a child.

If somehow you grant us a miracle and the A's can beat history and crawl up to being in playoff contention, I promise to dance like a hungry gerbil at lunchtime and smile at strangers and kiss pugs. I promise not to freak out after every loss as if it's the end of the world and blame it entirely on our coaches' and players' personal failings.

And if I somehow take for granted all the incredible things that will have happened this year, please, Higher Being, bring me all the pain that I richly deserve. They who sow the seeds of short-sighted contempt shall reap a whirlwind of neurotic and well-deserved unhappiness. Remind me, oh Deity, that there is a way out, and that is to Get a Grip and Count Our Blessings. Yes, I will be pissed off for very short periods of time. Then I will Get a Grip and remember obsessive misery is a personal lifestyle choice.

Peace out and cupcake up.