I am personally against this idea.  After the long grind of the season, Ken Macha needs to rest during the offseason.  Young guys like Eric Wedge may need Winter Ball, but why risk an injury to an established veteran like Macha?

<hugs creepy baby>

Rich Harden gave up six hits and five runs in 3 1/3 innings in an Instructional League game Monday.

Harden needed to stretch his arm out as he hadn't pitched since October 1. The A's are still mulling whether to start him in Game 3, which would mean he'd be available twice in the series if necessary, or to hold him back until Game 4 because they are concerned with his relative inactivity over the past three months.

Mark Kiger has been added to the A's roster for the ALCS.

Kiger will replace the injured Mark Ellis and only see action as an emergency backup, but the consensus seemed to be that he was the best defender available.

Keith Ginter, who the A's chose not to add to their roster as an injury replacement, was upset at the way he was treated during the process.

"They didn't tell me anything, not even thanks for coming down,'' said Ginter. "So this is just another slap in the face.'' Ginter was asked to try out as a possible replacement for Mark Ellis on the ALCS roster, but he lost the job to Mark Kiger.

I was working on a DLD, so I'll just put the relevant info in this post:

Tim Kamakawi writes that it's time for Barry Zito to "let 'er rip," once again providing Eric Chavez an opportunity to show the total lack of filter he has that we all love:

Another brutally honest Chavy gem--his midseason comment that "This is the worst best team I've played on"--is the lead in for a nice, brief Dave Newhouse interview with Billy Beane.  As I put on my Milton Bradley tee-shirt in preparation for the journey to Oakland this morning, I was thinking about some of the same things Beane expresses about him in the interview:

Well, MOST of the media, anyway...

There's an ASTOUNDING amount of A's related content to link today--it's like we're the Yankees or something.  Except less dysfunctional and still playing.

Susan Slusser discussed the outcome of Rich Harden's instructional league start inher A's Notebook this morning.

On Harden:

Good luck today, everyone!

this is really, really, REALLY funny!

Prospectus Today, and Sheehan's votes for the Big Awards... and picks A's in seven

And everyone's favorite Will Caroll

Oakland Athletics
The A's found themselves in the playoffs despite several key injuries. They head into their first LCS of the Moneyball era with another player lost: Mark Ellis took an inside pitch off his hand in Game Two of the Division Series, breaking his finger and ending his postseason. It leaves the team extremely short-handed, having to dip down into the 40-man and beyond to complete its roster. While Christina will analyze the details of the roster moves and break down how they should affect the team, I'm left reminding people that Bobby Crosby had thought he would be available for the LCS, but there are no reports on his current status. Given the moves made, it appears that Crosby is not ready.

With Crosby still something of a mystery, there's also some intrigue surrounding Rich Harden. We all saw him throw two solid outings towards the end of the season, and he wasn't needed for the takeout of the Twins. Why is he again all the way down in the fourth slot? Is there a hidden injury here? The answer is no. The A's staff simply seems to think that Harden is the fourth-best pitcher on the roster. He's been sent to the fall instructional league in Arizona to get some work in, keeping him on turn with perhaps a chance to check in with his rehab coordinator. Harden is again due for a Game Four start and, this time at least, we know he'll be needed. There's an interesting parallel here to Mark Mulder a few years ago, but Harden's pre-playoff appearances show that this isn't a bluff.

There's also some interest surrounding Frank Thomas. His inability to run is only a limiting factor on the bases, as shown by Michael Cuddyer's attempt to go 9-3 on a Big Hurt single. Thomas isn't slowing down, according to one scout. "Same times on home to first as I had in spring training," I was told. "I can use an hourglass and not a stopwatch on first to third." Thomas' limitations are well-known and don't appear to be exacerbated by having played a couple games in Minnesota. The rest of the playoffs will be on grass, so it seems that Thomas' feet are no more a concern now than they have been all season.

Like the Mets, the A's have known injuries and have had the time to adjust their roster accordingly. The team overcame injuries throughout the season in large part due to flexibility and versatility. That s*#t works in the playoffs as well.

Hello,

I just wanted to let you know that as the baseball season began this year, I purchased XM Radio to listen to their brand of baseball coverage after years of listening to KNBR during the baseball season. Last night for the first time in a very long while I listened to KNBR as I was driving home from my slow pitch softball game. I am an A's fan, not really a Giants fan, so I understand I am not your audience per say. But I have to let you know that the reason I purchased XM Radio was caricature of show hosts like Damon Bruce who make up for their uneducated opinions with vitriol.

This jerk is on the radio chastising A's fans for not calling in to his program and not showing up to games and blah blah, blah. You think he would understand that A's fans don't listen to his program when all he does is rail on and on about how the team should move to Las Vegas (this much I have read on internet blogs, I haven't listened to him before last night) Like I said, I understand that A's fans are not really who you are broadcasting to and that is understandable considering you are the home of the Giants. I just wanted to let you know that Damon Bruce reinforced my decision, XM is where it is at for me. I don't get chastised by the radio hosts when I listen to baseball coverage there.

Mr. Leyland, too.

<sob>

Is it today?

Between this and his trade Jeter piece the other day, I'm feeling some warm fuzzies for Jim Caple.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/minorleagues/team_stats.jsp?c_id=oak&minor_id=ARIAZA

The other is the enemy tonight.  Hopefully we can get the job done in Game 1.