YES WE CAN

Athletics Nation, I know you're nervous.  I know you're trying to stop yourself from focusing on failures past, on demons of days gone by, that the national media, eager to create drama and viewers, is only too willing to dwell upon.  I know you're excited, full of that "hoperehension" as the hour of decision approaches.  So settle down, take a good few deep breaths (in through the nose, out through the mouth, like the yogis teach), because it's time for your morning pre-game dose of the confidence that only attention to detail can bring.

Because this team is the most beautifully resilient, the most hungry, the most experienced, the most focused, the most underdog, the most like a family of any we have seen in this era of Athletics baseball, it's time for roll call.

YES WE CAN, because we ARE:

16-game winner Joe Blanton

Hiram Bocachica, utility masher

all aboard! Milton Bradley

Kiko Calero, Slider of Doom

the best defensive 3rd baseman in baseball, Eric Chavez

Justin Duchscherer, set-up superstar

the new all-time record holder for 2nd base fielding percentage, Mark Ellis

Chad Gaudin, who is just filthy

one of the most feared starters in MLB, Rich Harden

the devastating splitter of Danny Haren

D'Angelo Jimenez, ready to step in and get it done

Minnesota native Dan Johnson

Scowl Power, Jason Kendall

"ich bin ein reliever," Joe Kennedy

Kolossal Klown Power, Bobby Kielty

most outfield assists since 1999, Mark Kotsay

Esteban Loaiza, the clarity of cutter control

stretched and ready, Adam Melhuse

.355 lifetime on the first pitch, Jay Payton

indispensible and all-purpose, Kirk Saarloos

Mr. Clutch, Marco ("f*ckin'") Scutaro

a dead end for opposing teams, Huston Street

2nd-generation superstar-in-the-making, Nick Swisher

first ballot Hall of Famer, Frank Thomas

the best curveball in the majors, Barry Zito

25 men, one goal.  2 down, 9 to go, one game at a time.

Eyes on the prize, friends... hold on.