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Implications of all Today's Developments

First off-- no matter what we think of his recent moves, the fact is that Beane does not allow stagnation to set in. He saw as well as all of us the 4 games with the Angels-- and I'm sure everyone noted Teixeira's 3 bombs tonight-- and he knows the clock is ticking quite fast on this season.

So let's take these one by one:

DJ sent down in favor of Bradley. A pretty obvious move to go to Swisher at 1B and two better all-around options (defense improves at every position with these moves) platooning in the OF in Kielty and Payton. If Bradley doesn't hit, or one of the other slumps, then a trade for an additional bat could make sense. Who is the backup for Swish at first?? Well if Chavy is put on the DL, it might be DJ again before too long. For now Melhuse would seem to be it;

Chavy resting. Antonio Perez can't be worse than Chavez over the past month-- and now we'll find out how much better by giving him some atbats. I think the DL is a clear option here and if so, it might be more like a month (with DJ returning) than just a couple of weeks to allow the forearms in particular to heal;

Windsor pulled from Sac rotation and Harden seeks 2nd opinion. I think these are interrelated. The A's must now realize-- as Macha more than hinted the other day-- that Harden is done for the year and that it is a distinct possibility that TJ surgery-- and him missing most if not all of 2007 as well-- is a clear possibility. In which case, why not begin to find out what we've got in Windsor, partic. with Zito's departure after the season pretty much guaranteed? Saarloos is only a stopgap starter who has returned to earth this year--- and he can take the long role in the pen along with Halsey. With Kennedy and Witasick coming back soon, Sauerbeck and gaudin are not long for this world either.

And finally Beane wants to give this team the best chance to perform for the next couple of weeks-- Chavez, DJ and Saarloos all fail in one way or another to do that-- because he must determing just how likely a playoff run is, and then act accordingly with Zito or perhaps another trade (Crosby, for example) if he concludes the playoffs are not in the forecast this year.