yeah what is it with this food poisoning lately. maybe they need to become vegetarians.

...but if game outcomes start to take a consistently negative course (and I'm not assuming they will), wouldn't it be interesting to bring up Jason Windsor? I like Saarloos, Halsey out of the pen, Kennedy will be back soon but I don't want any of them starting too much longer.
   So is Jason Windsor ready? He's gotten the publicity but is he our guy for the near future (before Zito leaves) or for 07'?

the day after 4th of July?  Yeah, right.  Swisher needs to grow up - he's not a star yet.  And he doesn't deserve to be an all-star.  So far, he's just another guy who got hot for about 6 weeks, but he thinks that makes him special.  He has tons of potential, but hasn't separated himself from Brian Roberts, Chris Shelton, Clint Barmes, Lance Niekro or any other marginal pro who got hot for a short while.

They really need to make an upgrade at first base, I want DJ to succeed, but at his best he's a glorified Hatteberg, that just won't cut it on an everyday basis for a contending team.

The upgrade could happen if the form of a healthy Bradley next week, at which point Swisher moves to first, Bradley to right and Payton & Kielty platoon in left.  

If Beane is going to acquire a bat it would in this slot.

I'd bet that Beane is trying to find a bat, it won't be easy though, not with the depleted farm system.

on why the A's are hitting so badly. I was listening for just a few moments to the end of the game.  With the game all but over, Ray and Ken were so loose and relaxed and having a good time, despite the loss.  It got me thinking that the A's have had little chance to relax on the field. We all know they've played more one-run games than anyone. And few of the other games have been outright blowouts, one way or the other. Even wins with three-run leads have been nail biters.
So for the players, ever at-bat has become a big at bat. And this happens day after day after day. Their pitchers (usually) give them a great performance and they're under tremendous pressure to make every at bat perfect. That's a recipe for failure.

What's the solution? You got me.

(Maybe Beane should admit he overreacted and bring back the beer. I'm all for responsible drinking, but Beane's go-to-your-room-you're-grounded punishment  can't be helping.)

if theres any platooning to do...why not kotsay and bradley?  have the two injury-prone guys work their way back into good form.  payton and ronnie mac are the best hitters on this team right now. i'm tired of seeing a shallow kotsay have balls going over his head the hit the warning track.  and to think i thought kendall never hit a ball hard. kotsay has mastered the infield dribbler.  as for bradley if he only plays twice a week he has about a 200% better chance of not getting hurt; unless he trips over the water cooler or hurts himself with swish and their celebration routine

taking two of three from the best team in baseball.

going to replace manny in the all star game.

the Rivercats in Salt Lake City on Friday. That's also the day Kennedy will throw a simulated game. And Macha hearts Gaudin.

sometimes when a player has so much domination over a team, that team already feels defeated.  Maybe that's why we can't beat Kenny.

I also think the inactivity of Saarloos does not help him when he is the starting pitcher. Macha knows what the rotation is and if he is not going to use him for awhile then he should give him the opportunity to pitch.

Another beef I have with our team is I think they take way too many pitches.  I mean are these other teams that good of guessers that they know what the pitch is so they are able to hit it?  I'd like to see the team being a little more aggressive.  At least most of them because I know that Kendall will not change.

I agree that this next series is important.  Just to see the A's at .500 will be good but I hope Beane takes a hard look at this team and its needs and pulls the trigger on a move to benefit this team,even if it is only for this year I would be happy.

that never swings at a first pitch but agree with you on Kotsay and Payton, they could definetely use a little more plate discipline. Swisher takes a lot of pitches, Chavez flails wildly at 1st pitches also.

i never feel comfortable with Sarloos on the mound.

I feel Beane will have serious evaluating to do in the next three weeks as the deadline looms.

1. The rotation. Zito and Haren are rocks, and it's doubtful Rich Harden can return and have a serious impact (see Will Carrol's quote posted in various places here on AN). Blanton is a question mark, he's very inconsistent. Loaiza is the same. If they can both put a few QS's before the deadline, i think we'll be solid. I hate Sarloos as a 5th starter. He's admirable and all, but i just don't have any confidence in him. I think Beane would do better to shop for a decent starter at the deadline. Another option i like is calling up Jason Windsor. I love his attitude, and i feel he can handle the rigors of late season pressure play (see: CWS).

2.The offense obviously. Bradley will come back, but for how long? Will Chavez get healthy. Here's how i view things:

At expectations: I think we know what we will get out of Frank Thomas. We know what we'll get from Kendall too (not that it's a good thing). And i feel that once Swisher feels better and clears his head, he'll be a 900 OPS hitter again.

But there are too many question marks:

A)If Bradley is back, i have faith he'll be effective. But when willl he be actally healthy?

B)When will Chavez be fully healthy? I'm confident he'll be effective again providing he's close to 100 percent. He seems to me like he's around 75 percent right now.

C)The outfield-Keilty and Payton are riding hot streaks, but they have shown throughout their careers that they cant sustain this type of production for a whole year. I'm more confident that Kielty will continue to be solid, but not great. Kotsay is a question mark, as he's a mediocre hitter with back problems that inhibit his great defense. That constitutes a problem. I think Beane would do well to deal Payton for some pitching.

D)Middle Infield-Will Ellis catch fire again? He just seems like a different hitter to me, i hope he proves me wrong though. Crosby is lost. Lost in a sense that i won't begin to expect things out of him anymore. It's just frustrating. They are a great defensive infield and question marks on offense. I don't have particularly strong faith in either of them.

E)Dan Johnson. I think he fooled us with a little spurt, but i don't see him being what we need him to be: An 850 OPS first baseman with consistency. Beane would do well to acquire a hitter as well (and the player i'm thinking of has been bounced around on AN)

Basically the offense is almost all question marks.

Here's what i do:

Trade Jay Payton for a decent starting pitcher that is a free agent next year (for some draft picks). If the Rangers decide to give up on the season come july 31st, i have a nice little idea: Yanks get Payton, Texas gets Tyler Clippard and A's get Adam Eaton who is rehabbing now...

Trade for the aforementioned Craig Wilson. Just do it. You may have to use Windsor, but it won't be too big a price. A) He's not playing there and B) He's a free agent next year.

On the flipside, i'd look into acquiring the struggling Juan Pierre. He's also a free agent next year, and i think one of the things the A's truly need is a leadoff hitter. Yes his OBP is horrendous so far this year, but his track record shows he's a good hitter.

Which brings me to: Shop Mark Kotsay. He likes Southern California... what about the Angels? He can be Darin Erstad 2.0. Get a decent prospect, perhaps an Erick Aybar. A's need to shed this salary.

I'd like this:

Pierre (CF)
Swisher (LF)
Chavez
Thomas
Bradley (RF)
Johnson (1B)
Crosby (SS)
Ellis
Kendall

Rotation:

Zito
Haren
Blanton
Loaiza
Eaton

Kielty is the fourth outfielder who should get solid playing time. The bench pretty much stays the same. If we acquire Craig Wilson, it'd be pretty nice. Johnson would be relegated to backup (or even used to acquire Wilson/traded for prospects). The A's save some cash by dealing Kotsay's contract (surely boosting the odds of offering Zito a contract) and Payton, acquire two players who are likely type A free agents. Also add a solid MI prospect.

Another way to go is to get Marcus Giles, another struggling but legit leadoff hitter. He's a good defender as well. Antonio Perez can be dealt, with Scutaro and Ellis playing the role of backup (and one of them can play third if Chavvy is out an extended period).

Pierre
Giles
Chavez
Thomas
Swisher
Bradley
Crosby
Johnson
Kendall

i started my comment when there were two responses... my response took a long time....

Why are those Rangers fans calling DeRosa the Dumpmaster?

valuable lesson.....when apparently are not the only ones to freak out when our team does badly.  Season over? wow! thats harsh, and I thought we where vicious for calling for Macha's retirement.

At least Macha knows how to pronounce Gaudin's name. Wait. No he doesn't.

That old senile idiot.

Ok ok. Macha "said" that, i just changed it to "claimed".

And the Twins take 2 of 3 from the Rangers (Liriano and Santana will both pitch);

And the Tigers take 2 of 3 from the Mariners;

Then we'll be 3 up on the Rangers, and more than that on the other two teams. Then, we'll get Bradley back after the break, get out of July at or near the top of the division, and then pull away in August.

Check out A's/Angels schedules some time. We have a brutal second half of July; theirs is soft. We have a soft August; theirs is brutal.

The A's just need to take 3 of 4 this weekend, and then, in my opinion, the division is essentially clinched.

It's time to start thinking about the playoff roster.

And there you go, I think I've "broken it down" about as well as any sportstalk radio caller could.

You're welcome.

hit his 6th hr tonight

its funny, he was struggling until the dodgers series in oakland, A's series got him back on track. maybe bradley can play a week healthy, i'll settle for a healthy series

They need to make a move. The division is up for grabs at this point to any one of the four teams.

I 'm with some of the above posts in that Swish needs to be the starting 1B. Send DJ to the bench and ride Kielty and Payton while they are warm/hot. Macha also needs to at least make an attempt to bunch the hot hitters together in the lineup. There's no harm in dropping Kotsay or Swish while they are struggling.

The question is where the team needs and addition - pitching or offense? If we can get an OF or 1B.