the difference between mediocrity and playoff contention

The difference between 74-76 and 84-66 is....the difference between mediocrity and playoff contention.  10 games out of 150.  10 times this year the A's lost when in past years they would have won.  Once every 2 weeks this year the A's lost a game they should have won.  Where is that magic ingredient?  Who is the one guy who could have turned it all around?  Frank Thomas?  A healthy Chavvy?  I don't think so.

the difference between playoff contention and mediocrity is.....Justin Duchscherer.  From 04-06 Duke pitched in more than 50 games per year, and won or saved 30 of them.  10 per year.  I believed he helped the A's win a lot more thanthat.  It sure seems like the A's have lost a lot of games in the 6th through 8th innings this year.  I'd bet more than 10.  A healthy Duke wouldn't have been perfect, but he'd have been good.  I miss him a lot and I hope he can come back healthy next year.