In my professional life, I use the first Monday of the new month to compile results from the previous period and then distribute reports to my associates.

I've been doing this today, but after attending 2 games of the A's opening homestand, I have a couple of lingering thoughts I woud like to share and see what the Nation thinks.....

1) Retired Numbers: Yesterday I took my girlfriend to her first A's game. Somewhere along the line when I was giving her the visual tour of the stadium and while explaining to her the retired numbers of the A's former legends, I came to the sudden realization that Rollie Fingers #34 was also worn by another A's legend who is certainly destined to be cannonized by the A's at some point, Dave Stewart.

Rickey Henderson, a certain Hall of Famer, who has yet to declare in which uniform he will be enshrined (one would have to bet that the Oakland native would be wearing the green and gold into the HOF), broke into the Majors with the A's wearing #35, but is remebered more frequently in #24.

What will the A's do in remembering these legends when the appropriate time arises. Two #34 jerseys? What about Rickey's #?

2) Emil Brown: No doubt that this is an aggresive ballplayer, and that his early season success has so far endeared him to A's fans. While sitting on the 3rd baseline yesterday I made a couple of observations of him that made me question this players mindset . On 2 seperate singles to left, Brown deliberately overthrew the cutoff man, Crosby, when there was absolutely no reason for it. They were to line singles straight at him and the runner had absolutely no thoughts of trying for 2. One throw even short-hopped Ellis a little, and in a tight ballgame, those are the kind of fundamental mistakes that can cost you dearly.

In the 9th, with the tying run on 1st provided by a walk from the Indians closer, Brown proceeded to swing at the first pitch. He hit it pretty good, a line shot in the right center gap, but of course it was tracked down by the center fielder.

I got the distinct feeling that maybe this guy's head is just a little bit big for his shoulders? What do you guys think?

Please feel free to use this thread or any of your own observations as well.