OK, I confess you get to 50 only by counting Mark Mulder-- who hasn't yet thrown a pitch for the Cardinals this year-- and likely won't-- but given the way his career has gone, someone should count him.

But if you're like me, you still have curiousity about the ones that got away-- whether they were hear for a minute, an hour or many years. But it's hard to keep track of more than a few-- but doesn't it seem as if nearly every team the A's play features one or more of these guys?? And that's a testament to the quality of the organization and the activity of its general menager. So I thought it might be interesting to review their progress, with this year's statistics-- OPS and ERA/ERA+ basically. And do you know there are three- count 'em three-- former A's middle infielders or propsects hitting over .300?

1. They Were Never Here, Really

Miguel Cairo   (SEA)  105-100-105 (BA/OBP/SA-- as of noon 5/11)

Frank Catalanotto (TEX)  257-368-419

Both were acquired and then sent elsewhere during a single off-season-- Cairo has always been a defensive utility guy-- and Catalanotto simply does what he does-- gets on base and generally hits well for average.

2. Prospects

I don't think any of these guys ever played for more than a week or so-- and most never got to th bigs in Oakland. But obviously several have been centerpieces in many memorable trades.

Freddie Bynum (BAL) 417-417-500

Omar Quintanilla (COLO) 303-303-455

Mark Teahen (KC) 264-340-364

Miguel Olivo (KC) 246-270-525

Andre Ethier (LAD) 291-376-447

Ryan Ludwick (SL) 351-413-722

Eric Hinske (TB) 265-364-559

Gerald Laird (TEX) 257-312-386

Esteban German (KC) 091-160-091

The most noteworthy duo in this batch are the two thirdbasemen whom Chavez made expendable-- and how both are basically outperforming him now at the plate-- though neither turned into much of a 3rd baseman defensively;

3. Cups of Coffee

Two were rented for pennant drives-- one played here for a month

Jose Guillen (KC) 198-234-344

Ray Durham (SF) 253-330-367

Carlos Pena (TB) 208-315-408

Guillen and Durham are nearing the end, but Pena may have quite a bright future with a team with an even brighter future.

4. Pickups

All these guys came and went, basically-- and some are more bitterly or fondly remembered than others.

Mark Kotsay (ATL) 298-351-446 (looks like the Kotsay of 2004, all of a sudden

Jermaine Dye (CWS) 276-333-509 (we got two+ months of the good Jermaine; the White Sox have gotten well over two years of same)

Scott Hatteberg (CIN) 205-272-273 Joey Votto has relegated the Pickin' machine to the bench

Jason Kendall (MIL) 282-370-373 (looks like the Kendall of 2005, all of a sudden. Lasix surgery not helping Brewer pitchers very much)

Johnny Damon (NYY) 282-371-511 (people with more cred than me think he has an outside chance at Cooperstown)

Milton Bradley (TEX) 313-424-530 (weird here, weird there, weird everywhere)

Matt Stairs (TOR) 275-318-422 (if you had told me 9 years ago he'd still be raking in the bigs in 2008, I'd have laughed in your face)

MARCO.... (TOR) 250-376-333 (I don't want to see him up vs. Street in a tie game in the 9th)

Adam Melhuse (TEX) 200-273-255 (did they release him?)

Jay Payton (BAL) 225-257-324 (I would say the final days are approaching for JayPay)

5. Our Guys

These are the five position players i think that most of us have some attachment to-- or at least fairly pleasant memories.

Eric Byrnes (ARIZ) 225-290-373 (Great team-- perhaps. But Byrnsie is having a rough start)

Ramon Hernandez (BAL) 215-243-362 (Ramon's been pretty up and down since leaving-- never totally healthy, either

Nick Swisher (CWS) 208-338-320 (he's leading off about as well as Suzuki, isn't he? Sorry to be negative, but so far, unlike the Haren deal, almost no one from this trade is performing well)

Miguel Tejada (HOUS) 338-373-541 (pretty stormy last 12 months for Miggy-- glad he seems to be coming out the other side)

Jason Giambi (NYY) 183-336-473 (A cautionary tale, isn't it, about fame and money? I believe in the curse-- they'll never win with him on the team)

Pitchers to come next time