I thought 84-85 wins would be where the a's would finish and that was hoping Piazza and Bradley would be the heart of our order and having a healthy Rich Harden.

To say this team is .500 with those 3 guys producing nothing, I'd say I'm very happy with what the team has done.

I think it's safe to say we won't be making the playoffs this year because frankly, we just aren't as good as the other teams in the AL.

Bob Geren has done a pretty good job with what he has been dealt and I would really like to see us be creative at the trade deadline to help the 2008 season look more promising. We have a few good parts to work with but I think Beane needs to do alot of work to get us back with the AL pack next year.

My biggest dissapointment of the 2007 season so far has actually been Nick Swisher. I really thought he would come out and have a tremendous season but for whatever reason I feel he has taken a step back at the plate this year.

That's it for me...I'd liek to see this team get on a streak and make a run at the postseason but I wont get my hopes up.

He's my winner over Pujols.

but who the heck is "Cecil's son"?

Ravech for sure, not Kruk (shocking) or Phillips.  Ravech sounded disgusted.

... especially those who share initials with Jeebus.  

back in the winter beane and his staff rolled the dice hoping that guys with extensive past medical histories can stay healthy and win games. this approach has not yet been successful. the a's lead the league in almost all categories in DL used and man time lost due to injury. this is not the a's medical staff's problem-they can only deal with what is given to them. but now beane has snookered himself. one example is paying pizza-man 8 million dollars to play this stupid charade of being a ML catcher while paying cust the minimum. beane should release or trade the pizza-man and not try to make us believe the guy can actually throw the baseball anywhere near the mound-never mind toward 2nd base. the guy was a shitty catcher to begin with but now witht he bum shoulder even the pizza-man must be shaking his head about beane's decision making abilities.

anyway, i still like this team. is there some dead wood rotting? you bet. i think beane needs to make a decision soon on kendell. trade him or bench him and let suzuki play. i think beane needs to make a decision on crosby. i must say crosby is the most overrated MLB player in game today. the dude is a bust and he'ii never amount to anything more then what we see today. the fuckin' guy is a disappointing pout machine. time to cut our losses and be done with him and move on. i'd rather watch scoot play SS then to sit through another game with crosby in GandG with that pout on his face.

this team might make a late push for the WC but it's doubtful. they certainly won't catch the angels; and seattle is where the a's were 1-2 months ago-playing way over their heads. seattle will start sucking the big hard one soon too-they just don't know it yet. but beane has the nucleus of a very good team. i think after july 31 it will be very exciting time to watch the 2008 a's.
   

I'll want the derby to be over after the first hour.

Until the grating nails of Chris Berman are removed from the ESPN chalkboard, I'll "Tell it Goodbye!" when it comes to the HR contest.  His horribly strained, hackneyed back-back-back call is hard enough to hear even once, in a real game.  To hear it over and over and over again during the HR contest is a Sisyphian punishment, reserved only for the truly damned.  Never again.

As for the A's, well, I was in the pessimist brigade back in March, and in that sense they've exceeded my expectations.  Sadly, I expect more struggles in teh second half and a September spent wholly out of contention...and maybe a good chunk of August as well.

Of course I'd like us to be better, but considering all the guys on the DL we are doing pretty good.

One bright spot you missed is Travis Buck.  The guy has been having an outstanding year and is also a fun player to watch.  It is great seeing him develop, he will be a force to be reckoned with for some time.

Was thinking of writing something upbeat and optimistic...but couldn't. I know this year was a crapshoot--banking on players with histories of injury, personality problems, arm issues. It all could have come together--I believe that--but, it hasn't. I fear for the first time since the '90's the second half will be without a race of any kind for our A's.

I like Vlad tonight. Heard him on XM and he's bringing the Angels BP pitcher--and they've been practicing.

u deserve it!

Combine the best pitching in the league with the worst hitting, and get a .500 ballclub?  Looks about right to me.

I'm hoping the A's have some serious bats in the pipeline for 09-10.  Right now, the A's don't have a single elite offensive player, nor do they have anyone with the possible exception of Buck who looks like they'll ever be one.  We're going to have a lot of 85-90 win ballclubs if that doesn't change.

Morneau as my winner.

Such a perfect guy for Home Run Derby.

Enjoy all.

i think he might have hit the farthest home runs @ pac bell park (i'm sorry, at&t)

b.s.-ing like he always does.

so I guess that means I'm rooting for Vlad in the HR Derby.

Except that I'm not going to watch, so it's hardly even rooting. When is it, anyway? For all I know, it's already started.

wow. that was unexpected.

advances to 2nd round.