The A's are, by and large, Golden Retrievers: smart, eager to please, and consummately lovable, but not overly familiar with finding the jugular. Well, they need to channel a little Rottweiler today, because while winning series might prove that the A's "could have contended," it is sweeping series that will enable them to actually contend.
The A's did great in Seattle--but they could have, and should have, swept that series. Now they have another shot at a sweep. Harden is starting, Duke, Calero, and Street are all ready to go, and the Giants are scuffling like they wish there were no tomorrow. In its last 8 games, Oakland has gone 7-1 and gained nothing on the Angels. That calls for a new breed of A's baseball. Grrrrrr...
Note: I'm pinch-hitting for Blez today because Blez is furiously transcribing his interview with Billy Beane, to be posted--at least in part--during tomorrow's off-day. Look for it.
The starting lineups look a bit like this:
Ellison
Snow
Feliz
Alou
Durham
Cruz
Linden
Matheny
Sanchez
Kendall
Kotsay
Crosby
Chavez
Hatteberg
Kielty
Johnson
Swisher
Scutaro
