A's VS DRESE

Oakland	AB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO
Mark Ellis	10	.300	.300	.500	.800	3	2	0	0	0	0	2
Scott Hatteberg	9	.333	.400	.444	.844	3	1	0	0	0	1	1
Eric Chavez	8	.125	.125	.250	.375	1	1	0	0	1	0	0
Erubiel Durazo	7	.429	.429	.429	.857	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bobby Kielty	7	0	.125	0	.125	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Jermaine Dye	6	0	.143	0	.143	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
Eric Byrnes	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Mark McLemore	3	.333	.500	.333	.833	1	0	0	0	2	1	1
Billy McMillon	3	.333	.333	.333	.667	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mark Kotsay	2	.500	.500	.500	1.000	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adam Melhuse	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Marco Scutaro	2	.500	.500	.500	1.000	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bobby Crosby	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	65	.215	.261	.277	.538	14	4	0	0	4	4	10

RANGERS VS ZITO

Texas	AB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO
Mark Teixeira	16	.313	.500	.313	.813	5	0	0	0	0	5	3
Herbert Perry	20	.350	.435	.500	.935	7	0	0	1	1	3	2
Eric Young	9	.333	.400	.333	.733	3	0	0	0	1	1	0
Michael Young	45	.267	.313	.378	.690	12	2	0	1	4	3	8
Hank Blalock	18	.278	.300	.278	.578	5	0	0	0	2	1	4
Alfonso Soriano	25	.160	.250	.160	.410	4	0	0	0	2	3	8
Kevin Mench	23	.217	.208	.261	.469	5	1	0	0	2	0	1
Rusty Greer	5	.200	.200	.200	.400	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Gerald Laird	11	.182	.182	.273	.455	2	1	0	0	1	0	3
David Dellucci	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Gary Matthews Jr.	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Laynce Nix	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Totals	187	.235	.296	.289	.585	44	4	0	2	13	16	37

The A's are in trouble if Barry Zito can't pitch into the 7th inning. The bullpen is spent with only Chris Hammond and Octavio Dotel available after Friday Night's debacle.

As far as the offense is concerned, the A's would be wise to get to Drese by working his pitch count and getting into the bullpen early. The A's need two wins and to deplete the Rangers before they pre-board, then board, then de-plane, on a voyage to the Big Apple.

The AL West has an odd string of games for August with Detroit, Kansas City, Baltimore and Tampa Bay lining up for the slaughter. The key differences will be who can string along winning streaks. The A's and Angels have shown they can do this. The Rangers, maybe it's the Texas heat, or the wind, or the fact that it's Texas, have not been this far over the .500 mark this deep into a season in 10 years. It is highly suspect that the Rangers patchwork pitching staff can keep up its mirrors and more mirrors and a whole lot of smoke show.

If the A's can get Tim Hudson back for a decent start in New York on Thursday, the AL West can be won by the first week of September. Barring any Ken Macha thinking sessions, the A's could string together double-digit win streaks and snare 22-25 wins in August. Making September a time for the River Cats to win the AAA Championship and the A's to get their pitching rotation lined up for the post-season.

That's how important the next two games are.

Funny, you don't hear a lot of talk for A's players recently how dropping a game here of there is not so much a big deal. Earlier in the season it was okay to just take two of three from a team. Suddenly, it's not okay. Every game is important and the repercussions are dire.

Who said baseball wasn't intense?

At this point, Ken Macha needs someone to save him from himself. Tripping up every so often is unavoidable. Shooting yourself in the foot, while your foot is in your mouth is another story.

Macha has a lot of questions to answer regarding last night's 7-5 loss in which the Rangers scored 7 unanswered runs, 5 in the bottom of the 8th inning.

• Why is Ramon Castro still on the 25 man roster if he hasn't started a game in three weeks and only came in as a late inning mop up man during the 14-5 thrashing of the Mariners on Monday night? Isn't that a roster spot that should go to a player who can help you?




• With the news of Jason Giambi's tumor floating around, you have to wonder if Eric Chavez was prepared to play Friday night (it is widely known that Chavez and other players are close with Giambi). 0-5 with 16 pitches seen. Chavez swung at a 3-0 pitch in the 4th. That's right, he swung at a 3-0 pitch. The only at-bat at which he got a 2-ball count and he swung at a 3-0 count. The A's have 93 plate appearances with 3-0 counts in 2004. In 91 of those 93 plate appearances 3-0 counts have led to walks on the next pitch. Only twice has a 3-0 pitch turned into an out, both by Eric Chavez.




• What exactly are you doing to Bobby Kielty? Have you completely destroyed this lad? In the 4th inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out Kielty struck out on three pitches. In the 8th inning, after Bobby Crosby walked, Macha had Kielty square around to bunt on the 1st pitch. And the 2nd pitch. Kielty ended up striking out on three pitches. Again.




• Who the hell plays for a single run in Texas, anyway? Especially in the 8th inning?




• Justin Lehr had labored through 22 pitches in the 7th inning. So after a routine groundball to short, Lehr gave up a homerun to Mark Teixierra to make it 4-3. Then a Gary Matthews, JR. single to put bring the go ahead run to the plate with less than two outs. Macha made the logical move to get Chad Bradford. Bradford came in and got behind 1-0. After a throw over to first the 2-0 pitch proved monumental. Matthews, Jr. broke for second base and stopped mid way. Crosby took the throw at second and threw the ball wide to Hatteberg at 1st base. Had the throw been near the bag, Matthews, Jr. would have been out.




• Still in the 8th; after Eric Young grounded out, Mathews, Jr. was at 2nd base with 2 outs. Inexplicably, Macha had Bradford intentionally walk perennial hitting super star David Dellucci. After Bradford was ahead in the count 0-1, he fell to 1-1 and then 2-1. So, Macha, sage of the diamond he is, had Bradford walk Dellucci. This broke a string of 17 consecutive batters faced that Bradford had gotten out - and Macha just threw Bradford's ability to the wind and relied on his 'hunch'. Bradford promptly hit pinch-hitter Kevin Mench with a pitch on the foot to load the bases.




• With the bases loaded, and Bradford have already had one out on the base paths turn into a lengthy 2-0 pitch, Macha didn't have Curt Young go out and talk to Bradford. He didn't send catcher Damian Miller to talk to Bradford. He didn't send a carrier pigeon or even a candy-gram. He didn't have Ricardo Rincon ready to face left-hand hitting Laynce Nix. Why? Isn't Rincon's job to get out left-handers in this situation?

With Justin Duchscherer out for at least a day due to a back thing and Jim Mecir out because he is Jim Mecir (it looked like he was motioning that he rolled his knee or ankle on Thursday night while out on the mound) the A's have backed themselves into a corner with their pitching decisions. By taking Saarloos out early Thursday night and having Harden on a short leash Friday night the game came down to Ken Macha's ability to manage the bullpen.

Want to hear Macha's excuse?

""He was my last pitcher. I didn't want to use him then. And he wouldn't have seen left-handers, anyway."

Who are we worried about? Brian Jordan? Herbert Perry? Cringe at the thought. Plus, Perry hasn't played in two weeks and most likely would not have been available to pinch hit, anyway - and how effective he would have been only furthers the decision making process to go to a left-hander.

Neither have tremendous splits against left-handers worth making a switch for. Further, by bringing in a pinch-hitter for Nix, it handcuffs the Rangers outfield defense if Kevin Mench has to play in the field or Brian Jordan has to play center rather than Nix.

Texas Rangers vs LHP

NAME	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	TB	RBI	BB	SO
Herbert Perry	.260	.352	.455	.806	77	10	20	1	1	4	35	14	9	12
Laynce Nix	.212	.257	.364	.621	33	5	7	0	1	1	12	5	1	11
Brian Jordan	.107	.194	.179	.372	28	4	3	2	0	0	5	2	3	3
David Dellucci	.143	.269	.143	.412	21	2	3	0	0	0	3	2	3	5

If you are Ken Macha and you bring in Ricardo Rincon, Buck Showalter goes to Brian Jordan. Rincon gets a strike out or a pop out and the A's got to the 9th with a 4-3 lead. That being said, Showalter may just stay with Nix for the defensive reasoning and Rincon gets Nix to waive at a few pitches and the A's get out of it.

Instead, Bradford gives up 2 RBI on a single to Nix.

Texas Rangers vs Ricardo Rincon

Opposing hitter	AB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO
Hank Blalock	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Eric Young	5	.200	.333	.200	.533	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Rusty Greer	5	.400	.500	.600	1.100	2	1	0	0	0	1	1
Herbert Perry	3	.333	.333	.333	.667	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gary Matthews Jr.	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Michael Young	3	.333	.333	.333	.667	1	0	0	0	1	0	1
Mark Teixeira	3	.333	.333	.667	1.000	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
Kevin Mench	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Brian Jordan	2	.500	.500	2.000	2.500	1	0	0	1	2	0	0
Laynce Nix	2	.500	.500	.500	1.000	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alfonso Soriano	1	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	37	.243	.282	.378	.667	9	2	0	1	3	2	7

Does Macha come out and make a pitching change? Does Curt Young come out and chat with Bradford? Does Miller come out and smack Chad on the backside and tell him to limit the damage?

No.

Bradford gives up another two runs on a Michael Young single on the very next pitch.

The A's not only blew a six game winning streak and had a chance to put the Rangers to bed for the rest of the year - they put the rest of the series in doubt for Bradford and Lehr. Now the A's have to make a move to the minor leagues if they are to ship Kirk Saarloos to keep him on a regular starting schedule. If they are going to bump Saarloos down, why wait? In all practicality the A's are waiting for Tim Hudson's start in Sacramento to make sure everything goes well before making the move to bring Hudson back, and send Saarloos down.

Which goes back to the original question? What the hell is Ramon Castro doing on the roster if they need another pitcher in the pen.



OAKLAND 1ST

Sam Narron pitches to Mark Kotsay


Sam Narron pitches to Eric Byrnes (1 out; nobody on)
Pitch 1: in play
E Byrnes homered to right.


Oakland 1, Texas 0

OAKLAND 2ND

Sam Narron pitches to Marco Scutaro (2 outs; Crosby on 2nd)
Pitch 1: strike 1 (looking)
Pitch 2: ball 1
Pitch 3: strike 2 (foul)
Pitch 4: foul
Pitch 5: foul
Pitch 6: ball 2
Pitch 7: foul
Pitch 8: ball 3
Pitch 9: ball 4
M Scutaro walked.
So, Skootch has a good at-bat and extends the inning. Does Kotsay try and work the coutn and get on base?
Sam Narron pitches to Mark Kotsay (2 outs; Crosby on 2nd, Scutaro on 1st)
Pitch 1: in play
M Kotsay popped out to shortstop.


0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 1, Texas 0

OAKLAND 3RD

Sam Narron pitches to Eric Byrnes (0 out; nobody on)
Pitch 1: in play
E Byrnes homered to left.


Sam Narron pitches to Scott Hatteberg (1 out; nobody on)
S Hatteberg singled to right.


Sam Narron pitches to Erubiel Durazo
Pitch 1: in play
E Durazo homered to right center, S Hatteberg scored.


Sam Narron pitches to Bobby Crosby
B Crosby walked.


Sam Narron pitches to Bobby Kielty (2 out; Crosby on 1st)
B Kielty walked, B Crosby to 2nd.
J Benoit relieved S Narron.


Joaquin Benoit pitches to Marco Scutaro (2 out; Crosby on 2nd, Kielty on 1st)
Pitch 5: in play
M Scutaro flied out to center.

Skootch went out of the strike zone on this swing and it cost the A's dearly
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 4, Texas 0

OAKLAND 4TH

Joaquin Benoit pitches to Eric Byrnes
Pitch 1: in play
E Byrnes hit by pitch.


BALL GAME


This is where the A's lost the game. This could be the key At-Bat of the 2004 season. Byrnes was hit with the first pitch, and not a thing was done about it. The pitch wasn't even close, it was up and becasue everyone knows the A's don't retaliate - nothing was going to be done. The A's failed to score for the rest of the game and failed to be a 1st place team in the process.

OAKLAND 5TH

Joaquin Benoit pitches to Erubiel Durazo (1 out; nobody on)
Pitch 1: in play
E Durazo singled to right.


Joaquin Benoit pitches to Bobby Crosby
B Crosby doubled to left, E Durazo to 3rd.


Joaquin Benoit pitches to Bobby Kielty (1 out; Durazo on 3rd, Crosby on 2nd)
Pitch 1: strike 1 (swinging)
Pitch 2: strike 2 (looking)
Pitch 3: strike 3 (swinging)
B Kielty struck out swinging.


Joaquin Benoit pitches to Marco Scutaro (2 out; Durazo on 3rd, Crosby on 2nd)
Pitch 1: ball 1
Pitch 2: ball 2
Pitch 3: in play
M Scutaro fouled out to first.
This pitch was over Skottch's head and killed another chance to score
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 4, Texas 0

TEXAS 5TH

Rich Harden pitches to Gerald Laird (1 out; nobody on)
G Laird walked.


Rich Harden pitches to Laynce Nix
Pitch 2: in play
L Nix grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, G Laird out at second.


Rich Harden pitches to Michael Young
M Young singled to right center, L Nix to third.


Rich Harden pitches to Hank Blalock
Pitch 5: in play
H Blalock singled to center, L Nix scored, M Young to third.


2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 4, Texas 2

OAKLAND 8TH

F Francisco relieved J Benoit. (0 out; nobody on)
B Crosby walked.


Frank Francisco pitches to Bobby Kielty
Pitch 1: strike 1 (bunted foul)
Pitch 2: strike 2 (bunted foul)
Pitch 3: strike 3 (swinging)
B Kielty struck out swinging.


Frank Francisco pitches to Marco Scutaro
Pitch 1: in play
M Scutaro grounded out to second, B Crosby to second.


Frank Francisco pitches to Mark Kotsay
Pitch 6: in play
M Kotsay grounded out to second.

Bobby Crosby was on base four times last night and failed to score a single run.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 4, Texas 2

TEXAS 8TH

Justin Lehr pitches to Mark Teixeira
Pitch 5: in play
M Teixeira homered to right.


Justin Lehr pitches to Gary Matthews Jr. (1 out; nobody on)
Pitch 4: in play
G Matthews Jr singled to right.
C Bradford relieved J Lehr.


Chad Bradford pitches to Eric Young (1 out; G Matthews on 1st)
Pitch 3: in play
E Young grounded out to third, G Matthews Jr to 2nd.


Chad Bradford pitches to David Dellucci (1 out; G Matthews on 1st)
Pitch 1: strike 1 (looking)
Pitch 2: ball 1
Pitch 3: ball 2
Pitch 4: ball 3 (intentional ball)
Pitch 5: ball 4 (intentional ball)
D Dellucci intentionally walked.
K Mench hit for G Laird.
Chad Bradford pitches to Kevin Mench (1 out; G Matthews on 3rd, D Dellucci on 1st)
Pitch 1: in play
K Mench hit by pitch, G Matthews Jr to third, D Dellucci to second.


Chad Bradford pitches to Laynce Nix (1 out; G Matthews on 3rd, D Dellucci on 2nd, Mench on 1st)
Pitch 5: in play
L Nix singled to right, G Matthews Jr and D Dellucci scored, K Mench to third, L Nix to second advancing on throw.


Chad Bradford pitches to Michael Young (1 out; K Mench on 3rd, L Nix on 2nd)
Pitch 1: in play
M Young singled to left, K Mench and L Nix scored, M Young to second advancing on throw.


5 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors
Oakland 4, Texas 7

Here are some of the latest rumors going around about the Oakland A's.

Wait.

Sorry.

Here is the latest in trade scenarios that have been verified by at least two sources.

If a discussion took place on all of the rumors going around at some point the A's would have Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols for Mike Oquist and a dirty paper towel to be wiped later, or they would have nobody left after BIlly Beane traded the whole franchise away.

Anyway, the confirmed discussion.

PLACIDO PLANCO FOR RICARDO RINCON -

The sticking point, accordig to two ESPN.com sources has been how much of Polanco's remaining salary the Phillies would assume. Quick look at Ploanco's numbers:

PLACIDO PLOANCO (2004 Salary $3.95 Million)

Year	Team	Lg.	Age	Org.	Level	Avg	SLG	OBP	OPS	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO
1994	Ariz Cardinals	Ariz	18	Stl	Rookie	.213	.268			32	127	17	27	4	0	1	10	4		7	15
1995	Peoria	Midw	19	Stl	A	.266	.324			103	361	43	96	7	4	2	41	7		18	30
1996	St. Petersburg	FSL	20	Stl	A	.291	.363			137	540	65	157	29	5	0	51	4		24	34
1997	Arkansas	Tex	21	Stl	AA	.291	.346			129	508	71	148	16	3	2	51	19		29	51
1998	Memphis	PCL	22	Stl	AAA	.280	.378			70	246	36	69	19	1	1	21	6		16	15
1998	St. Louis	NL	22	Stl	MLB	.254	.342	.292	.634	45	114	10	29	3	2	1	11	2	0	5	9
1999	Memphis	PCL	23	Stl	AAA	.275	.325			29	120	18	33	4	1	0	10	2		3	11
1999	St. Louis	NL	23	Stl	MLB	.277	.359	.321	.680	88	220	24	61	9	3	1	19	1	3	15	24
2000	St. Louis	NL	24	Stl	MLB	.316	.418	.347	.765	118	323	50	102	12	3	5	39	4	4	16	26
2002	St. Louis	NL	26	Stl	MLB	.284	.389	.316	.705	94	342	47	97	19	1	5	27	3	1	12	27
2002	Phillies	NL	26	Phi	MLB	.296	.427	.353	.780	53	206	28	61	13	1	4	22	2	2	14	14
2003	Phillies	NL	27	Phi	MLB	.289	.447	.352	.799	122	492	87	142	30	3	14	63	14	2	42	38
2004	Phillies	NL	28	Phi	MLB	.262	.348	.322	.670	70	279	37	73	9	0	5	18	4	2	18	23
MLB Totals:		5 years				.291	.396	.336	.732	520	1697	246	492	86	13	30	181	26	12	104	138
Minor League Totals:		6 years				.279	.344			500	1902	250	530	79	14	6	184	42	0	97	156

Yah. This deal is not going to happen. At least not with the current players involved. Which is another way of saying this deal is not going to be done.

Why would the A's trade for a middle infielder who has NEVER had higher than a .355 On Base Percentage in
MLB (and didn't have a robust OBP in the minors) who gets paid $3.95 million a year? Did the A's suddenly get a longing for Terrence Long in 2nd baseman form? Because that's who Placido Polanco is.

Terrence Long.

The only way this deal makes sense is if the A's were hoping that Arthur Rhodes was substituted for Ricardo Rincon's name along the negotiation trail and they were absolved of his $3.07 Million in 2005 and 2006.

Rincon has some value. More than Placido Polanco. You would think the A's could get Frank Catalanatto from J.P. Ricciardi for cheap - or even Alex Cora if Paul DePodesta wanted to roll the dice.

So, let's put this deal to bed. It's not going to happen, as is.

...

And that's about all there is of confirmed discussions. There have been other rumors about a three-team trade with San Diego and Boston involving Derek Lowe, Brian Lawrence and Jermaine Dye - not very credible. There was also the Houston connection, again, Arthur Rhodes for washout Brandon Duckworth; an expensive wet sack of mice for a once decent pitcher and/or younger wet sack of mice. There was also a rumor involving Doug Mientkiewicz - yes, the A's need MORE 1st basemen.

If anyone has been following the A's for the last, oh, 25 years or so, they know 95% of the deals that are talked about never were talked about. And of that 5%, they weren't discussed as they were filtered out to the general public.

Billy Beane works fast and he gets the A's nose into a lot of other team's business. Usually when a trade goes down, it never leaves the Front Office - Paul, J.P. or David Forst. President Michael Crowley sometimes gets involved if there are money issues, but even then, names are not important. There are no runners siphoning information off, no mail room clerks steaming open envelopes, no butter-rummed up ginny secretaries shooting off with the reporters down at 'Jimmy's One More Time'...it's just Billy, at his best. In his office sitting around in shorts, a T-Shirt and a telephone stuck to his head.

The trading deadline is what it is. Some teams can make a move and other can go search their future. The arch of procedure the last week of July is so slanted that all telecommunications run through Oakland Coliseum's Executive offices. Billy completely moves the competition through him even as they attempt to gravitate away from him.

From Opening Day to June the Oakland A's season is on cruise control. The rest is what he makes of it. Even if no deal is made, you know he made enough noise, enough smoke to force the other tribes into hiding or the purely desperate shriek.

It will all be over in a few hours.

And then we can start looking forward to the waiver deals and the September call-ups.

Oh, and if the As are in first place in the AL West on 1 August 2004 - all is right with the world.

The season long nightmare for A's fans is over.

ERIC KARROS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT

.

UPDATE

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Karros requested his release. Sort of. That is, if you believe this quote:

"Sure, I wanted to get released. I'm sorry it didn't work out, but this is the best thing. It allows the A's a little more flexibility, and I'm not just taking up a roster spot.''
- ERIC KARROS (from his SoCal Home)

Chris Hammond is coming off the DL and the decision was made to jettison the Karros Question and move on.

The Karros signing was a lightning rod of controversy for A's fans in the off-season and created a chasm between concept and reality. Stat heads and even casual fans wondered aloud why signing Karros was considered a 'good thing'. When the subject of Karros' ability to hit left-handers and as a right hand hitting pinch-hitter was mentioned, it was laughed off as drunken buffoonery. While Robert Buan, the A's Broadcasting Manager & Post-Game Show Host, shunned callers who suggested getting rid of Karros or that the signing was a mistake fans - even more fans lined up to be the first to moan about the aged 1st baseman. When fans would suggest bringing up cult-hero Graham Koonce or even Mike Edwards, Baun would shout, "And who do you send down? Koonce hits left-handed, so do Hatteberg and Durazo." Then, Baun would dismiss these callers as being unknowledgeable and Baun would continue to bow at alter of 'veteran' and toe the Scott-Hoffman Company Line.

The off-season signing off Karros was seen as a favor to owner Steve Schott who is a noted "friend" of Eric Karros. The ideal situation would have been for Karros to hit a little bit and be packaged in a trade in May or July. Or even supply some depth to the bench during the playoff push. However, Karros has been unable to hit anything but a proverbial wall and his defense resembles the same picture; a man hitting a wall. Karros' range is roughly whatever he can reach for without extending his elbow. His back problems do not allow him to even bend down far enough to pick up a ball in the dirt that is not moving. This was evident in Spring Training and continued into the season.

It's not like Karros is a bad guy, he's actually a very good guy and funny, too. He had the whole 5 O'clock shadow and late 1970's white Afro thing going and his early bitching and moaning about playing time was quickly put to rest. Let's face it, there's a reason that Steve Schott isn't a General Manager and that Billy Beane is. Owners shouldn't make baseball decisions. Well, owners of all 29 other teams should...just not the A's. Let Steinbrenner make as may decisions as he needs to. Same with the Mariners and Rangers.

So, Karros will hang on the 10-Day wire and the A's will be able to field offers and hopefully put something together to get a 'not-a-chance-in-hell' prospect to use as fodder. The funny thing is, there was a Litmus Test in place for Karros even before signing him.

If the A's demote Player A (Karros):


• Will the Player be a starter in AAA?

No.


• Will the Player be a starter in AA?

No.


• Will the Player be a starter in Modesto (High A Ball) or Kane County (Low A Ball)?

No.

So, why was he signed, again?

The aged veteran concept doesn't carry any weight, either, as Karros has never been to the World Series and didn't do a whole hell of a lot in the Dodgers Organization to perpetuate a Championship run. He wasn't even a good 1st baseman in the field or at the plate. He was a career pinch hitter who found a home. The most similar batters to Eric Karros according to Baseball Reference are Tino Martinez and Lee May. Yah.

Karros deserves an extended handshake and a wave. That's about it. And maybe someone could pick up his duffel bag and hand it to him since he may not be able to bend down and get it, like so many groundballs that went by him at first base. This is not a John Jaha heroic gesture by any means. Karros should have had the nerve to ask for his release or to be waived earlier in the season when Hatteberg and Durazo were both on fire. Now that we are coming to the dog days of summer and the September call-ups are around the corner, Karros was going to be squeezed, anyway. It was abundantly clear that Karros was a roster black hole and not a panacea for anything but a veteran seat warmer coming out of Spring Training.

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS

Season	TM	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
1991	LA	14	14	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	6	0	0	.071	.133	.143	.276
1992	LA	149	545	63	140	30	1	20	88	37	103	2	4	.257	.304	.426	.730
1993	LA	158	619	74	153	27	2	23	80	34	82	0	1	.247	.287	.409	.696
1994	LA	111	406	51	108	21	1	14	46	29	53	2	0	.266	.310	.426	.636
1995	LA	143	551	83	164	29	3	32	105	61	115	4	4	.298	.369	.535	.904
1996	LA	154	608	84	158	29	1	34	111	53	121	8	0	.260	.316	.479	.795
1997	LA	162	628	86	167	28	0	31	104	61	116	15	7	.266	.329	.459	.788
1998	LA	139	507	59	150	20	1	23	87	47	93	7	2	.296	.355	.475	.830
1999	LA	153	578	74	176	40	0	34	112	53	119	8	5	.304	.362	.550	.912
2000	LA	155	584	84	146	29	0	31	106	63	122	4	3	.250	.321	.459	.780
2001	LA	121	438	42	103	22	0	15	63	41	101	3	1	.235	.303	.388	.691
2002	LA	142	524	52	142	26	1	13	73	37	74	4	2	.271	.323	.399	.722
2003	ChC	114	336	37	96	16	1	12	40	28	46	1	1	.286	.340	.446	.786
2004	Oak	40	103	8	20	6	0	2	11	7	16	1	0	.194	.243	.311	.554
Total	--	1755	6441	797	1724	324	11	284	1027	552	1167	59	30	.268	.325	.450	.779
SEASONAL AVERAGES (per 162 games played)
Years	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
10.83	162	595	74	159	30	1	26	95	51	108	5	3	.268	.325	.454	.779

The A's have a chance to cut the Texas Rangers' lead in the AL West over the next three days. The A's get Seattle for three while Texas heads to Disney Land, which is actually Disneyland, for a three game set with the Angelos de Anaheim. Hey, Does Epcot Center have a Florida Adventure Park? German tourists being dragged from their cars and robbed by Dizznee mascots, the Hanging Chad Coaster Roller, the Gas Chamber of Secrets, Rockin' Retirees concerts every 40 minutes at the main shuffle board court...

Why exactly does Disneyland have a California Adventure? Does Las Vegas have a Vegas theme park at one of their casinos? Actually, that might be the only thing they don't have.

A's versus Travis Buckley

Opposing hitter	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Eric Karros	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
Jermaine Dye	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Eric Byrnes	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mark Kotsay	2	2	0	0	1	1	1	0	1.000	1.000	2.500	3.500
Damian Miller	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	.500	.500	2.00	2.500
Bobby Kielty	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Marco Scutaro	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bobby Crosby	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	.500	.500	2.000	2.500
Eric Chavez	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.667	0	.667
Totals	20	5	0	0	3	3	3	1	.250	.348	.700	1.048

CLICK HERE FOR JOHN WASDIN'S CAREER STATS

A's Hitters VERSUS Long Gone John Wasdin

Opposing hitter	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Mark McLemore	23	8	3	0	0	1	0	4	.348	.350	.480	.830
Mark Kotsay	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200	.200	.200	.400
Eric Chavez	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.250	.400	.250	.650
Jermaine Dye	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	.333	.250	.670	.920
Eric Karros	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Scott Hatteberg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	0	1.000
Totals	37	12	4	0	0	2	1	7	.324	.350	.430	.780

ISSUES ABOUT AND AROUND

There is some surrounding talk about the A's and a new ballpark. There are several stories and a 'report' that we hope to get our hands on. Once we read some of the information, we'll pass it along. Essentially, the location for the ballpark is the North parking lot of the Coliseum, which doesn't solve the traffic problem or the revenue issue.

Huh.

Some A's guys go into the Hall of Fame today. More on that when we reflect later this evening.

Apparently, Grady Fuson is the jerk Micahel Lewis (and everyone else who has come across him) says he is. Click on the link to read the story from Baseball America.

BYRNES+HUDGENS = SLUMP

There's a reason "professonal" witers have editors. They are supposed to stop stupid things making it to print. Failure is always an option for Blog posts, though. Take this clapt-trap from MLB.com writer Tony Kuttner:

Notes: Byrnes snaps out of slump

OAKLAND -- On Friday night, the right-handed hitting Eric Byrnes drove a 1-1 offering in the third inning from the Rangers' Kenny Rogers soaring toward the gap in right-center.

Before the ball even cleared the wall for a two-run homer, Byrnes felt a great sense of relief, he said.

From a team standpoint, the homer was welcome because it tied the game, and for Byrnes personally it was a welcome end to an 0-for-15 slump.

Byrnes admitted he was starting to press a bit, hitting just .204 (23-of-113) since June 15.

"Don't we all?" he said. "The thing is sometimes in this game you've got to try less. I'm one of those guys when something is not going right I always want to try harder. But sometimes in this game it's the exact opposite."

"Opposite" is the key word here, because the A's had been working with Byrnes to try to get him to hit to the opposite field more.

"It's one of those situations where I had been fouling off a lot of balls and popping a lot of balls up, and really pulling off a lot of balls," Byrnes said. "I've been working a lot with [batting coach] Dave Hudgens, trying to stay inside the ball and take the ball the other way.

"It's nice to actually get some results because we've been working on it for a while."

As nice as that homer was -- Byrnes' first the other way as a Major Leaguer -- manager Ken Macha was even more impressed with what his left fielder did in his next at-bat two innings later.

"The most important one was the next one, when he had the guy on third," Macha said. "That ball was inside and he stayed inside it and hit it to center field for the sac fly."

Macha said not to expect Byrnes now to hit every pitch toward right field, but it's good to know that he can.

"I'm capable of doing it, but a lot of hitting the ball the other way is just trusting your ability," said Byrnes.

The notion that the two run homer Byrnes hit Friday was "Byrnes' first the other way as a Major Leaguer" is such a load of crap that a retraction needs to be printed. It was a shot to the right of center that was to the left of the Jagged Edge and Byrnes hit a similar shot last year when hitting for the cycle in San Francisco.

Here; watch for yourself.

And it's not like Byrnes doesn't go the other way. He does, on occasion. He hit a double on May 2nd this year in Tampa Bay that nearlly went out down the rightfield line that ended up being a double. He hit a triple to right center in SBC Park on July 2nd. But A's Hitting Coach Dave Hudgens has been trying to get Byrnes to hit down on the ball, trying to have Byrnes slap the ball on the ground and use his speed. It has had the opposite effect as Byrnes has been lifting everything because he now reaches for everything, thinking he can still tap the ball on the ground. As a result Byrnes turns his top hand over during the swing. Hudgens has been so far up Byrnes' ass that Byrnes has abandoned what made him a successful hitter; his strike zone discipline and patience.

Byrnes could be a good hitter if Dave Hudgens just left him alone and Byrnes concentrated on driving the ball on the inner half and going the other way on the outer half.

Recall last year in New York, early in the season - May 2nd to be exact. Byrnes made a diving play in the outfiled early in the game injuring his ribcage. As a result, Byrnes was unable to swing the bat and reach, he had to pull his hands in and concentrate on pitches on the inner half of the plate. Anything on the outer half he had to inside-out swing and drive to the right-centerfield gap.

Byrnes went on a two month tear at the plate hitting for power, average and consistency that hasn't been seen in Oakland for a very long time. His ability to draw walks and use his speed for extra base hits carried the A's.

Until, Thad Bosley was fired on May 31, 2003 and Dave Hudgens was hired as the A's Hitting Coach. Hudgens began 'working' with Byrnes in the beginning of July 2003, just when the 'Slump of all Slumps' began.

Anyway.

Back to Friday night. Click on the link and got to the Texas vs Oakland Plays of the Game.

And how exactly does getting one single hit call for an end to a massive slump? Byrnes is still in his 2nd half tail-spin, even with two sacrifice flies and being hit by a pitch in the last two games. The swoon is early in coming this year, but it is here.

ERIC BYRNES - JULY SWOON

July Totals	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2004	61	8	14	2	1	4	13	1	16	1	0	.230	.290	.492	.782
2003	74	2	7	4	1	0	1	5	11	0	0	.095	.152	.176	.328

We'll have a full wrap up on Sunday the 1st of all the A's hitters and pitchers and the top performers through the minor league teams.

The A's have a limited history with R.A. Dickey. But, it's a good history.

A's HITTERS V R.A. DICKEY

Opposing hitter	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Bobby Crosby	2	2	0	0	1	3	1	0	1.000	1.000	2.500	3.500
Jermaine Dye	5	4	0	0	2	6	0	0	.800	.800	02.000	2.800
Erubiel Durazo	5	2	1	0	1	1	0	1	.400	.400	1.200	1.600
Mark Kotsay	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Mark McLemore	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Mark Ellis	4	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Marco Scutaro	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Scott Hatteberg	6	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
Eric Chavez	5	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	.200	.200	.200	.400
Eric Byrnes	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	.333	0	.333
Bobby Kielty	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	1.67	0	.167
Adam Melhuse	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	43	16	1	0	4	14	4	5	.372	.426	.674	1.100