If the A's had loosened the purse strings this winter and resisted making a couple of ill-advised trades over the years, then they'd have this rotation in 2007:

1 - Barry Zito

2 - Jeremy Bonderman

3 - Aaron Harang

4 - Rich Harden

5 - Dan Haren 

They'd also be the best team in baseball. It's hindsight and giving the A's credit for money they won't spend, but it's interesting to ponder what might have been.  

So what's Marcus Thames doing on the roster if you're not going to hit him for Sean Casey in the ninth innings of a tie game? One of the biggest mistakes managers make is not taking the platoon advantage when it's presented to them.

Have put 11 on the board after three innings. That puts them on pace to score 5,346 runs in 2007. They'll be paced by Victor Martinez and his 1,458 RBI. 

Belongs to Jose Contreras of the White Sox: 1.0 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 72.00 ERA

Just worked a scoreless top of the 7th for the Tigers. Last season, Zumaya threw 233 pitches that reached triple digits on the radar gun (far and away the most in baseball). However, in the sixth today, he never reached 100 mph. That's not a bad thing. Zumaya indicated that he's going to try to work at something a little less than max effort all the time so as to stay healthy and not wear down late in the year. So the merely mortal radar gun readings aren't anything to worry about.