Week 4 went almost as predicted by the DJ.  I had predicted if we beat Millwood in Game 1 of the Texas series, we would go on the sweep both series'.  Well, with the way things have been going of late, I'll take 4 of 5.  The A's are back at .500 and are now 12-12 and a half game behind the Rangers.

In Game 1 of the Rangers series, the A's got a solid effort from struggling Joe Blanton and the bullpen.  Blanton gave up 2 runs over 6 innings and the pen didn't let them get anymore.  In Game 2, Barry Zito had another rough outing giving up 5 runs over 6 innings but the A's had a chance to win the game.  The A's tied the game up scoring 2 runs in the top of the 9th and then for some strange reason, Ken Macha puts in recent callup Chad Gaudin to face the heart of the Texas lineup in a tied game in the bottom of the 9th when Joe Kennedy, Kiko Calero, and Justin Duchsherer were all still available.  Of course, Gaudin gives up the winning single to Hank Blalock moments later.  Nice move Macha.  We won Game 3, but at the same time we may have lost BIG as Rich Harden left the game with what they said was back spasms but we now know that he will be out for 3-6 weeks.

Onto Kansas City, where we had won 9 straight entering the series.  In the opener, Dan Haren came out and pitched like the Dan Haren of old, allowing 2 runs over 8 innings.  In Game 2, thank god the rains came as we were trailing 6-1 in the 3rd after Esteban walked 6 in the first inning and failed to make it through the 2nd.  The game is rescheduled for a double header in August.  In Game 3,  the bats came alive as the A's pounded out 13 runs and Chavez and Swisher each had HR's again.

What I liked last week:

---  We beat the teams we are supposed to beat.  In my opinion we are a better team than the Rangers and good teams beat the teams they are supposed to beat and we took care of business in KC, as usual.

---  Chavez still swinging a hot stick.  Chavy went 6 for 20 (.300) with 2 HR's last week.  With the offense still struggling a bit, he and Swisher will have to continue to carry the load.

---  Jay Payton picking it up.  Payton went 6 for 18 (.333) with 5 runs last week.  With Milton Bradley hurt, Payton will be having a lot more AB's and we need his bat in the lineup.

---  Dan Johnson is no longer slumping!  He went 11 of 19 (.368) with 2 HR's and 2 big 9th innning hits in the Texas series.  If he keeps hitting like this, he will be moved up in the order and that is something I think is needed for this lineup.

---  Stepping in for Street.  3 different A's got saves last week (Duchscherer, Kennedy, and Sarloos).  Street should be back this week and his replacements did well in his abscence.

What I didn't like:

---  Rich Harden hurt again.  Our ace is out 3-6 with a back strain.  We've got a pretty tough schedule this month and not having Harden take the ball every 5th day will hurt.

---  Esteban Loaiza, where are you?  Velocity is still not there and he has lost control, not a good combination.   With Harden on the DL, he needs to straighten things out quick.

---  Macha's decision making.  I did like that he put in Gaudin in the bottom of the 9th of a tied game against the heart of the oreder for Texas.  If you read my blog from last week, you know that I also blame Macha for Houston Street's recent injury.

Up next for the A's:

The A's have a full week with 2 games at Anaheim followed by 2 games at home vs. Cleveland and 3 games vs. Tampa Bay.  These two games against the Angels are BIG, as we are a half game ahead of them at the moment, because any seperation we can get from them is great whether its achieved in May or September.  I see another good week coming as the only tough pitchers we face are John Lackey in Game 2 of the Angels series and Scott Kazmir in Game 1 of the Devil Rays series.  I'm expecting to come out of this week with at least 4 wins and would be extremely disappointed with anything less than that.  See you guys next week.