Week 6 started and ended with wins.  The only problem, they lost the 4 games in between.  They dropped 2 of 3 to both the Blue Jays and Yankees and are now 18-19 and 1.5 games behind the Rangers.

In game 1 of the Toronto series, Dan Haren had another quality start going 7.1 while striking out 7 and allowing only 3 runs.  Huston Street gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th but managed to earn his 5th save of the year.  In game 2, Joe Blanton gave up 6 runs in the 1st inning and the A's were unable to overcome that deficit.  In game 3, Kirk Saarloos once again had problems as he gave up 8 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings as the A's lost 8-3.

Onto New York, where the A's got a good outing from Barry Zito in Game 1.  Zito, who notoriously struggles against the men in pinstripes, went 6 innings while only giving up one run but the A's lost as they were unable to plate any men against a sharp Chen-Ming Wang.  In game 2, Brad Halsey gave up 4 runs in the first 3 innings and the Oakland bats came up a run short once again.  In game 3, Dan Haren came out and threw a gem.  He threw a complete game and gave up only 1 run while stirking out 6. 

What I liked last week:

---  Dan Haren dealing.  He threw a combined total of 16.1 innings while giving up only 4 runs and striking out 13.  Those were two tough offenses he faced and with all the injuries to the staff, the A's need someone to step up and Haren is looking like that guy.

---  Bobby Crosby finding his stroke.  Crosby went 7 for 23 (.304) last week with a HR.  He still isn't driving in as many runs as I would like but at this point I'll take what I can.

---  Mark Ellis back in the leadoff spot where he belongs.  Ellis went 10 for 26 (.385) last week with 4 runs scored.  We need more production at the top of our order and Ellis is setting the table nicely.

---  Melhuse filling in nicely.  Melhuse went 5 for 15 (.333) with 2 HR's and 4 RBI while filing in for Jason Kendall during his 4 game suspension.  I personally would like to see more of this guy as I think Kendall is a joke and hopefully his performance has opened Macha's eyes.

What I didn't like last week:

---  The injury bug still biting.  Eric Chavez was hit with a bacteria infection and was only able to DH in Saturday's game vs. the Yankees.  Justin Duchscherer was sent to the DL.  Frank Thomas is day-to-day with a strained quad.  Joe Kennedy is questionable with a strained bicep.  And no one who is currently on the DL (Harden, Loaiza, and Bradley) came off the DL.  This team needs to get and stay healthy soon or they will be in a season long struggle to get back to the top of the division.

---  "Un"-Clutch hitting.  I wrote last time on how the A's batters were struggling to drive in runs and the problem continued last week.  The A's stranded 26 runners in the Toronto sereis.   In the 2nd game of the series we lost by 2 and stranded 11 while Toronto stranded only 2.  We stranded 23 in the Yankees series.  In game 2 of that sereis, we lost by 1 and stranded 13 runners vs. the Yankees 7.  I don't know what the problem is as we averaged 9 hits per game last week, we just aren't getting the hits when we need them.  Hopefully are guys are just getting unlucky right now.

Up next for the A's:

On Tuesday, the A's open up a 6 game homestand and a run of 20 straight games without a day off with a 3 game series against the Mariners followed by the opening of inter-league play with a 3 game series against the Giants.  You know that I always have high expectations of this team, whether they're struggling or not, and I expect them to come out of this week with no less than a 4-2 record.  If all our guys were healthy, I'd expect 5-1 or 6-0 but with all our injuries and health concerns, 4-2 will do.  See you guys next week.