Week 5 started off great as the A's took 3 of 4 from the Angels and Indians.  Then they decided to leave their bats in the dugout as they dropped 2 of 3 to the Devil Rays.  They ended up going 4-3 last week and currently has a 16-15 record which leaves them a half game behind the AL West leading Rangers.

In game 1 of the Angels mini-series, Zito threw a gem (7.2 innings, no runs) while Justin Duchscherer picked up his 2nd save of the season as the A's won 1-0.  In game 2 of the series, the A's bats came alive as they scored 6 runs in the 9th inning and went on to win 10-3.  They got a decent start from replacement Brad Halsey (5.1 innings, 3 runs) while receiving HR's from Eric Chavez and Bobby Crosby.

In game 1 of the Indians mini-series, A's pitching got rocked as they gave up 14 runs on 18 hits.  Dan Haren gave up 5 runs on 11 hits over 5.2 innings and the bullpen didn't do much better as they gave up 9 runs on 7 hits over 3.1 innings.  In game 2, the A's got their revenge as they pounded the Indians, 12-4.  We got a got start out of replacement Kirk Sarloos as he went 5 innings and gave up only 1 run and we supprisngly didn't hit any HR's on the way to scoring 12 runs.

In comes Tampa Bay and away go our bats.  We scored a combined 6 runs in the 3 game series and that is the sole reason we dropped 2 of 3 to them.  In game 1, we got a good outing from Joe Blanton as he went 7 innings and gave up only 3 runs but lost 3-1 as no one could get a clutch hit, we had 11 hits but also stranded 13 runners.  In game 2, we got an early Christmas present in the form of an Aubrey Huff error in the bottom of the 9th that allowed Jay Payton to score the winning run.  Zito once again had a nice outing as he went 7 while giving up only 1 run.  In game 3, we got HR's from Mark Ellis and Frank Thomas but that was not enough as we lost 3-2.  Halsey came out and did a good job, throwing 5.2 innnings allowing 3 runs of which only one of those were earned.  However, the two unearned runs were due to an errant throw by Halsey himself.  That error turned out to be the difference as the A's were once again unable to get a clutch hit,  they had 10 hits and stranded 12 runners.

What I liked last week:

---  Barry Zito looking like the Barry of old.  In two starts last week Zito threw 14.2 innings while only giving up 1 run.  He lowered his ERA from 5.93 to 4.07 in those 2 games.  With all the injuries to the pitching staff, Zito will need to continue to step up and pitch well.

---  Nick Swisher still swinging a hot bat.  He went 9 of 24 (.375) last week with 6 runs and 4 RBI.  He is currently on a 8 game hitting streak.  With the Oakland offense struggling as mightily as it is, they need all the help they can get.

---  Eric Chavez still in a groove.  Chavy went 8 of 27 (.296) last week with 3 runs, 6 RBI, and 1 HR.  He and Swisher must continue to carry the load as the offense tries to regain its health.

---  Huston's back!  He made 3 appearances, threw 3 innings while striking out 2, and did not give up a run.  He did not get a save in any of those games but having him back is a tremendous boost to this struggling ballclub.

---  Taking both game vs. the Angels.  All the teams in the AL West are struggling at the moment and only 3 games separate the top 3 teams so each and every game will be important come playoff time and taking 2 of 2 from a dvision rival is always a good thing.

What I didn't like last week:

---  Dropping 2 of 3 to the Devil Rays.  We cannot afford to lose to teams that we are supposed to beat.  We very nearly could have been swept by them had it not been for the Huff error in the bottom of the 9th.  The main problem was driving in runners as we were able to hit the ball (we averaged 2 hits per game) but were unable to drive in runs (averaged 2 runs per game and stranded 33 runners over the entire series).

---  The Oakland offense.  Every single regular, besides Chavy, Swisher, and Kotsay, are batting under .250 (and Kotsay is not too far above that mark at .263).  We are batting a league worst .236 and that's just unacceptable!  Guys need to start picking it up or else changes should be made sooner rather than later.

Up next for the A's:

The A's have their first day off in two weeks on Monday, which is much needed with all the injuries to the team.  On Tuesday, they start a three games series in Toronto followed by a 3 game series in New York aginst the hated Yankees.  I expect, as I always do, the A's to take both series' with a possible sweep coming in Toronto.  Haren and Blanton need to pitch well and the offense HAS to get better.  See you guys next week.

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.