Well A's fans, it was another bad week.  We went 2-4 this week, losing 2 of 3 to both the Tigers and the Angels.  We are now 8-11 on the year and 2 games back of both LA and Texas.

We actually won our first series opener of the year as Esteban Loaiza gave up 3 runs over 6 innings and the pen did the rest.  In game 2, Blanton blew up again allowing 8 runs in 4 1/3 and Kenny Rogers owned us as usual.  In game 3, we got a gem from Barry Zito who allowed one run over 7 innings only to be for not as Justin Duchsherer, filling in for injured Houston Street, could not close the game giving up 3 runs in the top of the ninth while only getting one batter out.

Onto Anaheim.  We won the series opener again.  This time getting a solid outing from Rich Harden, 3 runs over 8 innings, and Kiko Calero finished things off in the 9th.  Games 2 and 3 were both close but we lost by pretty much getting dominated by a single guy from the Angels as Garrett Anderson went 4 for 4 with a HR in game 2 and Vlad Guerrero went 2 for 4 with a HR and 3 RBI in game 3.

What I liked last week:

---  We won both series openers.  That sets the tone for the series and eventually our pitchers will get back to what they're capable of and we will start winning series' again.

---  Swisher still swinging a hot bat going 6 for 17 (.352) with 4 home runs.  The average may just be a hot streak but the power is for real folks.

---  Zito's strong performance against Detroit.  7 innings, 3 hits, and 1 run.  We need these starts from him.

---  Another good outing from Rich Harden.  8 innings, 5 hits, and 3 runs.  He didn't have his best stuff, only 2 strike outs, but he still managed a win.  This kid is special.

What I didn't like last week:

---  Houston Street getting hurt.  Now this is something that really ticked me off and I could go on for a long time about this but in my opinion Ken Macha messed up.  He threw Street in a game that didn't matter and then he was called upon in the next 4 games which I think is what caused the strained pectoral.  Now I may be wrong about this, but for a team that is expected to win it all, our closer does not need to get into game just "to get some work."

--- Joe Blanton still getting rocked.  I know he started slow last year but here's to hoping he figures it out soon.

---  Justin Duchsherer not the answer for the 9th inning.  Houston Street may be available as early as Tuesday so hopefully this won't be an issue.

---  Oakland bats still cold.   The Big Hurt, Milton Bradley, Mark Ellis, and Mark Kotsay are all still struggling.  I can live with Kendall not hitting as I think he is the most overpaid player in the game.  Now I'm not one to criticize Billy Beane very often but how can we be paying this guy $11 million a year?  Anyways back to the bats.  We have faced tough pitching so far so hopefully the bats heat up soon.

Up next for the A's:

The A's head out on the road this week as they have 3 games at Texas and at Kansas City.  These games are extremely important as I don't think the A's can afford another single digit wins in April.  With that said, if Joe Blanton can get the win tonight against Kevin Millwood I think the A's can sweep both series and we should be starting May with a 14-11 record and hopefully be atop the AL West.  Also, our bats should start heating up with games at Arlingotn and against the lowly Royals so we shouldn't have the worst average in the AL when this week is through.  See you guys next week.

After a good showing in Week 1, the A's reverted back to their old ways and are looking at another slow start.  They headed into the week at 5-2 and came out 6-7.  They got swept by Minnesota and dropped 2 of 3 to Texas.

In the first series at Minnesota, the A's once again lost the series opener.  Dan Haren got shelled and gave up 7 runs in 6 innings and that's all she wrote.  In game 2, it was much of the same with Esteban Loaiza giving up 6 runs in 4 innings.  What do you know?  In game 3, another Oakland starter got lit up.  This time it was Joe Blanton giving up 7 runs over 6 innings and to top it off Jay Witasik sprains his ankle on the final play of the game and will be out for at least a month.

Everyone was glad that the series with Minnesota finally ended and they were heading home to start a 9 game homestand.  No one plays better at home than Oakland and no one owns the Rangers like Barry Zito, guaranteed win right?  Wrong.  Zito gives up 5 early runs and the A's once again drop the series opener.  In game 2 we got "the man" Rich Harden on the mound and with a little help from the offense, we finally get a win.  In game 3, Dan Haren gives a fantastic performance giving up 1 run over 8 innings only to hand the ball over to Houston Street with a 2 run lead in the ninth and he blows the save.  I couldn't believe it.  Now we're 6-7.

What I liked last week:

---  Eric Chavez still on fire.  He went 8 for 22 (.363) with 3 HR's.

---  Nick Swisher heating up and out of the 8 hole.  He went 10 for 25 (.400) with 3 HR's.  The most important thing is that he is now using the opposite field, something that he has been working hard on in recent weeks.

---  Rich Harden the stopper.  Riding a 4 game losing streak, Harden came in and got us a win.  It's extremely important to have a guy who can do that although I don't think this staff will be having very many losing streaks.

---  The Big Hurt picking it up.  He went 5 for 17 (.294) with 2 HR's in 5 games over the past week.  With Chavez heating up, it will be important for Frank to provide the protection that Chavez needs to see good pitches.

---  Milton Bradley finding his stroke.  He went 9 for 23 (.391) with 2 HR's.  It's important for him to get off to a good start so that the fans don't give him any heat because we all know he doesn't need to face any more controversy.

What I didn't like last week:

---  Esteban Loaiza still looks like a bust.  4 IP, 8 hits, 6 earned runs, 4 walks, and 2 K's.  That line is not what you expect out o####uy getting $6 million this year from a cash strapped team.  The rumor is that his velocity is not where it needs to be and it should get better the more he pitches.  Let's hope so.

--- Houston we have a problem.  Houston Street has not made it through the final inning of 2 of his last 3 outings with the last one being a blown save.  I have no idea what's wrong but I'm not too worried as I think his stuff still looks pretty good.  They say it's because of his participation in the WBC but we'll see.

---  Mark Ellis' slow start.  He went 0 for 13 and only played in 3 of the 6 games.  Macha gave him the days off so that he could find his stroke.  Hopefully this works as he is scheduled to start in the opener tomorrow.

---  Dan Johnson finally gets a hit!  Johnson can home and got his first hit of the year.  I thought being back in Oakland and getting his first hit might spark something but instead he goes 1 for 13 last week and remains in his slump.  Plain and simple, we need this guy to hit.

---  Finally, Bobby Crosby in the 3 hole.  he went 6 for 24 (.250) last week and is currently hitting .229 with just 1 home run.  I don't know about you, but that is not the kind of production that I expect out of my number 3 hitter.  Get him out of there Macha.  This is what I want to see:  Kotsay, Bradley, Chavez, Thomas, Swisher, Crosby, Johnson, Kendall, Ellis.

Up next for the A's:

The A's continue their homestand with games against the hot hitting Detroit Tigers and the division rival LA Angels of Anaheim.  The pitching better find whatever it is that is missing because if not, they're in for another rough week.  I expect all the pitchers to bounce back this week and for the A's to take both series'.  See you next week, hopefully with a winning record.