The Orioles are a great story and I feel bad for saying this, but start ####### losing already!

Oh yeah, the best moment last night was the Indians putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out, the A's winning, but not by too much, and Millone getting this look of determination and K'ing the next 2 hitters and getting out of it with no runs scored. It helps the Indians are terrible, but still!

It's pretty remarkable that Oakland has won 9 of 11 and gained absolutely no ground on Texas. Hardly seems possible. On the other hand, my dream of a wacky tie and multiple one-game playoff remains intact. Come on Tampa Bay and Detroit!

The Orioles are a great story and I feel bad for saying this, but start ####### losing already!

Dude, Oakland's doing the same thing! The Rangers are playing their best baseball since April over the last 2 weeks and haven't appeared to gain any ground on Oakland in that time.

It's pretty remarkable that Oakland has won 9 of 11 and gained absolutely no ground on Texas.

Going into Yankee stadium and getting their ass kicked was a big wakeup call for the Rangers, I think. They've been sleep walking through most of the season, but have really kicked it up another gear since then.

Oakland is running out a legitimately good heart of the lineup right now. It's probably the best middle of the order they've had in like 10 years.

Dude, Oakland's doing the same thing!

Yeah, I get the irony! I suppose the Orioles have been shittier longer than the A's have been so they should be the sentimental choice, but #### that. Go A's.

Oakland is running out a legitimately good heart of the lineup right now. It's probably the best middle of the order they've had in like 10 years.

Yeah, the Smith/Moss platoon has been very good. Beane made the right call bringing up Moss--the team has been a lot better since Moss/Carter replaced Barton and Kila.

I'm just enjoying all the peace and quiet emanating from the Beane-hating camp. Of course if the A's come up 1 game short or lose in the first round of the playoffs we'll start hearing them again. But at least we don't have to hear from them for a few months out of the year.

I'm just enjoying all the peace and quiet emanating from the Beane-hating camp.

The silence is a joy, truly. It's nice to just be able to talk about the team again and what's happening on the field.

I'm just enjoying all the peace and quiet emanating from the Beane-hating camp

I wouldn't call myself a "Beane-hater", particularly, but I was getting tired of his getting credit for all kinds of things I didn't think he deserved. This year has been an absolute masterpiece for the organization, bringing in Cespedes from Cuba, Reddick from Boston for a reliever, Moss and Inge off the scrap heap, and the development of Carter and Donaldson when people were giving up on them. The peripherals aren't particularly great for the year, but the team on the field now is a pretty good one, not great or the best, but dangerous enough to beat anyone.

The peripherals aren't particularly great for the year, but the team on the field now is a pretty good one, not great or the best, but dangerous enough to beat anyone.

I'm most impressed by the A's continuing brilliance at putting together a really good bullpen on the cheap. Even during the down and dull era of the last few years, it was something they continued to do well. I think the importance of that often gets underestimated.

I'm still bitter about the Rhodes/Dotel/Mecir bullpen from 2004. I know the stats say it was actually pretty good, but blowing that Angels game soured me on A's bullpens for years after that.

I'm still bitter about the Rhodes/Dotel/Mecir bullpen from 2004. I know the stats say it was actually pretty good, but blowing that Angels game soured me on A's bullpens for years after that.

Don't feel bad. Arthur Rhodes remains one of my least favorite A's ever. Screw him.

I second that. The book "Aces" that came out about the 2004 season which was written by Michael Urban made it pretty clear that Rhodes was a #########.