Let me now curse all those Mariner bloggers who cursed the Raul Ibanez signing. &#$*(@&$#*)^@!*(@#*&$* you!!!

Also, losing a game on a fake-to-third-throw-to-first balk? What do the A's think they're doing? That's the kind of stupid way to lose the A's usually reserve exclusively for the postseason.

One thing drives me nuts watching the walk-walk-walk A's. Nobody can drive the damn run in. They had the bases loaded multiple times last night, got two walks in the first and three in the third tonight, and scored nothing out of any of that. Kielty and Durazo, Beane's darlings, are the worst offenders. Popups and strikeouts when all you need is a grounder or fly ball to score a run. I don't mind seeing them lead off an inning, because they can get on base OK, but if there are runners in scoring position, Lord help us.

It's not just this year. The year Tejada won the MVP, the rest of the A's lineup batted like .208 with runners in scoring position. The numbers may not support my feelings about this, but it seems like a chronic problem with Billy Beane teams.

I'm beginning to think the optimal lineup would be to have two or three Dusty Baker types mixed in with the Billy Beane guys. Get some guys on base with walks, and then sprinkle in some guys who make a lot of contact. A little diversity can be a good thing.