Let it Rain, Let It Rain!

Confidence.  In my humble opinion, that is what the A's gained last night in there 6-3 win over the Tigers, CON-FI-DENCE!  The Green and Gold finally were able to overcome Nemesis #1 in beating the Tigers and Justin Verlander. If they face the Vearbeast again, it will be in the post season, and there is nothing greater for the psyche of an athlete, than to know they can be their opponent.  Even Mother Nature kicked in as the game was called after 6 innings due to rain.  Is this a sign from above?  A win like last night's, coupled with plenty of video of Big Nate Freiman's tuck and roll at home plate on Monday, now that builds team chemistry!  Big wins on the road, where teammates can enjoy the spoils of winning, that is what brings a group of men together.

I still have this feeling that as I write, Beane and Co. are trying to pull off one more piece to the Athletics puzzle.  That piece would be a power-armed reliever, or a starter.  If they can not pull of a reliever, here is my "suggestion":

**Make a play for former Athletic Dan Haren;  move Anderson into the rotation, and move Sonny Gray back into the pen.  My postseason rotation would be Parker, Anderson, Haren.  Tommy Milone, AJ Griffin, and even Dan Strailey are all solid number 4 or number 5 starer types.  They keep you in most games, they pitch some great games, but they will get lit up too.  Big Bart has been great, but I just don't know how much he has left in the tank.  I really like Sonny Gray,  however, I would protect his innings by moving him to the pen. Additionally, Gray look comfortable pitching in the pen a month ago when he first was on the hill facing major league hitters.  Parker, Anderson, and Haren, that is my model.  When one looks back at the Giants of 2010 and 2012, to me it was starting pitching that made the difference.  In 2010 it was Timmy, Cain, and Madison;  in 2012 it was Cain, Bumgarnrer, and Vogelsong, with a little Zito-Zen magic, and then Timmy in the pen.  The A's and Giants are similar, not the same, but similar.....however it is the starting pitching where the A's need an ever-so-slight upgrade.  It would not hurt if Cespedes started hitting more like Reggie and less like Dave Kingman!

With a night game this evening (Wednesday), followed by a day game tomorrow, this could be a pretty important little 24 hour window.  Two losses, and yikes!  Two wins however, and this group could be sky high rolling into the showdowns with the Rays and Rangers.  The A's will take a par, or a split, but man would a sweep by grand.  In the matinee Thursday, the A's will be facing Cy Young contender, Max Shurzer.  Mad Max is 19-1 and has an sizzling--yet brittle--right arm.  The joys of being in a pennant race.
(In case you were wondering, I did that name Max Shurzer, he just sounds like a guy who can bring the heat, you know, a real Man Cave or Get Down Lounge type of guy!)