Game 27: Explosion!

Hits win ball games.

And 16 of them? They make winning ball games easy.

Chad Gaudin just needed to show up tonight to get the win, and he did
his job well enough there. I like what I have seen from Gaudin so far,
which has been a pleasant surprise. Again, I should always just trust
Billy Beane when it comes to pitching, but I still am afraid to at
times. But he knew what he was doing when he sent Hudson and Mulder
packing, and he knew what he was doing when he sent Haren packing.

I've never been impressed with Jon Garland as a pitcher; he's got
nibbling stuff for a righty, and he's too hittable at that. The A's
did well against him, indeed, as they should. Every starter except
Crosby had a hit (Bobby has cooled off and is now hitting a normal .
267 on the season). Daric Barton finally hit a HR, and Frank Thomas
had three hits.

Emil Brown? Close to the AL lead in RBI? I'll take it. I suggested
getting him a few years back, actually (http://tinyurl.com/3hwnar), so
it's good to see him doing well now.

Best record in the AL.

A's Record: 17-10
A's Should-Be Record: 18-9