Quickly to the positive side. Brett Anderson just pitched a two-hit complete game shutout and the A’s beat the Red Sox in Fenway 6-0. Seriously impressive.

Back to the headline…

I would like to get the opinions from you guys on how you think the A’s management is doing. There have been many young players called up and down this and last season, who thinks this affects the overall confidence and talent of the prospect? Also who thinks the A’s are letting talent waste away elsewhere.

Travis Buck is the latest to be sent back down to the minors after the A’s acquired another outfielder in 29-year-old Scott Hairston.

Here’s my list of players that could-of-been but probably wont because they haven’t been given a chance.

Travis Buck, Daric Barton, Gregorio Petit, Erik Patterson, Aaron Cunningham, Tommy Everidge (isn’t getting younger), and Jay Marshall. All these guys are having good minor league seasons, some great (Everidge, Patterson, Marshall) but some have noticeably struggled since being called up and down. Barton and Petit are the most obvious.

What are your thoughts?

*Update* to the player to be named late in the Hairston deal. The two pitchers the Pad’s will choose from are Dana Eveland and the prize in the Rich Harden deal, Sean Gallagher. How bad is the deal if they give up Gallagher?

The A’s came back form a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth, then in the bottom of the ninth, runners on second and third and one out, Rajia Davis takes the first pitch for a game-winning single. Game over!

Orlando Cabrera brought in Jack Hannahan with an RBI single in the eighth to narrow the margin to 3-1. Then with a Cabrera on base Adam Kennedy tied things up with a home run to right.

Trevor Cahill was going to be the losing pitcher after pitching another more-than quality start until the offense saved him. Cahill gave up all three runs in the fourth on a three-run home run by Joe Crede. Cahill went seven innings surrendering seven hits, two walks and struck out two.

Nicely salvaged game I must say. Go A’s!

With two on, two out in the bottom of the eight inning, the A’s leading three to one, Ian Kinsler drives a pitch from Russ Springer to deep center field and Ryan Sweeney robbed Kinlser of what would of been a game- changing home run.Then in the top half of the ninth, Matt-oh I wish I could hit a home run-Holliday comes up and drives his first long-ball of the season to center field.

The A’s defeated the Rangers 4-2 Thursday.

Backed by some great situational pitching by Dallas Braden (3-2) and Andrew Bailey, the A’s held onto the win, setting their record at 8-11.

Braden’s pitch count forced his outing short, but he was effective once again, going five innings giving up zero runs, five hits, four walks while striking out six.

Check SportsCenter tonight because there will be plenty of “web gems” from the A’s defense including a nice throw from Holliday in left to get (greedy) Michael Young out at third with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

The offense had 11 hits, with Sweeney, Cabrera, Suzuki, and Crosby each tallying two. RBI’s from Cust (8), Holliday (12), Suzuki (8), and Powell (3).

Yeah boy!

Tonight’s game against the Rangers has been postponed due to rain.

Mark Ellis and Nomar Garciaparra have been placed on the disabled list as expected, after suffering similar calf injuries.

The A’s called up infielder Erik Patterson and reliever Kevin Cameron from Sacramento.

I’m sure no one is shocked by this news, but being the optimist that I am, I like the Patterson move. As of right now were not losing much because Ellis hasn’t been his defensive self this year and Patterson might be able to provide some offensive spark, and he can steal some bags.

Now the pessimistic side of me, however, hates to see Garciaparra placed on the DL, but who was he kidding. He’s just that type of player at this point in his career, whatever we get from him we’ll take it. They didn’t pay him much anyways.

What are your guys feelings now?

Four A’s players (Garciaparra, Ellis, Anderson, Casilla) left Tuesday’s game versus the Rangers with injuries, Garciaparra and Ellis with calf injuries, Anderson a blister, and Casilla an apparent leg injury.

By the way, the A’s (7-10) lost 5-4thanks to some spotty defense, and what I’m calling some awkward circumstances. Two pitchers left the game injured (Anderson, and Casilla) with at bats still in progress and both resulted in two runs, which proved to be the difference.

The A’s are more than on pace to meet last years 54 appearances on the DL, hope I’m worng.

The offense tonight did manage to get 10 hits, although they were all singles aside from Sweeney’s home run. Brett Anderson had a pitching line as such: five plus innings pitched, four runs (one earned), three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Too bad he had to leave early.  Orlando Cabrera went three for four, Ryan Sweeney, two for four with one RBI, and Bobby Crosby had two hits in three at bats.

Trends:

Matt Holliday’s inability to hit, Matt Holliday’s inability to hit, and… forget it, he just looks awful, and me using the Woosah phrase too much.

Wishful trends:

Ryan Sweeney hitting the long ball, Orlando Cabrera going three for four, and Brett Anderson pitching like a veteran, all on a consistent basis.

Don’t panick just yet, Woosah Woosah

Aaron Cunningham who was trying to earn a spot on the big league roster with the Oakland Athletics will start the season in the disabled list as he broke his left wrist while sliding into a base.  Another reason why head first slides 90% suck…

It was going to be hard for Cunningham to make the big league roster this year and he will more then likely come of the disabled list and start playing in double a ball.

In some other Athletic news from Spring Training, it doesn’t look like Eric Chavez will be making his 10th straight opening day start for the Athletics.  Chavez still isn’t running and isn’t responding too well after receiving an epidural last week.

A’s fans, we would like to welcome to you a new Oakland Athletics Blog!  Athleticshomeplate will be blogging about your favorite team the Oakland A’s!  We hope to have a new article up on the site each and every day during the season as the A’s battle it out in the West Division of the American League.

The Athletics are making a few moves this off season as they have traded Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Joe Blanton is also on the trading block.  I wish management would keep around some of these pitchers and build the team around them but it doesn’t look like that is happening.

What do you think?  Do you agree with the Haren trade, and possibly seeing Blanton being moved before spring training?  I sure don’t, but please leave us a comment and let us know what your opinions are on these moves and the 2008 season.