"So then you do expect the offense to continue doing better"

As I stated above, the offense in June and July was a little above average. I expect them to dip down to average.

"Do you think our pitching is excellent enough to make the playoffs with this offense?"

Yes, I think the pitching can carry the average offense into the playoffs, but as I've also written, I think injuries can derail that. With Griffin out indefinitely Anderson and McCarthy have to both come back and stay healthy and effective. If Griffin hadn't gone down I think only one of those two would've been needed.

What concerns me besides injuries of course is the youth of the staff. Milone and Parker haven't been all that great the 2nd half and I think part of that is due to their inexperience/arms not used to pitching a full season at the big league level. A healthy/effective Anderson (who is really good when healthy) and McCarthy would be just the shot in the arm the team needs.....now to find a shortstop and 3b.

The A'S are better than they were coming out of spring training. I'll give you that. However, improving the offense from absolutely awful to slightly below average is not going to be enough for the team to content consistantly the rest of the year. BB's FAILURE during the trading season has guaranteed the A'S will be nothing more than also rans again this year.

When you say average then you expect the offense to be major league average the rest of the way, as least that's what I believe you said. That would be a vast improvement over our YTD offensive stats.

really great posts from you on this thread. So many posters fall into the "don't confuse me with the facts". Sounds like politics in America.

Griffin and Parker are a concern. Griffin pitched 160 innings last year, but 2010 was his first year of pro ball. Parker pitched 135 last year, but was out the whole year in 2010.

Milone, on the other hand, has pitched over 150 innings in each of the last three years. It shouldn't be a problem for him. Maybe the league has figured him out and he needs to make an adjustment. Who knows, but they'll need to get him back where he was.

Thanks for the encouragement, but I think I may need to take a break from the forum, just to get away from the negativity for awhile and enjoy the games. Sometimes I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.

Nice to have B Anderson and McCarthy though coming back. Hang in there on the forum! Your posts are really interesting although I do disagree with you on the A's offense. I wish they would have bought Hanley (seems like an undervalued stock) but I enjoy your perspectives and opinions.

I'll be back. I just need a little "me" time. Things are kinda crazy at home right now. I'll pop in, but I won't be posting a dozen times in one thread like this one for a while, or running the numbers that I have been for the last couple of weeks.

Hopefully your neighbors will be very sad by the time Wednesday evening rolls around.

Yeah breaks are good. It's good just to read or even stay away. I know the feeling of feeling like your banging your head against the wall. And I have no ability to just let someone say something dumb without responding.....maybe I'll grow up someday.

As for the Angels....nothing makes me happier than beating them although with Weaver on the mound and no Cespedes it's looking like it will be tough tonight. Angel fans are pretty much the opposite of us A's fans. Most were either Dodger fans or didn't even know what baseball was before 2002. Now they drive their minivans to the stadium to get the latest rally monkey.