hopefully that 8 or 9 game loss streak will be the only bad spot of your season, i really feel like if the offence picks up we could be a contender.

There are some really interesting stats on our players in "clutch" situations. Maybe suprises even. (In fact, it could be a whole other thread.) Check out the splits drop down on the stats page. At least some of those "non-clutch" players make up for it at other times. In light of those stats, I still think we could use an upgrade at SS. Also, some of the flak the fans gave certain players seems to have panned out (especially at 1st base and closer.) It's not that I don't want to give Pennington a chance or for him to do well, just that, he's kinda had them and I want a winning team.

(Especially with runs being higher on our list of needs than ++ defense.)

Agreed. Pennington has never been able to hit & will never be able to in the future. Hes simply not a major league everyday player, hes a utility late inning defensive replacement at best. How longs he been starting at shortstop for us now though? Hes quickly becoming the new daric barton for us. Weve gotta get a shortstop that is capable of consistently getting on base.

A'S FOREVER

Pennington is in his third year MLB, he's had more than a decent opportunity to show what he can do offensively and is not getting it done, plus he has made a lot of errors over those three seasons. Right now he is flirting with the Mencoza line @.206. Actually Suzuki @.211 and Inge @.214 are not far behind him. Problem is, who do we have to replace him?

no one and that's the problem. i would have no problem seeing someone compete with Penny for the starting SS job, but there isn't anyone that can do any better, IMO. we can hope that Hicks can find himself at the plate, but i don't think that's going to happen this season, if at all. i'm sure most of us agree that Sogard and Rosales can't challenge Penny for the spot. Green's bat can challenge Penny, but not his defense. so, we can only hope that that 1st rounder is magical and will blow through the farm system to challenge Penny, but i don't see that happening.

if Norris can make adjustments at the plate (he's in an 0-fer slump, himself), i can see him taking Zuki's spot probably by season's end. that's if Zuki continues his current lack of offense. however, i like Zuki as a backup. he's an expensive backup, but do we all really believe that Donaldson or Recker are better than Zuki?

no one to take over for Inge. it doesn't look like the A's are rushing Green into that 3B spot down in AAA so i doubt he'll be coming up anytime soon. i don't think Parker is ready at all yet either, that is, if people feel he's a better solution at 3B. i haven't really kept track of the lower prospects too much this season because i've been enjoying the A's so much more this season. not sure who else is being groomed for 3B. i see bclark talking about Head a lot, but as it would seem, he'll probably be getting moved to 1B.

so, at the moment, beggars can't be choosers and the A's are working with what they've got and they're doing well enough as is. unless Beane can somehow work a deal to get a decent ML SS or a 3B/SS prospect that is ready now, i don't see Penny or Zuki getting moved anytime soon. although they're not doing great, the only way they'll get moved is if it's a can't miss type of deal, IMO.

I think I said something to the extent of "That team will have the worst record in baseball (or bottom 3) and Chris Carter will wallow away in the minors for the rest of his short career."

That was a nice home run he just had :) I love to be wrong sometimes

I remember I posted on the board that Beane was setting a record as the earliest fire sale in history. I didn't say they'd lose 100, but I was distraught. Incredibly fun season so far, and I'm glad I was so wrong. Does anyone think Beane really had this as a plan, or is it just luck?
Either way, it's nice to have hope in mid July. Maybe even October!