O's 6, A's 1

Erik Bedard is a good pitcher, and the A's are a bad offense. That the A's only mustered three hits is anything but surprising.

The A's were minus Chavez, Kotsay, and Cust, and plus Piazza (for the first time since May 2), but I can't imagine things would have turned out any better with those guys in the lineup. But you can't be too troubled by the fact that the A's got dominated by the pitcher who has the major league lead in strikeouts. Good pitchers win baseball games.

What is troubling is Joe Blanton. Six runs in 5 2/3 innings sounds like the 2006 Joe. We can't afford him reverting back to that form, not when he's supposed to be the second or third best starter on the team.

If the A's offense is going to prove it is better than the what the A's are running out there in Sacramento, they have to beat Steve Tracshel. STEVE TRACSHEL, people. I'll be embarrassed to see another game of ownage by a pitcher with an ERA near five.