Biting Our Finger Nails

The A's are on pins and needles.

We're tasting our cuticles.

With Chris Singleton still ailing (kind of) and not exactly in game shape Ken Macha is leaning toward starting Eric Byrnes in center for Opening Day. This is confusing as heck since we're still wondering why Ron Gant was told he had a spot on the 25 man roster earlier in the week which meant Byrnes was possibly still on the bubble to even make the 25 man roster.

With Mark Johnson not swinging the bat at all well (or much at all- more on that later) it's questionable if he would make the club as the back up catcher. Did Jason Grabowski make enough of an impression to allow Beane and Macha to plant Ramon out behind homeplate for another 130+ games? Rather than the 110 or so games they hoped - to give Ramon some rest and let him focus on his offense (and break in a possible replacement).

Things might come down to how the A's use the DL with Jim Mecir and Chris Singleton to determine the Opening Day roster. Otherwise we can't see a need for six outfielders. Can Adam Piatt still play 3rd base?

The Japan Trip has become an albatross. If the A's had gone, they were going to be able to take 30 guys and slash things down to 25 by Opening Night. Now the roster question is so up in the air you would bank on Terrence Long to misplaying it (Terrence: we're pulling for you, just get on base, go the opposite way and focus reading the ball off the bat better- in other words, stop being T Long).

Cloud Covering

It's almost time for Bill King's description of cloud covering above the Network Associates Coliseum. An annual rite of passage for any Northern Californian. With MLB Total Ticket, Game Day Audio, satellite radio and good old fashion pirating, the rest of the world can hear it now, too.

MLB is running an article on some of the mouthpieces for the teams.

They even have a link to Bill's call on Scott Hatteberg's (SCOTT HATTEBERG OWNS RIGHTCENTERFIELD) shot to win the 20th game last year. That's so cool to mention the 20th game and have people understand what we're talking about.