AT A STANDOFF, IF YOU RUSH IN AND STRIKE WHEN YOU SEE A GAP, HOW CAN THE ENEMY FEND YOU OFF? HAVING GAINED THE ADVANTAGE, YOU RETREAT, HASTENING BACK TO YOUR STRONGHOLD FOR SELF-DEFENSE - THEN HOW CAN THE ENEMY PURSUE YOU? MILITARY CONDISTIONS ARE BASED ON SPEED - COME LIKE THE WIND. GO LIKE LIGHTNING, AND OPPONENTS WILL BE UNABLE TO OVERCOME YOU.

- The Art of War -

Before I get to more on the recent acquisition on Jason Kendall, there is some other information to pass along. John Sickels of ESPN.com's Down on the Farm Report has a blurb about Huston Street. More of the same really. But, you should peruse the verbiage.

Scouts seem pleasantly thrilled with street's newfound velocity on his fastball. He was regularly pushing 94 mph on the gun in the Arizona Fall League. Street had a minor hip problem earlier in the year and his velocity dropped 4-5 mph. In reality, the new velocity is old velocity recovered.

Still, Street was impressive with the drop in velocity and has a good 'feel'. A's fans should get over-excited about Huston Street in a big way right about nowish.



Will Carroll pimped the blog on the Jason Kendall trade, rather than linking to media reports. I take this as a compliment with a 10 lbs bag of rock salt. It is not because my writing is insightful or even good...it's that mainstream media is that bad. Will is working on some other issues, but I have asked his assistance in some health related inquiries on A's players for this week.

IN A MEETING: back in three hours.

IN A MEETING BASED ON THE EARLIER MEETING: back soon. I have some updated articles on the Kendall trade, some sportswriter bashing and an interlude on math and the cost of the Kendall trade.