The A's are horrible.

[RynMan]

I'm sorry, they just are.

They have been hurt so bad by injuries this season. The offense has been anemic, and Harden should probably just become a fixture in the pen. I think they should probably trade Dan Johnson if they can now. Start looking at next year. Anyone else agree?

[Half Massed]

Unfortunately, next year is where it seems we should all be looking. The A's this year didn't do enough in the offseason. Signing Mike Piazza and hoping the other guys can stay healthy and pick up the slack isn't a great game plan. Sure it could have worked, and I'd have jumped for joy, but the injured and sucky stayed injured and sucky. Haren's development, along with Gaudin's and Kennedy's good shows, were nice steps, but there weren't enough back-up options. Pretty much, the A's have only one way to win: pitch real well, score just enough runs to eke out a small lead, and hold it in the pen. When one (and then two) of those went down, the formula failed.

Regardless, the A's are still able to turn it all around next year. That's the great thing about them. Down, but never rebuilding (or should I say always rebuilding).