by Charlie O Mallanee

OAKLAND–This is the kind of stage that the A’s should have been playing on at least two months ago as they defeated the Angels on Monday night and look like their playing some good ball right now but too little too late as their post game hopes are dashing. They’ve won three in a row with the last two games in Arizona last Saturday and Sunday.

They beat the Angels on Monday night by six runs 11-5, their 5-5 in their last ten games, they went 3-3 on the road trip and when you could go 50-50 or .500 your always happy. Right now the news is about the same their 58-74 and their 15 games behind Houston. I know I sound like a bass drummer in a marching band but their just three games behind Seattle.

I really believe there’s a lot of difference for the A’s or for any team as far as that goes finishing fourth rather than last place would be so much better. The A’s have had a primetime opportunity because they’ve had six head to head games with Seattle on the schedule. So if they could put something together they still have a really decent chance to finish in fourth place in the AL West.

It would make things physiologically things better for next year to finish fourth rather than last. Were at September 1st and everything changes in MLB because rosters can be expanded. The A’s had two more games left with the Angels on this homestand and we want to make note of the fact that A’s pitcher Chris Bassit was scheduled to start the game on Tuesday night.

He has been scratched he has experienced soreness in his right shoulder and A’s manager Bob Melvin said he’s not going to take any chances with any pitcher who had any type of problem in August or going into the month of September. The A’s can expand the roster, they can bring guys up because of the fact there’s not that much to play for.

Charlie O does A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com