Adam Kennedy News

The Tampa Bay Rays signed infielder Joe Dillon and first baseman Ryan Shealy to minor-league contracts Friday and invited both to major-league spring training.

The team is distinctly lacking in power, and there's a slim chance the A's could look to add a bat from outside the organization this winter, though it might be up to prospect Chris Carter to give the A's some pop.

With the A's coming off their third-straight sub .500 season, General Manager Billy Beane has made it clear to the A's very small and ever thinning fan base that rebuilding is key for future success.

CamdenCrazies.com: Clutchiest Orioles of 2009 Orioles correspondent Daniel Moroz analyzes Baltimore's best offensive options from 2009.

DANNY ZALICK bagged himself two hat-tricks as Stonehouse Glass shocked Navy Inn in a 9-4 victory.

FORTESCUE Northend face the almost impossible challenge of advancing to the third round as they face Lakeside Athletic.

Mike Sweeney won't be the designated hitter Mariners fans remember from this season-ending weekend.

Few polls have unanimous results, but such was the case this week when more than three-quarters of the current A's roster was asked to name the team's Most Valuable Player.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baseballdad! Love you! AN General Consensus on 2010 starting pitching: Weed out the best starters from this season and call it a rotation.

In his 27 seasons as the Mariners' head athletic trainer, Rick Griffin can recall only one other season when the disabled list was used as often as this year.

OAKLAND With the Athletics scoring runs at their current pace, they have plenty of margin for error.

Once again, John Lackey faces the Athletics, and once again, a milestone is within reach.

The A's are not just a September flash. They're 34-30 since the All- Star break, and entered Monday's play ranked fourth in the AL in runs per game during that time.

Oakland Athletics' manager Bob Geren, right, argues with home plate umpire Eric Cooper after he tossed out Adam Kennedy, #29, during the game against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept.

Oakland Athletics third baseman Adam Kennedy misplays Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd's ground ball in the first inning of a Major League Baseball game, Monday, Sept.

Adam Kennedy had three hits and drove in three runs to help the Oakland A's match their season high seven-game win streak, defeating the Cleveland Indians 11-4 on Sunday.

Kurt Suzuki's three-run homer in the third gave Oakland a five-run lead Thursday and vaulted the Athletics to a 5-2 victory over Cleveland.

Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer and the Oakland Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Thursday night.

Such is the impact of uncovering each season's surprise hitters. Or more appropriately, lucking into those surprises.

Brett Tomko had a stellar start and Ryan Sweeney had three doubles, knocked in four runs and scored to lead Oakland in a 9-0 rout of the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game set.