Cliff Pennington News

If you're a team looking to make a major upgrade this offseason, the current free-agent market may not be for you.

When you sing, "It's that wonderful time of the year..." you're not referring to Christmas.

With the Astros apparently leaning toward waving goodbye to Miguel Tejada, the question comes up whether the A's want one of their most popular players ever back as a combo 3B/SS. In his list of the top 50 free agents, MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes sees the A's signing Miggy , along with Jim Thome to replace Jack Cust.

The A's made 107 errors in 2003, then made fewer than 100 in each of the next five seasons.

I'm sure you talk to other writers; do you think there's a chance Andrew Bailey has a shot at Rookie of the Year? -- Henry J., Concord, Calif.

A promising final stretch of the season ended with a thud for the A's. Oakland did little in the way of hitting in the last week of the season and dropped seven games in a row to conclude 2009, including a 5-3 loss to the Angels on Sunday at the Coliseum.

A's manager Bob Geren tends to paint everything in the rosiest possible hues. His boss, general manager Billy Beane, takes a more balanced view.

In addition to batting .297 in September, the second-best mark in the Majors behind the Yankees' .299, the A's led the Major in runs , doubles and stolen bases , ranked second in hits and third in extra-base hits and slugging percentage for the month.

A's players trickled out of the Oakland Coliseum following Sunday's 5-3 season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Missed it by THAT much. Actually, I missed it by more than that. Despite yet another attempted Lazarus act in the bottom of the 9th, in which they plated 2 and brought the tying run up in the person of Nomar "Look Back In Ang" Garciaparra, the A's fell to the ALDS-bound Angels , ensuring that they will lose the season series to the LAA.

In the A's ideal world, their terrific stretch of play in September won't go to waste.

Ken Griffey Jr. started what might be his final homestand with career homer No. 628, and Felix Hernandez added another strong effort to his American League Cy Young Award resume in the Seattle Mariners' 6-4 win over the A's on Tuesday night.

The A's are loading up with right-handed hitters today - five of them and switch hitters Landon Powell and Cliff Pennington - against lefty Joe Saunders.

A's manager Bob Geren said before Saturday's game that catcher Kurt Suzuki could fit anywhere from second to seventh in a major league batting order.

A's second baseman Mark Ellis began the season flanked by an accomplished group of infielders in Eric Chavez, Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi.

Jack Cust homered to help rookie Brett Anderson win his fourth straight start, Cliff Pennington hit a two-run triple and the Oakland Athletics salvaged a split of their four-game series against the Texas Rangers with a 12-3 rout Thursday.

Nomar Garciaparra of the A's is one of the best shortstops of his generation, but he's 36 years old and no longer an everyday player.

Published: Friday, September 18, 2009 at 10:39 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, September 18, 2009 at 10:39 p.m. The standings show Oakland and Cleveland are among the AL's worst teams, but the A's haven't played like it lately.

Adam Kennedy had three hits, including a two- run homer, and knocked in three, as the Oakland Athletics routed the Cleveland Indians, 11-4, to complete a four-game series sweep at the Coliseum.

OAKLAND, CALIF.: The Athletics are a team in pain. They play in a ballpark etched with yard markers, owing to the presence of the Oakland Raiders.