Don't get me wrong.  I'm all for building a team.  But also for FIELDING a team.

Deconstructing the Oakland A's in order to construct a "team of the future" is all well and good.  But ... trading away Harden, Gaudin and Blanton for "prospects" and only "prospects" doth not make for a happy fan.

Oh, yes, sure ... we all believe in Billy.  The man continuously and consistently fields a competitive team, year after year after year.  He knows how to do more with a nickel than other GMs can do with a ten spot.  But still, with all the trading away of so much talent, is it not possible to have traded also FOR a big bat we can pencil into tomorrow's line-up??

Okay, okay, the "prospects" always seem to impress and perform — but tell me, please, how does one do business with such a powerhouse Phillies organization and not walk away with SOMEBODY who can put the barrel of the bat on the ball  — and the ball in the bleachers — this season, not next?

Until The Big Hurt is no longer hurtin' and Mike Sweeney is back in the batter's box and Chavvy is able to play without pain, etc., why not trade for a big bat, baby?

Hell, we're six games out, granted — but ONLY six games out.  In other words, we're still in the race, why give up?

The A's can win — even without Harden, Gaudin and Blanton (we hope)  — but we need a stronger offense.  Better run production.  Get men on base; we're good at that — but driving them in?  Big bat, baby!

So, IF Billy trades away Street, which he probably will, may it at least be for a slugger, somene who can put runs on the board.   Give the pitching a more runs to work with.  After all, aside from Duke, our pitchers are going to need in the neighborhood of five runs or more a game.

And that requires more pop in the lineup.  Today, not tomorrow.

Hi ho.