First some news. Byung-hyun Kim is being sent back to Korea to get a second opinion on his back and hip problems. Already, Red Sox fans are divided into three camps. “Wait and see” people that want to see what comes back, “This is terrible” people that are saddened Kim might not contribute to the Sox again, and “Good riddance to bad rubbish” people, that are assholes.

Offense

c - Damian Miller .291/.352/.402
1b - Scott Hatteberg .302/.388/.465
2b - Mario Scutaro .292/.326/.385 OR Mark McLemore .160/.192/.200
3b - Eric Chavez .244/.366/.463
ss - Bobby Crosby .230/.283/.437
lf - Bobby Kielty .229/.317/.438
cf - Eric Byrnes .295/.377/.467 OR Mark Kotsay .229/.286/.264
rf - Jermaine Dye .281/.346/.515
dh - Eurbiel Durazo .284/.358/.493
Team - .257/.329/.418
Red Sox - .267/.353/.436

Offensive Efficiency:
Oakland - 96.4%
Boston - 97.7%

‘Clutch number’
Oakland - (-6.891)
Boston - (-6.754)

Currently, Oakland is on a 5 game winning streak, and have won 8 of their last 10. They have the third best record in the American League. In that time, the A’s offense rebounded, improving from ‘crap’ to ‘competent’.

As a team, the A’s don’t hit and run. They don’t bunt very often. They do, however, steal at an impressive rate, 16/20 (80%). That’s the best mark in the American League so far, though the only team that has run less has been Toronto. Despite the lack of running, the A’s are 7th in the AL in bases gained by stealing. The Red Sox are 9th.

The three best A’s hitters so far this year have been Scott Hatteberg, Eric Byrnes, and Eurbiel Durazo. On the Red Sox, they would rank 2nd, 7th, and 9th.

Random trivia for no reason at all: Ken Macha played under Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner, and Dick Williams.

Murtaugh has won 2 World Series, Tanner 1, and Williams 2 (in 4 tries). Macha might a member of one of the best non-Yankee “Manager Families” in baseball right now.

Pitching

Tuesday - Hudson (21.421) vs. Schilling (22.184)
Wednesday - Redman (11.771) vs. Lowe (-0.136)
Thursday - Mulder (20.150) vs. Arroyo (8.532)

Bullpens
Oakland - 25.685
Boston - 46.924

Usage
Oakland - 2.3 RpG, 1.13 IPpApp
Boston - 2.6 RpG, 1.09 IPpApp

The A’s bullpen haven’t allowed a run in 13 innings, and 5 games. It looks like the troubles that cropped up in the various Yankee series have been exorcised. Bradford and Rincon have seemed to get back on track also, each cutting down walks and improving strikeout rates over the last two weeks.

Former Sox farm-hand Justin Duchscherererererer is their best reliever. If you don’t remember who he was traded for, wait until Wakefield pitches and see who’s behind the mask.

Tim Hudson right now is a study in DIPS. He is a groundball pitcher (gb rate is 2.12), yet he has only given up 62 hits in 68.3 innings. His DIPS era is 3.65. His actual ERA is 2.90. He’s the second best pitcher in the American League right now, despite only striking out 3.95 per nine. I don’t know if it’s luck, or the A’s infield defense. It’s bizarre though.