The baseball season can be divided into three stages.

First, everybody comes out of spring training raring to go. Pitching rotations are set. Optimism abounds. Everyone is with striking distance of the leaders.

It takes about two months for the flawed teams to be fully exposed. In the meantime the lesser squads are healthy enough to sneak up on the better teams, winning games they won’t win later in the year.Summer comes and the grinders take center stage. Teams with balance and strong pitching on their side make their moves. The early overachievers fall out of the race.

September, the pros take over. The players who know how to win carry their clubs down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The A’s are a club that fit this pattern very well. Oakland features varied early season results each year, losing games to teams they won’t let beat them later in the year.

Watch out once the calendar turns to June.

The last two years winning in September has been a challenge for Ken Macha’s crew.

Even if Frank Thomas makes it to the final 30 games, a couple of well placed deals involving experienced players will be necessary to help the A’s offense down the stretch.

In one of baseball’s legendary feats, lefty Carl Hubbell struck out future hall of famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin in succession during the 1934 All Star game.

In his first start of the year with runners on second and third and none out the first inning, Rich Harden punched out Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, and Jason Giambi, all swinging bringing Hubbell’s legendary feat to mind.

I don’t go to the concession stand until Harden gives up a hit when he toes the rubber. One of these days the kid will throw a no hitter or strike out 18. You can count on it. He’s that special.

No one player better epitomizes Ken Macha’s grind it out philosophy than Marco Scutaro. Just think, the back up infielder was almost sent to Sacramento to start the 2005 season because Keith Ginter was on the roster.

Opening night Alex Rodriguez hammers a weak Barry Zito curve ball for a grand slam. Next night ARod makes a terrible base running blunder killing a Yankee rally, then leaves runners in scoring position three times during the Yanks 4-3 loss.

Rodriguez might put up great fantasy numbers, but give me Albert Pujols any day of the week with the game on the line.

One game to win, the season on the line, I start Joe Blanton before anyone else on the A’s staff. He not only keeps his team in the game, but he is completely fearless on the mound.

Forget Blanton’s poor spring numbers.

If you want to see an exciting player, then watch Reds second baseman Ryan Freel. The kid is one of the best base runners in the game today. A highlight film every time he gets on base.

Forget sending VP Dick Cheney to Washington to throw out the first pitch at the Nats home opener this week. With his recent accuracy, the ball might go to first base instead of the plate.

The President should be throwing out the ceremonial first toss in the Nation’s capital. The presidential opener in Washington dates back to 1910. If Washington has a club, the president tosses out the first ball.

Plus let the chief executive throw the ball from the stands. In former days the players from both teams would line up in front of the box seats and scramble to see who got the souvenir.

That’s baseball tradition.

Mariano Rivera is a sure hall of famer, but Minnesota’s Joe Nathan is the most dependable closer in the game today.

White Sox set up man, Brandon McCarthy looks like an all star to me. Since Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is making the pick this year, A’s reliever Justin Duchscherer will have a tough time making it back to the midsummer classic.

With the Phillies starting pitching already in shambles, how long before new GM Pat Gillick gives manager Charlie Manuel his walking papers?

I’d say about May 30th.

Local sports suffered a loss when Skyline High School baseball coach Howard Gamble passed away Friday. I saw coach Gamble work with all sorts of teenagers, giving the kids strength through baseball. Gamble was a terrific role model.

So long coach, we’ll miss you.