As the season turns into the home stretch the good teams are putting their best players on the field and they are responding.

The A’s bullpen, a hearty three man bunch all season has come alive in Boston as all the relievers, save Jim Mecir, have gotten into the act.

You just can’t say enough about quality pitches in crucial situations. Chad Bradford, now Ricardo Rincon, and as always Keith Foulke, teeter on the brink of disaster almost every time on the hill. Yet when the chips are on the line, they throw pitches which turn into routine outs, ending rallies.

How much longer they can do this without being effected from daily use is anyone’s guess. If Chad Harville and Michael Neu come through more often, then the big three can continue to get the big outs.

The A’s rallied last night with only one walk in the entire game. A good sign for the hitters. When Byung Hyun Kim needed to make big pitches he didn’t, grooving an 0-2 pitch to Scott Hatteberg who hit a laser to right putting the A’s in front to stay.

Previous night, Scott Sauerbeck needed to throw strikes to Erubiel Durazo and Eric Chavez and couldn’t, two walks resulted, then Scott Williamson grooved an 0-2 pitch to Ramon Hernandez, three run homer, end of game.

When the Sox needed big hits, they weren’t there. The A’s pitchers consistently made quality, in your face type of pitches which ended the scoring chances.

That my friends is the difference in this series. The A’s get the job done with a minimum of flair. The Sox look good on paper, but when the game is on the line, they don’t produce.

Baseball has turned into a game of bullpens because starters rarely go more than seven innings, the A’s bull pen is clutch right now, Boston’s isn’t and that is the way the ball is bouncing with 34 games to go.

Click below for more!The tension created in Boston by the fans and fueled by the press is amazing. I think it actually affects these professional athletes.

Now Derek Lowe won’t talk to the press unless it is after he pitches. Pedro doesn’t talk much ever. He even missed the team picture yesterday, not a good sign for team unity. Kevin Millar, new in town, is on the press coverage.

The A’s face Pedro today and counter with Rich Harden, a very young man who is pitching the biggest game of his life.

The A’s have already won the series, not much to worry about today. Just let it fly and see what happens.

Josh Towers pitched a complete game and knocked off Seattle showing that anything can happen in baseball.

Today Jamie Moyer tries to mesmerize the Jays and will face off with soft tossing rookie Mark Hendrickson, which means the A’s won’t see Hendrickson in this weekend’s series.

Esteban Loiaza has led the Sox back into a tie with KC for the AL Central lead. Bartolo Colon who has been awful recently gets the call today against Colby Lewis and the red hot Rangers who are now tied with the Angels for third in the West.

Minnesota hosts KC and the best KC can put out there today is Paul Abbott which tells the story of the Royals sorry pitching right now. Kenny Rogers 10-6 never considered a clutch pitcher, gets his biggest start of the year as the Twins try to leap frog the Royals.

Mark Prior is the best pitcher in baseball right now. Can Kerry Wood, a native Texan, get over his back spasms and dominate the Astros today? Ron Villone has been steady for Houston, so this one is worth the price of admission. The bullpens will be busy if either starter falters early.

Nobody comes into Pac Bell and hits the ball. The Braves are the latest example. Of course the Braves weakness was exposed again last night: no consistent eight inning relief. The Giants have to hope they get home field in the playoffs, it makes them much more dangerous.

Jason Schmidt tonight against his former team. Let’s see if he lets it go and throws sliders.

Aaron Harang silenced Arizona last night, good game for the big guy.

The Marlins and the Phillies are gasping for air this week. The NL Wild Card is awesome, you tell me who has the advantage heading into the last month.

Which brings me to one of the prime tenets of baseball philosophy.

Stay close heading into September, whoever plays the best over the last month will win.

And that applies to everyone except Atlanta, SF, and the Yankees, they are in, everyone else, don’t count your chickens before they hatch, there is still is alot of baseball to be played.