Rich Harden better establish a good fastball today if he is to be successful. Seattle is a tired team no matter what the last two days have shown. In Tampa, Doug Waechter and Jorge Sosa proved that good hard high heat can stop Seattle, that is where Harden should be looking today.

The A’s need to play better defense, especially around the plate. I have said many times over the past two seasons that Ramon Hernandez’s lack of ability to block the plate will cost the A’s in key games. Now with a bruised elbow because of the collision with Ben Davis yesterday, Hernandez may be doubtful to play today. He says he will, but let’s see if a sore right elbow will hamper him especially if the Mariners run on Harden who is slow to the plate with his delivery.

Anyway, more drama today at the old ballyard in Oakland.

A Rod, Raffy, and the big bats of Texas come into Oakland for three games starting Monday night. Let’s see what these big time players can do with the money on the line against Zito, Lilly, and Hudson. Just look at all the glorified stats that A Rod has, can he step and play a big series when his team needs him to carry them. I say he won’t and that is why he isn’t an MVP to me.

Dusty Baker and Tony LaRussa are at it again. It is no secret that the Cards would prefer to see Houston win the Central and Dusty didn’t like the effort put forth by LaRussa’s team Friday night and said so.

LaRussa called Baker Saturday morning and told Baker what he thought of Baker’s criticism. The Cards then went out and beat Houston behind a real MVP’s late game homer, Albert Pujols shot to win the game in the 13th.

Houston needed five innings from Dotel, Lidge, and Wagner just to stay in the game, but it wasn’t enough as the Cardinal bullpen matched the trio pitch for pitch.

The Cubs couldn’t take advantage and lost to Pittsburgh. I’m telling you this Pirate team is the guttiest I’ve seen in Pittsburgh in some time. Ryan Vogelsong threw a power game at Chicago for seven innings in only his second start of the year.

Today it is Mark Prior, the best the Cubs have, against lefty strike out artist and former Padre Oliver Perez.

Houston turns to lefty Jeriome Robertson, a rookie 15 game winner and the Cards counter with in and out Sterling Hitchcock. Ouch, this one will get ugly for St. Louis if Hitchcock isn’t perfect.

The Marlins are leading the wild card again. Closer Braden Looper can’t get the Braves out. Jack McKeon should stop running him out there against Atlanta. Wil Cunnane is not the late inning answer for the Braves either. John Smoltz did pitch last night, but said he is still not ready to be the full time closer for the Braves. With ten days to go, the Braves have to be worried.

Brad Penny came through for the Marlins and appears to be all right (sore elbow). Today it is Carl Pavano who was hit hard in Philly against Greg Maddux desperately looking for that elusive 15th win.

Todd Van Poppel did it agin, pitching a gem for the Reds. You explain it to me how this can happen to a pitcher who has bounced around as much as Van Poppel has the last few years?
He knocked Philly back into second place in the NL Wild Card race.

Former Athletic Aaron Harang meets the Phillies and Vincente Padilla today. Harang can give you five to six good innings, so this one will be on the Reds bullpen late in the game. Chris Reitsma isn’t a bad closer for Cincy.

So where does Kirk Rueter fit in the Giants postseason plans after last night’s six inning, no run performance against LA?

Minnesota is crushing righthanders again. Last year the Twins wouldn’t lose at home to righties, it is finally happening again for the hottest team in baseball.

Remember if Seattle topples the Red Sox, the A’s get the Twins.

Texas may catch the Angels for third place in the West. They throw Tony Mounce, Ryan Drese, and Joaquin Benoit against the A’s this week.

The Texas series is one the A’s will have to be careful with. The Rangers can hit (even though they have the two biggest overrated, nonprimetime players in A Rod and Palmiero) and if they pitch just a little at the right times, they can be very troublesome to beat. Problem is they don’t pitch well enough for nine innings and that ultimately is their downfall.

No matter what happens today, with Seattle facing Anaheim for three Monday thru Wednesday in Southern California, the A’s will need to beat the Rangers at least two of three.

Spotlight on Pedro today, keep the bullpen out of his game.

Watch how Rich Harden responds, his playoff role may be determined today.

Mark Prior needs to win, the Astros need to also, especially with the Giants coming in for three beginning Monday.

The Marlins have two more with the Braves in Atlanta, while the Phillies need to take the Reds seriously today in the Vet.

One more Sunday and the playoff teams are the Yankees, Braves, Twins, and Giants. After that, it is day to day for the other four spots, and you can’t ask baseball for more than that over the last seven days.