As I wrote last week, the A’s had a great chance of sweeping the weeknd series with the Yankees or at least taking the series.

After taking two of three from NY, the A’s now come home to face the reeling White Sox for three before entertaing the Yankees this coming weekend.

By the way, Scott Hatteberg stole Oriole Mike Flanagan’s line about Cy Young and Cy Old. In 1981, Flanagan described himself and Jim Palmer as the young and old Cys, and even included Steve Stone when he faltered later in his career, by calling Stone (the CY Young winner in 1980), Sayonara. So, take it easy on Hatteberg, he stole the line from Flanagan.

Click below for my thoughts on the Yankees and the A’s.The A’s made the Yankees look old just as the Angels did last October. Jason Giambi is not hitting right now and couldn’t match up with either Tim Hudson or Barry Zito. The Yankees ran themselves out of potential run scoring innings on Sunday. They played poor baseball against Oakland.

The Yankees are in trouble leading up to Mariano Rivera. The A’s are not as strong in the late innings either. Chad Bradford spit the bit on Friday night, Ricardo Rincon and Jim Mecir never saw the field. Juan Acevedo has never fooled the A’s.

Keith Foulke needs more confidence, once he gets his feet on the ground, he seems to get the job done, I wonder how he’ll react in October during a night playoff game in NY.

The A’s still have trouble hitting Mariano Rivera, it helps to keep him off the field.

Zito and Hudson showed they can beat NY if they get some runs and the team plays championship defense. The Yankees now know this for real and will be much more focused when the teams meet this weekend.

When October rolls around The A’s will have to beat Mike Mussina, David Wells, and Andy Pettitte. Joe Torre will realize the A’s can get enough runs off of Roger Clemens to give any of the big three the advantage. I don’t think Clemens will be in the first three playoff games against oakland, the Yankees can’t afford any mistakes against Oakland, this weekend showed NY just where they stand.

Great pitching stops great hitting and without Derek Jeter the Yankees are coming up short against the A’s pitching lineup.

Alfonso Soriano will swing at anything and if the A’s do their job they can pitch to Soriano. Giambi is a threat against mistakes. Bernie Williams is still a great hitter, maybe a border line hall of famer, but the A’s big three can pitch to him, especially righthanded. Matsui is no threat to the A’s, Mondesi is a below average hitter, Todd Zeile and Robin Ventura can be handled. Posada still gives the A’s trouble.

You get the idea, pitching to the Yankees is like walking through a mine field, but Oakland has the starting pitching to get it done, just like Hudson and Zito did Saturday and Sunday.

So, what’s the problem.

The A’s have to find a way to hit in the clutch, and yes, manufacture some runs against Pettitte, Wells, and Mussina. Trust me, Jose Contreras will be in the picture for NY one way or another by the time these teams meet in August and then in October. The Cuban may be throwing his 32 million dollar pitches in the eighth inning or as a fourth starter along with Jeff Weaver.

The Yankees are in trouble against Oakland unless the Bombers play a perfect game, the shoe is now on the other foot when facing the A’s. The A’s need to believe it too, get some swagger, they have the better team. Don’t act shocked when you knock off NY, the big three can get it done, fellas, act like you expect it to happen.

That is what all star pitching can do.

The A’s just need to find some consistent offense. My guess is by the time the summer rolls around Miguel Tejada, Eric Chavez (NY won’t be able to pitch around him), and Erubiel Durazo will be hot against everybody in the league. The top of the order needs some speed and a jump start (memo to BB, this is the area to concentrate on in July, remember what Ray Durham and Johnny Damon brought to the club).

If the A’s hold NY to four runs or less they can beat them, if they get into a bull pen game earlier than the seventh inning, the advantage goes back to NY.

This weekend it’s Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder against Jeff Weaver, Roger Clemens, and Andy Pettitte, the key game is Sunday to see how the Pettitte fares against Mulder. The A’s have the nod over Weaver and Clemens again.

By the way, NY’s Nick Johnson is one of the toughest young hitters I have seen recently. His eye is amazing and he has a sweet swing. He will be a full time factor in this offense before too long.

Don’t get too carried away with last weekend’s results, the games played out as expected. October baseball is different and the Yankees know it, it’s just now the Yankees better play championship baseball every opportunity because NOW if they let the A’s get their foot in the door in the series, it will be sayonara in the Bronx.

Zito, Mulder, and Hudson versus Mussina, Pettitte, and Wells (in Yankee Stadium where he is 40-13). Get ready, it’s coming soon to your screen.

Now that’s a series I can’t wait to see and guess what, we will see it in October.

Terrific baseball.