As the story of the 2003 season takes shape, most teams are passing the 62 game mark, meaning they have 100 games left to play.

In the AL West with Seattle looking like a sure bet to win 100 games, it would take a 65-35 second half for Oakland to catch the Mariners.

The A’s have done it before and one can’t rule it out this season, but the local team should set its sights on at least 96 wins to ensure a playoff berth.

By going 61-39 over its final 100 games, the A’s should be right there with Anaheim, Toronto, New York, and Boston for the final playoff spot. I don’t see Chicago or Kansas City putting up 64 or 67 second half wins, so the top four should fight it out for the AL Wild Card.

AL Wild Card this morning:

New York

Oakland

Toronto 2 1/2

Anaheim 3

Kansas City 3 1/2

The Yankees released Juan Acevedo yesterday after he blew Roger Clemens game on Saturday. Acevedo should be picked up by someone rather quickly because he did save close to 30 games with Detroit last season, no easy task.

NL Wild Card

Montreal

Houston 2

Los Angeles 2 1/2

St. Louis 3

Phillies 4

Colorado 5 1/2

Click below for more baseball!

How serious is Toronto about staying in this race?

Will they trade Kelvim Escobar? Will Cory Lidle be moved? Both are free agents to be. Toronto is cutting payroll, if the GM keeps these two and adds one more pitcher, with their hitting, they actually have a shot to stay in this race all season.

My guess is they trade the pitchers, but still make life miserable for their friends in the AL East.

Roy Halladay pitches against Jeff D’Amico in Pittsburgh, more of the same offense for Toronto and unfortunately more of the same from Pittsburgh. LLoyd McClendon is gone after this season if not before, as Pirate manager.

So, Tim Hudson completely dominates a dynamite Atlanta offense for eight innings only to see his win go out the window as Robert Fick homered off Keith Foulke in the ninth to tie the game.

Hudson had thrown 95 pitches, the A’s needed a shot in the arm, some adrenaline coming home off the 5-7 road trip. Hudson had everything going for him. Let the man finish his game. Second guessing is easy the next day, but watching the game, there was no reason to pull Hudson knowing how much the A’s have struggled lately. Once Hudson weathered the sixth inning barrage Atlanta threw at him, he was home free. I’ll say it again, letting a pitcher throw a complete game makes him a tougher pitcher come playoff time.

Jermaine Dye showed the Bay Area what he is capable of doing by making a great catch in the outfield, driving in a tough early game run, and then hitting a rope over the centerfield wall to win the game in the 12th inning.

It was Dye’s first extra base hit since April 10th. The A’s have no choice but to let Dye work out of his two year slump, but it was sure nice to see what he is capable of doing. The hit saved the night and moved the A’s to a league best 20-8 at home.

Ted Lilly could be in for a rough night tonight. Atlanta is for real and they don’t let any mistakes go by. The A’s will work the count against Horacio Ramirez hoping they can get runners on and someone will knock one out. With Ramirez throwing lefthanded Miguel Tejada (who played an amazing game in the field) and Jermaine Dye become keys to the Oakland offense.

One other thought, it would have been good baseball to try for an insurance run in the ninth innning last night by having Scott Hatteberg attempt a sacrifice after Eric Byrnes led off the inning with a single. No bunt, double play, end of threat. Bad baseball for a team scratching for runs.

The Montreal team has real character. Javier Vasquez is one of the best pitchers in the league and the A’s should see him next Sunday. Winnning in Seattle isn’t easy, but the Expos pulled it off last night convincingly. Tonight, Livan Hernadez throws his off speed 85 MPH stuff against Joel Pineiro a pitcher who still hasn’t reached the point of predictability. Who knows, Montreal may just do it again tonight.

John Lackey found a team that can’t hit in the Phillies. Lackey has struggled all year and the Phillies were willing victims, striking out 11 times. The punch outs are killing the Phils because they just don’t put the ball in play often enough.

Brett Myers (he goes six almost every time out) and Kevin Appier (who knows what you will get) in Anaheim tonight. The Angels had Jeff DaVanon back in the lineup last night instead of Tim Salmon in right (Salmon DH’ed). DaVanon had been terrific subbing in Darin Erstad’s absence and deserves to be in the lineup.

Without David Eckstein’s spark (injuries and slump), the Angels are floundering.

Brad Radke got hit hard again, this time by Colorado, a team that can’t do anything out of Coors Field. Minnesota has to be concerned. Kyle Lohse, their best pitcher goes tonight against Aaron Cook, a disaster waiting to happen.

The White Sox won again. Tonight Mark Buehrle tries to avoid his tenth loss of the season. The Giants throw Jesse Foppert in Comiskey. With Bartolo Colon tomorrow SF needs this one tonight to avoid a possible sweep. Kirk Reuter pitches against Colon and the Sox are loaded with righties, so it could be Colon’s day on Thursday.

The Dodgers get Detroit again, Kevin Brown may throw a no hitter against this bunch.

Hideki Matsui has carried the Yankee offense this past week. Good for him, but this doubles hitter (at best) isn’t enough for a team that prides itself on mashing the ball.

The Mets brought up heralded shortstop phenom Jose Reyes, further evidence that the white flag is up in Shea.

Tell me why the Reds have 6 foot six inch slugger Adam Dunn leading off? He strikes out like crazy, is hitting .207, and is probably the most unlikely leadoff hitter imagineable.

Marcus Giles and Rafael Furcal put tremendous pressue on the opposition from the one two spots in the Atlanta order.

Pedro is back today against the Cardinals. The hopes of the Sox rest on his weary arm which just looks like trouble for Boston once again. Pedro breaks down routinely every few weeks, but man can the Sox swing the bat which will keep them in the race until they figure out what to do. I thought something was amiss with Casey Fossum, he goes on the DL today.

Bill Mueller hits everywhere in the Boston lineup, ideally the Sox would like to keep Mueller down in the lineup, but Johnny Damon’s .239 average in the leadoff spot screams for help.

Corey Patterson looks like a reasonable replacement in the three spot for Sammy Sosa once the corkster starts his suspension. Patterson is hitting .328 and getting better every game.

Melvin Mora is leading the AL in hitting at .364 with Bill Mueller second and Hank Blalock third. Next you’ll tell me that Toronto’s Frank Catalanotto has 79 hits and is fourth at .333.

He is, wow, what is up in the AL? Where are the big names?

Remember 96 is the number, keep it in mind.