I’ve seen some amazing baseball moments watching baseball for almost 50 years, but this winning streak by the A’s, now 19 games, has really opened my eyes as to how difficult it is to win a baseball game.

Everything has to go right. The game changes every day, controlled by that day’s starting pitcher, one bad inning can ruin the game, one mistimed fielding mistake or base running blunder can sink the team that game. Clutch hits are needed routinely, the bull pen, especially the closer, must come through time and again.

And to do it over the course of 19 straight games is simply unbelievable. I don’t care who you beat, this is the major leagues. It is not easy, in fact a streak like this happens once every fifty years or so.

They will nail number 20 Wednesday night behind Tim Hudson.

Now the reality check. The A’s are up by four games on Anaheim and six on Seattle with 24 left to play, with twenty of those games in the West, where the A’s are a pedestrian 19-19.

They ain’t won nothin’ yet. Now the race is on, every game counts. The pressure is on. The streak is secondary to the job at hand.

Here’s what I think.Miguel Tejada as I have maintained here is a legit MVP candidate and may be the frontrunner if the A’s end up with the best record in the AL.

Why not? He plays defense and solidified the batting order when he grew up and claimed the three spot, never letting it go. Jason Giambi is a glorified DH type, Alfonso Soriano can’t hold Tejada’s glove, A Rod is on a last place team and is being pitched to routinely.

Tejada is the MVP.

Every winning streak invariably is followed by a let down once it ends. Pitchers are mortal players. The fear is that once this streak ends, the A’s might quite normally lose three of four or thereabouts. The problem becomes if they do that, the slide may come against the Angels next week, their closest pursuers.

Let the A’s get number 20, set the all time AL record, and then one loss to the Twins may be welcomed just to end the madness.

Anaheim plays Tampa Bay Tuesday in the Juice Dome. Tim Salmon has been activated, they had a day off, and seem to be getting their second or third wind.

Jarrod Washburn goes tonight which should put him on a collision course to meet Tim Hudson on Monday night in Anaheim.

By the way, the A’s are counting on Ted Lilly pitching the Tuesday night game in Anaheim, I’ll be amazed if he can do it. His recent bull pens just don’t look that strong. I don’t think he’s ready.

Seattle weathered the storm and won their last two games against Kansas City and Minnesota. They are still a team to fear in September, if they don’t win the division, I guarantee you that they will have a lot to say about who does. They are still a very tough team to play when the money is on the line. The Wild Card is still very much in their sights.

Boston received the news they have dreaded. Pedro will not start tonight because of some unexplained problem with his hip. In a weird way, this may make Boston tougher because they will have to bust their butts every game, knowing Pedro may not pitch very soon. Things like this can ignite a team and Boston’s schedule becomes very favorable after the Yankee series.

Frank Castillo has pitched well against New York in the past and might not be a complete disaster against a less than perfect Rocket in Yankee Stadium tonight.

If the Wild Card comes out of the East, Boston becomes very dangerous with Pedro (he’ll be back) and Lowe and pray for snow.

The Dodgers and the Giants are showing Arizona that they are not out of the woods yet.

LA pasted the Diamondbacks 19-1 Monday and now trail Arizona by 5 with Ishii going tonight against the overrated Brian Anderson. Arizona doesn’t hit enough for me. They have ridden the two horses, Johnson and Schilling hard all season and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a wild finish in this division.

The Giants face Mike Hampton tonight. This lefty has pitched well in previous years against SF, this is 2002 and his magic is gone. Russ Ortiz brings home a “W” today.

Don’t overlook Chan Ho Park’s game yesterday for Texas. He is stringing together some nice performances lately and may win some tough division games for Texas this month.

Woody Williams goes today after his last disaster when he came off the DL. Jimmy Haynes has been the most pleasant surprise for the Reds pitching staff this year and goes after number 14. The Reds can get it done today.

Roy Oswalt may win 20 for Houston. He goes for number 18 today and believe me this is one his inconsistent team needs against San Diego.

The A’s streak is historic, amazing, dramatic and wonderful.

The next 24 games will decide whether they win the division.

It’s not in the bag yet.