It’s amazing how the fortunes of a baseball team change from day to day.

The A’s came home to the cool air of the Coliseum, trotted Cy Young winner to be Barry Zito out to the mound, and all was well again in the playoff bound world of the Oakland Athletics.

I thought Zito was going to get his first no hitter when he held the punchless, first ball swinging Mariners hitless through six innings.

But Alas, one hanging curve ball to John Olerud in the top of the eighth, ended the dream as Seattle’s only dangerous hitter singled to end the dream.

The Angels won against Texas and the Giants got their confidence back by whipping the Padres 10-3.

More on tap for today.The fickle Giants fans better relax because this Wild Card race will be heading to LA next Monday.

The writers panic if the Giants lose one game, the fans moan, as both have yet to grasp the baseball reality that the game plays out day to day and one loss can be followed by three wins, and then by a loss or two.

The season has its cycles of highs and lows and only the best survive, but to write their SF team off after a loss or two, as they have done all season, makes me laugh.

The Giants should make it to October, I’ve said that many times this summer, because over the long haul, they are a better team than the

Dodgers, who haven’t helped themselves by suffering pitching injuries.

Barry Bonds went public with his plea to have the Giants bring Jeff Kent back next season, professing his admiration for the second baseman, who he earlier had a fight with on TV in the dugout in San Diego, a couple of months ago.

Bonds’ true motivation was buried in the story when he alluded to the fact that if the Giants didn’t bring Kent back, they better get someone who can hit like Kent to bat behind him, or else Bonds would never see a pitch to hit next year.

So much for the Bonds, “I love Kent Story.”

The Giants come home today to face the Padres and Jeff Tomko. The Padres can’t figure out how to get past Bonds and Kent and that trend should continue Saturday night. Livan Hernandez came out of his last start earlier than normal, it will be interesting to see if Dusty Baker shows the same lack of trust in the big guy tonight after seven innings or so.

The Dodgers need a win in Colorado and send Odalis Perez to the hill. Perez pitched well in Coors Field earlier in the year, and will do so again today. The Rockies counter with rookie Victor Santos who should make all those Dodger bats sing happily once more.

The Mariners held a players only meeting last night. Meetings only work when you then go out and face a pitcher you can beat. Barry Zito spoiled the effect of the confab between the players, when he stepped on the mound.

Today, Jamie Moyer, who has handled the A’s in the past faces Tim Hudson. The A’s will have a tougher time the next couple of days because Moyer and Joel Pineiro are no slouches. The real problem for the Mariners is that they just don’t hit and don’t seem to care about waiting for their pitch right now.

Lou Piniella is not a good loser and I think his team has packed it in for the season. Just a thought, as much praise as Lou recieves as a one of the best managers in the game, an Art Howe team would never look as bad as the Mariners have, in quitting on the season.

If the Mariners don’t show more pride these next two games, I will be very disappointed in Lou’s ability to motivate his team.

The Angels face another lefty in Dennis Reyes for Texas. Kevin Appier goes for Anaheim, a team playing with a lot of confidence. The Angels bull pen came through last night with flying colors once again. Troy Percival had tremendous stuff retiring A Rod, Palmiero ,and Pudge easily in the ninth. Ben Weber set him up without a hitch, in what is turning into a familiar pattern.

The Angels beat lefties and even though Reyes is pitching better, the Angels will be in the Texas bull pen early.

Anyone who says the A’s don’t care if they win the division, and would be happy to just qualify as the wild card team, is dreaming.

It is crucial to this team’s psyche not to see the Yankees in round one, the five game ALDS, but meet Minnesota instead, which the division winner will.

Whoever plays Minnesota, whether it be the A’s or Angels, will be in the ALCS.

St. Louis took a big step twords the Central crown by coming back to beat Houston. Once Jimy Williams went to Tom Gordon in the Astros pen, the game was over. Gordon is finished as an effective reliever.

Greg Maddux was lit up again. Does anyone other than me realize that Maddux has to be physically hurting to keep getting pounded every few starts or so?

Beautiful day for baseball, but it’s September and they all look pretty.