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OAKLAND -- During the first five months of the season, the A's had largely relied on their starting pitching. Their starters' ERA has been ranked in the American League top five for the whole season and their first place in the AL West reflects that.

September has been different.

The starters' ERA for the season is 4.39 (No. 3 in the AL), but since Sept. 4 it is 6.39. The team still has a winning record in September, at 9-6, but that is largely because of an offense that is hitting .302 in September (best in the Majors), with Frank Thomas making a run at MVP.

A rotation decline during the September has become a trend for the A's since 2004. In 2005, the starters combined to go 9-15, with Joe Blanton (3.58) and Dan Haren (2.48) being the only ones with an ERA under 5.00. Barry Zito (2-3, 6.50 ERA), Joe Kennedy (0-5, 6.16 ERA) and Kirk Saarloos (1-3, 5.02 ERA) all dragged to end the year.

Full Article: Oakland Athletics : News : Oakland Athletics News


Right-hander Dan Haren is 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA in September. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

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la_faker_81



GO ANGELS

Well he's kind of had it in me ever since i accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace "accidentally" with "repeatedly" and replace "dog" with "son".