A page out of 'Moneyball'

Throw good

The most interesting part about last night's 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics is how they did it.

No, there were no home runs. There weren't even any extra-base hits.

They did it by walking with the bases loaded. They did it by getting walks to stuff the bases. They did it with 2-out singles. They, in fact, did it with a lot of singles.

They also did it behind a monster pitching performance.

It wasn't perfect, but they did it.

Sounds familiar. Sounds like something A's general manager Billy Beane slobbers over when he's re-reading "Moneyball" for the billionth time.

I'm getting used to 5-4 wins. I'm also getting used to Kevin Millwood pitching his ass off.

He's gone at least seven innings and 110 pitches in every start. Opponents are hitting .210 off the guy and slugging a lousy .333 (five extra-base hits, I believe). Right now, the Rangers have one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues. Yikes. When's the other shoe falling?

Notes:
1. Reason No. 114 why I think the Oakland A's will stink this season: I don't think their starters (pitching or hitting) are just outstanding. However, it doesn't get any better if those guys get hurt. The A's probably have a fine farm system. But typically guys from Double just don't pop up to the Majors and start winning divisions. The A's had, at least, three injuries last night, including the starter Brett Anderson, who looked damn good.

2. Frank Francisco looks like a real, honest-to-goodness closer. Haven't seen one those in Arlington for a long time.

3. How is it that we can move Mike Young to third, Chris Young to third, Hank Blalock to first and Andruw Jones to first, but we couldn't move Alfonso Soriano to the outfield?

4. Another two errors by Los Rangers, including Ian Kinsler's first in 95 chances and 177 innings and Nellie Cruz's third (but seems like his 20th).

5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's 2-out single in the sixth was C-L-U-T-C-H, clutch.