During that period of time Mazzaro went 4-2 with 31 strikeouts to 16 walks, had an ERA of 2.82, and held batters to a .235 average. The one knock on Mazzaro during this time was that he did have the tendency to hang his slider and when that happened it was hit a long way. 

Yet, as quickly as that success came it vanished and he's now found himself back at Triple A Sacramento trying to fix what went wrong. In his last eight starts which he had six decisions in those starts, Mazzaro has gone 0-6 with a 5.60 ERA, has struck out 29 while walking 20, and batters are hitting .284 against him. 

The icing on the cake though was the last two starts for Mazzaro one against the New York Yankees and the other against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In those starts he went a total of eight innings, giving up 13 hits, 14 runs, 12 earned, walked six, struck out three, gave up five home runs, and had an ERA of 13.50.

Fircoal Urban wrote an article on the subject of Mazzaro's demotion in the article it self Urban expresses dismay that Mazzaro was sent down and in his mind it was a total surprise to see Mazzaro sent down. He states in the final paragraph of his article "The only reason I can think that this move was done was for Mazzaro to try to aid their AAA team with the day off, but it's still confusing."

Let's start off with the first quote about Mazzaro aiding Sacramento. Yes, that is one part of the equation that Mazzaro builds his confidence backup and also helps Sacramento during their playoffs. Also, what Urban is referring to is that the A's have an off-day on Thursday, so a fifth starter is not needed until sometime next week. 

That means that the A's have to make a decision on who to start. He gives his case why Boof Bonser shouldn't get the start by saying "Boof Bonser looks like the only option in the majors and his 5.17 ERA in zero starts doesn't really excite me (Though it has been very solid since coming to Oakland)."

If Bonser is the option to take over as the fifth starter then fine, since coming to Oakland in his relief appearances which have been as a long reliever Bonser has compiled an ERA of 3.29. What was even more impressive though is after Mazzaro's horrendous outing against the Yankees, Bonser came in and pitched 4.1 innings striking out five walking one and giving up two hits. 

With Bonser he could definitely be looked at to make the start the next time the A's need a fifth starter.

Other candidates are down in Sacramento include Mazzaro being brought back up, Clayton Mortenson who's 13-6 with a 4.25 ERA with 112 strikeouts to 53 walks and he has made one start for the A's this year going six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, six hits, two walks, struck out seven, and got a no decision. Tyson Ross could get the call up as he has gone back to where he should have been as a starter. 

The thing is that Mazzaro is just 23, but next season, he will have to earn a starting spot in the rotation. Starting pitching is one of the A's strengths and in next years rotation, it will be the top three right now of Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, and Dallas Braden. 

As for the other two spots those will be up for grabs. One of those though will more than likely go to a free agent pitcher with experience and even if the A's don't go after a veteran starting pitcher to be the fourth starter. 

Mazzaro will have to beat out Mortenson, Ross, Bonser (could make a run for a starting spot has experience as a starter), and Josh Outman are all going to be after the fourth and fifth spot in the rotation. 

If a veteran pitcher is signed as a free agent that means four pitchers going after one spot.

The A's are in a great position to be in with the starting pitching, but with Mazzaro being send down it was never about two bad starts. He had been struggling for awhile and with the disastrous outings against the Yankees and Angels it was just a matter of time before Mazzaro was sent down to Sacramento. 

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While it was upsetting and Mazzaro struggled in his second start in a row, it was not horrifying. While he gave up five runs in the game, he was able to last 4.1 innings, which is certainly better than his last outing.

The game made the 23 year old's era jump up to 4.29, which is a respectful number. However, the A's organization did not like this and decided to option the young pitcher down to AAA.

Considering it's September when players get called up to have a chance to get to play in the bigs, (especially on a team like the A's that were 67-69 (Though I will say they still have a chance at the division title)) it is a very confusing move.

Even if it wasn't September, it'd still be a confusing move. Yes Mazzaro's last two starts weren't desirable, but since when are players demoted because of two bad starts?

He's a young pitcher on a young team. Consistency isn't exactly what should be expected.

Considering he had a blister during the last start, he did his job fairly well and I could understand resting him a bit. However, demoting a player who isn't struggling is just silly.

It's going to mess with Mazzaro's confidence, and that's very troublesome for young starters.

The most confusing part about this is the results that Mazzaro's given us. During 18 starts and 21 games this year he's pitched, he has complied a 4.29 ERA, which is good enough for an ERA+ of 95.

While that may not look that good, look at the rest of the team. Due to the fact he is the worst pitcher on the team so far, he's the 5th starter.

For a 5th starter to be pitching around league average, sounds like a nice option to me.

Look at the Phillies. They're in line for a wild-card and have dominant aces in Hamels, Halladay and Oswalt. After that? Good ~5 eras from Blanton and Kendrick.

So would you rather have, a 23 year old pitching a 4.29 or a 29 year old with a 5.25? I don't know about you, but I'd take Mazzaro.

So A's, what gives?

Why demote Mazzaro?

Who are you going to pitch now?

Boof Bonser looks like the only option in the majors and his 5.17 ERA in zero starts doesn't really excite me. (Though it has been very solid since coming to Oakland.)

So you take away a good 5th starter with a high potential and you're likely to replace him with a 28 year old guy that hasn't proven much. Doesn't make much sense to me.

(The only reason I can think that this move was done was for Mazzaro to try to aid their AAA team with the day off, but it's still confusing.)

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Hermida, 26, has been inconsistent in his major league career so far, as his best season was back in 2007 with the Florida Marlins, where he hit 18 home runs and drove in 63 runs while hitting .296 for the year.

After that season, he hit .259 in 2008 and .249 in 2007: clearly becoming worse as each new season started.

Earlier this year, Hermida signed with the Boston Red Sox, expecting him to be the 4th outfielder for the team.

He disappointed the Red Sox by hitting only .203 in 52 games and was released on Tuesday.

Even though it looks as if his career is going to be over soon, you never know. The late 20's is the time when hitters tend to have their breakout seasons. However, with Hermida's inconsistency, you don't know what you'll get from him.

There was no risk for the A's when they signed him, and they look forward that he will turn things around, hopefully leading to future success for the .500 team.

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The duo immediately implored then-general manager Sandy Alderson to become cost-effective—to slash payroll, focus more on the farm system’s development, and abide by sabermetric principles in obtaining relatively undervalued players.

Alderson did what they said, but it didn’t translate into success. The Athletics had losing records from the time the new mindset was put in place until his departure after the 1997 season.

Billy Beane took over for his mentor and did what he could not. He didn’t spend much money but saw a steady increase in wins. The team improved drastically from year to year, and it was all because of Beane’s drafting, infatuation with their minor league system, and desire to continue the thriftiness.

He especially excelled in the pitching department, which was my focus in this 2009 piece praising his genius:

“He was behind the drafting of right-hander Tim Hudson in 1997, and wasted no time in his first year at the helm stocking the minor league system with more prime pitching talent, drafting left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder out of Michigan State with the second overall selection. His pick was a wise one; starting his minor league career in Triple-A, Mulder became the Athletics' top prospect, second-ranked in all of baseball, and was in the majors to start the 2000 season.

“On June 7th, 1999, the day before Tim Hudson struck out 11 San Diego Padres in his five-inning debut, and while Mulder was in the midst of his fast track to the major leagues, Beane selected left-hander Barry Zito with the ninth overall pick. Zito, a UC-Santa Barbara product, nearly beat him to the majors despite being drafted a year after Mulder, and like Mulder, as well as Hudson before him, he flourished immediately. So, watching his team from his suite, Beane saw his three draftees, three immediate aces, take the mound every fifth day.”

The trio of aces led the A’s to four straight playoff appearances from 2000-2003; in 2001 and 2002, the team won 102 and 103 games. But then the three were gone. In line for big contracts, they left. Beane couldn’t afford them. It was as simple as that.

The rebuilding would begin, right? Surely the A’s couldn’t keep up their winning ways with such formidable pitchers elsewhere.

Beane found a way: The A’s won 91, 88, and 93 games from 2004-2006. And he’s still finding a way, growing a new crop of young arms to pick up an offense that is unflattering statistically yet somehow effective enough to put the Athletics in the playoff hunt.

From ’04-’06, the A’s were led by third baseman Eric Chavez before his career came to a sad, injury-plagued end; up-and-coming Nick Swisher, who is now extremely valuable for the New York Yankees; and in the latter of the three seasons, Frank Thomas, who amazingly hit 39 home runs in just 137 games as a 38-year-old, clubbing the most homers per plate appearance of his Hall of Fame career.

Oakland didn’t manage winning records the next three seasons, but considering their payroll sat near the bottom of the league, the 75, 75, and 76 wins they did collect weren’t all that bad. This year, they are on a better pace, with 65 wins and 32 games remaining.

That .500 record has them just 7.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West. Now, unless the Rangers have a Metsonian collapse, the A’s won’t make the playoffs. But an 80-win season is in their sights. This is hard to fathom.

However, it would not be entirely unbelievable when the following is considered: Their pitching staff is among the best in baseball and, obviously then, the main reason behind their success. Their team ERA, even after allowing 11 runs to the New York Yankees, is 3.48, which is second in the major leagues.

Trevor Cahill, their 22-year-old ace, leads the team with 14 wins and has a 2.82 ERA, and as a result is in the Cy Young conversation. He has allowed just 119 hits in 158 innings, and that is after surrendering eight runs on nine hits in just four innings against New York.

Twenty-four-year-old Gio Gonzalez, who was acquired a few years back from the White Sox for Swisher, is 12-8, and Dallas Braden, 27, who tossed a perfect game earlier this season, is 9-9 with a 3.28 ERA.

There is a new trio of aces in town—and that’s not all that has Oakland buzzing. Their offense is an eyesore statistically, but improbably it has done enough to back the pitching. The A’s don’t have a hitter hitting over .300. Catcher Kurt Suzuki is leading the team in home runs with twelve. Twelve. Think about that.

Their offense is 24th in the majors in runs, 19th in batting average, and 26th in RBI. Yet their offense is well versed in small ball, manufacturing just enough to back their pitching staff. Case in point: Oakland is 22-18 since the All-Star break despite batting .241. Why such a good record? Their team ERA is 2.64. In the A’s case, averaging four runs a game is enough.

Despite their poor statistics, the A’s offense has some productive hitters. Coco Crisp anchors their lineup and has hit .275 in the 58 games he’s played this year, while Daric Barton has been their best hitter, batting .294 with seven homers and 46 RBI.

Kevin Kouzmanoff is tied with Suzuki in the home run category, has a team-leading 65 RBI, and has been stationed in the middle of their order for all but two games this year. Yet he has a .260 batting average and an obscene .295 on-base percentage.

The team isn’t far behind in the on-base percentage category, and their batting average is worse than his mark. But an 80-win pace is what good pitching and good situational hitting can do.

It’s pretty much only their pitching, as they aren’t a particularly good fielding team, ranking 18th with 80 errors. Again, how in the world are they conceivably within range of Texas? Situational hitting and top-of-the-line pitching: two things the A’s, run by the genius that is Billy Beane, have always successfully and remarkably been built around.

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Hoffman will perform as former big league manager Art Howe, and Pitt -- one of the most famous people in the universe -- will be playing Billy Beane, the "mastermind" general manager of the Oakland A's.

Can you imagine that? Beane has been so successful in Oakland that a movie is being made about his innovations and triumphs as the A's leading man. Not only is the film being made, but Beane's character was given to one of the most recognizable faces in the business -- a sex symbol, nonetheless.

And who can blame Hollywood for wanting a piece of this action? Beane has achieved so much during his time in Oakland...wait a second...

Has a Beane-led A's team ever won anything?

This is Beane's 13th season as GM of the Athletics, and his club has won the World Series zero times during his reign. Wait, it gets better.

In the previous 12 seasons, the A's have won zero American League championships.

During that time period, they've only appeared in the ALCS once (2006). Beane's Athletics performed well in that series against the Detroit Tigers...if "well" means getting swept. The Tigers made quick work of the light-hitting boys from Oakland.

Simply put, these results don't make any sense. They don't make any sense because Michael Lewis' Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game is likely the most popular baseball book in publishing history. It may not only be the most popular baseball book of all time, it is arguably the most popular book of all sports.

Lewis' detailed work elevated Beane to a stratosphere never before occupied by a general manager. As far as media coverage and attention, GM's are often secondary to the skippers that patrol the dugouts of their respective teams.

Thanks to Lewis and Moneyball, things are quite different in Oakland. Beane is the star. The managers (Howe, Ken Macha, and Bob Geren) are puppets manipulated by the front office's many strings and hindrances. 

The question is: does Beane deserve the stature he has achieved?

Many consider him the best general manager in the game; is he worthy of that distinction?

Well, at the very least, I can't argue with his ability to evaluate starting pitching. It started with the extremely impressive trio of RHP Tim Hudson (an all-star again this year), LHP Barry Zito (having a bit of a bounce-back season), and LHP Mark Mulder.

Then there was RHP Rich Harden, an incredible but oft-injured talent. RHP Justin Duchscherer has been an all-star, and Beane's trade for RHP Dan Haren came at exactly the right time in his career.

Today the A's have a slew of capable young arms, including sinkerballer Trevor Cahill, flame-throwing lefty Gio Gonzalez, workhorse Dallas Braden (of the Perfect Game fame), electric closer Andrew Bailey, and potential long-term ace LHP Brett Anderson.

But the 2010 Oakland Athletics are a mere .500 ballclub. This infusion of impressive arms isn't leading them to playoff-type success. And why, you ask?

Because Billy Beane teams don't hit. Not since the steroid star power of 1B Jason Giambi and then-SS Miguel Tejada have the A's had a lineup for opposing pitchers to fear. Their leading regulars this season are OF Ryan Sweeney (.294 BA) and limited-pop 1B Daric Barton (.279).

Although for Beane, it's not about batting average; it's about OBP and OPS. Unfortunately, Oakland's on-base experts are 25th in the bigs in runs scored. What good is a razor-sharp understanding of the strikezone if you can't drive in runners in scoring position?

Not much good at all, of course.

While we're on the topic of offense, I can't ignore the fact that Beane traded OF Carlos Gonzalez (aka "Cargo").

Cargo, now an immensely popular member of the Colorado Rockies, is currently leading the National League in batting average at .326. In addition to that impressive average, he has 29 HR, 90 RBI, 20 SB, 86 R, and a .955 OPS.

With those outstanding numbers in mind, Cargo is locked in a nip-and-tuck MVP battle with Reds' 1B Joey Votto. Both candidates have the statistics to warrant an MVP award, but Cargo is the better all-around player.

If the Rockies find a way into the postseason, in my opinion, Cargo should take home the hardware.

Can you imagine that? Beane, the "mastermind" at the helm of an offensively-starved franchise, traded an all-world talent when he was just 23 years old. Even worse, he traded Cargo for a one-year rental in LF Matt Holliday, who was shipped to the St. Louis Cardinals as soon as the wheels fell off the A's 2009 season. 

Go figure.

And yet, in the end, I know Billy Beane is a talented executive. I completely understand the financial deficiencies of the Oakland A's franchise. I know that Beane has drafted and developed some excellent major league ballplayers.

But...the best general manager in professional baseball? Really?

Hollywood, a full-length movie, and Brad Pitt? Really?

I'm sorry folks, but I'm not buyin' it...

Unless Billy Beane is sellin' it. I'd probably rip him off in a deal.

(John Frascella is the author of "Theo-logy: How a Boy Wonder Led the Red Sox to the Promised Land," the first and only book centered on Boston 's popular GM Theo Epstein. Check it out on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble online. Follow John on Twitter @RedSoxAuthor.)

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The offensive outburst could be related to the fact that the A’s have had games against Toronto and Cleveland, but nevertheless the offense is a welcome sight for Oakland fans.

The A’s currently sit 8.5 games back and while this is probably too big of a hole to climb out of, they do have three games against the Rangers over the weekend. If Oakland can find a way to sweep Texas, then the AL West race might become interesting.

Oakland always has strong starting pitching and this year is no different, the pitching has carried the team all year, so it is nice to see the offense step up for a change

However, this recent offense does not mean that the A’s should keep this same team for the 2011 season. Oakland still needs to find a power hitter in the offseason to make sure that offense in Oakland becomes expected rather than surprising.

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Cahill was named to the American League All-Star team this season and is having a season in which he is worthy of Cy Young consideration. Cahill currently has a 2.43 ERA, which is second among American league starting pitchers. He also has a WHIP just over one (1.005).

Although he may be worthy of a Cy Young, Cahill will have a hard time getting recognition because he plays in the small market of Oakland and is not on a contending team.

The A’s are currently 63-62 and 8.5 games back in the American League West.

Cahill is hardly ever talked about and it seems not many people know who he is or what kind of year the 22-year-old right-hander is having.

If more people begin to take note of Cahill, he can become the first Oakland Cy Young Award winner since Barry Zito. However, it seems Cahill is being ignored right now and it is hard to believe there will be a drastic change in the next month and a half.

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A look at last week’s least-owned, best performing sluggers and hurlers.

Coco Crisp is as fast as the Flash. Homer Bailey is stingy, allowing one run in 13 IP. Yuniesky Betancourt takes over against the White Sox. Can they keep it up the rest of the season?

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Neither will Johnny.

Reference

by JOSEPH DURSO. Special to The New York Times. (1972, October 19). Reds Win, 1-0, on 3-Hitter, A's Now Lead Series, 2-1: Reds Win on 3-Hitter, 1-0; A's Lead, 2-1 Carroll Saves the Shutout for Billingham. New York Times (1923-Current file), p. 97. Retrieved August 19, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006). (Document ID: 79475397).

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Here's the five least disciplined hitters...

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