Clay Mortensen in Colorado

Clay Mortensen, who couldn't find a spot in Oakland's injury plagued starting rotation last year and was snubbed for Bobby Cramer (who himself is mired in the minor leagues, despite pitching admirably last year), is pitching for the Rockies instead this year. The results so far are pretty good for a pitcher who pitches in mile high stadium: 13 H and 9 BB in 22 1/3 IP. He made Giants hitters look foolish at times and stayed with Tim Lincecum, who eventually fell apart, giving up a five spot that won the game for the Rockies.

The reason that's usually given for Clay Mortensen's second class status in the A's organization were his off the field problems, including a DUI not long after he was acquired from the Cardinals in the Matt Holliday deal. But he promptly started last season 9-2, being named a PCL All-Star. He was not called up, however, with Beane preferring Chad Gaudin, Henry Rodriguez and, eventually, Tyson Ross.

I'm glad they let go of Mortensen, and I'll be happier when they let go of Cramer, too, but there's another option: trade the middle of the rotation for position players you direly need, move the back of the rotation to the middle, and plug up the back end of the rotation as necessary. Do something bold, like trade Gonzalez for a decent third baseman. The platoon of LaRoche and Kouzmanoff is not working--on a number of levels. Both have the propensity to swing on the first pitch when the situation calls for patience; overplay the ball at third; and generally bat in the bottom third of the lineup, when the third baseman should typically bat fifth.

And, of course, there's first base, where we have stuck with Barton for far too long. He continues to dazzle defensively--and may be, in fact, now be the best defensive first baseman in the league. But you need one thing from first base and one thing only: power. Barton has yet to hit a home run this year, and will never be the 25 HR 75 RBI guy they thought he was. So you've got to get that guy if he's going to play first base.

I know what Beane and Co. are thinking: do what you do best and don't worry about trying to do something you're incapable of. But you can get into a pattern of stockpiling too many good young pitchers to the exclusion of other concerns. It's pretty embarrassing to bring a non-fan out the game and have the home team score one or two runs on five singles, a stolen base and an error. Winning is everything, but at least try to put power hitters at first and third. Leave Ellis and Pennington at second and short if you wish, but Koutzmanoff and Barton have got to go.

And you've got only one thing to trade for power--arms. We could realistically part with Gonzalez, Ross, Breslow and Wuertz and give up only maybe a half run a game more, considering that we have Blevins and Cramer, to just name the major-league ready guys, plus minor-league guys knocking on the door. In exchange for Gonzalez, Ross, Breslow and Wuertz, I think you could at least get 81 RBIs--a half run a game.

And a much more exciting product to watch.