How about those A’s? Start calling Tim Hudson “Iceman” if we aren’t already. The guy is unflappable. Every team wishes they had a guy like that on their staff. Unreal.

How about Jason Isringhausen? Again. Handed a 2-0 lead to start the bottom of the ninth, he allows a leadoff squib double down the left-field line to Bernie Williams and a walk to Tino Martinez. With runners at first and second, nobody out, Izzy catches Jorge Posada looking at a fastball on the outside corner for strike three, then induces David Justice and Scott Brosius to hit weak popups on the infield to end the game. Yes, the playoffs are a different animal. But Isringhausen doesn’t seem to appreciate the difference. He and Jason Giambi actually managed to share a laugh when the latter visited the mound during Posada’s at-bat. And the Yanks are the ones who are supposed to be playoff-savvy?

Speaking of the Yankees, are those announcers getting kickbacks from Steinbrenner for saying nice things about his team? Yeah, they give the A’s some credit but for the most part, the Fox guys are making excuses for the Yankees and talking about what they need to do to get out of this funk they’re in. Uh, guys, here’s an idea: They need to play a team that isn’t significantly better than them. Yep, I think that might get them out of their little funk. It will be interesting to see if the announcers stop gushing over the Yankees once they’re out of the playoffs. I’m not optimistic.

The New York media are cute, too, trying desperately to fire up their club. I tell ya, where’s Jeffrey Maier when you need him? He could turn things around. Jeffrey Maier. Now there’s a man of action.

Good to see the Mariners win. They and the A’s have to meet in the ALCS. Actually, if there were any justice, those two teams would meet in the World Series. As it is, if they do meet, the World Series might actually be something of a letdown.

Back to the media, you know who’s impressed me at Baseball Tonight? Guest analyst Al Leiter. Not that I thought he’d be an idiot or anything, but when you’re constantly presented with guys like Rob Dibble and Ray Knight, well, let’s just say they lower the bar of expectation just a tad. And Leiter’s still actually playing baseball. Yeah, he sometimes resorted to cliches but for the most part he gave good explanations of what the pitcher was thinking and what he was throwing. And he didn’t butcher the English language or come off as a pompous ass. Maybe someone can get him to coach Dibble and Knight?

In other news, Josh Boyd over at Baseball America reports that the Padres are now talking about trying Jake Gautreau at second base. With Xavier Nady’s bum elbow keeping him out of Instructional League (and probably limiting him to DH the first half of 2002) and the Burroughs/Nevin situation unresolved, Gautreau will get the next shot. After a slow start in the Northwest League, the Padres’ first-rounder out of Tulane finished strong, and even played well in a cameo at Triple-A Portland after Burroughs went down to injury. I’m hoping I’ll get to see Gautreau at Elsinore next year, but I have a feeling he may jump straight to Double-A. If he does come to the Cal League, look for him to put up Nady-like numbers — maybe higher batting average and not quite so many homers.

Good article on Mark Phillips over at TeamOneBaseball.com.

And in the AFL, not a lot going on for Padres prospects. Outfielders Darren Blakely (.333/.556/1.000 in 6 AB) and Kory DeHaan (.310/.310/.724 in 29 AB) are doing well, as is lefty Eric Cyr (6 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 7 SO, 1.50 ERA). Righty J.J. Trujillo isn’t having as much success (3.2, 7, 1, 6, 7.36).

I saw Blakely when he was at the University of Hawaii, and again when he played for Elsinore. Great athlete with inconsistent baseball skills. Probably a fourth outfielder at best, and that’s assuming he learns to control the strike zone. A few other big names on that Peoria squad: Hank Blalock (3B, Tex), Drew Henson (3B, NYA), Kevin Mench (OF, Tex). And one of my favorites, Seattle farmhand Craig Kuzmic. Playing mostly first base and some second, Kuzmic is hitting .429/.520/.857 in 28 at-bats. He could be a pesky little utility infielder in the bigs if given the chance.