Oakland's historic streak of consecutive winning games ended last night, leaving them with the AL record of 20 consecutive wins but with only the third longest streak in major league history. Provided they continue to play well the rest of the season, the A's should finish the season as the champions of the AL West and stand a good shot of advancing far into the postseason. However regardless of their final place in the standings, the team accomplished an impressive feat and once again demonstrated the wide variety of moments during the course of a season that create excitement for the baseball fan.

The A's expanded their roster to include UT-R Jose Flores, RHP Mike Fyhrie, RHP Aaron Harang, UT-L Jason Grabowski, C-L Cody McKay, IF-R Frank Menechino, and LHP Mike Venafro for September. In order to facilitate the call-ups, they needed to open two spots on the 40-man, which they did by outrighting Alan Levrault to AAA and designated Mike Colangelo for assignment.

Flores has displayed solid major league skills in AAA since 1998. Unfortunately, the teams for which he's played have either not recognized his upside or haven't had an opening for him in the majors. Oakland signed him to a minor league contract this off-season, and he's hit .306 with a .397 OBP and .380 SLG on 111 H, 19 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, a 56:53 BB:K, and 16/20 SB% in 363 AB with AAA Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. He should provide the A's with another high quality middle infield reserve and pinch-hitter this month. Hopefully next season he'll sign with someone who has an opening for a reserve infielder on the bench, as he probably could start for some teams.

Fyhrie was up with the A's a couple times this season when their starters were injured but returned to AAA from his last stint in the big leagues when Oakland acquired Ted Lilly from New York. He should work middle relief and could spot start for the A's this month.

Despite a lack of structural problems in his shoulder, the team shut down Lilly for a couple weeks and has carefully monitored his rehab. He's supposed to rejoin the team this week, and reports indicate Oakland intends to use him as their fifth starter this month even though he may not be able to go more than a few innings. I don't understand why they would choose this course rather than allow Aaron Harang to continue to work as the fifth starter, with Lilly pitching in the bullpen as he ideally will in the playoffs.

Oakland recalled Aaron Harang when Lilly went on the DL. The A's had demoted Harang only one day earlier in order to open a roster spot for reliever Jeff Tam, as the acquisition of Lilly pushed Harang from the rotation and they weren't using him out of the bullpen. Texas drafted Harang out of San Diego State University in the 6th round of the 1999 draft and then traded him to Oakland with LHP Ryan Cullen for Randy Velarde at the end of 2000. He's demonstrated strong skills through the majors, and after a full season at AA in 2001, advanced to AAA by this May. Over the course of eight AAA starts this season, he compiled a 39:9 K:BB with 41 H and 1 HR allowed in 38.2 IP for a 3.26 ERA. While in the majors, he's allowed 73 H and 7 HR over 75 IP with a 61:38 K:BB for a 4.08 ERA over 14 starts.

Oakland sent him to the minors at the end of August as they won't need a fifth starter on the playoff roster and wanted to recall Adam Piatt, who they want active for the postseason. They were also fortunate in that due to the composition of their schedule, they could use a four-man rotation for a couple weeks. With Lilly rejoining the rotation, Harang will likely assume a long relief role for the remainder of the season.

Tam bounced between AAA and the majors a couple times this year due to some ineffectiveness early in the season. For most of the season, Piatt was the odd man out in a full outfield. However, he'll serve the A's well as a reserve outfielder and pinch-hitter throughout the rest of the year and should return in a more regular role next season. He even may have improved upon his plate discipline skills during his time at AAA.

The A's continued Grabowski's development as a utilityman at AAA this season. He can handle the corner infield positions, outfield, and catch. The 26-year-old also possesses promising power and good plate discipline, making him useful as a left-handed pinch-hitter.

Oakland drafted Cody McKay out of Arizona State University in the 9th round of the 1996 draft. He's progressed steadily through their minor leagues and likely could handle a job as a back-up catcher in the majors. The 28-year-old has a bit of power and an acceptable bat for a catcher, so he could also be used as a left-handed pinch-hitter in addition to working as the A's third catcher this month.

Menechino's remained in the minors since Oakland GM Billy Beane purged the roster around the time of the Jeremy Giambi trade. He gives them another infield reserve and right-handed pinch-hitter.

Unlike Mike Holtz and Mike Magnante, the A's were able to retain Mike Venafro in AAA after demoting him in late July to clear a roster spot to promote Micah Bowie. The three lefty Mikes generally performed poorly for Oakland this season and certainly failed to earn their paychecks. Recalling Venafro gives them another lefty in the pen for September, but I expect they'll avoid using him in high-impact situations.

I'm a bit surprised the team hasn't recalled Esteban German if only to have a speedy pinch-runner. German was up for a little over two weeks earlier this season before he was usurped by the promotion of Mark Ellis. He maintained excellent plate discipline in the minors though with no power skills of note, but Oakland's failure to promote German seems to indicate that they've severely soured on him. In conjunction with their other middle infield options, I think their actions foreshadow a likely off-season trade of German.

In addition to their strong 25-man roster, the A's possess a number of players capable of regular jobs in the majors on their 40-man roster, making their September team one of the strongest in baseball. These additions should allow them to continue to outpace their divisional competition.