There’s an aphorism (I think it’s Japanese, and I’m paraphrasing from memory here) that says that a donkey can travel a thousand miles, but it’s still just an ass.

Similarly, the Nationals can fire their manager but they’re still just the Nationals.  Last night, two costly errors, a runner picked off at first base, and four meager hits against the Cubs. 

In the apt words of Peter Gammons, they’re “One of the worst constructed teams of all time.”  But we dare not blame Jim Bowden!  For he hated the union - as we’re all taught to do, as well - and he’s still treated like a baseball prodigy by the mainstream media. 

(And for the record, I personally think that firing Manny Acta was a totally necessary move.  I just thought that it was funny that their first game under their new “hard nosed” manager was so typical of every game under Acta.)

What, do you follow her around the house all day saying, “I am the key master…?”

David, I bet that ain’t Japanese, since donkey and ass don’t compute there.

I’m pretty sure Piniella called Fukudome one or the other.

There might have 11,000 at the Mausoleum last night, as the official attendance suggests, but I think it was closer to 8,000. And for the first time this year there were significant numbers who came to boo.

The booing was at first tentative, exploratory, as if the few advanced booers were seeking permission to vent thusly.

But when the hand of Billy Beane did not reach down and smite the unworthy, and a few more beers were drunk, the booing became lusty and pointed. Giambi, presumably fresh after the all-star break, looked overmatched. Boo him they did.

And Dallas Braden, entering the game with a 3.12 ERA, threw so many change-ups even my girlfriend knew when one was expected. He generously left several of them belt high in the middle of the plate as well. He was booed.

Unfortunately Bob “Everything is Beautiful” Geren was not booed sufficiently. As Beane’s yes man, he has his team playing as lethargically as a last place beer-league team 3 outs from beer. Let’s swing at everything and hope the ball hits the bat. Bunt for a base hit? No way, that’s for sissies like Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar, who happened to notice that Adam Kennedy has to play third and can’t make that throw if he is the least off balance.

The A’s have competition for worst team in the AL, but not for most embarrassing team.