Barry Zito wasn’t himself on Sunday. It turns out he was pitching with sore ribs. Update: Bobby Kielty hurt his ribcage, too, and may miss a week or two.

How come every time the A’s run into a cluster of injuries, they also run into the Yankees?

* * *

I saw March of the Penguins today. Reminded me of this A’s season.

You’re a bird. You need to lay your egg. Your nesting ground is 70 miles away. No problem, right?

Oh, but wait, we can’t let it be easy. Sure, you’re a bird, but unlike other birds, you can’t fly. You’re built to swim! But…you can’t swim there, either. You have to walk. Walk 70 miles!?! You barely have legs! Yes, 70 miles…in the snow! But there’s nothing you can do about it, so you perservere. You get there. Shortly after you arrive, the sun disappears. It won’t be back for several months. It gets even colder. But wait, there’s more! There’s nothing to eat! You will go without any food through a full winter in the coldest place on earth.

Still alive? Don’t count your chicks until they reach the sea.

The weather starts to turn for the better. It starts getting lighter and warmer. You have some hope. But suddenly, some birds that can fly just float right in as if getting to this place is the easiest thing in the world, and start trying to eat you alive.

Life is just one damn thing after another.

* * *

The Yankees took their bite out of Oakland, and moved on. Monday, the A’s only have to face Felix Hernandez and the Mariners.

To the sea! It’s good to be alive.