Mark Mulder won his 17th game last night, but he didn't look good doing it. Mulder dominated from April through June 24th, but since then he's been inconsistent. The only pitch he seems to have had good control with recently has been his fastball, and last night he had trouble that, too.

It's a testament to his talent (and run support), that he can keep winning even if he's not pitching sharply. Mulder said after yesterday's game that his mechanics are off. I hope that's all it is.

Billy Beane says he's not worried about Mulder, but I can't help myself. The last time Mulder went a month without being his usual dominant self, it turned out he was pitching with a broken leg bone near his hip.

Uff då. But this time, it's just mechanics, yeah, that's right, ya sure, oh yeah, he'll fix everything next time out, yabetcha, so dat Cy Young will go backta Oakland, instead of, ya know, heading off to dat land of Scandihoovians and fellas out dere named Olaf and Sven and Lars and Johan.