I hadn't updated the Heavyweight Championship (see sidebar) during my little AWOL period. For the first time since the first series of the season, the Yankees are champs again, after defeating Seattle, who beat the White Sox, who beat the Twins.

* * *

If the Yanks beat Seattle on Thursday, the A's will get another shot at the crown this weekend.

* * *

Quote from Tim Keown:

It makes no sense to win two out of every three when you can accomplish the same thing -- and have much more fun -- by losing 10 straight and then winning 15: The Oakland A's, baseball's extremists.

Not to mention, it's a better method for holding on to the heavyweight crown. The A's have a seven-win lead over the Blue Jays entering September for the overall heavyweight title. They'll be hard to catch.