Tonight's game was certainly eventful. It was the first minor league game at Wrigley Field, Ryne Sandberg's return to Wrigley (well, he's been there many times I'm sure, but this time as a manager), a new Midwest League attendance record (31,103), and, of course, I got to cover the game for ChicagoSporting.com.

As I've done with the previous two write-ups, I'll type up a few comments about what I saw of some of the A's prospects. We will start with the first round pick, Jemile Weeks.

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I haven't seen this posted anywhere yet, but I feel it's worth noting:

According to The Score, WSCR-AM 670, talks between the A's and White Sox are "heating up." With Jose Contreras hurt and mostly bad, it looks like the Sox want Duke.

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Just got back from an interesting game at Elfstrom Stadium, my second covering the Cougars. You can see my first write-up here if you missed it.

This morning there was a pretty large storm in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. The result: the stadium was without power. No A/C in the press box, no scoreboard to remind me of the count, and no free food :(. But there was still baseball, so let's get right into it.

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Tonight was my first night of what will end up being rather sporadic duty at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, IL covering the Kane County Cougars for ChicagoSporting.com. I figured I'd give some impressions I got from a first-hand look at a few A's prospects. As I type this the game report isn't up on the site, but you should go there to check it out.

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There's been a lot of talk here lately, and even on the A's official site, about some of the players who might play their way onto the 25-man roster. Guys like Greg Smith, Mike Sweeney, Todd Linden, and, I guess, even Brooks Conrad are all playing well and there's a good chance a couple of them are going to be on the 25-man roster (or even the expanded 28-man Japan roster).

But there's a problem: None of those four guys are on the 40-man. Neither are Kirk Saarloos, Gio Gonzalez, or a third catcher (Powell is, but he was already optioned). So what will the A's do?

Without going into the 40-man roster details for those who are unaware, here's the simple explanation: For any one of those guys who the A's want on the Major League roster, somebody on the 40-man has to go. This means risking losing that person to another team, or, in some cases, having that person choose free agency over a minor league assignment. I'm looking up and down the A's roster trying to figure out who might be the odd man out.

I'm not sure when Kiko Calero is going to be ready, but as far as I know he hasn't done anything yet. If that's the case, I could see the A's putting him on the 60-day DL to start the season. If he is, that opens up a 40-man spot without losing anybody (players on the 15-day DL are still on the 40-man, those on the 60-day DL are not - without the risk of losing that player). At this point, it doesn't appear the A's really need Calero, so I could see this happening.

If Fernando Hernandez doesn't make the 25-man roster, the A's have to offer him back to the White Sox. Hernandez has been solid so far this spring, and I can't imagine the A's would offer him back unless he really blows it over the next week and a half. As far as I'm concerned, he's going to be on the team. There's a spot that could be freed, but likely will not be.

There's the possibility of a few trades before the season begins. Aside from the big names like Blanton and Street (who would almost certainly bring back players who were on the 40-man), Alan Embree and Dan Johnson could be moved for low minors players that would free up a spot. Johnson seems to be on his way out anyway, and Embree is a guy who could probably help another team more. I want to see the kids. Some of those guys who lose out on the 5th starter spot need to take a spot in the bullpen, and they all seem to be left-handed anyway.

When I look at the pitchers, none of the ones who are on the bubble have been awful. Even Dana Eveland has been alright, but he might really need to prove himself over his next couple outings to make the team. I think he's out of options, so if he struggles he could go, unless Beane wouldn't want to lose a player from the Haren trade so quickly. I can see them releasing Foulke if he can't get himself ready in time, but that's sunk cost and Beane doesn't want to do that, either. I honeslty can't find one pitcher who I can definitely see being designated for assignment. Maybe Dan Meyer?

When I look at the position players, guys like Mellilo and Petit could probably be designated and then outrighted, but with the left side of the infield perpetually day-to-day, you want some infielders ready to step in.

The only player on the 40-man I think is totally expendable from management's perspective is Jeff Fiorentino. He was a waiver wire pickup, cost the team nothing, and is really just a body in camp. He might have some potential, but he's behind so many guys right now and with Todd Linden playing well, Fiorentino is certainly a possibility.

Most of this is just thinking out loud, and I'm not sure I came up with much in the way of answers. Trade Embree and Johnson, I guess. Put Calero on the 60-Day DL. That frees up 3 40-man spots. Will the A's end up needing more than that?

With the trade of Nick Swisher to the White Sox (and Aaron Rowand leaving the Phillies), I now have no baseball jerseys that are current. I want to get a new A's jersey, but I'm worried. When I bought the Swisher jersey a couple years ago I thought for sure I was going to get a solid half-decade or more out of it. But, alas, I root for the A's and nobody stays for long.

So now I need to decide who's name and number I'll wear next.

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