Just after Bruce Springsteen released Devils & Dust, his best album since The Rising and best of the year so far, in April, he and I happened to be at a charity event together in New Jersey.

“How do you think Eli Manning will do next year?” I asked him, trying to spark a conversation.

“He’ll be fine,” Springsteen replied. “But what I really want to know is, what’s wrong with the A’s?”

Indeed, at the time all of the Moneyball detractors seemed smarter than the smart kids. Beaneball in the post-Hudson and Mulder era was off to a very bad start, and there seemed little chance that even a patented A’s second half turnaround could save them.

I didn’t give the matter much more thought because the NFL draft and the upcoming training camps had me on the road again, but then Springsteen gave me a call last week, and told me to watch the A’s again.

“That Swisher kid in Moneyball, he’s everything they said he was,” Bruce said. “Try to catch a couple of their games. They’re just a thrill to watch.”

When Bruce Springsteen says to do something, you better do it. And so while making my tour around the NFL minicamps, I’ve been watching the A’s in my hotel room when I get a chance. And I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

This rookie of theirs Dan Johnson will make you forget what a pre-steroids Jason Giambi ever played like. Rich Harden is an ace. We’re going to be hearing from him for a long time. Same with Dan Haren and Nick Swisher and on and on. This team really has something going, and like the New England Patriots, they look thrilled to be on the field. It’s early, but they are My Sure Thing Lock to Make the Playoffs.

“I can’t say we weren’t concerned back in May,” Oakland GM Billy Beane tells me, “but we knew that we were a better team than the way we were playing.”

I’ll say.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH…

Shortstop Derek Jeter, whose Yankees are back in the playoff hunt:

MMQB: Are you worried about the pitching staff?

Jeter: Not at all. We’ve had some rough injuries, but we’ll bounce back.

MMQB: Is Joe Torre the greatest manager to ever live?

Jeter: Well, he’s the only manager I’ve had, but Joe is amazing. He keeps this team together.

MMQB: Who is a better fielder, you or A-Rod?

Jeter: We’re both very good, but I’ll have to say me. Give A-Rod another year at third though, and it will be close.

FROM THE E-MAIL BAG

I don’t get many baseball questions, but I did get a good one that I’d like to talk about.

AN ANGEL IN THE OUT-FIELD. From Fred of Reseda, Calif.: “As a lifelong Angels fan, I read with great interest that Seymour Hersh piece about how Gene Autry supposedly ruined the game. All I can say after finishing it is, HOGWASH. Autry was a great owner, and really loved his fans. I can’t believe that someone printed that Hersh garbage. And of course it was from ‘anonymous sources.'”

I have to agree, Fred. While I don’t read the New Yorker these days (I’m more of a Newsweek guy), I was really lost in that whole article. Why are we just finding this out now? And you’re telling me that someone in baseball can keep a secret? I’ll believe it when I don’t hear it. Thanks for the question.

Ten Things I Think I Think

1. I think that a .500 record will win the NL West. You hear that Barry Bonds?

2. I think that Kenny Rogers should consider himself lucky that he’s not in jail right now. That was an embarrassing display, and he knows better. Good luck ever winning an award that the press votes on, Kenny. We don’t forget things like that.

3. I think that Teddy Bruschi is in the King family’s prayers. A great football player and a great man. The game won’t be the same without you this year, fella.

4. I think that the 49ers did the right thing by giving Alex Smith a big deal. Their whole future depends on him, and a holdout would have cost them more than just money. Well done.

5. I think Larry Brown has his work cut out for him in New York. Be careful what you wish for. And kudos to Joe Dumars for bringing on Flip Saunders. A great coach for a great team.

6. I think here are my non-sports thoughts of the week:

a. I think that Nate is dead. Sorry Six Feet Under fans, but I think that was it. They said that we were going to lose someone, and I think that they’re going for the big surprise since it’s the last season. Great, great show. But can somebody give Rico a break already?

b. Colgate Equestrian Note of the Week: Mary Beth King has the summer off, of course, but she’s still riding her old chestnut Obediah every chance she gets. She hasn’t been home as much as I’d like (and neither have I), but I’m the proud parent of The Best Cowgirl in New Jersey!

c. Coffeenerdness: Is there such a thing as good non-Starbucks coffee any more? I was in Seattle to talk with Mike Holmgren not too long ago, and decided to sample some of the city’s famous beaneries. None of them could compete with Starbucks. I ran into Joe Theismann and he mentioned the same thing! They’ve built themselves a real dynasty.

1. I don’t think AJ Burnett will be traded. Peter Angelos, you had your shot and blew it.

2. I think that the Yankees might have the Rookie of the Year in Robinson Cano. The last Yankee to win the award? Derek Jeter. They’re smiling in the Bronx tonight.

3. I think that Roger Clemens can pitch for my team anytime. Wow.

4. I think the Boston Red Sox had better do something. Only a two game lead on the Yankees considering how the Bronx Bombers have played so far? They’re going to need help.