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The Oakland Athletics haven't had a successful season this year, but with all the injuries they've suffered over the last six months, let's just all be happy that nobody died. I know teams don't like to use injury as an excuse, but I think it's safe to say that if the Athletics want to, nobody will get on their case.

The Athletics realize this, and they wanted to let Bob Geren know that he doesn't need to worry about his job in the foreseeable future, so Billy Beane picked up his option and Geren will now be in Oakland through 2009.

"I appreciate his vote of confidence," Geren said. "I was thinking back on it and I've been in the organization for nine years. It's a wonderful place to work and everyone's been great. The minor league system is second to none. The best thing about it is through all the injuries and transactions all year, we've discovered some wonderful young talent. It will be a fun team to be leading."

Geren wasn't the only Athletic receiving good news on Monday, as the team also exercised the option on Mark Ellis' contract. Ellis will make $5 million in 2008, though the Athletics could have bought him out for $250,000.

Sure, they may have saved some money by letting Ellis go, but they probably just saved a lot of errors. Ellis is one of the best defensive second baseman in baseball and he set career highs in home runs, RBI, hits, runs, doubles and stolen bases. Not to mention he also stayed healthy all season, which is a feat in and of itself.