For the first time since 1990 the Oakland Athletics have started the season with a 12-4 record. In addition to this most people are touting the fact that they have the best record in the American League. However, this 12-4 record includes 6 wins against the Houston Astros. The Astros have just recently been added to the American League and are playing like a glorified expansion team. Meaning they suck. Most people are predicting that the Astros will lose 100 games this year.

I would like to point out that those same people that are saying the Astros will lose 100 games are the same people that said the A’s would lose 100 games last year, and if you asked me last year at this time I would have agreed with them. The A’s, as you know, went on to have an amazing season and ended up winning the American League West title. They proved beyond a doubt that it’s not over until the very last out of the very last game.

The Season Is Still Young

So why am I spending my lunch hour at work writing about all of this? Because I’m conflicted. On the one hand I�m glad the A’s are doing well and have a 12-4 record, but on the other hand I feel like the Astros are such a distraction from the real competition that it should really be a 6-4 record. Also I honestly don’t feel like we can claim the “Best Team in the American League” title simply from the fact that we haven’t played the Rangers yet, a formidable opponent who is in our division, and we lost the series to the Tigers. Until we can win crucial series against formidable opponents I will just hold judgment on the A’s season.