OK. Take two deep breaths. Relax. Let's try to be rational, despite some frustrating conditions.

First things first; the A's are 14-17. Just two good series away from being .500 again.

We are 4 games out in the division. 5.5 out of the wild card. With 131 games to play.

Now I have to point out that while the Athletics start has been frustrating, the bottom line is we have won more games than we have deserved too so far, and that's because of our excellent starting pitching and bullpen. Instead of redundantly bashing bad performances, look at the positives.

Harden: ok, 2-2, but no-one can deny his rise to Ace-status. Locked up for the next World Series push. Listening on MLB.tv I hear other team's announcers salivating over him on every performance. Stud, period.

Blanton: 3.22 ERA. I don't know if anyone expected this much from him, or if we can expect a whole year of it. Yes, the strikeouts are low. WHIP is high. But he handles himself in a veteran manner in tough spots, and is a solid number three or four pitcher for the next five years for what is essentially peanuts. (Remember Benson got $7M a year, Lieber got $9M a year, etc. etc.)

Duchscherer: Second year in the bigs, and pitching great.
14 games, 18 IP, 16 K versus 3 BB, 1.45 ERA, .227 opponent's batting average. Solid in all respects.
He may not have overpowering stuff, but he certainly gets the job done. The cutter is key, and with Calero falling off the map, I expect him to become the primary set-up man. Again, cheap as dirt, relatively speaking.

Street: Good, especially considering the pressure and hype surrounding the 21 year old.
19 K's in 16 innings is great, 7 walks is up a little from his minor league trends. He doesn't give in, and throws that slider down and away with 3 balls, which has lead to more walks. However, opponents are only batting .237 off the kid with a 2.81 ERA. He seems like he can and will adjust to hitters, from all reports a very smart pitcher with testicular fortitude. Future looks bright.

Kotsay: Model of consistency. Numbers should only improve with a better performing lineup around him. Here's hoping he also gets locked up for the next World Series run. .302 avg, .350 OBP.

Zito: Not so consistent. But the slurve seems to be helping, and he has five or six pitches now, and is mixing them all in effectively. Note the last seven days;
1W, 0L, 14 IP, 6 K's versus 1 BB, .84 WHIP, .216 OBA, 3.14 ERA.
It would be foolish based on what we have all witnessed in the past two seasons to think Zito will rebound to Cy Young form, but this is a positive trend none the less.  He is the type of pitcher that thrives on confidence, so let's hope he gets on a roll; we can't expect 2002 Barry, but we can shoot for a pitcher better than his 2004 numbers.

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The negatives of course, focus mainly on the offense. I would throw Cruz's inability to contribute and Calero's recent problems in too. Kiko needs to go on the DL, or throw the slider, period. As some St. Louis fans pointed out on their message board he is a `one-trick pony', and without that trick he may as well not pitch and recover, or have surgery. Anyways...

The offense is abysmal. I'm not trying to defend our hitters in any way.

For it to continue like this would be shocking and as Gammons pointed out, historically bad.

A.L. Ranks.

Dead last in OPS
3rd from bottom in Batting Average
3rd from bottom in Home Runs.
2nd from bottom of MLB in doubles!
2nd from bottom of MLB in runs, at just 108. Only Pittsburgh is worse.
3rd from bottom of MLB in average, and an anorexic .236 clip.
And as Blez pointed out, dead last in the big leagues in slugging at .339!

Look at those atrocious numbers. As much as we scream, kick, bang our heads on the wall, and get on each others nerves with our sarcastic game posts, while generally raging over our beloved A's batting habits, remember one thing...

We are 4 games out in the division. 5.5 out of the wild card. With 131 games to play.

Wow.

It hardly seems possible, but look at it like this; that means some things have to be going right. Especially considering that last time I checked, Offense was half of the game, and vital to winning this nine-inning fiascos we are so helplessly addicted to.

My point, in a very round-about fashion, (I apologize for that,) is that it is the potential of this team that is frustrating so many of us. Remember that 2005 is technically a rebuilding year, but we see a team that is struggling at or below .500 with no offense to speak of whatsoever. This team could win the division. No joke. If we had just an average offense, we would probably be leading the Angels right now.

-So I hope all of you realize Chavez won't end the season batting .200 with 16 HR's and 60 RBI's.
-Kendall will improve to at least a .280 in his first year against AL pitching.
-Crosby will come back. Can't be too bad, right? Doubt he could make this offense worse. Swisher too.
-Durazo has already started to wake up from his winter hibernation.

So maybe we will pull out a good season. I believe it will happen. We could make a run at the division / wild card in a rebuilding year, which is impressive in itself. If not, the future of the franchise is twice as bright as the chances for this year. Johnson, Barton, Suzuki, Putman, Robnett, our farm system is well stocked.

Dotel and Durazo can also add to the future years by bringing in new young talent for the next WS push through trades. (If this year fails completely, or through draft picks otherwise.)

Let's stay positive Athletics Nation. There are a lot worse franchises you could throw your time and devotion at. (insert at least half of MLB here) Let's refrain from snapping at each others necks at remember that baseball is a game of highs and lows, and if this is the A's season low batting wise, (it sure looks like it,) we should be in good shape!

I'd appreciate if negative comments found their way on to another diary, consider this the positivity thread!