Last month I pegged June like a 140yd downhill par 3 with a 9 iron. But I wasn't really trying.

Score one up for the "optimists" I guess?

Colorado Fan asked, so what the hey? Maybe I'll  try a little bit harder this time and then blow minds with a brilliant plot twist at the end?

Here's the A's July records for the last 5 years:

04'...15-12
03'...16-11
02'...15-12
01'...19-8
00'...13-14

Pretty consistent "above .500" records except for the anamoly of 2001, which was the year we later learned the server crashed and the club did not get the "June" memo resulting in a 12-15 record for that month.

So, with recent trends aside, forside, inside, and outside, I can predict a July record of no less than 18-8 for this year's club.

Whoa!...Is what you just said! I heard that!

You may say "But Force! Perhaps the club didn't get the "May" memo?" To which I would have to respond: "Due to the unprecedented youth of this this year's club, it has to be taken in to consideration that----oh screw that! We're gonna whoop some you-know-what! Can I getta-a-little LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!"

But alas my friends, the diabolical plot twist still awiats you...

The Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem. Those white robed wing-ed rivals of ours. A tricky bird indeed.

The Halos are hard to predict due to the very up-and-down nature of anything wing-ed.

The Angels records for the past 5 July's:

04'...15-12
03'...12-15
02'...16-10
01'...16-11
00'...16-12

An average record of 15-12. Very comparable to the A's average of 16-11. With these very put-under-the-microscope-and-analyzed-to-the-umpteenth-degree kind of of statistics, it is very easy to arrive at July ending record for the LAAAAAAAAA's at an abysmal 9-18.

Whoa! You just said that!!! I heard you!

Wait...did I forget to mention the whole "schedule thingy"?

With the A's as hot as they are, 7 with the Yanks, 6 with the Twins, 4 with the PO'd M's, and six roadies split between the Roy-als w/cheeses and Jays, the Angels have been bestowed the toughest MLB schedule in July (except for the Roy-als w/cheeses part).

Force! What the Fu---oh don't you say that!

So now it is time I unvail the Trumpiest of Trump cards. The olive in the martini and the swizzle in the stick....

The Force has been re-assigned...to no other than, you guessed it, LA. My obligation to the AthleticsNation has been fulfilled in the Pacific Northwest with the successful completion of operation "Mariner meltdown". Beginning next week I will begin the reconnaiscance and set-up phases of operation "Halo wing-clip" from Redondo Beach, California.