heres a link to the AL west report:

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050712&content_id=1128024& ;vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

As usual, Mychael Urban does an outstanding job covering the A's in Oakland's midseason report.  Sadly, when it comes to a report on the bigger scale, like the AL West one, things aren't quite as rosy (unbiased).  It seems that this midseason report was written a couple months ago by what it is saying...which would not make it a midseason report.  Theres many subtle things that slander the A's, but being a major sports media, thats pretty much all the slander they can get away with.  

For example, to quote:
  "The characters in the AL West race might have changed places a bit over the last few years, but the one constant remains the Angels at the top of the fray."

Unless I am reading this wrong, the Angels have not been at the top of the fray, except for one weekend last season and most of this season.  How on earth can the Angels be the constant division leaders over the last few years?  It seems to me that this writer is trying to push for the recent past to be erased so that he can usher in an era of media dynasty for the West Coast Yankees.  To get things rolling, he is trying to make the Angels the perrenial AL West leaders like the Yankees are for the East.  Too bad the division standings for seasons to come will not reflect his wishes.  

He goes on to report (which is where I get the hint that this was written a little while back despite the date of the article- today):  

  "GM homework assignment: At this point, a Mark Kotsay trade makes sense if the A's can get more parts for their rapid rebuilding process. Trading him doesn't make the A's a seller, just opportunistic in a market hungry for outfielders."

Lets forget that Kotsay is one of the key pieces in the A's resurgence for years to come.  Lets forget that Billy Beane already talked about the A's always being a seller and a buyer.  Lets forget that our team has been already playing like a contender for the last month and is only going to get better so we don't need more pieces.  KOTSAY WAS ALREADY SIGNED - done deal, what kind of homework assignment for BB is this guy talking about?  Maybe he needs help with his history paper cuz god knows he doesn't remember anything.

Along with hints that Rangers are the only threats to the Angels and constant reminder that the A's are rebuilding, this guy definetely is trying to sell something. Something not true.