I am currently writing in the intro copy.  Why it is referred to as such, I have no idea.  I would like some clarification.  Anyway.  Someone just IM'ed me with an Erstad-related link, and the comment "the A's are due for a 75-90 type season".  Here's why this person should go fuck himself.  First off, no major league team plays 165 games.  Tiebreakers are not best of three series; that's the only way you're getting 165.  And 75-90...the Yankees would have to go 152-10, and the Tigers 151-11, to have the A's be in contention at 73-89 or 74-88.  

Second, all my non-A's-fans friends (which is to say, everyone), is anxiously awaiting a slip-up by the near-perfect squad I (and you) root for.  Geographically, I'm in Yankees/Red Sox/rare miscellaneous AL East team fan territory, so as you can imagine, frustration is abounding.  Meanwhile, the one thing I can count on in my life, above everything else, is the A's being in contention, no matter what names comprise the 25-man/40-man/bottom-5-caliber-non-40-man rosters.  I can see where jealousy may arise.  But these people should know better than to try to pounce on a certain signing that even 95% of us faithful diehards are questioning.  As I pointed out last thread, the most plausible explanation, for me, is that Kotsay will now be shopped, perhaps to the White Sox for Danks (that was a completely unfounded guess).  

Ok, finally, here's what I think.  I think, as currenlty constructed, the A's are not a 75-win team, but perhaps a .500 team.  We need more to compete this year.  The Angels, for all their managerial ineptitude, are probably ten games better than us right now.  The Rangers are about equal, and the Mariners are one good move away from being able to say the same.  Let's face reailty here.  We need to gamble to compete this year.  To me, that means starting Gaudin, trading a starting pitcher + Kotsay for hitting, and reshuffling a bit.  Although last diary I somberly called for an end to Mets' trade rumours, I feel like seeing a bunch of reasonable but completely groundless rumours in this diary.  I'll start: Kotsay, Kiko, Kennedy, Kurt (Suzuki) for Johnny Damon.  Gamble on Gaudin, and let the rotation sort itself out by the end of May.