MVN: Most Valuable Network

No one expected the Oakland Athletics to be a force in the American League West this season. After all, they have continued their process of shipping off their marquee players, most recently expunging from their roster pitcher Dan Haren. Surely, with their off-season acquisitions, the Seattle Mariners would dethrone the A’s from their Number Two spot in the division.

Oh, how reality is a fickle thing.

The Mariners have the worst record in Major League Baseball, while the A’s are surprisingly resilient; they keep winning despite a lackluster offense and their aforementioned loss of start players.

However, this early-season battle between the Angels and A’s--while not definitive by any means--did establish the fact that, considering the deficiencies of each team, whichever team had the worst showing would find the road ahead much harder.

Entering the series, the Angels held a 3.5-game lead over Oakland--so at the worst case, if swept, the Halos would still leave the Bay Area in first place, though only barely. If Oakland were swept, a 6.5-game deficit, even in June, would cause this light-hitting team some good-size headaches.

Somehow, some way, the A’s have been able to take minor-league castoffs and draft picks and turn them into surprising Major League talent. On the other hand, the Angels seem to be unable to keep their Major League talent off the disabled list.

Added to that, the A’s and Angels have played an incredible amount of very tight, low-scoring games over the past several seasons, just adding to the passion of these series (and leading some, I would imagine, to wonder if these tense series will eventually lead to a Red Sox-Rays-type feud).

So, here we are, just on the cusp of summer, about a month-plus before the All Star break, wondering what will happen to the AL West standings after this series. The Angels took two of three from the A’s, a sweep prevented thanks to a walk-off grand slam by Mark Ellis in the bottom of the 13th. The Halos have the best record in the American League and second best in the Majors (after the Cubs), while the Mariners have the worst record.

(If I might digress a little here: I grew up in southern California, and though I have lived in Everett, Washington (about 25 miles north of Seattle) for the past three years, I have remained an avid Halo fan. Let me tell you all, the bad play of the Mariners coupled with the very wet and dreary start to summer has caused the Seattleites to be mighty grouchy.)

After the A’s series, the Angels host the not-so-surprising Tampa Bay Rays. I say not so surprising (at least to me) because the Rays always seemed to be on the verge of a breakout season, if only they could get decent pitching. Their hitting and defense has been very good for a few seasons now, but their rotation and bullpen have been atrocious, even worse than the Texas Rangers. Now, with James Shields and Scott Kazmir, plus a rejuvenated Troy Percival closing out games, it’s not a shock to see them on top of the bizarre American League East (hat tip to the great cover of last week’s Sports Illustrated).

I think the Angels were taken off guard in their previous series against the Rays (a sweep), which I don’t anticipate happening again. However, this series--much like the last one against the Rays--will help the Angels see how they compete against the talent from the east (and, it is hoped, with better results).

(Another side note here: It’s very odd to consider the Rays as one of the strong teams in baseball. It’s very cool, but odd. However, their success has not translated into better success at the turnstile. I swear, Florida baseball fans have to be some of the worst, and I really hope I get comments about this. They begged and pleaded with Major League Baseball to get franchises, and then when they do, including a Florida Marlins team that is a two-time World Series winner and a previously lowly Rays team that is now playing fantastic baseball, they still stay away. I don’t understand. True, the teams don’t have the history and passion of the Cubs or Yankees, who will draw packed houses even in a horrible year. However, come on, folks! I mean, huzzah to the dozens of you who regularly attend Rays game (and, can I say, awesome new uniforms, guys!), but sheesh--your team is a legitimate playoff contender at this point of the season, something that has never been thought of, and they can’t fill Tropicana Field. Pathetic.)