The Oakland A's Are for Real: Analysis from the Season Opening Series

Four games down. 158 games to go.

Four games into the season and I do believe the A's made the most of the opportunity to prove themselves in the AL West, because four games into the season, the Oakland A's are actually in first place.

I know, I know. It's a long season, it's just four games, against one team at that. Here's why it's important:

The A's are projected by most analysts and fans to finish in the AL West cellar this season when all is said and done. People look at the offense and lack of a true cleanup hitter (face it Cust fans, Cust isn't a power savior) and say the A's are destined to fail this season. Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer are doomed to get injured and kill the A's hopes on the mound.

The Mariners are projected by many to be strong contenders in the AL West, some believe they will dethrone the Angels. A revamped offense and impressive 1-2 starting duo of Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee are expected to make noise. This is the team that the A's just beat three games to one.

"So what?" you say? "Cliff Lee is injured/suspended and wasn't a factor in the opening series." True, but put this series under a microscope and you'll see that the A's weren't afraid of the other starting pitchers the Mariners threw at them.

Heck, they weren't very afraid of Hernandez on opening night, either. Yes, the A's lost, but it was the A's defense that lost them the game, not Hernandez' performance. Despite four ugly errors on the A's part, they still managed to force Hernandez' exit from the game in a tie game.

Aside from the shoddy defense of game one, the A's are as advertised: a team built around solid pitching from starters and the bullpen, defense, and a running game determined to create runs.

The defense more than made up for game one the rest of the series. Spectacular plays were made by Kevin Kouzmanoff, Cliff Pennington, Kurt Suzuki, and Rajai Davis. Defense will keep the A's in many games this season.

The A's rotation is full of question marks on health. No one expects the A's to succeed because Sheets and Duchscher, important former all-stars will make or break this team. If you didn't notice, Sheets and Duchscherer put in average performances at best, and the A's succeeded despite of that with three wins.

The casual observer thinks the two former all-stars are the center of the pitching staff, but they're actually not. Sheets and Duchscherer proven veterans tutoring an otherwise young pitching staff and are added bonuses. Expect to see more of what Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson did in this series: carry the pitching staff.

Braden's numb foot could soon become the west coast symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity just like Curt Schilling's famous sock. Anderson is an ace in the making. Gio Gonzalez has amazing stuff when his emotions are in check, which is becoming more and more often.

The bullpen was strength coming into spring training. Health issues led to concerns by the end of spring training. No Joey Devine? No Michael Wuertz? Fine. The rest of the bullpen handled the call of duty, including rookie Tyson Ross' impressive Major League debut. The bullpen allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings.

And the offense. Two home runs in four games. No home run threats? Fine, the A's can beat you with small ball. The A's had four stolen bases, a bunt double and plenty of aces up their sleeves. When the A's get home runs, it will be bonuses, much the same way that superb performances from Sheets and Duchscherer will be bonuses to the pitching staff.

The A's are for real, folks. Make no mistake.