A's Focus Shifts From Winning In the West—To Having a Winning Season

After losing two of three in Arlington to the division-leading Rangers, the Oakland Athletics need to shift their focus from winning the American League West to having their first winning season since 2006.

The Oakland Athletics went into Texas playing their best baseball of the season. They had won nine of the past 11 games, four straight series, and were seven and a half games out of first.

The Texas series was huge for the Athletics, and they were unable to come away with the series win. Although they only fell to eight and a half games back, they also lost Andrew Bailey due to injury.

The Athletics' disabled list seems to multiply by the week, and with the A's appearing as if they will remain silent at the trade deadline, it is time for them to concede the AL West and focus on finishing above .500

While this would normally mean the A's should be sellers at the deadline, Billy Beane has been adamant that he wants to keep his team in tact, and build continuity for the future.

This is a good sign for A's fans who have grown accustomed to new faces every year,  because of Beane's tendency to acquire as many young prospects as he can get his hands on.

If the A's can finish 2010 strong, build continuity together, and use the off season to get healthy, there will be a lot of promise in 2011.

Oakland still needs a power bat before they can be considered a legitimate threat to win the division, but the team appears to finally be heading in the right direction.