Are the A's teasing me again?

Two seasons ago, I stuck my neck out in my 2009 Divisional picks by going with the Oakland A's to win the West. We had just come off seasons where teams like the Angels, the Marlins, the Tigers, the struggling Cardinals, the Rockies and Rays had won pennants that confounded the experts.

So I thought "Why not go against the grain? If I am right with my pick, then I look like a genius."

Then again, if the pick flops, then I look like a moron.

I had the 2009 Oakland Athletics winning the World Series.
They finished in dead last place, 22 games behind the Angels.

WHOOPS!

But now I am looking at this team, and I can't help but wonder if I should pick them again.

They just added Brian Fuentes to the roster and he should make their bullpen pretty damn deep. Andrew Bailey, Grant Balfour, Brad Ziegler and Brian Fuentes in the pen?

Closing out a rotation of Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson?

(I am not going to include Rich Harden. Any day he is NOT on the disabled list is a bonus.)

Couple that with Hideki Matsui and a few other bats added to the lineup... Texas losing Cliff Lee and the Angels not being able to sign anyone and Seattle in flux...

Dare I do it?
Dare I make the pick again?

My 2009 picks of Oakland and Cincinnati doesn't look so outlandish for 2011.

But can I pick Oakland?
Or are they teasing me.

Maybe I'll pick the Mariners.

What the hell kind of season is Dallas Braden having?

It is a strange season for him, no doubt about it.

He has had surreal controversy regarding A-Rod walking on his mound.

He had the heart warming Mother's Day perfect game and his grandmother telling A-Rod to stick it.

He did a good job delivering a Top Ten list on Letterman.

He's got 5 complete games plus 2 shutouts (which lead the AL).

So he has the aura of being a good pitcher.

But he has a losing record... and not just a hard luck Cole Hamels kind of losing record... he's gotten BOMBED.

And tonight, with the A's having a sliver of hope, and Texas already in the loss column... he coughs up 5 runs in a brutal second inning that takes the A's out of it early and makes their wild 9th inning seem like desperation rather than a genuine comeback attempt.

And I thought Dice-K was tough to figure out!