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.

Fuentes joins the list

So now Brian Fuentes blew a big game... a game where his team was 3 outs from winning.

And he joins Fernando Rodney, Ryan Franklin, Joe Nathan, Huston Street and Jonathan Papelbon as closers who wet the bed with 3 outs to go this October.

(It is cruel to include Ryan Franklin on this list because, well, he GOT the 3rd out... Matt Holliday couldn't catch it.)

Also throw in the wonderful team effort melt down by the Phillies yesterday and this October is filled with late inning rallies and dramatics.

And as I wrote before... NONE by Brad Lidge?

What are the odds of that?

RELIEF FAIL

The Angels should just send the video of Brian Fuentes' performance tonight in New York to FailBlog.org.

Given a 1 run lead in the 9th, here was his line.

No outs records... 3 hits... 1 walks... 2 runs... LOSS... FAIL!

The Angels aren't winning this season... not with this guy throwing the 9th