Optimism

Plenty of fans are wondering if this team is for real. What happens when Meche returns to form. What happens when Beltre returns to being the worst hitter in baseball. What happens when they play a good team... on and on, you can find reasons to worry.

But even the most jaded fan starts feeling a little better when he or she looks at the rest of the AL West. Sure, the M's have problems, but are they any more glaring then what Oakland, Texas or the Angels have? All of a sudden, you have to admit there is a reasonable chance the M's could make the playoffs. And with Felix pitching twice in a 5-game series... will the M's be playing to go to the World Series??

This team has holes, but unlike some of other teams, they are getting fantastic production out of a number of players. Right now in June the M's have one of the top players at their position in RF, 2B, 3B and C. Sexson is starting to return to form. Ibanez is on a tear, and has a good enough track record to make you think he could keep this up all summer.

Dominant bullpen.

Solid pitching outside of Pineiro.

A few prospects waiting in the minors.

This team should be in this all summer.