A’s lose 6-5 in extra innings in Japan; M’s tied for first place

In the Far East, a Brandon Moss ninth-inning home run, Huston Street allowing a two-run double by Manny Ramirez in extra innings, and poor base running by Emil Brown kicked off the 2008 season with the A’s dropping to the Red Sox by a 6-5 score.  Jon Lester will face off against little Dickie Harden in today’s (tomorrow’s?) game.  Over/under on Harden getting a season-ending injury by the fifth inning?

With the A’s loss, the M’s find themselves tied for first place without even playing a game.  Don’t be surprised to see this team at the top of the standings at the end of the season.  And Mariners fans should know better to doubt this team’s chances.

Sure, the offense leaves much to be desired.  But look at the competition.  The Angels are forced to turn to subsidize their pitching staff with untested prospects due to their top two starters missing the first two months of the season, the Rangers don’t have the pitching to ride Josh Hamilton’s bat to the top of the standings, and the A’s are even more of a glorified Triple-A team now that Eric Chavez is shelved indefinitely.  All the Mariners have is the best starting pitcher (despite the horrid spring stats), best closer, and best center fielder in the game.  Yeah, they’ll really have a problem winning the AL West this year.

Supposedly, M’s fans have been taking Geoff Baker to task as he dared to state that the M’s will finish the season atop the standings.  Geoff, you will get no such contention here!