Seasons like this make us wonder why we bother to make any judgments in the spring. Of course we saw things so clearly then.

The A’s were consigned to a “rebuilding year’’ while the Seattle Mariners wrested the American League West away from the Angels. And the Oakland pitching staff was full of questions, none of them involving Joe Blanton. Would Rich Harden be healthy enough to help? Would Justin Duchscherer make the transition back to starter? Would the young duo of Greg Smith and Dana Eveland be ready for the bigs?

But Blanton? No worries about Joe.

Well here it is the first of July and all of that April wisdom has been turned on its head.

The A’s are rebuilding all right, into contenders right before our eyes. After beating the Angels Monday night in Anaheim the A’s enter the season’s third month just 3 ½ games off the division lead. The Mariners? How does 17 ½ games behind sound?

And Oakland, which leads the American league in team ERA has stayed in contention with its pitching. But no thanks to Blanton. The right hander was Mr. Consistency his first three years with the team as he managed a 42-34 record despite frequent lack of run support. That is why the A’s counted on him to be the steadying influence for the young staff and he was chosen to start not only the season opener in Tokyo but the home opener a week later. But halfway through the season the A’s success is in spite of Blanton, not because of him. He has had his problems this year as his 4-11 and 4.97 ERA attest.

But the others have been superb. Although Harden spent time on the disabled list, he has thrust himself into All-Star consideration. His competition will probably come from Duchscherer, who has been as consistent as any starter in the league. And Smith, who threw a rare complete game Monday night, and Eveland have shown they are indeed ready.
 
Meanwhile, the Giants apparently are going to be more or less as advertised before the season. The mediocrity of the National League West and the inexplicable collapse of the Arizona Diamondbacks had them a bogus contenders for awhile. Had circumstances played out differently Monday night, they could have begun July a mere four games out. But the Cubs chewed up Barry Zito and his successors on the mound for San Francisco and the Giants are in danger of falling out of contention again.

Zito, of course, after his great start in Cleveland, is in a funk again as his record dropped to 3-12.

I didn’t see that coming, either.