I'd like to uphold Jon Weisman's pledge to avoid making rash judgements about spring training stats. But when your team starts out 0-4 after a massive winter overhaul, it's hard to keep the negative thoughts from creeping in.

It's been a while since the A's were a really bad team, so I started imagining what it would be like if they start out 0-4 during the regular season, and display the kind of pitching they showed yesterday in their 17-4 loss to the Angels. What if none of the rookies are ready? Could be a long year...

Well, thank goodness for Rich Harden. He went three shutout innings today, and a host of relievers followed him with shutout innings of their own, as the A's won, 5-0.

Ahhhh, now that's more like it.

It's a win, and now all those doubts can go back into their winter burrows until the regular season calls them back out. Meanwhile, I have a month's worth of spring training optimism to enjoy.