Oakland Athletics: 5 Reasons to be Optimistic

1. Bad month is no reason to panic.

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics players look on after teammate

(not pictured) was hit by a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

One bad month is no reason to panic. Sure, the A’s are in fourth-place with a 9-14 record, but that’s no reason to throw in the towel. Since 2000 Oakland has finished the month of April with a record of .500 or lower 10 times, only to defy the odds by reaching the postseason on four occasions. Of those four occasions, what stands out is the fact that the A’s were 8-17 to begin the 2001 campaign — only to shock the baseball world by finishing with a 102-60 mark in the American League West.