There are a lot of false analogies out there connecting the current Oakland Athletics with the plot of Major League, the 1989 film about a fictional version of the Cleveland Indians. We won’t link to them, because … again … the memes employ logical fallacies we don’t encourage. However, our subtitle for today’s piece does come from that film, once people realize that the team the ownership has put together isn’t that bad after all.

Our Oakland Futility Watch for 2024 continues as the A’s are 18-21 right now, playing mostly decent baseball, considering their payroll status (lowest in MLB). They stand in third place, just 4 games out of first place, and if a few breaks had gone differently at home this last week against the cheating Texas Rangers, perhaps the team would be 20-19 instead and pushing for more national attention of the positive kind.

Four of the team’s semi-regular hitters are on the disabled list: first baseman Ryan Noda, second baseman Zack Gelof, shortstop Nick Allen, and infielder Darell Hernaiz. Of course, all of them are hitting under .200 right now, and really only Noda and Gelof were expected to be big contributors this year. As a result, though, Oakland has scored 154 runs, which ranks 11th in the American League: not terrible, but not good.

In the starting rotation, the team has 3 regular guys who are terrible: Ross Stripling (1-6, 5.14 ERA), Alex Wood (1-2, 5.30 ERA), and Joe Boyle (2-5, 7.16 ERA)—who is now injured, too. Considering these myriad woes, just how is it that Oakland has a record anywhere near .500 this year? Well, the team has played the third-hardest schedule so far, so it’s not that. The A’s are getting some inspired performances elsewhere.

Utility infielder Abraham Toro is with his fourth organization in 6 seasons, but he’s the team leader right now in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) value. At age 27, he’s not eligible for free agency until 2027, so he’s the kind of player Oakland likes to work with when it’s rebuilding as it is now. SP Paul Blackburn isn’t far behind in WAR, nor are closer Mason Miller, designated hitter Brent Rooker, and outfielder JJ Bleday.

The A’s traded for Toro, Blackburn, and Bleday, while claiming Rooker off waivers. Miller was a third-round draft pick in 2021 from a small college. As we have explained before, there is always method to the Oakland “madness”—a cycle that has repeated itself numerous time since the team moved to the Bay Area from Kansas City in the late 1960s. Those who blame current ownership just really have no fucking clue about facts.

Oakland isn’t going to compete for a playoff spot this year; right now, the A’s are projected for a mere 69 victories in 2024. But that is a heck of an increase from the 50 wins the team earned last year—and it sets the team up nicely for 2025 and beyond in terms of being competitive again. Remember, this team has made consecutive playoff appearances 13 times in its Northern California existence (1968-present). Wow!

In contrast, the San Francisco Giants have made the postseason in 2 straight years just once (2002-2003) across their entire tenure in the City by the Bay (starting in 1958). Which team is more successful on the field? You guessed it, although no one seems to ever notice that, thanks to Bud Selig, MLB, and the misrepresentations of the mediots. So much for rewarding a team for its success on the field, right? Doh.

But we digress: the point is the 2024 A’s aren’t that bad, and while they’re not going to win the division in 2024 like those fictional Indians in Major League, these guys in Oakland are going to make sure the local fans—the loyal and smart ones, at least—get their money’s worth in the final season for East Bay baseball. Maybe by the home finale on September 26, the team actually will sell out the Coliseum one last time, too.