BOSTON — The A’s season already is a success.
When it began, Oakland had the majors’ lowest payroll and there were four perceived AL superpowers.
When the regular season ends Sunday, the A’s will be in the playoffs with those four superpowers — the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians and Astros. You could describe Oakland as party crashers. That would suggest the A’s did not earn their way beyond the playoff velvet rope.
They did.
But much like the beginning of the season, the expectations again are low for them. Of course, they want to win Wednesday and keep advancing, to turn successful into historical.