Byline: Rick Hurd

OAKLAND _ Distractions? What distractions?

Slow start? What slow start?

Miguel Tejada has said all along that the former has never been a problem. His manager said the latter was only an issue because Tejada is the reigning American League MVP and because he missed hitting a ball on the sweet spot of his bat by about a half-inch on Opening Night.

In other words, move along people. Nothing to see here.

Oh, there was the three-run homer that Tejada launched off Jamie Moyer in the third inning that set the A's 8-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Network Associates Coliseum in motion. The blast was certainly picturesque. As far as the big picture, though, all it did was reinforce the point that at this stage, everything with Tejada is all right.

Fact is, everything with the A's is about as all right as they could expect after two games. They have outscored Seattle 13-3 in forging a 2-0 start for the second straight season. Things have been so good offensively...