The Athletics have put together one of the best 60 game stretches of winning baseball in the history of the sport.

With all due respect to the New York Giants and their fabled 39-8 late season run that caught the Brooklyn Dodgers at the end the 1951 season, Oakland’s 2005 streak might be better.

Click below for the reasons why the A’s are the hottest team in baseball. Consider how far down the A’s were in the standings when they began their run to respectability. Given up for dead on May 30th, only perennial doormats Tampa Bay and Kansas City had records worse than the A’s at the time.

Now, the A’s not only lead the wild card race, but are poised to leap frog the Angels for supremacy in the AL West.

What went right for the A’s? How did the season turn around?

Here are some of the key questions the team faced as its record sunk to a season low 17-32 on May 29th.

Could Barry Zito regain his 2002 Cy Young form?

Zito is now pitching better than he did during his magical 2002 year. The lefty’s curve ball is unhittable, his control pinpoint. With Roy Halladay still on the DL and Jon Garland struggling to win, if Zito ends this season with 18 wins or more, he will be in the mix for his second Cy Young award.

Will Rich Harden suffer from the sophomore jinx?

Hasn’t happened. Harden returned from the DL throwing rockets. He now is considered the top power pitcher in the American League. Like Zito, Harden will be a candidate for the Cy Young award if he continues to dominate the hitters with his 97 mph fastball and mesmerizing off speed stuff.

Will Dan Haren be a successful third starter?

Haren has matured as a pitcher since May. In his first full season in the majors, Haren has turned his slow start around by gaining command of his off speed pitches. The righty would be a top starter on any pitching staff in the league.

Can Joe Blanton win in the major leagues?

He’s stepped up big time for the A’s after a rough first two months. Blanton was the league’s top rookie pitcher in June posting a 5-1 mark. When he’s on his game, he’s tough to hit.

Will Kirk Saarloos make the grade as the A’s fifth starter?

Saarloos is the best fifth starter in the league. The righty has made 19 starts with the team winning 12 of those games.

Will Justin Duchscherer be able to set up in the critical eighth inning?

Duchscherer did his job so well he was named the A’s only all star in this season’s mid summer classic.

Could Huston Street fill the closer’s role after the injury to Octavio Dotel?

Street’s performance has been out of this world. The rookie takes the ball with great confidence. Street has already broken Rollie Fingers single season rookie save record. The kid is a special athlete.

Would Dan Johnson hit major league pitching?

Since his May 27th call up, Johnson leads the team in batting average. He has begun to hit for power on a regular basis turning Erubiel Durazo and his sore elbow into a Wally Pip story.

Would Mark Ellis recover from his 2004 shoulder separation?

Ellis has played his usual impeccable defense at second base. Ellis has hit close to .300 for the better part of the year, clearly reclaiming the second base job.

Will 2004 AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby be an impact player in 2005?

The team took off after Crosby returned from the DL. Crosby solidified the infield defense. Hitting third, Crosby has allowed Ken Macha to bat Eric Chavez fourth, the third baseman’s favorite spot in the batting order.

Will Marco Scutaro be a super sub off the bench?

Scutaro specializes in game winning hits. He filled in admirably for Crosby while the shortstop recovered from his early season rib injury. Scutaro is a key part of the team’s clubhouse chemistry.

Will Nick Swisher be a candidate for this year’s AL rookie of the Year award?

Cutting down on his strikeouts, Swisher has turned into one tough out at the plate. If he continues his home run pace he will hit close to 25 round trippers. He has improved his outfield defense to the point that he is no longer a liability in right field. An excellent number two hitter as well.

Will Bobby Kielty be able to switch hit effectively in the major leagues?

Still more of a threat from the right side, Kielty has stroked numerous key hits from the left side. Kielty’s emergence this season as a starter allowed the A’s to trade Eric Byrnes to Colorado for pitchers Joe Kennedy and Jay Witasick.

Will Ken Macha successfully manage the team without a 2006 contract extension?

Facing his biggest challenge as a manager, Macha’s even handed professional approach to the game has led the team back from the depths of being 15 games under .500 in May. Macha has accomplished more by developing his players into the hottest team in baseball than Ozzie Guillen has with his veteran team in Chicago. Macha should be AL manager of the year.

Will Billy Beane continue to work his magic?

Beane added two key veteran relievers, Kennedy and Witasick, plus an accomplished outfielder, Jay Payton well before all the other clubs in baseball began to fantasize about their the July 31st trade deadline moves.

Fifteen key questions, all answered positively.

Pose 15 questions about any other team in baseball and you won’t find a single one with all the answers coming out on the right side.

Here’s one more question.

Will the A’s make the playoffs?

It’s no accident when a major league team plays .750 ball for over two months.

Buy your playoff tickets now.