The O's have a slim shot at the AL east anyway. They will finish third behind the Yankees and Boston regardless of their great start. Their middle bullpen isn't great, their starting pitching is eratic and won't last the season. Tejada may be the best player in baseball, but this team can't compete with the bigger boys. For 162 games no, for the first third of the season yes.
And you are correct, Ponson is a bum. You absolutely never know what you will get out of him when he steps on the mound. His problem is he isn't even average at times. It's lights out or he gets rocked.