Comparing the 2015 Athletics with 1989

Right field to right field

Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brandon Moss (37) celebrates with right fielder Josh Reddick (16) after hitting a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Canseco played 65 games in 1989 so we’ll take his numbers from 1990 (another world series year). In 1990, Canseco played in 131 games with a .274 AVG and 37 HR. Josh Reddick played in 109 games with a .264 AVG and 12 HR. I’m never going to say that Reddick is the next Canseco (he was one of my favorite players as a kid) because he’s not. Whatever Reddick has in defensive ability that Canseco lacked, Canseco kills him at the plate. As the other half of “The Bash Brothers” he combined with McGwire for 76 HR and 209 RBIs in 1990.

If Reddick has the best year of his life at the plate and continues his stellar defense in right, the 2015 Athletics will be in great shape in right field.

In conclusion

What I just spent 1,100 words to say is this: The 2015 Athletics still have it in them to be a world series team. Just because they weren’t able to get there in their “all in” year doesn’t mean they’re out of the race next year. The 1989 team made it to the world series with comparable team stats as the 2014 Athletics and while a player vs player comparison shows some glaring weaknesses and the game has changed a great deal in 25 years, it does show how capable the current team is for greatness.

2015 hasn’t even started yet and I’m already looking forward to a very exciting season filled with possibility and victory. Sometimes a look at our past helps us appreciate the present and look forward to the future.