As if sitting in the cellar of the not-so-hot AL West with a 12-20 record was not bad enough, the Oakland Athletics have just received some devastating news that is sure to set them back even further in this already dismal season. One of their starting pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery, Jarrod Parker, has suffered an injury to his elbow that was surgically repaired barely over a year ago. The video of his injury is gut-wrenching to watch as he falls to the ground and rolls around in pain after delivering a pitch.
The Athletics were hopeful that Jarrod Parker would be rejoining the team later this month as his recovery was right on track. This was a glimmer of hope as pitching for the Oakland squad has not been what was expected from the seemingly deep rotation and bullpen. While the starting pitching is not as much of the problem, a returning starter of Jarrod Parker’s caliber would undoubtedly bolster the club and give them more options. This was all before the events of this past Friday night.
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Fans remained optimistic, as we often have to be to survive being a fan of the Oakland Athletics, but the latest news really leaves little room for a silver lining to this ominous cloud that has become the A’s 2015 season. True, most acknowledged this was not going to be the team of the past couple seasons and yes it is still early in the campaign, but to lose Jarrod Parker for yet another season if not more really puts a damper on the Athletics’ fleeting hopes.
However, one has to remember that this is a young man’s livelihood and life being discussed, so first and foremost we wish the very best for Jarrod Parker the person, not just the pitcher. And while this setback will not just affect the Oakland Athletics on the field but also in their heads, we hope the guys in green and gold can get their heads right and start playing like a major league team.