5 Reasons to Not Give Up on the Oakland Athletics
While there may be many more reasons to kiss this Oakland Athletics season goodbye, I for one, am just not ready yet. Trade rumors are already swirling so chances are some of the best things about this team may be gone come August 1st, but here they are for now:
1. Sonny Gray at the Helm for Starters
The Oakland Athletics have an unquestionable ace on their hands in Sonny Gray. He’s started the 2015 campaign with a 4-1 record, his only loss coming in a game where he gave up a lone run, struck out nine – for his third straight outing, and didn’t walk a batter. His ERA improved to 1.61, good enough for the top spot in the American League in that category and in the top six for almost every other. And he just keeps getting better.
The rest of starting pitching pales in comparison but have weathered the storm of this first quarter season fairly well compiling an average ERA of 3.56, the third best for starters in the AL. Jesse Hahn recovered nicely after a rough first inning against the White Sox on Friday night, Jesse Chavez is getting settled in the rotation and Scott Kazmir has been dependable making for an enviable starting rotation.
May 12, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher
Stephen Vogt(21) hits a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
2. Stephen Vogt Gives us Something to Believe in
Never has a mantra been so well deserved than the Right Field Bleacher chant for the Oakland Athletics catcher. After an injury-ridden 2014, Stephen Vogt has burst into 2015 making us not even miss the two catchers Oakland traded away in the offseason. He’s breaking out with a .327/.426/.645 slash line through the first six weeks. Some are debating if his hot start is a fluke, others are already speculating his trade value, but my only question is why isn’t Vogt playing every single game? He brings valuable defense and power to the lineup with nine home runs already. Please just forget the platoon when it comes to this guy.
May 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder
Josh Reddick(22) safe a third base on a three run RBI triple against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
3. Josh Reddick Back to His Old Ways
The latter part of 2014 and start of this season has shown that Reddick wasn’t a one season wonder. The naysayers, which even Reddick himself acknowledges there are many of, claimed his 2012 stats wouldn’t be repeated. He won the Gold Glove for his wonders in right field that year with the offensive production to match, pounding 32 home runs and knocking in 85. But the Reddick of late hasn’t been swinging so much for the fences and has proven to be much more effective hitting for average, topping the A’s with .328. If he can keep doing what he’s doing he’ll be exactly the reinforcement in the middle of the lineup that Oakland needs to possibly contend.
Apr 14, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman
Ben Zobrist(18) fields a ground ball during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
4. Ben Zobrist Ahead of Schedule for Return
When Billy Beane acquired utility man extraordinaire Zobrist in the offseason it indicated that 2015 wasn’t being tossed aside for the Oakland Athletics. A knee injury has kept us from seeing all that Zobrist has to offer, but his recovery is on track and he may even be starting the next homestand. Getting a veteran such as Zobrist back on the field can only help the A’s sorry defense.
August 22, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher
Sean Doolittle(62) prepares to deliver a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
5. Sean Doolittle Will Bolster the Bullpen
I waited until number five to even mention the B-word, yes the bullpen. It’s so pathetic that Oakland Athletics fans collectively slap their hands to their foreheads at about the seventh inning of every game. We wish our starters could all just pitch complete games every time they take the mound but sadly that cannot happen. So the game is turned over, usually with a lead, to the ever changing pen and we watch as said lead is squandered.
It’s not that one player can completely wipe away the bullpen woes, but Sean Doolittle back in the closer role will allow the other guys to resume more familiar duties. That time cannot come soon enough as the number of games the bullpen can blow before the damage is irreversible is dwindling. Doo began his minor league rehab assignment last week so we should be seeing his familiar stance on the Coliseum mound later this month or early June.
Who knows, maybe the Oakland Athletics will have the exact opposite season as last year. Start off with two terrible months and end it with the best record in baseball. One can dream right?