5 Reasons to Not Give Up on the Oakland Athletics
By Selena Smith
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?