White Cleat Beat
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Oakland Athletics Season in Review: Biggest Surprises and Letdowns

By Zachary Engberg

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pours beer over the head of Mike Fiers #50 as they celebrate clinching a wild card spot after the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 27: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pours beer over the head of Mike Fiers #50 as they celebrate clinching a wild card spot after the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JULY 03: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics take the ball from Blake Treinen #39 taking Treinen out of the game against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the 12th inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 3, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JULY 03: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics take the ball from Blake Treinen #39 taking Treinen out of the game against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the 12th inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 3, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Bullpen Pillars Struggle

Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino and Joakim Soria played hot potato with being awful for most of the season, culminating with Treinen and Trivino doing next-to-nothing for the final month of the regular season after Puk and Luzardo debuted before being shut down.

Soria figured it out, going 7.2 scoreless innings in September with a .094 OPS allowed, but the Two T’s didn’t have the same luck.

From May 13 on, Lou Trivino had a 6.97 ERA and 2.13 WHIP while allowing an .870 OPS and .352 BAbip in 41.1 IP.

From April 28 on, Blake Treinen posted a 6.15 ERA and 1.74 WHIP while allowing an .852 OPS and .321 BAbip in 45.1 IP.

Somehow, the A’s were still 33-13 in Blake Treinen’s appearances in that span, incl. 16-2 in May and June.

The nature of rotating relievers in baseball make this not as much of a surprise as a disappointment, considering how stellar Treinen was last year – even earning Cy Young and MVP votes – and Trinvio’s dominant outing in the Wild Card Game.

If both Treinen and Trivino are on the team next season it would be a shocker.