White Cleat Beat
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Robbie Grossman deserves chances he is getting with Oakland A’s

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 28, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 28, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s are looking for a spark offensively. Robbie Grossman is getting a chance to show he can be just that.

The Oakland A’s offense has been dormant for most of this season. They have scored over three runs in a game exactly twice through the first nine games of the year, hardly the type of performance one expected for a team that was expected to be a juggernaut. The A’s need some type of spark.

Enter Robbie Grossman. An essentially average outfielder with the bat throughout his career, he has found a home with the A’s. Although he did not exactly dominate with the A’s last season, he retained his status as the starting left fielder for 2020.

In a season where the A’s have needed every spark of life they can get offensively, Grossman has been a surprise. Through nine games, he has posted a solid .304/.385/.391 batting line, hitting two doubles and driving in four runs.

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Grossman has made a difference in specific games as well. His pinch hit double in the tenth inning on Saturday was the difference in the A’s 3-2 victory over the Mariners. He had been riding a hot bat prior to that pinch hit appearance, with hits in four of his previous five games.

He has also been one of the few bright spots in the lineup. Heading into Sunday’s game, Grossman was tied with Ramon Laureano with a 149 OPS+ to lead the team. Those two, and Mark Canha, are the only players in the lineup to be above average thus far in 2020. In theory, the rest of the lineup will catch up, but when?

Until that happens, the A’s need to ride whatever bats are currently hot. To this point, that includes Grossman, who is in the midst of a solid run of success. It is unlikely that the 30 year old has suddenly become a different player than what he has been in the past, but for now, his bat has been with the A’s have needed.

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Robbie Grossman is getting his chance in the Oakland A’s lineup. As one of the few players who have been even somewhat productive, he will continue to be a part of the lineup.