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Oakland A’s slide down Week Two power rankings

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Ramón Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics gets up after being hit by a pitch during the game against the San Francisco Giants at RingCentral Coliseum on September 20, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Giants defeated the Athletics 14-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Ramón Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics gets up after being hit by a pitch during the game against the San Francisco Giants at RingCentral Coliseum on September 20, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Giants defeated the Athletics 14-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s did not have a good start to the 2021 season. They were embarrassed at home against the Astros, and had lost their first six games before finally putting a tally mark in the win column. While they did take two out of three in Houston, the A’s once again find themselves in the midst of a slow start.

At 3-7 heading into Monday, and with the worst run differential in the league, it is not a surprise that the A’s have slid down the power rankings. That has been the case as MLB.com lists the A’s 17th, their largest drop from the preseason.

Oakland A’s slide down power rankings expected

This result should not be a surprise. In addition to having the worst run differential in the majors, only two teams, the Nationals and Marlins, had a worse record than Oakland heading into Monday’s slate of action.

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The A’s struggles to begin the year were not entirely unexpected, even if their tendency to struggle in the beginning part of the season is put aside. The Astros were likely to be motivated to prove that their run to the ALCS was not a fluke, and appeared to be fueled by the hate from the crowd. Following that up with a series against the World Series winning Dodgers, and another three game set against Houston, was not a recipe for success.

It certainly does not help that the A’s offense has been one of the worst in the game. They rank dead last in OPS and batting average, and are 14th in runs scored and homers. Ramon Laureano, Mark Canha, and Jed Lowrie have been carrying the offense, providing zero margin for error for the pitching staff.

While it is not a surprise that the A’s slid down the power rankings, it is also far too early to be concerned. Teams go through rough stretches over the course of every season; it just so happens that the A’s tend to have their slow starts at the beginning of the year before going on a run.

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The Oakland A’s dropped five spots in the MLB.com power rankings on Monday. Considering their struggles to begin the season, that is not a surprise.