Adam Kolarek ran out of time with Oakland A’s

We all knew that a corresponding move would need to be made when the Oakland A’s activated Mike Fiers from the Injured List. Although his role was uncertain given the overall success of the rotation, someone would need to be sent down to the alternate site for him to be activated. The surprise was that the A’s optioned Adam Kolarek to the minors.

Kolarek was considered to be a key part of the A’s revamped bullpen. Acquired from the Dodgers as part of the deal that sent Sheldon Neuse to Los Angeles, the lefty had been a solid reliever since establishing himself in the majors. He had posted a 3.07 ERA and a 1.126 WHiP in his 108.1 innings between 2018 and 2020, striking out 77 batters with just 25 walks.

Adam Kolarek ran out of time

That has not been the case this year. Kolarek had allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits and two walks over his 5.1 innings, striking out three batters. Although he continued to shut down lefties, Kolarek had been hammered by right handed batters, as they has posted a .545/.615/.818 batting line against him in limited action.

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As a lefty specialist, Kolarek has been hurt by the three batter minimum mandate. With his funky delivery, his job has been to get that difficult left handed batter out in a key situation. However, he is no longer able to fill that type of a role unless it is the final out of the inning, leading to his being exposed on the mound.

However, Kolarek had been pitching better of late. He had fired 3.1 shutout innings in his last five appearances, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two batters. The problem is that those five outings came over an 18 day span. With three left handed relievers in the bullpen, he was not getting consistent work.

The idea is that by sending Kolarek to the alternate site, he will be able to get more consistent work and be ready when he is called upon once again. To that end, the demotion makes sense.

However, the A’s did have another option to send to the alternate site. Reymin Guduan is another lefty that has struggled with limited work, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. Guduan has also fired four wild pitches, and is seemingly unable to be used in anything that would resemble a close game. Kolarek had, at least, begun to right the ship. He just ran out of time.

Adam Kolarek had begun to overcome his early season struggles for the Oakland A’s. However, with Mike Fiers being activated, he ran out of time.