Oakland A’s: Let’s end the Mike Fiers conspiracy theories

Mike Fiers is currently on the Injured List. The Oakland A’s pitching depth is still solid, but losing a generally steady pitcher such as Fiers, who has been capable of taking the ball every fifth day throughout his career, still hurts. This is particularly the case given some of the inconsistencies that the A’s have dealt with this season.

But a look ahead on the schedule is leading to some conspiracy theories already. The A’s are set to face Houston on May 18 through the 20th. This would be in approximately ten days, when Fiers would be eligible to come off of the IL. And naturally, there are some who are skeptical of the timing of his injury.

The Oakland A’s are not hiding Mike Fiers

There is obvious history between Fiers and the Astros. He had spent approximately two and a half years in Houston and was a part of their World Series winning team in 2017. He was also the person who blew the lid off of AstroGate, making Fiers one of the most reviled players in Houston.

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There have been theories that the A’s have attempted to keep Fiers from facing the Astros. He was the only pitcher not to enter the ALDS when the A’s lost to Houston in four games, although the reported plan was for him to pitch Game Five. In fact, he also did not face Houston at all last year, despite the fact that the A’s and Astros faced off ten times in the truncated 2020 campaign.

What is lost in that narrative is that Fiers literally took the ball every five days last year, making all 11 of his starts. The fact that Houston did not fall on any of those days is more likely to be a quirk of the schedule than any deliberate action by the A’s. It is doubtful that Oakland’s coaching staff pored over the schedule, looking for a way to slot Fiers into the rotation while having him avoid Houston altogether.

It is also worth noting that Fiers is on the IL due to a sprained elbow as opposed to some nebulous injury. This type of injury is potentially ominous for any pitcher, especially one who has thrown as many innings as Fiers has over the past few years. It is not the type of reason that the A’s would give if they were just looking to hide him for the series against Houston.

The Oakland A’s are not hiding Mike Fiers from the Houston Astros. Let’s stop with the conspiracy theories about his usage and his placement on the Injured List.