One could understand if there is a twinge of jealousy as Oakland A’s fans watch this year’s playoffs.
After all, the A’s were right on the cusp of pushing for a playoff berth, especially with the additional Wild Card. Instead, the roster was torn apart, Bob Melvin was allowed to head to the Padres without any compensation, and the A’s stumbled to their second 100 loss season since moving to Oakland.
Bob Melvin allows Oakland A’s fans to live vicariously through his success
But there is still a reason for interest. Melvin has taken the Padres to the National League Championship Series, an impressive accomplishment considering the teams they have been up against. The Padres were not expected to even emerge from the Wild Card round as they were matched up with the 101 win Mets, a team with the fourth best record in the majors.
After dispatching the Mets, that run was supposed to come to an end. The Dodgers not only won 111 games this season but had annihilated the Padres during the regular season. Instead, the Padres pulled off another stunning upset as they will head to the NLCS to face off against another Cinderella story in the Phillies.
That is how it should be with Melvin. He had taken the low budget A’s and helped them contend, pushing the right buttons and getting the most out of the talent he had on the roster. While the Padres are not exactly a poverty franchise, no one expected them to get this far.
But someone forgot to tell the Padres. They are just four wins from the World Series and a chance at the first championship in franchise history. And we can go along for the ride, celebrating vicariously as Melvin has managed to take an underdog team further than anyone anticipated.
Bob Melvin may not be managing the Oakland A’s any longer. However, that does not mean that A’s fans cannot enjoy his success.