The Athletics got here out of a three-game collection towards one of many higher groups within the American League with a way of optimism.
Sure, they misplaced two of three to the Cleveland Guardians. However the collection included two clutch game-tying homers that compelled additional innings sandwiched round a walk-off win within the ninth.
They misplaced each of the 10-inning video games, 12-11 within the collection opener and 6-4 on Wednesday. By way of wins and losses, it was the identical consequence because the opening collection towards the Los Angeles Angels — one win, two losses.
However contemplating the A’s went silent within the second two video games towards the Angels and misplaced by a mixed 19-1 after a 2-1 victory on Opening Evening, the collection towards Cleveland was a serious improve by way of high quality of play.
“There are some wins on this staff,” first baseman Ryan Noda stated. “They’re coming.”
The A’s, with their roster turnover, are the land of alternative for younger gamers. Noda was a Rule 5 acquisition from the Dodgers enjoying within the massive leagues for the primary time. There's going to be a substantial amount of blind optimism.
The A’s will take these good vibes on the highway towards baseball’s hottest staff Friday for a three-game collection. The Tampa Bay Rays are 6-0 and have gained each sport by 4 or extra runs. Then come 4 video games towards the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Baltimore made the sort of quantum leap the A’s are dreaming of this season, going from 52-110 in 2021 to 83-79 in 2022 to a viable playoff contender in 2023.
By the point the A’s get again residence on April 14 for six residence video games towards the Mets and Cubs, it is going to be trigger for celebration in the event that they’re anyplace close to .500 whether or not the house followers acknowledge it or not.
Listed here are three the explanation why the A’s bear watching, with or with out followers within the seats:
To this point, so good
The clutch gene
The A’s may go the remainder of the season and never see two game-tying residence runs as clutch as those they'd towards Cleveland. Seth Brown’s two-run shot to middle got here towards Cleveland nearer Emmanuel Clase, to whom comparisons to Mariano Rivera are warranted, tied the sport 10-10.
Two days later, Jesús Aguilar noticed a dozen pitches, fouling off seven of them, earlier than connecting on a three-run shot to left middle towards Tim Herrin. It turned a listless 4-1 sport right into a 4-4 tie.
Within the opener towards the Angels, veterans Tony Kemp and Aledmys Díaz drove in eighth-inning runs in a 2-1 win. Kemp had the walk-off base hit in a 4-3 win over Cleveland Tuesday night time.
The A’s have delivered clutch hits within the eighth inning or later 4 instances in six video games. For now, anyway, they’re comeback believers as a result of they’ve skilled it.
Brown’s every-day alternative
Contemplating the circumstances, Brown’s finest at-bat might not have been the one towards Clase. After Aguilar’s residence run Wednesday, Brown got here up towards Herrin and hit a 103-mile-per-hour blast to middle that regarded headed for a house run. Myles Straw made a leaping catch on the fence, saving both a homer or additional bases.
It got here towards Herrin, a left-hander.
Brown has been a platoon participant within the A’s eyes, with a .162 batting common and 4 residence runs in 136 plate appearances towards lefties and a .240 common with 42 residence runs in 739 plate appearances towards right-handers.
A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay stated Brown has modified his swing path and took observe of the Wednesday blast towards Cleveland. He’s been within the lineup batting both third or fourth for each sport and that’s not more likely to change for some time. The A’s chief with 25 homers and 73 RBIs final season, it’s not unreasonable to count on 30-plus homers and 90-plus RBIs if he can hit lefties with some authority.
Mad(Bum) for Muller
At 6-foot-7, 250 kilos and a aggressive imply streak that up to now has enabled him to work out of hassle, Kyle Muller, the important thing determine within the three-way commerce that despatched Sean Murphy to Atlanta, has regarded the a part of a No.1 starter.
At his peak, with an arm angle that’s tough for batters to select up, a comp for Muller could be Madison Bumgarner. Muller, like Bumgarner, was a devastating highschool hitter and was going to pitch and hit at Texas earlier than opting to get his profession began after being drafted.
Like Bumgarner, the radar gun doesn’t all the time present what hitters are up towards relating to Muller. He had 11 swings-and-misses towards Cleveland and was strong in each outings, going 5 innings towards the Angels and 5 2/3 towards the Guardians. The subsequent step is entering into the seventh.
Areas of concern
To err is Oakland
The A’s hit the highway with out having performed an errorless sport throughout a six-game homestand. They'd one in every of the primary 5 video games and two within the finale, giving them the league lead in errors via Wednesday.
The had a six-game streak with errors in 1970 and 10 video games in 1976.
The offenders up to now: Kemp with two errors, catcher Shea Langeliers with two and Aguilar, Ramón Laureano and Noda with one every.
With younger beginning pitchers and rotating arms within the bullpen, buttoned-up protection is a should if there's any hope to get to .500 and past.
Combine-and-match bullpen
Much like a 12 months in the past, Kotsay has embraced a philosophy of “27 outs” and he and pitching coach Scott Emerson organize their bullpen in one of the best ways to get to that determine.
They do that not as a result of it’s some kind of revolutionary idea, however as a result of they don’t have a no-doubt nearer to assist organize the order of succession from center reduction to set-up males.
The nearer at this level might be Dany Jimenez, Trevor Could or Jeurys Familia — possibly even Sam Moll if the ninth inning was loaded with left-handed hitters, since he’s the lone lefty within the pen.
It’s been a tough go up to now for center man Domingo Acevedo, who gave up two inherited runs charged to Muller Wednesday and up to now has surrendered 5 hits and three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Nick Allen’s offense
The A’s center infielder seems to be settled in at shortstop this season after shifting between second and quick a 12 months in the past.
Allen’s defensive expertise are simple at both place and if the A’s are going to wrestle defensively, he’s participant to have within the lineup at shortstop in a no-shift setting that enhances athletic defenders.
However Allen hit .207 a 12 months in the past in 100 video games and 326 plate appearances. He’s 0-for-9 up to now in 4 video games. Kotsay caught with Allen with the successful run at third base within the ninth Wednesday. Allen hit a comebacker for the third out.
If he continues to wrestle on the plate, the chances are high that one in every of their two drafted abilities (Brown being the opposite) will likely be a starter solely towards left-handed pitching, giving method to Diaz towards right-handers.