So this is how it happens in nightmares. In the span of less than two months, the Oakland Athletics went from 28 games above .500 and four games up in the AL West to a team that needed a win on the final day of the regular season just to clinch the AL’s second Wild Card berth. They then went to Kansas City, raced to a four-run lead over the Royals, and were sent home following a disastrous bullpen collapse. Talk about a disaster.
Preseason Prediction: The A’s are going to be in the playoff hunt all season. Will their upgrades be enough to hold off the Rangers and Angels for a third straight year? It’s anyone’s best guess, but Oakland seems likely to contend for their third straight AL West title in 2014. (Joe Lucia, February 21st)
What Went Right: Josh Donaldson followed up his MVP-caliber 2013 with an excellent 2014, hitting 29 homers while playing Gold Glove caliber defense at third base. First baseman Brandon Moss homered 25 time. The multi-headed catching monster of Derek Norris, John Jaso, Geovany Soto, and Stephen Vogt combined to homer 28 times while also getting playing time at DH and first base. Scott Kazmir held up in the first year of his two-year contract with the Athletics, and pitched damn well. Sonny Gray put together a strong year in the rotation. Midseason acquisitions Jeff Samardzija and Jon Lester did exactly what the A’s expected them to do when they were acquired. Sean Doolittle and Luke Gregerson were dominant in the back-end of the bullpen.
What Went Wrong: The team completely fell apart in mid-August, finishing their year on a disastrous 16-30 stretch. Closer Jim Johnson was a flop after being acquired from the Orioles, and turned into a $10 million sunk cost. Jason Hammel was disappointing in the rotation after coming over from the Cubs with Samardzija in July. Dan Straily couldn’t hold down a rotation spot, and was dealt to the Cubs as part of the Samardzija/Hammel deal. Yoenis Cespedes struggled his way to a .303 OBP in 101 games before getting traded for Lester. The team didn’t get much of anything from their middle infielders, notably Jed Lowrie, Eric Sogard, Nick Punto, and Alberto Callaspo. Josh Reddick only played in 109 games, and Coco Crisp only played in 126. Jonny Gomes did nothing to help the outfield after being acquired as part of the Lester trade. A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker both fell victim to Tommy John surgery.
Most Surprising Player: In the span of three seasons, Sean Doolittle went from “great story” to “legitimately great reliever” to “one of the best relievers in baseball”. You don’t see that progression too often. In 62 2/3 innings, most of them spent as the Athletics’ closer, Doolittle pitched to a 2.73 ERA, bolstered by 89 strikeouts and just eight walks on the year. His numbers looked even better prior to a late season DL stint because of a strained ribcage – 55 1/3 innings, a 2.23 ERA, 80 strikeouts, and only five walks. The Athletics have Doolittle locked up through – get this – 2018 at under $10 million guaranteed. The extension also has two options that can boost the total value over the next six years to a little over $20 million. Billy Beane can do whatever he wants, and he really doesn’t care what you think.
Most Disappointing Player: The regression monster was going to be coming for Jim Johnson one of these days, but I don’t think the Athletics and their management expected that it would be this damn hungry. Johnson threw 40 1/3 innings with Oakland, only saved two games, struck out 28 hitters, and walked 23. Put it all together, and you have a 7.14 ERA, three runs higher than his previous career-worst (4.11 in 2009). $10 million can go a long way for a team like the A’s, and while 2013 closer Grant Balfour wasn’t all that much better than Johnson, the Athletics could have done something a lot more beneficial to their team than paying Johnson.
The Future: The Athletics made their big moves this summer with the anticipation of a deep playoff run, and another journey into the Postseason next year. But after their early exit in 2014, Beane needs to take a long, hard look at this team to see what he has. Lester and Hammel are as good as gone. Lowrie, Gregerson, Gomes, Callaspo, and Soto are all free agents. Samardzija will be entering his final year of arbitration, and will command a hefty salary. It might not be easy for Beane to move his club in a new direction, but that could be the best course of action for the Athletics. If only they still had a guy like Addison Russell in the fold – an elite prospect like that would be huge for this organization.
