Rising A's

It took 12 innings, but the Oakland A’s completed a four game sweep of the New York Yankees in fine fashion.  A’s outfielder, Coco Crisp, stepped up as a pinch hitter and drilled a walk-off single that allowed teammate Derek Norris to cross the plate for the winning run.  The Yankees would fall 5-4 and leave the Bay Area without a single win.  A surprising series for the Yankees, but an even more improbable one for the A’s. 

No one was giving Oakland a fighting chance at making the postseason during preseason discussions.  By the time they opened up their season in Japan for a two game series against the Seattle Mariners, they were all but forgotten about.  Now, they sit one game back of the LA Angels for the top wild card spot (51-44) and currently rank in the top ten in all four major pitching categories (4^th ERA, 10^th Q Starts, 3^rd WHIP, 4^th BAA). 

Pitching has clearly been their calling card so far in 2012.  Led predominantly by 25 year old lefty, Tommy Milone, who has stepped up with a team leading 9 wins and 86 strikeouts, the A’s are counting on their arms (young and old) to help fuel the charge. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, 39 year old veteran right hander, Bartolo Colon, has been a satisfying addition to the young A’s starting rotation.  Colon’s resurgent play in Oakland can’t be defined by his 6-8 record or by his trademark body about to burst out of his uniform.  He is bettering his career ERA and WHIP at the moment, but it is his experience and energy that has to be sending positive vibes through the A’s entire clubhouse. 

Oakland needs all of the good vibes they can get.  They are grinding out wins and that can only carry them so far.  Talented hungry teams in the AL East are looming and will be sure to charge for one of the two wild card spots come October.

Statistically the bats aren’t producing enough to keep the A’s head above water.  They are treading feverishly at the moment, ranking near the bottom of the league in the four major batting categories (27^th in Runs, 30^th BA, 28^th OBP, 25^th Slg Pct). 

Outfielder Josh Reddick is having a career year and rookie outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is flying under the radar, despite 13 homeruns and a .299 average at the plate.  Those two guys have been the catalyst on the field and in the box for Oakland for all of 2012; giving promise to a fan base that hasn’t witnessed the playoffs since 2006. 

    

The 2012 A’s are a far cry from the franchise’s dynasties of the early 1970’s, but no one expected Oakland to be in the position they are in right now.  They just swept arguably the hottest team in baseball and did so in the grind it out fashion they have become accustom to.      

With a solid rotation and a deep bullpen, Oakland is poised to build off of the momentum they have obtained so far.  Their work needs to improve at the plate.  However, if the strong pitching holds up then all Oakland might need is continued clutch hitting late in games.  They need this because Reggie Jackson or Mark McGwire aren’t walking through that clubhouse door and that’s probably ok with the 2012 Oakland A’s.