By looking at most of the team”s statistics, it would be easy to think the Oakland Athletics played themselves out of the playoff race by early May.
Fortunately for them, the most important figure is on their side.
The A”s are 16-15 after a home loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon, putting them just a handful games out of first place in the American League West.
That record is especially impressive considering how Oakland”s offense has performed.
Coming into Wednesday, the A”s ranked 25th in runs scored, 29th in on-base and slugging percentages, and dead last in batting average (at an anemic .215).
Oakland players aren”t doing enough to raise those team totals.
Only three A”s have 10 or more RBIs this season. Outfielder Josh Reddick is the lone everyday hitter with a batting average above .250.
The two young infield stars, Cliff Pennington and Jemile Weeks, got off to slow starts and are currently hitting .217 and .197, respectively.
The offense received absolutely no support from first base.
The power numbers for Daric Barton and Kila Ka”aihue were atrocious. They”ve combined for just one home run and seven RBIs – at least Oakland isn”t paying $20 million-plus this year for that level of inefficiency.
Still, the A”s found a way to win a majority of their games to date.
The team really benefited from clutch hitting (like Brandon Inge”s walk-off grand slam Tuesday) and contributions from unheralded players (including Jonny Gomes and Michael Taylor).
Rookie Yoenis Cespedes provided most the power with five home runs and 21 RBIs. His lack of consistency, highlighted by a .255 on-base percentage and 29 strikeouts, however is concerning.
Then again, Cespedes and some of the other hitters were only able to shine on occasion because Oakland”s pitching kept the team in games.
Veteran starters Bartolo Colon (3-2 with a 2.83 ERA) and Brandon McCarthy (2-3 with a 2.96 ERA) threw well in most of their early starts.
Offseason acquisition Tommy Milone has been pitched better than expected. Despite a 4.42 ERA, the 25-year-old lefty is 4-2 overall, earning a decision in each of his first six starts.
Beyond those three, the A”s starting staff seems to be hanging by a thread.
Jarrod Parker impressed in his three starts, but it”s hard to gauge how his 23-year-old arm will do over the long season.
Tyson Ross, the team”s final starter, finds himself in a rut following a loss Wednesday that dropped him to 1-3 – his latest performance did improve his ERA to 7.71.
Looking at the records of A”s starters, it”s not hard to see how important a role the bullpen has played.
Jerry Blevins, Brian Fuentes and Jordan Norberto have formed a formidable southpaw trio for Oakland.
Ryan Cook has pitched lights out thus far, giving up zero earned runs in 14 appearances.
Closer has been a problem spot for Oakland though. Grant Balfour has two blown saves and a 4.70 ERA. The Aussie will have to offer more back-end stability if he wants to keep the job long-term.
Early in the 2012 season, timely hitting and decent pitching combined to help the A”s earn some good series wins, including taking one from the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend.
The A”s have a tough stretch the rest of May, with games upcoming against the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
Staying healthy will be a key as they try to excel in those matchups.
Oakland doesn”t really have a lot of depth at starting pitcher to begin with, so an injury to one of the three main hurlers would likely sink the team.
The A”s also need to hope Cespedes gets back on the field soon.
Nevertheless, manager Bob Melvin has his A”s right where they need to be.
Though they”ve blown some winnable series (like early sets against the Seattle Mariners), the A”s haven”t had a losing streak longer than three games.
They”ve hovered around .500 most of the season, and that wouldn”t be a bad position for the team in a few weeks, when Manny Ramirez is due to return from suspension.
And who knows what could happen if Manny somehow starts being (the old) Manny again.
