It's a bit soon to be looking at offseason cuts, but we've seen enough this season to know who the Oakland A's can make the playoffs without. Especially when it comes to next season when nearly everyone will be one year older and cost more money.
This is by no means an article intended to blast the players on this list as horrible human beings that need to be sent off the plank in the middle of the ocean.
It's more so a realistic look at who Oakland can save money on by not bringing back. That saved money, in turn, can ...
A month that began with the A's scuffling and ultimately losing their lead in the American League West ended with a 5-1 flourish that enabled the team to record its ninth straight winning month at 14-13. And don't be fooled, that record is indicative of how the A's played in the month of August: up and down and all around.
Even the nice finish was dulled a bit by the three-run lead lost in Detroit on the 29th as the A's let a chance at a rare four-game sweep against the Tigers slip away. But as of this writing, the A's ...
Fans were watching a potential postseason preview today as the Oakland Athletics hosted the Tampa Bay Rays.
Oakland came into the game holding the top spot in the American League wild-card standings, 1.5 games above the second spot in the wild card, held by today's opponent, Tampa Bay.
With one month to play in the regular season, neither the A's nor the Rays count themselves out in their respective divisions. Coming into today's game, Oakland sat two games out behind American League West leaders the Texas Rangers. After the win and a Rangers' loss, the A's have now closed that deficit to one game.
Tampa ...
Blue, Hunter and Fingers. Hudson, Mulder and Zito. Gonzalez, Cahill and Bailey. Parker, Griffin and Straily. Who's next?
The Oakland Athletics are known for bringing pitchers up through the minor leagues, and they have a group of future stars waiting for the next promotion.
Prospects were analyzed based on their potential and performance, in that order. Pitchers who already have a shot in the bigs, like phenom Sonny Gray or veteran Hideki Okajima, are ineligible for consideration.
All advanced stats from FanGraphs.
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The Oakland A's may have lost a heartbreaker to the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 29, but they still have much to look forward to come September. The month may just give the A's and Texas Rangers deja vu.
Oakland finished the first half of the season two games ahead of Texas. Now the Rangers hold a three-game lead. Even more frightening, the Rangers are two wins away from having the best record in baseball.
Still, A's fans should welcome September with open arms. Here's why.
Short-Term Momentum
August might have been the team's most challenging month. It faced top-tier teams such as the Rangers, ...
Since moving to Oakland in 1968, the Athletics have consistently churned out star-studded teams, winning four World Series and making the playoffs 16 times.
The A's have built dynasties on the backs of homegrown players, who inevitably leave for higher paychecks elsewhere. A young core carried the A's in the early 1970s, late 80s, early 90s and early 2000s.
Teams were ranked on the players' production that year, with little focus on postseason success. A good team will consistently play well over the course of a season, but can be booted from the playoffs after a couple bad games.
I also tried to ...
In Jarrod Parker's second season as a starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics he has emerged as a young star thanks to an impressive arsenal of pitches.
Parker has been untouchable since May 22, compiling a 8-0 record, 2.48 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 16 starts. He's gathered nationwide attention for besting All-Stars like Chris Sale, Yu Darvish and Chris Tillman.
All of Parker's pitches have some combination of pinpoint accuracy, breathtaking speed and sharp movement, which have helped him erase all memories of his rough April.
Fastball
Parker sets the pace with a four-seam fastball that can dance up to the mid-90s, impressive ...
As the season winds down, Oakland's farm clubs continue to give ample opportunity for future stars to enhance their abilities and develop as they move incrementally towards playing in the major leagues. Some of the most noteworthy players in the organization bounced back from a rough week to produce with numbers more in line with their overall production in 2013.
It is worth noting that a couple of prospects (Miles Head and Michael Ynoa) are out with injuries. And even more noteworthy, one currently is hoping to help deliver the A's back to the postseason. With that, here is a list ...
Oakland Athletic fans are used to things coming down to the wire.
Last year, the A's made the playoffs with two games left in the season, and then, on the last day, they won the division. Can't get closer to the end than actually being at the literal end of the season.
This year seemed different, though. At the All-Star break, the A's had a two-game lead over Texas, a record of 56-39 and Yoenis Cespedes brought home the Home Run Derby trophy for the first time since Mark McGwire did it 1992.
But something is happening that A's fans can't understand. The ...
When Michael Lewis' best-selling book "Moneyball" hit the market in 2003, baseball was changed forever. Lewis chronicled the inner workings of the Oakland Athletics, the team that somehow managed to turn bands of rejects into playoff contenders.
Since joining the A's in 1998, general manager Billy Beane has sent the team to playoffs six times despite continually having one of the league's lowest payrolls.
A "Moneyball" player is someone with perceived flaws or a questionable background who joined the A's on a small contract, but contributed in a big way. Players' success is measured on the qualities Beane and his staff found ...