The Oakland A’s have been riddled with injuries for some time now. It seems as though just as someone gets better, another Athletic incurs a multi-day injury. For a team who likes have a deep bench in order to mix and match their players, it has become harder and harder for them to customize lineups as players fall to concussions, strained hamstrings, and back spasms. But which injuries have hindered the Oakland A’s the most throughout this season?
1) Bullpen – Sean Doolittle
Sean Doolittle
Doolittle’s strained intercostal muscle was one of the most hindering injuries to come from the bullpen. Before he was reactivated on September 12, the Oakland A’s lost eight games by one run during the two weeks in which he was on the disabled list. Even though these loses are also due to the lack of offensive the Athletics have been demonstrating recently, it would have been nice to have been confident in the closer that took the mound in the final innings of these games.
Dolittle has 21 saves this season with 83 strikeouts and only five walks in 57.1 innings pitched. With a 2.20 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP, Doolittle has been great for the Oakland A’s after being appointed closer in May. As a reliever, Doolittle’s 16 strikeouts per walk allowed this year places him third in Athletics’ history and fourth in Major League Baseball history since 1914. With their dominant closer back on the mound, hopefully it will give the Oakland A’s more confidence in winning during those close scoring games.
2) Infield – Any of the Oakland A’s Catchers
Right now, it is not a good time to be a catcher for the Oakland A’s. John Jaso has been out since mid-August with concussion symptoms, Stephen Vogt finally surcomed to a pestering left ankle injury, and Geovany Soto, the Oakland A’s newest catcher, went down with back spasms just two nights ago. Now there is only Derek Norris and rookie Bryan Anderson who has no in-game catching experience with any of the Oakland A’s pitchers.
Going from three defensively talented catchers down to a fourth string catcher and a rookie will be difficult for the Oakland A’s. With the next 12 games being must-win games for the Athletics, it is important to have a quality catcher behind the plate since he is involved in every pitch of the game. Additionally, the DH position was almost always filled by one of the A’s catchers before Adam Dunn came along, which creates a lineup conundrum for manager Bob Melvin especially when facing left handed pitching since Dunn is notoriously less offensively productive against lefties. The Oakland A’s catchers have remained fairly consistent when it comes to offense and now Melvin will have to pick and choose carefully as to who will fill the DH role since he will not be able to fall back on any of his reliable catchers.
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3) Outfield – Coco Crisp
Crisp has been battling a neck injury for most of the season, but with Yoenis Cespedes in the lineup during the first half of the year, Crisp’s absence was not hindering the Oakland A’s. However, since Cespedes’ departure, it is clear that Crisp is the catalyst the Athletics need at the start of their lineup for every game. Even though he has not be in the lineup for every game this year, Crisp is currently batting .257 with 9 homers and 45 RBI. Additionally, he has a .733 OPS and 19 stolen bases for this season.
Being a switch hitter, Crisp can start in any game against any pitcher when he is healthy. Additionally, his defense is the outfield and dedication to the team is unmatched by any of the Oakland A’s outfielders. Even though Crisp is in the lineup for now, if he were to re-injure his neck right before or during the postseason, it would greatly effect the Oakland A’s offense and defense.
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This article The Oakland A’s most hindering player injuries appeared first on isportsweb by Sam Riley