Well, the A’s are six games into the season and the power surge that we saw in spring training seems just like a Desert Mirage. The team that averaged 7.0 runs per game in Arizona can barely manage 2.8 now that the regular season has started. To be fair, it’s unreasonable to expect the same run production against top tier major league pitching and not those pitchers that teams want to test out in the spring. Not to mention the fact that we’ve faced two teams expected to finish in the tops of their
incredibly challenging divisions.
But looking at the batting averages in today’s box score is a bit disheartening to say the least. To be super clear, I’m talking about everyone NOT named Shea Langeliers. Bangeliers five homers in six games with a .374 batting average and 1.400 OPS suits me just fine. He won’t keep up that blistering pace, but then again, no one would expect him to. Suffice it to say, we’ve expected a breakout season from him, and it looks as if we are about to get it.
Now getting back to those who haven’t found their groove yet. In today’s lineup 9 of 11 batters finished at or below the “Mendoza Line”, and if we add Nick Kurtz in from yesterday’s lineup it would be 10 of 12. In fact, the A’s rank 30th out of 30 teams in batting average with a pathetic team batting average of .177. Now I’m sure many astute A’s Nation readers will say that batting average is not a stat held in the same esteem as it once was. That is true. Our 5×5 category fantasy baseball league doesn’t even track it any longer, opting for OPS instead. But there is no joy in that stat either as the A’s rank the same 30th out of 30 in that category also. For comparison sake, The Miami Marlins lead the league in both categories with a .290 team batting average and a .847 OPS.
The reality is, we all know that the A’s will turn this all around. But we can’t forget what an 11-game losing streak and a 1-20 stretch did to us last year. It’s exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to recover from a streak like that and still make the playoffs. I’m not ready to give that dream up this early in the season, so let’s get some W’s quickly. Let’s hope a win streak starts this weekend at home in West Sacramento. Hometown fans, home cookin,’ and the launching pad that is Sutter Health Park should help cure what ails the Athletics’ hitting woes.
