Oakland Athletics: 2014 Midseason Grades

Starting Pitching

If Beane’s aggressive trade with the Chicago Cubs was any indication, the starting staff for the A’s has been the team’s weak link thus far. But saying that is like saying Return of the Jedi is the worst movie from the original Star Wars trilogy. Sure, it’s not as good, but c’mon it’s still Star Wars. Even before the club acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel the A’s had one of the better pitching staffs in the American League, chock full of young talent and pleasant surprises.

After a sensational start to his major league career, 24 year-old Sonny Gray has picked up where he left off a season ago. While Gray has come back to earth after a spectacular April, his ERA is almost identical to what it was in 2013, and he shows no signs of a sophomore slump. At 125.2 innings already pitched though, there is some cause for concern about Gray for the second half. The A’s will certainly find a way to give their current and future ace some rest, and the acquisition of an experienced number one starter like Jeff Samrdzija will pay huge dividends come September.

Two pitchers who were nearly out of baseball just a few seasons ago have also brought stability to the A’s pitching staff. Scott Kazmir is a bona fide Cy Young award contender, sporting a 2.38 ERA and his lowest hits per 9 innings rate of his career. Jesse Chavez had only made four starts in his major league career before this season, and now he has a 3.14 ERA through 19 starts in 2014. Drew Pomeranz and Tommy Milone found success in the first half, and while they could be starters for practically any other team in baseball they will provide the A’s with fantastic depth in the second half. Oakland already had a solid collection of starting pitchers, and with Hammel and Samrdzija now aboard the A’s will have one of the most dangerous starting staffs in the game.

Grade: A-