Oakland Athletics: 2014 Midseason Grades

Bullpen

It seemed that the A’s made one of the sneakiest moves of the offseason by acquiring Baltimore Orioles All-Star closer Jim Johnson for practically nothing. That might have been due to Johnson’s league leading nine blown saves in 2013, but Oakland was willing to take the risk. And what a risk it was, after only eight games and an 18.90 ERA, Johnson was out as A’s closer. After that, the A’s did what any sane team would do, make a former 1st baseman their new closer. That risk though has paid off big time.

Sean Doolittle has had closer stuff since converting to a pitcher a few seasons ago, and he has been a savior for the A’s bullpen this season. Doolittle has 14 saves at the break, 13 strikeouts per nine innings, a 2.89 ERA and his fielding independent pitching would suggest he’s been even better than that at 1.58. There is an argument to be made that Doolittle has been the team’s MVP through the first half.

Doolittle’s bullpen mates haven’t been too shabby either. The team’s bullpen currently has the second best ERA and batting average against in the AL. Offseason pickups like Fernando Abad (1.89 ERA, 0.84 WHIP) and Luke Gregerson (2.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) have helped make the back end of the Oakland ‘pen one of the most dangerous in baseball, while holdovers Ryan Cook and Dan Otero have both been very solid. What was nearly a disaster for the A’s has become one of their greatest strengths, and with the addition of a healthy Eric O’Flaherty (career 2.88 ERA), it should only get better.

Grade: A