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Sean Doolittle Will Be Key to Oakland’s Success in 2016

By Brandon Keller

Oct 2, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) high-fives relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (62) after the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) high-fives relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (62) after the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sean Doolittle is primed to lead the Oakland Athletics as long as he stays healthy.

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In 2015, the Oakland Athletics‘ relief pitchers were abysmal. They were so bad that Billy Beane cleaned house and found  replacements during the 2016 offseason — as many expected. The team retained Sean Doolittle though, and his presence as a closer could be huge for the Athletics.

Doolittle missed the majority of 2015 due to a shoulder injury, and he was certainly missed. The Oakland Athletics finished last in their division with the worst record in the American League. A lack of power in the offense was a huge reason for their lack of success, but the relief pitchers failed to give the A’s even a glimmer of hope in tight games.

Before last season, guys like Doolittle would come in late in games to clinch key wins. However, nobody provided that kind of relief for Oakland last season.

Sonny Gray usually shined in the starting rotation as he gave the A’s some sense of credibility. But after the All-Star break, even Gray didn’t produce the same level of effectiveness he had in the early part of the season. When a team’s ace and also their relief pitchers can’t provide any sort of spark, the losses unrelentingly accumulate.

Without Doolittle, the Athletics lost a huge part of their identity. Doolittle was their energetic go-to-guy in the 2014 season. He didn’t register the most saves in the league, but his presence and command on the mound helped get the A’s out of more than a few tough situations.

None of Oakland’s relief pitchers filled that role in 2015. Everybody knows that the Oakland Athletics don’t have a club that signs big name players to long-term deals. Therefore, success for the A’s relies on charismatic and consistent efforts from their core group of players.

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Oakland simply didn’t get enough from their leaders last season. Without a doubt, Sean Doolittle’s enthusiasm as a closer will be huge for the A’s in 2016. He’s certainly a fan-favorite, and his entrance song, “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica, makes his pitching appearances thrilling.

The best way to experience an Oakland A’s game is to witness it the right-field bleachers that lead the headbanging when Doolittle takes the mound.

So far, Doolittle’s health situation appears to have greatly improved from the issues of last year. Solid health for the closer will translate into consistently strong velocity and command. If everything goes according to plan, Doolittle’s pitching will pull the Athletics out from the bottom of the standings.

But he obviously can’t save the A’s on his own, and that’s why there will be some fresh faces in the bullpen around him.

The failure of 2015 was a huge disappointment considering how well the A’s did in previous seasons. However, Beane’s evident work to bolster the roster around leaders such as Doolittle and Gray is a step in the right direction.

Next: MLB: Handing Out Offseason Grades to all 30 Teams

Sean Doolittle is the type of hard-working baseball player that A’s fans rely on to give them a good Summer. A low payroll team like Oakland needs strong closing efforts from Doolittle if they wish to contend in the highly competitive American League West division.

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