A's to determine who are keepers, with hopes for contention gone
OAKLAND >> The Athletics are in free fall, which is pretty much what the fan base expected from the outset.
They're 1-6 on their current homestand and have drawn between 3,203 and 8,753 fans in terms of paid attendance with even fewer than that actually in the seats.
The chance for making a good impression is long gone, with the A's having lost 17 of their last 20 at the cavernous confines of the Coliseum. Their overall home record of 7-20 is the worst in majors, as opposed to a respectable 13-13 on the road. The only teams with a worse winning percentage than the A's .377 (20-33) are Washington (.346), Cincinnati (.347) and Kansas City (.327).
Realistically, there is no coming back to become a contender, even with an extra playoff berth in the mix. They're on pace for 101 losses, which is what they were built to do the moment it was decided Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Sean Manaea made too much money.
Keep in mind that other teams are already watching the A's closely with an eye on the Aug. 2 trade deadline, realizing there may be some meat left on the carcass in terms of adding talent for a playoff run. Foremost among the targets is starting pitcher Frankie Montas, who is just 2-5 but a starter for a playoff team by any statistical measure.
The outlook is bleak, but it's worth noting there isn't much in the way of grousing, complaining or players showing a lack of effort. Manager Mark Kotsay stepped into an impossible job in terms of putting together a winning season, but he's been adept as a communicator and keeping his players in a good frame of mind. They believe they can win even if it's unrealistic given the strippeddown roster.
“We've got an off day. We've played more games than any team in the majors,” pitcher Cole Irvin said Wednesday after a 5-4 loss to the Astros and a three-game sweep. “It's kind of a reset button.”
The A's begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox that could actually put some fans in the seats. Boston has historically been a good draw, there's a fireworks show tonight and a 50year anniversary celebration of the 1972 World Series championship team on Saturday.
Speaking of reset buttons, it's nearing time for executive vice president Billy Beane and G.M. David Forst to determine what they want out of the last 109 games of the season.
The only thing that makes sense is working to identify which players are keepers. These players are deserving of special attention:
UP NEXT
Today: Red Sox at A's, 6:40 p.m., NBCCA
CF Cristian Pache: An elite outfield talent who is already one of the game's best and most natural fly chasers. But how much longer can the A's accept a .169/.210./240slash line and continue to run Pache out there? The key player in the Olson deal, his leash is still a long one.
SP Paul Blackburn: The next step for Blackburn is pitching into the seventh inning, but with a 5-1 record and 2.15ERA he's now showing he can be a quality starter. The 28-year-old won't overwhelm you with stuff, but he's given up only 41hits in 54 1/3 innings.
SP Cole Irvin: Like Blackburn, Irvin needs to give the A's an extra inning or so by showing he can pitch into the seventh or even eighth. Irvin has the ability to get hitters out.
3B Kevin Smith: Smith, who arrived in the Chapman deal, has the defensive skills and footwork of a shortstop and has shown he is more than capable of replacing one of the top defenders in the sport at third base. Hit hard times in May, batting just .186.
2B/SS Nick Allen: Currently with Triple-A Las Vegas, Allen has been up and down between the Aviators and the A's and is getting work at both middle infield positions. Defensive skills are excellent, but is he an everyday player or end-of-roster defensive replacement?
LF Luis Barrera: After a hot start following his promotion from Las Vegas, Barrera's batting average has tumbled to .255 as he is 0 for 13 on the current homestand. He can play all three outfield spots and gives the A's top-level defense.
1B/OF Seth Brown: Showed power potential with 20home runs a year ago and is struggling at .201 with five home runs and 23RBIs. It's worth riding it out this season and determining if he can achieve some consistency.
RP Dany Jimenez: Has blown saves in his last two outings after starting 10for 10. His downwardbreaking slider is a legit out pitch, but 10 walks in 221/3 innings are too many. Has yet to give up a home run.