‘Savvy moves’ add to mound strength
The A’s acquired one premier reliever, Jeurys Familia, last month, then two more pitchers after the trade deadline, dealing for reliever Shawn Kelley on Sunday and starter Mike Fiers on Monday. That sends a clear message to Oakland’s players, according to manager Bob Melvin.
“It changes any clubhouse,” Melvin said. “Everyone was thrilled to death when we got Familia and to make two more savvy moves after the deadline, it just picks the group up.
“Anytime you have a chance to make the team better after the deadline, which is difficult to do, it’s going to resonate with the players, for sure.”
Fiers, obtained from Detroit for two players to be named or cash, will start Wednesday against the Dodgers, the team he no-hit three years ago, and he’ll oppose Clayton Kershaw.
“I want to pitch against tough teams in a playoff race and show these guys I can do this and be a part of it,” said Fiers, who went from a team that entered Tuesday 19 games under .500 to one 21 games over.
A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy caught Fiers in Milwaukee and has hit against him, so he knows him well.
“Mike’s going to go out there and give it the best he has every time,” Lucroy said. “He’s a flyball pitcher, so he’s going to match up really well with this ballpark. Hopefullly, he can help us get to that next level we want to get to.”
Khris Davis said he played at every minor-league level with Fiers while in the Brewers’ system. “Great addition,” Davis said. “He’s going to come in and put up some innings. He’s a worker. He takes the game seriously. He’s a competitor. That’s what you want.”
Kelley was acquired for international slot money from Washington; he’d been let go in the wake of an incident last week in which he slammed his glove down after a homer by Austin Jackson in a 25-4 win over the Mets.
Asked about that meltdown, Kelly said Tuesday, “I got frustrated because I gave up a homer. I meant no disrespect — I’ve always been a team-first guy. I’ve always pitched when I could help the group. It’s in the past now. I’ll just have fun with it, move on and enjoy this new experience.”
Kelley was able to make light of it later; when asked what role he’s best suited for in the bullpen, he joked, “Twenty-five to one is fine,” then added, “I’ve done everything from closing on a playoff team to eating innings and trying to give guys days off to everything in between. I’m at the point in my career I want to get to the playoffs and have a run and have fun. The role, to me, doesn’t really matter.”
Kelley is aware of what the A’s are doing — but often hasn’t been able to watch their typically late-game dramatics while playing on the East Coast.
“I haven’t seen a lot of them because I’m in bed when they’re just heating up in the later innings,” he said, “but I’ve heard the buzz and know how they’ve been playing lately, winning and having fun doing it.”
Like Fiers, Kelley — who knows the Coliseum from his days with the Mariners — should benefit from playing in the bigger park. “I like the foul territory and the cool evenings with the deep center field,” he said. “It helps me keep my home runs in the park.”
Kelley entered Tuesday’s game with two on and one out in the sixth. After issuing a walk to Brian Dozier, Kelley escaped the jam by getting Manny Machado on a pop-out and Justin Turner on a line-out.
To make room for Kelley and Fiers, the A’s optioned relievers J.B. Wendelken and Ryan Dull to Triple-A Nashville. Infielder Franklin Barreto also returned to Nashville when utilityman Chad Pinder (lacerated elbow) came off the DL.