Can A’s keep pace as break nears?
Six important numbers to know
The Oakland A’s are in a tight battle for first place with the Houston Astros as the All-Star break fast approaches.
The Astros are hot, but the A’s are having a strong June as well, coming off a seven-game win streak while playing some of their best baseball of the season. Can the A’s keep the pace and create a cushion atop the American League West heading into the break? Here are three big numbers, and three alarming numbers, that’s put them on this trajectory heading into Tuesday’s action. MANAEA’S 1.04 ERA IN JUNE>> The A’s rotation has been a pillar to the team’s success so far. Manaea and Chris Bassitt’s personal growth have a lot to do with the stability.
Manaea, in particular,
has had a stellar month.
The runs he allowed against the New York Yankees were two of just three he gave up in June over three starts (with one shutout) and 26 innings.
What’s changed for Manaea this year?
First, his 92 mph average fastball velocity is two milesper-hour faster than the 90 mph average he maintained in2020.
His fastball averaged 93 mph in his last start against the Yankees. A change in his pregame routine, including his workouts, helped increase his velocity, he’s said. A renewed belief that he is “nasty” has fortified his mental state while pitching too.
Manaea also significantly reduced the use of his fourseam fastball and changed his grip away from a circle changeup starting five starts ago and is primarily throwing his two-seamer and changeup because the two pitches’ spin work better against hitters, he said.
“One of the reasons is trying to blend the spin into the hitter’s eye,” Manaea said. “Movement-wise, they don’t do much different to each other. My ball naturally tails. I’m not going to backdoor two-seams to lefties or front hit two seams to righties. It’s more a feel thing.”
OLSON’S .304 BATTING AVERAGE>> The batting average statistic doesn’t carry as much weight these days, but in Olson’s case it signifies notable development.
Olson is one of the best hitters in all of baseball. His .997 OPS ranks third in the American League and sixth in MLB. His 20 home runs are tied for fourth in baseball. It’s a power hitter’s game, and Olson has all the power to stay on that trajectory.
With the bases loaded and no outs against the Yankees, Olson had the opportunity to flaunt that power with a grand slam.
Instead, he poked a single into the opposite field to score a pair of runs. Olson developing into a power hitter who can also hit for well-above average is a turning point for this A’s team as a whole; suddenly Olson is an even more dynamic threat at the plate. He said he’s been using a little red machine to simulate high spin rate four-seamers, which has helped hone his eye and approach. His strikeout rate plummeted from 31% in 2020 to 16% this year. It’s certainly doing the trick.
KEMP’S 1.025 OPS IN JUNE>> Kemp the power hitter? He did hit two more home runs than Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium.
Kemp has been playing the best baseball of his career, manager Bob Melvin said. Kemp happened to agree. He’s gone from a .613 OPS in April to a 1.025 OPS in June with a honed approach that has him getting deeper into counts. While he used to fall in love with first-pitch heaters, he’s loved more his swings in full counts. The payoff has him with four doubles, a triple and three home runs so far this month.
PETIT’S 36 GAMES PITCHED>> No pitcher in baseball has appeared in more games than Petit. San Diego’s Tim Hill and Cleveland’s James Karinchak are right behind him with 35 appearances. Is that bad? Not necessarily. The A’s have one of the most reliable relievers in the game. He’s accrued a 7-0 record, 3.03 ERA with a 75% left-on-base percentage.
At this juncture, it’s slightly alarming that one of the A’s most valuable arms has logged so many innings, 38 2/3 to be exact.
BURCH SMITH’S 9.53 ERA IN 10 GAMES>> Smith stranded all six inherited runners over a 10game span. His fastball spin rate remains elite, in the 89th percentile, but he’s struggling to get through innings.
Smith has allowed 12 runs with four walks over 11 1/3 innings. His 12 strikeouts signify the value he demonstrated when he tossed straight 10 scoreless innings in 2020 before his injury. But a top-heavy bullpen could use a more effective Smith without the disaster innings.
PUK’S 11.02 ERA IN LAS VEGAS>> There is no pressure for Puk to be rushed up to the big leagues after sustaining another shoulder injury, but he doesn’t look particularly close.
The A’s won’t bring Puk back to Oakland until they are certain he will stick in the big leagues. While staving off injury, Puk hasn’t been able to keep runs off the board in most of his 12 minor league appearances in Las Vegas. Until that ERA calms down, don’t expect to see Puk in Oakland.