This week’s three takeaways looks at the regressioning (that’s a word, right?) A’s, floundering White Sox, and confusing Diamondbacks.
Oakland Athletics: 31-41
The A’s have won 8 of their last 12 games and still sport the eighth-best run differential, despite carrying the fourth-worst winning percentage. Their bats continue to be a strong point, except for (ironically) designated hitter Billy Butler. Their pitching has been strong behind Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, while Jesse Chavez has once again filled in admirably in a starting role. Their weak spot all year has been the bullpen despite the prescient acquisition of Tyler Clippard. Even with the regression towards the record their run differential says they should have, the A’s are just in too deep a hole. It’s worth wondering at what point the A’s begin selling off their marketable pieces (Kazmir, Zobrist, Clippard), if this truly is a lost season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 34-35
As fun as it is mocking the Diamondbacks for their head-scratching decisions (they made another one this week), it’s worth noting they carry a positive run differential and are one game shy of a .500 record. Still, there doesn’t seem to be much hope for something more than that, especially with a rotation full of back end starters and a lineup carried by Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and not much else. It doesn’t appear as though reinforcements are coming either, as management just included last year’s first-round pick (Touki Toussaint) in a trade just to get rid of what’s left on Bronson Arroyo’s contract. That kind of move doesn’t happen if you’re not desperate for money, or seriously mis-evaluating Toussaint and neither of those options provide long-term optimism for D-backs fans.
Chicago White Sox: 30-38
Chicago’s aggressive offseason moves led many (myself included) to err on the side of optimism, thinking that Jeff Samardzija would provide a lethal one-two punch with Chris Sale, Melky Cabrera would shore up a gaping left-field hole, and David Robertson would anchor an otherwise shaky bullpen. Looking at what they had addressed while ignoring what they hadn’t (catcher, second base, third base, back of the rotation) was a mistake, though. Samardzija hasn’t pitched to his abilities, normally trustworthy Jose Quintana has struggled, a literal sinkhole would provide more offense from second base, and Melky Cabrera has done his best sinkhole impression at the plate. At 30-38, in a division featuring three contending teams and a fluky season from the Twins, there’s little to no hope for the Pale Hose. The tough part for them is that should they become sellers, they lack much to sell beyond Samardzija.
