SBNation.com User Blog: Steve Kearney

A's & O's Back to The Future

Steve Kearney — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:01:04 -0000

A's & O's Just Like Old Times

Both the Athletics and Orioles could well qualify for postseason play this year as both are in contention for their division titles as well as the two wild-card spots in the American League. They are vying with each other for the role of Cinderella. If the season ended now both would be in the playoffs.

As they square-off for three games this weekend, it's worth noting that it's been a long time since the A's and O's both made the postseason--38 years, to be exact. The President of the United States was Gerald Ford--sworn-in during August 1974--he was #38 at that position.

The A's and O's met often in the early 70's postseason--three times, in fact. The first A's vs O's playoff match-up was 1971, which the O's won. The A's, of course, had the upper hand in '73 and '74. I'm old enough to remember those series--a lot of great piitching--who could forget Vida Blue's 1-0 shutout in Game 3 of '74 playoff! Or Sal Bando's 2 HRs in game 2 of '73 playoff after Al Bumbry had robbed him of a HR!

In the 38 years since 1974, the A's have made the postseason 10 times, the Orioles just 4 times--none together. The difference between then and now is that both were at minimum defending division champions in '74, whereas in 2012 both were down in the dumps the preceding year-- In April, you probably could have gotten 50-1 odds that both these teams would make the postseason. Now the odds are probably close to even money.

So the A's could meet the O's in the 2012 postseason. Those 3 series in the '70s being the only precedents, the A's postseason record vs Orioles, then is 2-1. Regarding other potential postseason opponents, A's vs Yanks are 0-3, A's vs Tigers are 1-1, A's vs Rays or Chisox or Rangers or Angels are 0-0. Other A's postseason matches have included the Red Sox (2-2), Royals (1-0), and Blue Jays (1-1).

Throw the A's and O's in with the Washington Nationals and you've got three potential playoff teams that were below .500 the previous year. A potential first, perhaps?

Athletics Franchise: Win Or Lose In Big Blocks

Steve Kearney — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:28:14 -0000

The next A's win guarantees the TEAM will finish the 2012 regular season with a winning record.

For the betting man, if asked to pick whether the A's will be above or below .500 in a given season since 1901, if you had simply chosen the same way as they had been the previous year, you'd have been right more than 80 percent of the time. Of course, 2012 looks pretty certain to be an exception to the rule, which means it could well mark a tipping point in the positive direction.

Here's a listing of the blocks:

1901-'07: 7 in a row above .500

1909-'14: 6 in a row above .500

1915-'24: 10 in a row below .500

1925-'33: 9 in a row above .500

1934-'46: 13 in a row below .500

1953-'67: 15 in a row below .500

1968-'76: 9 in a row above .500

1982-'86: 5 in a row below .500

1988-'92: 5 in a row above .500

1993-'98: 6 in a row below .500

1999-2006: 8 in a row above .500

The only seasons that weren't part of a major trend were:

1908: a down year between 2 blocks of winning seasons;

1947-'52: 3 years above .500, then 2 years below .500, then 1 year above .500;

1977-'81: 3 years below .500 followed by 2 years above .500;

1987: a transitional even .500 campaign between a down and an up block;

2007-'12: 3 years below 500 , then 1 even .500, then 1 below .500, then this year surely above .500.

A more hopeful way of looking at the recent anomalous period is to label 2007-'11 as 5 years at or below .500, with 2012 marking the beginning of a lengthy (7th) up cycle (average duration of prior 6 up cycles is 7+ years).

It's pretty amazing just how blocky the Athletics franchise has been, particularly when you consider that overall they're fairly close in winning (51) to losing (59) seasons (with 2 at even .500) since 1901.

A's Approaching Team Records for Balanced Attack

Steve Kearney — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:07:16 -0000

A's No Punch & Judy

In terms of a well-balanced attack, these A's are the first ever to have 8 hitters with 10 or more homers, 10 hitters with 10 or more doubles AND 5 guys with 10 or more stolen bases. Of course, some of these are the same players (Reddick, Cespedes and Crisp contribute in all 3 categories, but that's beside the point).

The record for players hitting 10+ HRs for the A's was 9 in 2000. The way Kottaras has been going, he could conceivably join that club--giving the present team a tie.

The most A's to steal 10+ bases was 8 in '76. That included Sal Bando who swiped 20! That record is beyond reach in 2012.

The 2012 A's could well tie or break the team record of 13 players to hit 10+ doubles which was set in 1993. So far, 10 A's have 10+ doubles. Several players are closing in on double-digit doubles. Gomes, Moss and Ka'aihue each need just 1, Norris needs 3.

The overall 2012 tally so far of 23 for 10+ doubles, homers, and stolen bases is already second- most in team history to the 25 of 1993, and should equal or surpass it by season's end as the doubles number goes up..

A caveat: that '93 team was 68-94, last place. The pitching wasn't very good.

A's Hitting Both Ways: L/R Balanced Attack

Steve Kearney — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 01:10:58 -0000

An interesting aspect to the present successful A's team is its versatility in terms of lefty/righty.

The roster features five left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters.

This enables them to field a lineup with up to7 of the 9 batting lefty--and all in-position. Yet they can still post a lineup having up to 8 of 9 hitting righty--all in-position. This makes it possible for them to stack the lineup to counter the starting pitcher either way.

It's rare for a team to have two middle infielders and a catcher who can hit left--but these A's do (And they all play righty in the field so no downside).

It helps with game management that there's usually a decent lefty and righty on the bench ready to pinch-hit.

The A's pitching is similarly well-balanced: the bullpen features 4 lefties and 4 righties, and 2 of 5 starters are lefties (Blackley counted as a reliever here).

I can't recall an A's team so well-balanced in lefty/righty terms--and I've been a fan for a very long time.