Amazingly that just a mere six months ago, the 2013 Major League baseball season was just getting underway. There were expectations for many teams and hopes and dreams for others that they could just have a fighting chance. Experts and fans alike debated who was going to be this year's surprise team. A's fans wondered if 2012 was just a fluke as the Los Angeles Angels reloaded signing Josh Hamilton. Seattle was an improved club and how would Texas fare after losing the 5 game lead with 9 to play?
The talk amongst most A's fans was if they could build upon what happened in 2012, which was a magical run to a division crown. When the schedule first came out, A's fan's looked at another 0-1 start against Seattle and Felix Hernandez and also looked at the last week of the schedule in which the A's finished with six on the road. There was a pretty good chances are the O. Co faithful would not see the A's celebrate anything at home with a division race that was pegged to be one of the best in baseball, perhaps sending three teams to the postseason. Experts had the A's finishing second or third to the reloaded Angels and Texas was not going to let September happen to them again.
Added to the mix in 2013 was a re-signed Bartolo Colon, who I personally thought wasn't a good signing. Though I disagreed with it, I was worried that the lack of PED's was going to affect him throughout the season. In retrospect, I was very glad to be very wrong as Colon stayed healthy pretty much throughout the year and led the staff with 18 wins and a 2.65 ERA, which was best for second in the American League behind Detroit's Anibal Sanchez. The A's also acquired Jed Lowrie in a trade from new division rival Houston for Chris Carter and some minor league prospects. I always knew that Lowrie was a good hitter, but the problem is he was often injured and had problems playing a full season. I felt he would be a descent hitter who could possibly platoon with Japanese import Hiroyuki Nakajima who the A's signed for two years. The A's though were concerned about Lowrie's and Nakajima's range, but if they could hit, they could balance thing's out. In the outfield, the A's had Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick coming back along with Seth Smith. The A's had also acquired Chris Young just days after the ALDS ended for Cliff Pennington to be a backup outfielder with pop, which means they would not sign fan favorite Jonny Gomes. There was also utility infielder Eric Sogard who ended up winning a job out of Spring Training over Jemile Weeks. The A's also still had much maligned Daric Barton in their organization somehow. Near the end of Spring, the A's also picked up Rule 5 Draftee Nate Freiman, who was basically in many people's eyes, the right handed version of Ryan Sweeney. Freiman who had never played above AA, must stay on the 25 man roster all season or the A's risk losing him to his former team, the Astros.
The thing that gets me the most is where these players were six months ago and where these players are now. Freiman played an integral role as a right handed platoon player, had many key hits including a walk-off single against future Hall of Famer and now retired New York Yankee closer, Mariano Rivera. Lowrie had an awesome season, where he challenged the A's doubles record set by Jason Giambi. Crisp, went 20/20 this season and was the A's motor, while Cespedes and Reddick had down years average wise, but still hit the ball hard and played some outstanding defense. Eric Sogard solidified himself as one of the best 9 hitters in the American League using his tools as being a pesky hitter and being an awesome defensive replacement. Nakajima got hurt at the start of the season and really never recovered and still has not seen big league action. Other players that the A's picked up throughout the year such as Stephen Vogt, Alberto Callaspo and former A's catcher Kurt Suzuki have played key roles in helping the A's get to where they need to be. Much maligned Daric Barton, who the A's designated for assignment twice (meaning any team could have picked him up) played a huge role down the stretch playing stellar defense and contributing offensively. Brandon Moss lead the team in home runs with 30, while Josh Donaldson was the most consistent, putting himself in the middle of the MVP talk with his overall game. The pitching staff remained outstanding using only 7 starters all year including 2011 draft pick Sonny Gray. The down part to the team was that Brett Anderson was hurt for most of the season, but has returned as an effective reliever solidifying an outstanding bullpen. Grant Balfour, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook were consistent throughout the season. Jesse Chavez and Dan Otero were key cogs in the bullpen as well along with fan favorite Jerry Blevins.
Two-third's of Major League Baseball teams go home before October and the 2013 AL West Champion Oakland Athletics are not one of them. Surprisingly, the A's played consistent baseball all year long and then took off in September and clinched the division in front of their home fans on the last regular season home date of the season with six games to play. Not in an A's fan's wildest dreams would anyone have thought of that. Oh baseball, I love you oh so much!
Buckle up, strap in and enjoy this ride to hopefully ends with the Green and Gold the last team standing in the end...
