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The A's have a nasty rotation. I don't know where the A's grow all of these quality pitchers that no one has heard of. They must have some really good scouts.
The A's have recently gotten back Brett Anderson and Brandon McCarthy, I expect them to pitch even better now.
Let's also not forget, Chris Carter was scouted as being a BIG TIME power guy. Strikes out at a decent clip, but could easily has the power to hit 30 HRs per year. They also have Cespedes so the middle of their lineup can definitely produce.
I have to say, the 20-2 destruction of the Red Sox has been the happiest moment for me as a fan so far this season. The only organization I dislike more is, of course, the Giants.
The A's have a nasty rotation. I don't know where the A's grow all of these quality pitchers that no one has heard of. They must have some really good scouts.
The reality is that their pitchers are more good than great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by filihok
We shouldn't forget that ERA is not solely the purvey of the pitching staff. Oakland has an excellent defensive team that helps their pitchers to post low ERA's.
And a stadium that helps their pitcher's to post low ERA's
YEAR Road ERA/Home ERA
2012 4.40/2.79 = ERA 57% higher on the road
2011 4.26/3.18 = ERA 33% higher on the road
2010 4.15/3.04 = ERA 37% higher on the road
I was ready to back up Grandstander's implication that the home park was mostly to credit for the low ERA by suppressing runs but the stats don't really bear it out.
YEAR Road runs scored/Home runs scored
2012 157/159 = 1% more runs scored at home
2011 310/335 = 8% more runs scored at home
2010 309/354 = 13% more runs scored at home
In the last 2+ seasons 1569 runs have been scored in Oakland while 1668 runs have been scored (by Oakland and their opponents) outside of Oakland. That's a difference of about half of a run per game, or a quarter of a run per game per team.
It looks like the Coliseum suppresses run scoring just a bit and Oakland has maximized their ability to both score and prevent runs at home as compared to on the road.
As far as Oakland's pitchers go, yes they have a good ERA, but, as stated earlier, sole credit cannot be given to the pitchers for that. Defense independent metrics, which isolate more of the pitchers' skills show Oakland's staff to be much more average.
In terms of fWAR, Oakland pitchers rate 16th with 8.3. The starters have combined for 6.5 fWAR.
Meanwhile, Cahill and Gonzalez have produced 4.4 fWAR between them.
The A's rate 16th in FIP and 29th in xFIP.
--The Coliseum DOES limit home runs; 289 HR hit in Oakland since 2010 and 371 HR hit outside of Oakland
The A's rate 12th in tERA and 30th in SIERA
The A's pitching staff looks to be something around average. It also appears that Oakland's team is especially well suited to their home stadium.
Since 2010 they have won 113 home games and only 84 road games. That's a .553 home winning percentage and a .412 road winning percentage
The A's got two clinching celebrations this season while the Rangers got none.
When Texas clinched a spot in the post season, they didn't celebrate because the assumption was that they would be winning the division and would be celebrating that. They could hardly celebrate on the last day of the season when they were left with the consolation prize. While the A's were going ape on the field, the Rangers were exiting looking like a team which had just been eliminated.
Oakland on the other hand clinched a spot in the post season on Monday, which was what had been the goal up to that point, and they celebrated in a manner consistent with a team which came out of nowhere to defy expectations.
Then when they won the division, something else completely unexpected, that was a whole new celebration, and again at the expense of the Rangers.
As a lifelong Tigers fan I have to say this A's team is quite remarkable. Tough, determined and talented. For a team that was predicted to be dead last in the AL-West to come out on top in the manner they did shows true teamwork and skill. Best of luck to them on this upcoming home stand (I hope you lose overall, but I have to hope that considering who they are playing.) Any other team against you and I would be pulling for the A's; if the A's progress and knock the Tigers out of contention for the WS, I hope they go all the way and take home the WS. As such a young talented team, I am positive this isn't going to be the last time they are in the playoffs. I expect to see them in contention for years to come.
As a side note, my heart goes out to Pat Neshek and his wife for the loss of their son days before the opening game against the Tigers. For him to still play in game 1 was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
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