Are the Oakland A’s done?

The Oakland Athletics were one of the true enigmas heading into the 2015 Major League Baseball season. Few teams had undergone so many changes in the offseason.

Out were Yoenis Cespedes, Brandon Moss, Jeff Samardzija, Derek Norris, Josh Donaldson, Luke Gregerson and Jon Lester. In were Marcus Semien, Brett Lawrie, Jesse Hahn, Ben Zobrist Ike Davis, Tyler Clippard and Billy Butler. On the surface, you had to wonder if general manager Billy Beane decided to lay money in Vegas to see if he could drive every A’s fan insane.

The main concern was the team would not have a productive offense with the middle of the order featuring Butler, Stephen Vogt and Josh Reddick. It turns out, those three have produced wonderfully, resulting in third-highest scoring team in the American League. Vogt is playing like a Triple Crown candidate, hitting .337 (4th in AL) with nine home runs (T-4th) and a league-best 30 RBI. Reddick isn’t far behind him with a .333 average (6th), six homers and 25 RBI (6th).

Yet, Oakland finds itself at 13-23, 9.5 games back in the AL West. The A’s have the worst record in the junior circuit, mostly because its bullpen is absolutely atrocious. Oakland has been subjected to one of the most horrifying experiences possible in the realm of sports on a daily basis; having to consistently watch leads go by the wayside in the final innings.

The A’s have a league-worst 4.98 bullpen ERA with only four saves on the campaign. Oakland’s starting pitching has been superb for the most part, led by Cy Young-candidate Sonny Gray and star veteran Scott Kazmir. Between a solid rotation and a quality lineup, one would think the A’s are set up for a long and successful season. Instead, the bullpen is destroying any hope.

Normally reliable Dan Otero has a 4,40 ERA, followed by Fernando Abad at 5.40, Ryan Cook at 10.38, Eric O’Flaherty at 11.57 and R.J. Alvarez at a whopping 13.00. All of those guys look like Walter Johnson compared to Chad Smith, who came up from Triple-A and compiled a 33.75 ERA in two games before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels. I’m not sure what is more amazing; having a 33.75 ERA or actually having a team trade for you with those numbers.

The season is early, but we are approaching Memorial Day. The West remains up for grabs with both the Angels and Seattle Mariners off to slow starts, but something must chance for Oakland. A must-note is the likely return of All-Star closer Sean Doolittle in the next 10 days, giving the A’s some hope in the back end between he and Clippard. Still, the middle relief must dramatically improve or there won’t be a game to save.

It’s May, but the A’s are digging an awfully large hole. They need relief, literally.