The streaking A’s

With all of the parody in the MLB of today, it is not always the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Reds making news or winning ball games. Teams are starting to shows us that you may not need a huge payroll to compete or perhaps even finish with the league’s best record.  The Oakland A’s are atop the AL West with the MLB’s 2nd best record at (39-26). Baseball’s most surprising team is suddenly not so surprising anymore. Heading for their third straight 90 win season and third straight AL west division crown. It might be time to start paying attention to these guys. They have the 25th highest payroll, at only 83 million. They are the only team left playing in a run-down football stadium and have had the best record in baseball since the start of the 2012 season.

Amid the loss of 2/5 of their rotation in A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker, the A’s are still pulling the aces out of the hat. Jesse Chavez who entered this season with only 2 starts under his belt and a 5.48 ERA spread over 234 2/3 innings earned a spot in the rotation in 6 starts and continues to dazzle. Just another example of how Billy Beane and Manager Bob Melvin are doing the best with what they have and can afford. He isn’t the only bright spot on the staff, though. The 30- year old veteran Scott Kazmir has emerged as an early CY Young candidate. Kazmir through 82 IP has posted a stellar 2.20 ERA while striking out 70 batters on his way to a (7-2) record. This team can flat-out pitch, with an MLB best 2.85 team ERA and a league best WHIP with only 1.14 and a super-sized foul territory to boot.

You may not know many faces from the Oakland A’s lineup, but the 3-4-5 combo with Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, and Yoenis Cespedes is making sure you get to know them. No other 3-4-5 has had more production than these guys, accounting for 45 homers and 143 RBI’s. With the emergence of this combo, I don’t think that some A’s hitters will get snubbed at the all-star break this season.

The most shocking stat of all has to be the amazing run differential. Through only 65 games, they have a run differential of +124, with next closes team being across the bay in the Giants at +57. They are on pace for a better run differential than the 2001 Mariners. That team won 116 games. Get used to seeing Oakland atop of the division and fighting to make their first world series in 25 years, as Billy Beane’s methods continue to work. Then maybe the best team in baseball can finally get the recognition they deserve.