Michael Taylor Awaits His Turn
By Joseph Lopez
There hasn’t been much to smile about if you’re an A’s fan this season, but as we approach September, fans of the organization might have something to look forward to: September call-ups.
The A’s enter Tuesday’s contest against the Toronto Blue Jays in third place and 13.0 games out of first place behind the Texas Rangers. With time running out, the A’s are clearly not making any type of second-half surge towards playoff contention. This season’s A’s team has remained inconsistent for a majority of the season, and the team has yet to strike a balance between strong pitching and a productive offense.
While the dog-days of August are in full-swing, the A’s are getting closer to September call-ups, a time that gives the organization and its fans a glimpse into the future. The Athletics have put together a strong collection of young arms over the years, but fans are awaiting for some of the team’s young hitters to make an impact on the big-league level.
Come September 1st, when rosters expand, the A’s should feature some promising young players on the field. Michael Taylor is one of those young and promising players Oakland wants to see in action.
Taylor, 25, is awaiting his call to the show. San Francisco Chronicle writer Susan Slusser wrote about Taylor in a recent post on SFGate.com, and points out that Taylor could arrive in Oakland before Sept.1 if the team makes a waiver move, which could make room for Taylor.
The A’s were figured to make a few moves at last month’s trade deadline, but the team instead opted to remain largely intact for the second-half. A’s general manager Billy Beane had several players to shop, including outfielders Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, and Coco Crisp, but Beane didn’t deal any of them.
Taylor has performed well this season in Triple-A Sacramento, but with Beane opting to keep his outfield intact for the second-half, Taylor might have to wait until September to make a grand impression. In 72 games this season for the River Cats, Taylor has a slash line of .298/.386/.494 with 13 HR and 48 RBIs. Overall, he’s improved his game compared to last season, when he managed to hit just six home runs in 127 games (464 at-bats). He’s a player capable of hitting 20+ home runs, and is definitely a player worth calling up in September.
The A’s haven’t made me smile much this season, but as we approach September, you might see me crack a smile or two.