What truly resonated deepest with me, was the proclamation by Cook that Melvin was a “Master of Communication”. He went on to discuss how Melvin was always upfront and honest with each and every player regarding their role and his expectations. With an ever changing lineup that employed multiple platoons throughout much of the season, as well as a bullpen that featured nothing short of three changes at the closer position; Melvin’s clarity would prove pivotal to the Athletics success in 2012, and bode well for the future.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Not to discredit former manager Bob Geren, but a glaring issue during his infamous tenure at the helm of the good ship Athletic was his inability to communicate. A long history of documented quarrels with Huston Street, Bobby Crosby, and Brian Fuentes lead to his reputation as being little more than a middle man between the front office and the field. His eventual undoing was sparked by his altercation with Fuentes, when the veteran southpaw claimed that there was a breakdown in communication regarding his role in the bullpen.

Since Bob Melvin took over for the beleaguered Geren, the difference has been night and day. Gone from the press, are whispers of discontent and confusion. The clubhouse has been stabilized, the team has become a coherent unit, and for the first time in years the possibility of a full fledged player mutiny appears to be nonexistent. In Beane we may trust, but in Melvin we may continue to flourish.

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Sidewinder. Submariner. Sidearmer. How ever you want to slice it, it’s been the one missing demographic from the A’s bullpen over the past few years. Unless of course you want to count the unforgettable Jay Marshall, but then again who does?  A’s fans are much more likely to recall the steadiness and reliability of Chad Bradford, or the brilliance of Dennis Eckersley who side armed his way straight to Cooperstown. The under the radar acquisition of veteran reliever Pat Neshek, did little to appease Athletics fans clamoring for a big time addition. I myself misjudged the deal as nothing more then minor league filler. Simply a deal to bolster the depleted Sacramento bullpen who had recently lost Fautino De Los Santos, Chris Ray, and Erick Threets in a short period of time. However, due to the A’s bullpen being taxed, Neshek reported straight to Oakland and has since paid dividends in his time here. In less then a week, he has already been used in 4 games and has been nearly flawless allowing neither a run nor a hit. To top that off he’s struck out 6 of the 12 batters he’s faced including Torii Hunter with the bases loaded in a key situation in Wednesdays game.

To those who are familiar with Neshek, this success should come as no surprise.

Starting with his rookie season of 2006, Neshek has displayed the ability to punch out hitters at a very high rate. Averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9 inning throughout his career. While piling on the K’s early, he was also rocketing up the ranks of the Twins relief corps, settling into a role as the right handed set-up man to Joe Nathan for the better part of his first two seasons. Utilizing a fastball/slider/change combo from an extremely violent and low release point, he was murder on opposing batters and one of the better relievers in the league. Unfortunately, elbow pain early in the 2008 season led to the disclosure that he had suffered a torn UCL. Tommy John surgery had claimed another victim, and before you could bat an eye, Neshek had lost a season and was on the rehab trail trying to reclaim the velocity he once had. A misdiagnosed hand injury and subsequent squabble with the Twins training staff led to a demotion and eventual exit from the Minnesota organization. After a season in the Padres organization found Neshek struggling with his control for the first time in his career, he was forced to settle for a Triple A contract with Baltimore this past off season. Despite failing to make the Orioles out of spring training, Neshek was able to regain his velocity and control, showing the form he once had filling in as closer of the Tidewater Tides until being acquired by the Athletics. With Ryan Cook struggling as of late, the importance of Neshek in the bullpen may prove to be integral for the A’s to continue their winning ways as we head into the final weeks of the season.

Fun Fact: Pat Neshek is an avid autograph and sports memorabilia collector, a portion of his collection can be viewed on his personal website. In addition, Neshek can be found on twitter @patneshek, where he interacts frequently with his fans and followers.

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

During the extended success of the Oakland Athletics season over the last month and half, I’ve found myself enjoying life a little bit more. The San Francisco summer weather seems a little more tolerable, food taste better, girls are prettier, and each game day brings promise of another amazing A’s victory. Somehow, someway this team is playing with a passion and an energy that is equal parts infectious and inspiring. It feels damn good. It’s a perfect wave, and if this is a dream and we’re really 10 games under .500 in late July then don’t wake me up. Go ahead and keep me plugged into the Matrix because it’s been too many years and too much disappointment to not enjoy every win and every thrill. Recently we’ve received positive national media coverage from the MLB Network and ESPN. Noted personalities such as Steve Berthiaume and Buster Olney have continued to praise the team for their stellar play, and we’re suddenly starting to become the story of the league. Still, we’re not with out our fair share of detractors ready to rain on the parade. Some even in our own backyard.

Take Scott Ostler, respective columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle for example.

In Ostlers recent article entitled The A’s success foils San Jose master plan, he argues that the potential post season berth of the A’s will only be detrimental to the long term plan of owner Lew Wolff and general manager Billy Beane. When I ready this article initially it ruined my day. It blew my buzz. It ruffled my feathers. It…well you get the idea. Ostler has the audacity to insult Beane by calling him “programmed to trade away anything of value.”. Anyone who’s ever heard Billy Beane speak for more then five minutes, knows all too well he has too much of a dominant personality to be programmed by anyone. He is a man who works within the confines of one of the smallest budgets in baseball. His creativity and skill to find value through trades, free agency, and the amateur draft is the envy of many within the game. He is quite simply an innovator. And a loyal one at that.

When the A’s cleaned house after last season, they were coming off another disappointing season. In all actuality they hadn’t had a taste of post season since 2006, and although it was painful to watch Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Andrew Bailey leave in succession, these were moves that had to made. Looking to the future, the A’s acquired a bounty that included Josh Reddick, Tommy Milone, Ryan Cook, Jarrod Parker, and Derek Norris. All major contributors to the teams recent run of success. But we know that already. Do you Scott? Probably not, instead of commenting and giving credit where credit is due, you chose to further insult the A’s front office and ownership by questioning whether or not they are even aware of the A’s recent sweep over the Yankees. Perhaps, if you’d look a little deeper, or had been just a little bit more hip to the power of Twitter you would of held off on that comment. The annual mid-summer Oakland fire sale will not commence this year. In it’s place, Beane is working the phones and trying to upgrade the shortstop position. With ownerships approval to add payroll, the A’s nearly came up with Hanley Ramirez before the Dodgers agreed to inherit his entire contact. I have faith that they’ll continue to look to improve.

Fact is, winning makes most anything bearable. Even a column, that does its best to bring us down.

Yes, the A’s are an organization with problems. Yes, they play in a decrepit football stadium. Yes, it’s a very real possibility that they may join the other Oakland teams in a mass exodus of the city. And yes, they obviously still have their eyes set on San Jose.

But on the field, the A’s are moving in the right direction. The fans and players refuse to let the distractions and confusion over territorial rights ruin this season. We all believe in this team, and that is the real story as far as I’m concerned.