Entering the season, the A’s had hoped that Wuertz would be able to play a large role in their bullpen. Oakland added veteran relievers like Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes prior to the season as a way of beefing up their bullpen. Having a healthy Wuertz in the mix of that ‘pen definitely would have helped, too.

Wuertz was considered one of the league’s top relievers back in 2009, after compiling 6-1 record with a 2.63 ERA during that season. In addition to his sparkling record and ERA, Wuertz racked up 102 strikeouts in just 78.2 innings that year as well.

As a reward for his stellar ’09 campaign, the A’s awarded Wuertz a two-year deal. The two seasons that followed, however, were far from Oakland’s expectations.

After making 74 appearances in ’09, Wuertz managed to make just 48 appearances in 2010 and 39 this year. After putting in a tremendous amount of work during the ’09 season, Wuertz’s final two years in Oakland are marked with various injuries and disappointments. (more…)

Despite entering the year with one of the best starting rotations in baseball, the Oakland Athletics somehow placed third in the AL West in a very disappointing 2011 season. Oakland’s young arms, considered to be among the best in the business, entered the season with a ton of hope and potential, but injuries to several of the staff’s starters and inconsistencies on offense derailed Oakland’s 2011 campaign.

Oakland’s staff bolted to success during the first-half of the season, despite losing Dallas Braden and Brett Andersonto injuries. The A’s starting pitching depth proved to be extremely helpful this year, as Brandon McCarthy and Gulliermo Moscoso stepped up big this year in Oakland.

For Oakland, McCarthy and Moscoso definitely proved to be valuable pieces of the rotation. McCarthy, who battled shoulder problems in 2010, stayed relatively healthy this year en route to a 9-9 record and a 3.32 ERA in 170.2 innings pitched. Moscoso, meanwhile, was nearly just as good, posting a 8-10 record with a 3.38 ERA in 128.0 innings pitched this year.

Heading into to next season, both McCarthy and Moscoso should be included in Oakland’s starting rotation based on their performances this year. As Oakland learned this season, having too much starting pitching isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It actually comes in handy. (more…)

Fuentes, as most of you will remember, was highly critical of ex-A’s manager Bob Geren during the season. At the time, the A’s were struggling, and Fuentes was experiencing his own share of struggles as well. Geren, who was fired mid-season this year, was criticized by not only Fuentes, but ex-A’s closer Huston Street as well. Fuentes argued that Geren had unorthodox managerial skills.

Overall, it’s been a frustrating season for the A’s and Fuentes. In 56 innings of work this season, the veteran lefty has gone 2-8 with 12 saves and a 3.86 ERA. While most will agree with Fuentes’ evaluation of Geren, most A’s fans will probably admit that Fuentes hasn’t had that great of a season, and had no business throwing his manager under the bus like that. (more…)