'We can't use it as an excuse': Oakland Athletics ready for return from COVID-19 layoff
Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin’s voice was shaky, fading in and out on the teleconference call Wednesday, with the Oakland Coliseum concourse disrupting the airwaves and blurring the words.
No matter.
The message was clear.
The Athletics, who have played only one day since Aug. 26, spending nine days in the state of Texas, finally are back home, working out in small groups Wednesday, and preparing to finally play again Friday night at home against the San Diego Padres.
“In a year we didn’t expect anything to go smoothly,’’ Melvin said, “it’s been exactly that. It just seemed like – especially this last week – what could go wrong, actually did (go wrong).’’
The A’s, who lead the American League West by three games and have the second-best record in the league, now are faced with playing their final 26 games in 24 days, including four doubleheaders.
“It’s something we’re going to have to work through and understand at this point,’’ Melvin said, “there’s not much we can do about it. Just prepare for our next game.’’
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The A’s were on a roll, winning 19 of their last 25 games, until they joined other teams and boycotted their Aug. 27 game against the Texas Rangers to raise social awareness after the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The next night, the Houston Astros did the same, postponing the A’s second consecutive game.
They played a doubleheader and lost both to the Astros on Saturday, and then learned that night that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, postponing their game Sunday, and leaving them quarantined in their Houston hotel rooms. They underwent three consecutive days of testing, and finally Tuesday night, were cleared to travel home, postponing their three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
So much for momentum, becoming the latest team to miss a significant stretch of games because of a positive COVID-19 test.
“You know what, it doesn’t matter,’’ Melvin said. “You have to be prepared for it. This season in general has been a mental battle as well.
“You look and see the standings, you see how teams are doing. There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes that play into it this year obviously more than any other year.’’
Well, if nothing else, the layoff allowed more time for All-Star shortstop Marcus Semien’s strained left side to heal. He was injured Saturday in the first game of the doubleheader, and could return to the lineup perhaps as early as Saturday.
The grueling remaining schedule also made the A’s acquisition of Texas Rangers starter Mike Minor at Monday’s trade deadline come in handy, knowing he’ll get plenty of work with three scheduled doubleheaders in seven days
“Obviously, we wanted a guy like that,’’ Melvin said, “but he’s going to have several starts coming under his belt because of the doubleheaders alone.’’
Melvin, who emphasized that no one on the team violated health and safety protocols, realizes that no one is going to feel sorry for them.
The St. Louis Cardinals, who had 20 positive tests among their players and staff, sat out 16 days and the Miami Marlins were out eight. Yet, both teams played well after the layoff, and would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today.
Now, the A's can only hope the layoff doesn’t adversely affect them.
“We have to go out there with the understanding that nothing will change for us,’’ Melvin said. “We can’t use it as an excuse. It’s tough, but our guys are excited.’’
The A’s will work out again in two groups Thursday at the Coliseum, and are scheduled to play the Padres on Friday for the first game of an eight-game homestand before returning to, yep, Texas once again.
For a team that has won seven of their 22 games in the eighth inning or later this season, outscoring the opposition 41-15, they’ll now have to learn how to win games in seven innings with all of the doubleheaders.
Considering what the A’s have been through, it’s hardly a concern.
All they know is that they have three weeks left in this crazy regular season, and a World Series to win in October.
“We’re just happy, obviously to get out of Houston,’’ Melvin said. “It’s not fun sitting in a hotel room, especially when the other teams are playing.’’