Run to the Hills

I hate false hope.

However, I do like what is being done with our under-construction pitching staff, and bullpen in general. Is it false hope? Likely, but with the cesspool of gross feelings I’m still trying to scrub off from last season, seeing the addition of Rich Hill and Liam Hendriks onto the A’s roster makes me feel mushy and warm inside.

And with more to come? More money to spend? What is this witchcraft!?

While predicting Hill’s performance is more up in the air, the A’s played their cards right on both the acquisition of the 35-year-old lefty as well as now ex-Blue Jay, Liam Hendriks.

Rich Hill spent a trying last season going from the National’s AAA farm team to the Independent League then back to Boston for four starts, in which he posted a 1.55 ERA through 29 innings while striking out 36 and walking five. Obviously, that is a performance that is not going to be simply slapped onto a full season, but it’s enticing. The A’s signed him to a one-year six-mil contract, so this is his chance to prove his worth as a starter, something he’s been working tirelessly to achieve.

Hill chose the A’s because they would give him that shot.

"It was really a personal journey for myself getting back to what I always wanted to do, being a starting pitcher," said Hill.

Hill bring his mean curveball to a rebuilt pitching staff and yet another set of new faces after his journey in and around the league last season, but he will also have a familiar face in ex-Boston pitching coach, Curt Young.

Hill’s one-year acquisition amongst a flurry of promises for more team additions to come proves the A’s are building for the future, but are finally focusing on the now, as well. 

Another nod to that is Liam Hendriks.

Former Blue Jay, Hendriks, was acquired for the swap of… former Blue Jay, Jesse Chavez. (It’s the circle of life) While Chavez has been a solid enough man in the rotation over the past few seasons, seeing him switched out for newly-christened reliever, Hendriks, doesn’t upset me one bit.

First of all, Chavez put in his time, is now 32 and is going to see the end of his contract at the conclusion of the upcoming season. He had a decent enough run, but how much longer he can hold onto that is unpredictable at best. With a 4.18 ERA through 157 innings in 2015, Chavez is replaceable and gave us something shiny and new for our bullpen in the trade made on November.

Hendriks, who will be 27 by Opening Day, suffered through six dismal seasons as a starting pitcher, posting his best performance in 2014 at a rousing 4.66 ERA until Toronto decided to see what he could do out of the pen. While a nudge up in fastball speed is expected when going from a starter slot to reliever, Hendriks boosted his fire by 4-6mph average per pitch and dropped his ERA to 2.92 in 58 innings of relief. Not only that, but the A’s have him under contract until 2019.

And more importantly, Oakland hasn't had such a phenomenal set of eyebrows since Dan Haren.

False hope? Maybe, but I’ll take anything right now after last season. 

Now only if we could get a hitter like Donaldson…