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Oakland Athletics: The franchise all-time bracket

By Bill Felber

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics waits during a pitching change as he rests his helmet beside his sock showing the team logo in the eleventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 28, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics waits during a pitching change as he rests his helmet beside his sock showing the team logo in the eleventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 28, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Mark McGwire with former Oakland Athletics star Reggie Jackson in the late 1980s. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
Mark McGwire with former Oakland Athletics star Reggie Jackson in the late 1980s. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /

Oakland Athletics: The Franchise All-Time Bracket

No. 4 vs. 5 seed

Jason Giambi’s departure to free agency following the 2001 season encouraged the mindset behind ‘Moneyball.’ That’s the identity the 2002 team will always have. In fact, it won one more game than in 2001 and also won the division title before being upset by Minnesota in that fall’s division series.

Shortstop Miguel Tejada led the offense at .308, driving in 131 runs with 34 homers. Third baseman Eric Chavez also hit 30 homers, and he drove in 109 runs.

Hudson, Zito, and Mulder were back, this time producing a 57-21 record in 99 starts and 674 innings. Billy Koch closed 44 games.

In the mind’s eye, the 1989 A’s were led by The Bash Brothers’, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.  The fact is that Canseco was injured much of the year, and while McGwire did produce 33 home runs the rest of his season was ordinary.

But third baseman Carney Lansford batted .336. Rickey Henderson stole 52 bases and DH Dave Parker delivered 97 RBIs.

On the mound, nobody was tougher than Dave Stewart, at 21-9 in 258 innings. Mike  Moore added a19-11 record and 2.61 ERA in 242 innings, and Dennis Eckersley saved 33 games.

One fall earlier the Athletics appeared indestructible until running into the underdog Dodgers and Kurt Gibson. They took no such chances in 1989’s Earthquake Series, finishing off the National League champion San Francisco Giants in four straight.

Related Story. Minnesota Twins: The definitive franchise all-time bracket. light

Game 1: The 2002 team’s 103-59 .636 is four games better than the 1989 champions’ 99-63 .611 regular-season record.

Game 2: The 1989 team raced through its post-season with a  near-perfect .889 winning percentage. The 2002 A’s lost three of five to New York.

Game 3: The 2002 A’s had a 106 team OPS+, just good enough to beat the 1989 club’s 104.

Game 4: Another close battle, this one involving the pitching staffs. The 1989 staff’s ERA+ was 119, one point improved on the 2002 team’s 118.

Game 5: The 20002 Athletics compiled a 52.7 team WAR. The 1989 A’s only got to 48.7 WAR.

Game 6: The 2002 A’s fielded .987, two points better than the league average. The 1989 team fielded .979, one point worse than that season’s AL average.

Result: 2002 in six games

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