Fansided

Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin ready to kick down the door

By Matt Cowlishaw

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Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (left) argues with home plate umpire Jim Reynolds after a home run by Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (not pictured) during the seventh inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (left) argues with home plate umpire Jim Reynolds after a home run by Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (not pictured) during the seventh inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

After suffering consecutive game 5 losses to the Detroit Tigers in 2012 and now 2013, the Oakland A’s and manager Bob Melvin are understandably going through a period of anguish.

Melvin recently spoke with CSN Bay Area and insider Joe Stiglich about the process.

“Incrementally you get over it some, but I don’t know that it completely goes away,” he said. “Then to have this type of year, and the same type of finish, it sucks. … We’ve beaten on this door a couple of times. We need to actually kick it in.”

So how do the A’s “kick the door down”?  With Billy Beane as general manager, the A’s have won just one elimination game in the playoffs.  However, Beane seems keen on keeping the same personnel.

“Most of these guys won the AL West the last 2 years, so they’re worthy of bringing back,” Beane said. “It’s a group of players that is still young, and it starts with the pitching staff. In some cases they should only get better. I feel good about the group.”

Beane and the A’s already picked up the option for Coco Crisp, but the elephant in the room seems to be a need for something else, something more.  What they might need to get over the hump is a difficult question especially with the money constraints the A’s have, but standing pat seems to be a dangerous thing – unless Oakland is content with never getting past the Divisional Series round of the playoffs.

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