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Sean Doolittle could miss the start of 2015 season

By Hayden Kane

Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (center) and teammates warm up prior to the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sean Doolittle (center) and teammates warm up prior to the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sean Doolittle could miss the beginning of the 2015 MLB season due to an injury to his throwing shoulder.

In this moment of elbow injuries, it can be even scarier if a big league pitcher has a problem with their shoulder. That seems to have been forgotten to a certain extent, but it remains as true as ever.

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Sean Doolittle has a problem with his shoulder. The severity of said injury is not entirely clear at this point, but at the very least it looks like it might cost the Oakland Athletics’ closer the start of the upcoming season.

Jane Lee reports the following about Doolittle’s status.

"Sean Doolittle has a slight rotator cuff tear in left shoulder, as well as considerable inflammation in the area. Received PRP injection. — Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) January 23, 2015"

"The A’s say Doolittle will be reevaluated at a later date before determining the next step. Not expected to be ready by start of season. — Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) January 23, 2015"

Depending on how you feel about the off-season that Billy Beane and company have orchestrated, this could be seen as the latest chink in the armor for Oakland. Coming off a season in which they were dominant for much of the summer but then fell short in the playoffs, the A’s have overhauled their roster, to their detriment in the opinion of many writers and analysts.

One of the pieces set to carry over was Doolittle at closer. For all the changes, the A’s had to feel good about retaining their dominant closer. In his first year in the gig, Doolittle logged 22 saves with a 2.73 ERA. Perhaps most impressively, Doolittle posted an incredible 11.13 K/BB ratio.

Teams often give up something in terms of command of the strike zone to add a pitcher who misses bats. To have a closer who pours in strikes while also logging strikeouts is quite the luxury, and it is one that Oakland enjoyed last season. Now, in addition to the other questions on their roster, they will have to show some adaptability in the back of the bullpen until Doolittle is able to return to action.

At 28 years old, Doolittle is signed by the A’s through the 2018 season on a five-year, $10.5 million deal. He has three big league seasons under his belt, with the 2014 campaign the first that he was the full-time closer. The bearded lefty brings the kind of power arm that teams covet, making these nervous times in Oakland as they monitor the health of Doolittle’s shoulder.

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