And the A’s early-season MVP is . . . Yusmeiro Petit?
OAKLAND — It was the life of luxury for Yusmeiro Petit, who usually sees as much traffic as the Bay Bridge at rush hour.
The A’s led the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, and Petit assumed what has become the role of rotating closer with Lou Trivino and Jake Diekman getting the night off. He finished off the Blues Jays 1-2-3 for his first save since 2017.
“I know he was good and loose because I warmed him up in the seventh, the eighth and he came in in the ninth,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said in a pregame video conference. “He was ready to go. There’s no situation I wouldn’t put him in.”
Petit may be one of the most under-the-radar star pitchers in the major leagues. Although he was the closer Tuesday night, Petit normally enters with runners on base and the A’s in trouble. He somehow wrangles out of it with a variety of pitches including fastball that seldom hits 90 mph and then turns the ball over to someone else. It’s one of the most thankless roles in baseball.
Mitch Moreland, whose two-run home run in the fourth inning was a telling blow, had played against Petit for years but never as a teammate. What he’s seen has been eye-opening.
“Definitely an an MVP of the team type guy,” Moreland said in a video conference. “The guy is ready every day to take the ball. He comes in in big situations. He’s stranded runners for us. Obviously last night coming in and closing. He just brings it, man.”
The numbers indicate Moreland is not exaggerating. The A’s went in to Wednesday night’s game against Toronto at 19-12, the best record in baseball, and wouldn’t be anywhere near that without Petit.
Petit is 4-0, leading all major league relievers in wins. He has three holds in games the A’s went on to win. HIs 16 appearances are among the league leaders and in games Petit has pitched, the A’s are 12-4. When Petit doesn’t pitch, they’re 7-8.
“So many times he comes in and it impacts the game and puts it back in our lap where it looks a little dicey, he’s not throwing 98 miles per hour, and just gets outs,” Melvin said. “I was talking to Marcus (Semien) a little after the game about facing Petit and it’s a difficult at-bat.”
While Trivino an Diekman have mostly split the closer’s role with Trevor Rosenthal injured and out indefinitely, it’s been Petit who has helped set both up for success by holding leads in precarious situations.
At age 36, Petit’s ability to make pitches and get outs with runners on base has always been uncanny. So far this year it’s been other-worldly. Opponents are hitting .300 (9-for-30) against Petit with the bases empty but .114 (4-for-35) with runners on base.
Weems spared tools of ignorance
As catcher Sean Murphy was taking a beating Tuesday night, Melvin was growing concerned. With Amaris Garcia on the injured list and Austin Allen having yet arrived from the minor league complex, the A’s were without a backup catcher.
“He got hit by three backswings. He got hit by a pitch in the elbow,” Melvin said. “It was a little dicey, because I wasn’t going to come in to that game and catch.”
Melvin said right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems, converted by the Boston Red Sox organization from catcher to pitcher three years ago, was next man up if Murphy had to come out. After that it was infielder Vimail Machin.
Melvin was hesitant to use Weems on the mound (he didn’t) with Allen having yet arrived. He didn’t tell Weems what was up, but it’s been discussed.
“I’ve told him before if we lose our catcher (he’s the guy),” Melvin said. “He’s up for it.”
Allen was in the lineup Wednesday night at catcher, with Murphy serving as designated hitter against the left-handed Robby Ray (1-1).
Have baseballs lost their juice?
A’s centerfielder Ramon Laureano opined the other day baseballs weren’t carrying as far as usual this season.
Moreland has yet to make up his mind after slicing a two-run home run to the opposite field Tuesday night.
On one hand, Moreland conceded, “I didn’t hit it great, but I hit it good enough” and the ball still went out of the park for a two-run home run in the fourth inning against Anthony Key.
On the other hand, Moreland saw one drive he thought sure was going the distance that suspiciously fell short of its estimated destination.
“I felt (Mark) Canha hit a ball last night to right center that was really hit well and didn’t even make it to the wall,” Moreland said. “There’s some I feel like should go or at least should hit the wall that aren’t getting there.”
Summer should provide an answer either way, Moreland believes.
“Once we see the weather change a little bit, we’ll play in some warmer places where the ball flight is better,” Moreland said.
Lineup vs. Blue Jays
Mark Canha, LF
Ramon Laureano, CF
Matt Olson, 1B
Sean Murphy, DH
Matt Chapman, 3B
Stephen Piscotty RF
Elvis Andrus, SS
Austin Allen, C
Chris Bassitt, P