The Athletics, a team that was actually fun to watch last season thanks to their young core, are officially looking "hopelessly broken." After taking a massive dive in form, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller just smacked them down five spots, from No. 25 to a brutal No. 30 in this week's power rankings. Talk about a freefall!
Injuries Mounting, Offense Fading
What in the world is going on with this squad? Remember when their pitching staff seemed like it might actually be a bit better this year, even after they barely addressed the holes in the offseason beyond bringing in Aaron Civale? Yeah, that feeling didn't last long, did it? Now, the pitching is still hurting, and the offense, which was their strength, is suddenly missing key contributors. It's a double whammy, and it's ugly. The team took a huge hit back in June when Brent Rooker went down with a bone bruise in his knee. That's a season-ender after surgery, folks. And it hasn't stopped there. Just days ago, Zack Gelof ended up on the IL after colliding with the left-field fence. Then, Nick Kurtz landed on the IL with a thumb injury. These aren't minor dings, these are major blows to a team already struggling to find its footing.Sweeps and a Stunning Plummet
It's no surprise these injuries didn't exactly help the A's much last week. How could they? The team got absolutely swept by the Detroit Tigers, then immediately followed that up by getting swept again, this time by the Chicago White Sox. Two sweeps in a row? That's a gut punch no team wants to take, especially not right before the All-Star break. Miller didn't mince words, saying, "There are teams with slightly worse overall records than the A's, but no one enters the All-Star break looking as hopelessly broken as this squad does, suddenly unable to hit the broad side of a barn." He pointed out they've lost a staggering 17 of their last 20 games, which is just mind-boggling. They've gone from looking like a ".500 team that might win its division" to a "trade-deadline seller with little to offer." Losing Nick Kurtz last week was "quite the cherry on what has been an awful sundae," and you can't argue with that assessment. Now, the team gets a little break, and honestly, they desperately need it. They have to recharge and regroup. Because if they come out of the All-Star break playing like they have been for the last few weeks, the second half of this season is going to feel like an absolute eternity for their fanbase.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.