Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/658783
50 PLAY BALL BAY AREA NEWS GROUP ortheA'stoknowtheirbullpen needed to be reconstructed after last year's disaster was a little like White Star Line knowing it needed to replace the Titanic after its waltz with the iceberg. Three consecutive Oakland pos tseas on app ea ra nces di ssol ved in the wreckage of the 2015 bullpen. The numbers were frightening. Th e b ull pe n' s 4 .5 6 E RA w as the highest for the team in almost two decades. The 28 saves were the lowest total in the American Le ag ue . Oak la nd 's re li ev er s g av e up 74 homers and 109 doubles, both second-worst in the big leagues. The A's bullpen couldn't get a strikeout when it needed one, and it wasn't particularly adept at get - ting a ground ball that could turn one out into two. Injuries kept the bullpen off-balance for 162 games. That led to the Oakland bull - pen having the third-most losses and the third-fewest wins. The relievers didn't give them- selves — or the A's — a chance. On 19 occasions, A's relievers gave up homers to the first batter they faced. That hadn't happened in four decades. The front office scoured base - ball for replacements, but they found mostly flotsam and jetsam — and not much help. So when it came time to re - build the bullpen, executive vice president Billy Beane and general manager David Forst looked for fresh arms to fit around what the club hopes will be a healthy closer in Sean Doolittle. LETGOWEREMOSTOF Doolittle's compadres from last year: Tyler Clippard, Dan Otero, Jesse Chavez, Edward Mujica, Evan Scribner and Fernando Abad. Instead, the A's decided to follow the Kansas City model, going for as many power arms as they could find. John Axford has topped out at 99 mph and Ryan Madson at 98. Liam Hendriks, in a bit of a career renaissance, is now in the 96 mph range after To - THE A'S F