What to do with all of the struggling young starters? It's getting painful to watch, and at some point, it seems best to just shut them down.
-- Curtis M., San Francisco
But who would pitch in place of them? The A's only have so many arms, and it's also important to let these young starters -- namely Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton, who are considered important pieces of the future -- work through their struggles, particularly when able to do so within a low-pressure setting on a non-contending club. The A's, of course, want to cultivate a winning environment, but they also know that growing pains accompany young players.