MESA, Ariz. -- For the A's to know their bullpen 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 postseason appearances dissolved in the wreckage of the 2015 bullpen.The numbers were frightening. The bullpen's 4.56 ERA was the highest for the team in almost two decades. The 28 saves were the lowest total in the American League. Oakland's relievers gave 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 getting a ground ball that could turn one out into two.