The Oakland A’s bullpen is tied for the MLB lead in blown saves. There have been 27 games in which the pen was handed a lead after the fifth inning and then let the opponent come back to at least tie the score, and the A’s are 10-17 in those games. It’s easy to argue that this performance by the relievers is the single biggest thing holding Oakland back in the standings, and that with even average fortune in this department they could be in control of the Wild Card race instead of locked in a tight battle.
There’s one problem with that conclusion, though.