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The Oakland Telegraph
1 May 2029
Dixon genius shuts out Astros, but defensive performances worry Oakland management
By Al Lowingruns, shoddy fielding correspondent
Jon Dixon, Oakland's 30-year-old lefty starting pitcher, is making a career out of confounding his critics. He had a fine season in 2028 when most observers considered his signing a dubious act of madness from GM Paulie Beane. And now he is attempting to confound those who felt sure his run of form must end and he'll struggle badly this year.
Admittedly, Dixon hasn't been hugely fluent so far this year, but in last night's 2-0 over Houston he was unplayable. He allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks in his 9-inning shutout of the Astros, and struck out 6. The A's appear to have got over last week's 3-0 series shellacking by the Texas Rangers, where they suffered three heavy defeats, and have moved to 12-7, good enough to retain first place in the American League West.
Beane's newfound serenity and zen-like state is being put to a stern test by having to watch his team's dreadful defensive displays. Their 20 errors in 19 games is the worst in the American League, and this from a team, with largely the same players, that allowed just 83 errors in the whole of last season. Beane said he is confident the tide will turn, but admitted it has made frustrating watching. Opposition teams have punished them good and proper, too. Of 84 runs Oakland have conceded so far, some 20, which is nearly 25%, have been unearned. Beane was visibly twitching as he spoke about it yesterday. I'm not sure he can maintain this calm demeanour much longer.
Meanwhile, Cy Young winner Karl Dickson is continuing to lay waste to batting lineups and was earlier today awarded American League pitcher of the month for April. In 4 starts, the 27-year-old righty went 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA. Quality.
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