Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 27: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt # 40 celebrates with manager Bob Melvin # 6 after pitching a full game against the Los Angeles Angels at RingCentral Coliseum on May 27, 2021 in Oakland, California. Athletics defeated the Angels 5-0. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
In addition to being the leader and the oldest statesman in the A rotation, Chris Bassitt dominates Zoom. Always thoughtful, articulate, genuine and very passionate, the pitcher often opens his heart and becomes real in his post-game interviews.
The night he threw a 114-pitch shutout, while contemplating his long journey to reach that milestone moment, he wiped away tears as he spoke of his gratitude to those in the organization who were supporting him.
On Tuesday at the Coliseum, he allowed two runs in seven innings in a 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. When he finished his Zoom session with reporters, which included plenty of praise for his record manager, Bassitt said he had more to say.
“Last thing,” Bassitt said. “Duane Kuiper, thoughts and prayers, man, we’re all with you so keep fighting.” We got you. “
Bassitt spoke his words to Kuiper a day after the Giants announcer – and older brother of A broadcaster Glen Kuiper – announced he was starting chemotherapy for a health problem.
Bassitt is a go-to source for gauging his team’s pulse, and it’s fair to say he and the A’s are well placed. Bassitt won his sixth straight decision and the As’s moved up to 10 games over 0.500.
In a pre-game tribute to Bob Melvin, who broke Tony La Russa’s record for wins for Oakland managers, the Coliseum’s scoreboards displayed messages from several A players as well as baseball folks. who are dear to Melvin.
“It couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Bassitt said, his statement echoing across the Colosseum. “I know everyone in the clubhouse is really grateful that you are our manager. We are in good hands.
After the game, in which Bassitt ditched his usually effective slider against the heavy left Diamondbacks and adjusted by throwing more sinkers and changes, he was asked to elaborate and sum up what working with Melvin meant to him.
“I could talk about it for about 45 minutes,” Bassitt said. “The most important thing is who I am as a person. It allowed me to make a lot of mistakes but also guided me to be the person I am today on and off the pitch by understanding the game, minimizing what it takes to be in. a position that I am, how much work it takes on and off the pitch.
Bassitt has been with the A’s since getting him from the White Sox in a trade before the 2015 season, and Melvin is the only manager he’s had at Oakland. Throughout injuries and periods of pitcher ineffectiveness, Melvin’s level of patience and confidence allowed Bassit to flourish to the point that he went 10-5 in 2019, posted a 2 ERA , 29 in 2020 and do more of the same in 2021, with its first stop to start.
After the list of speakers was posted on the scoreboards, the A’s players who were on the grass of the outfield preparing for the game turned to the dugout and cheered.
“We saw a lot of people reaching out, but I guarantee you there are a thousand people behind the scenes who mean a lot to this game who reached out to BoMel and said, ‘Look, you won every piece of this.’
“He’s obviously very respected in the league, but he’s such a good person, such a good human that we couldn’t be luckier to have him as our manager. I mean, we really couldn’t.
John Shea is the national baseball columnist and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. He has covered baseball for four decades, including 33 years in the Bay Area. He has written four baseball books, including the New York Times bestseller with Willie Mays “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid” and Rickey Henderson’s autobiography (“Off Base: Confessions of a Thief “).
