What Henry Bolte did Thursday-Saturday was phenomenal, historical, and raised the question of whether his time is now. Bolte went 12 for 12 from the latter part of Thursday’s game through Saturday’s game, 5 for 5 each of Friday and Saturday — with one single, 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 HRs.
The problem is the crowded outfield even with Denzel Clarke sidelined and Brent Rooker back as the every day DH. I thought even so there was a path for Bolte to fit in now if the A’s thought he was ready for prime time — and that only became more the case when Jacob Wilson’s dive for a ground ball ended with a shoulder strain.
Wilson’s injury, the severity of which is still to be determined, solidifies Zack Gelof’s place on the infield for the coming days (and possibly weeks). Gelof, along with Darell Hernaiz and Brett Harris, give the A’s ample infield coverage. So they could, assuming they place Wilson on the IL, replace him not with an infielder but rather with an outfielder.
Meanwhile, the big question has been where would Bolte play and who would he displace? Lawrence Butler and Carlos Cortes, along with Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker, occupy 4 spots and LF-CF-RF-DH are exactly 4 spots. Colby Thomas is also in the mix against LHP.
The answer lies in a rotation that doesn’t bench anyone but gives each player the occasional breather in order to get others in, one which would allow the A’s to get Butler out of playing so much CF and to give Bolte enough playing time to warrant the call up.
vs. RHP for 4 games in a week:
LF – Soderstrom, CF – Bolte, RF – Butler, DH – Rooker
LF – Soderstrom, CF – Bolte, RF – Cortes, DH – Rooker
LF – Soderstrom, CF – Butler, RF – Cortes, DH – Rooker
LF – Soderstrom, CF Bolte, RF Butler, DH – Cortes
vs. LHP for 2 games in a week:
LF – Soderstrom, CF – Bolte, RF – Thomas, DH – Rooker
LF – Thomas, CF – Bolte, RF – Cortes, DH – Rooker
A rotation like this puts Bolte in the lineup 5 of 6 games, Rooker at DH 5 of 6 games, puts Butler in CF only once a week, gives Cortes a start 2/3 of the time, and sits Soderstrom half the time against LHPs (he has a .133 BA, 20 wRC+ this season) and Butler against LHPs (.160 BA, 40 wRC+).
It’s a reasonably good balance that also fortifies the bench a bit with one of these players available to pinch hit. Meanwhile, Gelof is your every day 3Bman with Hernaiz at SS and Harris on the bench — this may not be ideal but it’s what the A’s have if Wilson goes on the IL, as there are no natural reinforcements ready in the minors.
Now, as I write this Bolte has fallen into in a deep slump, 0-3 with a K in today’s game. So he’s only 12 for his last 15 with 10 extra base hits. But his .351/.419/.669 line entering play today is not a Las Vegas or PCL mirage: in the park and league adjusted wRC+ he stood at 159, and the all-important K rate was down to 22.1% for the season. And Bolte is only 22, still young for the league.
Do the A’s feel Bolte’s time is now? Did they when they woke up this morning, and did Wilson’s injury move the needle? We will know in the next 36 hours as the A’s fly home to host the Cardinals on Tuesday night. But with who on the roster and who in the lineup???
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