The Oakland Athletics are beginning the 2024 season with a 1-4 record, which is in line with expectations for a young roster. Despite the team’s slow start, there is one player, Esteury Ruiz, who performed well in the opening series against the Cleveland Guardians. Ruiz had a .429 average with a triple and an RBI, making him one of the top performers on the team. However, instead of being rewarded for his performance, Ruiz was demoted to Triple-A. General manager David Frost explained that Ruiz needed to work on cutting down his strikeouts and getting on base more consistently to fully utilize his skills.
The decision to demote Ruiz has sparked controversy, as the Athletics are not expected to be a strong team this season. Fans are questioning why a player who started the season hot was sent down, especially when the team could use all the help it can get to win games. Manager Mark Kotsay mentioned that Ruiz only made the team initially due to an injury to Miguel Andujar in spring training, suggesting that he may not have made the team otherwise. The acquisition of outfielder Tyler Nevin off waivers further complicated the roster construction and ultimately led to Ruiz’s demotion.
The controversy over Ruiz’s demotion is intensified by owner John Fisher’s desire to relocate the team to Las Vegas, which has created a divide between ownership and the fan base in Oakland. Some fans have speculated that Ruiz and teammate Brent Rooker were demoted because they wore protest organizers’ apparel, a theory that has gained traction on social media. Rooker, who struggled at the plate, was an All-Star last season, leading some to believe he deserved more time in the majors to work through his issues. The decision to send Ruiz down has become the latest point of contention for a team facing internal and external conflicts.
While Ruiz’s offensive numbers were solid, his defensive metrics were a cause for concern, as he struggled defensively since last season. An example of this was a misplayed ball from the Guardians’ Will Brennan that had a 99% catch probability but resulted in an RBI hit for the opposition. Statcast data shows that Ruiz has a negative 36% success rate in five attempts this season, further highlighting his defensive struggles. The decision to demote Ruiz has added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the team’s direction and the relationship between ownership and fans in Oakland.
With the Athletics facing criticism for their decision to demote Ruiz, the team’s struggles on the field have been compounded by off-field controversies. The A’s poor start to the season, combined with roster moves that have not been well-received, have put the spotlight on the team’s management and ownership. The debate around Ruiz’s demotion serves as a microcosm of the larger issues facing the Athletics as they navigate a challenging start to the 2024 season and seek to find success on and off the field.
