Reliever Ryan Cook Making Early Case for Oakland Athletics' All-Star Bid

It’s almost the end of May, but voting for this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game is already under way. Yes, there are still five weeks left to determine each and every player who will be on the American and National League rosters, but it’s nice to take a look at some dark horse candidates who could be named to this season’s Midsummer Classic.

As we all know, every one of the 32 major league teams must be represented by at least one player. For some of the bottom-feeding teams in baseball, it’s often difficult to identify who is worthy of an All-Star Game selection.

For the past several years, the Oakland Athletics have had a hard time providing a suitable candidate to be named to the All-Star team, leaving the decision to the manager who is in charge of the American League squad. Over the last seven years, the Athletics have been relegated to sending their best pitcher—reliever or starter. This season will be no different, as no Athletic is putting up sure-fire All-Star numbers in the season’s first month and a half.

Except for Ryan Cook, that is.

Who? Exactly.

Cook was a throw-in in the trade that sent Trevor Cahill to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In return, Oakland received Cook, outfielder Collin Cowgill and starter Jarrod Parker. There was not a thick MLB scouting report on Cook, as 2011 was his first year in the big leagues. He sputtered a bit to the tune of a 7.04 ERA and 2.48 WHIP in 12 appearances with the Diamondbacks. Surely, not too much was expected out of him in his first season with the Athletics.

But, the 24-year-old reliever has been cooking so far in 2012, much to the delight of the Athletics' organization. However, it’s the level of domination that has been most alarming. Following his scoreless one-inning appearance out of the bullpen in Oakland’s 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, Cook has yet to allow a single run this season—a streak of 20.2 innings to start the year. The right-hander has posted a remarkable 0.68 WHIP to go with a disgusting .063 opponents’ batting average against him, in addition to 20 strikeouts. What’s amazing is that he has actually allowed 10 bases on balls against four base hits. Cook has a 1-0 record on the season with nine holds.

Yes, Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick is making a case for an All-Star Game appearance, leading the team with a .270 batting average, 11 home runs, 24 runs batted in and a solid .534 slugging percentage. He certainly should receive regard for his Reddick-ulous out-of-nowhere performance in the season’s first couple of months. But, Cook is the one who’s earning serious consideration given his completely unexpected pitching performance thus far.

Cook is like the Iron Chef—just slicing and dicing the competition on a nightly basis. Left-handed hitters have only one base-hit off of him, a double, in 30 at-bats—an emaciated .033 batting average. What’s more amazing is his influence in Oakland's victories; his last 16 appearances have been in wins.

Simply awesome.

Cook has helped preserve 16 wins in his last 16 games pitched. Obviously, manager Bob Melvin has tremendous confidence in Cook to lock down the seventh and eighth innings. The Athletics’ bullpen has been relatively strong throughout the season, but Cook is the one who has suddenly emerged as the relief corps’ best arm.

It would almost impossible to overlook Cook’s stats if they remain that dominant. If he does get selected to the All-Star Game, it will be the eighth straight season that Oakland sends a pitcher—three of those seasons the Athletics sent a reliever. Certainly, should Cook keep up his incredible scoreless run, he’ll have to be chosen as Oakland’s All-Star representative.

For Cook, that would be a dish well deserved. 

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