The Oakland Athletics' 2000 season was the team's 33rd in Oakland, California. It was also the 100th season in franchise history. The team finished first in the American League West with a record of 91–70.
The A's, in winning the division, snapped an eight-year postseason drought. The division championship was also the first of the so-called "Moneyball" era. Over the next six seasons, the Athletics would reach the postseason a total of four additional times.
The season saw the debuts of eventual ace starters Barry Zito and Mark Mulder. These two pitchers, along with Tim Hudson (who had debuted one year prior), would comprise the top of Oakland's rotation (known popularly as the "Big Three") until the end of the 2004 season. Of the three, Hudson fared the best in 2000; he won twenty games (the most in the American League) and reached the All-Star Game in his first full season as a starter. For his efforts, Hudson finished second in that year's American League Cy Young Award voting.
The Athletics also boasted a strong offense. The team scored 947 runs (an Oakland record) over the course of the season; this figure was the third-highest in the American League. The offense was led by Jason Giambi, who won the American League MVP Award at the end of the season. The team collectively hit 239 home runs in 2000 (also an Oakland record); in total, nine different Athletics hit at least ten home runs.
The Athletics fought the Seattle Mariners in the standings for most of the season. In the end, the Athletics narrowly prevailed; they finished only half a game ahead of the 91–71 Mariners (who won the AL Wild Card). The Athletics then played the New York Yankees in the ALDS. They would lose the best-of-five series three games to two.
Offseason December 30, 1999: Scott Service was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.Scott Service page at Baseball Reference December 30, 1999: Rich Becker was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.Rich Becker page at Baseball Reference
Regular season May 29, 2000: Randy Velarde of the Athletics had an unassisted triple play. He caught a liner, tagged the runner coming from first base and touched second base.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions May 5, 2000: Rich Becker was released by the Athletics. June 5, 2000: Rich Harden was drafted by the Athletics in the 17th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed May 18, 2001.Rich Harden page at Baseball Reference July 6, 2000: Mike Mohler was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.Mike Mohler page at Baseball Reference August 30, 2000: Jorge Velandia was traded by the Athletics to the New York Mets for Nelson Cruz.Jorge Velandia page at Baseball Reference
Roster 2000 Oakland Athletics Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (Hitting) (Bullpen) (Bench) (Pitching) (First Base) (Third Base)
Player stats
= Indicates team leader Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBICRamón Hernández143419101.24114621BJason Giambi152510170.333431372BRandy Velarde122485135.2781241SSMiguel Tejada160607167.275301153BEric Chavez153501139.2772686LFBen Grieve158594166.27927104CFTerrence Long138584168.2881880RFMatt Stairs143476108.2272181DHOlmedo Sáenz7621467.313937
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBIJeremy Giambi10426066.2541050Adam Piatt6015747.299523Frank Menechino6614537.255626Ryan Christenson12112932.248418Sal Fasano5212627.214719Mike Stanley329726.268418John Jaha339717.17515Rich Becker234711.23415Jorge Velandia18243.12502Mark Bellhorn9132.15400Bo Porter17132.15412Mario Valdez5120.00000José Ortiz7112.18201Eric Byrnes10103.30000A. J. Hinch682.25000
Pitching
= Indicates league leader
Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SOTim Hudson32202.120*44.14169Gil Heredia32198.215114.12101Kevin Appier31195.115114.54129Mark Mulder27154.09105.4488Barry Zito1492.2742.7278Marcus Jones12.10015.431 Tied with David Wells (Toronto) for league lead
Other pitchers Note; G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SOOmar Olivares21108.0486.7557Ariel Prieto831.2125.1219Ron Mahay516.0019.005
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SOJason Isringhausen6664333.7857Jeff Tam723332.6346Mike Magnante551104.3117Doug Jones544223.9354T.J. Mathews502306.0342Jim Mecir253142.8037Scott Service201216.3835Luis Vizcaíno120107.4518Rich Sauveur10000 4.357Todd Belitz50002.703Frank Menechino100036.000Jon Ratliff10000.000
Postseason
Game 1, October 3 Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
Game 2, October 4 Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
Game 3, October 6 Yankee Stadium in New York City
Game 4, October 7 Yankee Stadium in New York City
Game 5, October 8 Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California
Composite box 2000 ALDS (3-2): New York Yankees over Oakland Athletics
Awards and records Jason Giambi, AL MVP award Jason Giambi, Hutch Award 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Jason Giambi, American League first baseman, starter Tim Hudson, pitcher, reserve Jason Isringhausen, pitcher, reserve
Farm system
References
2000 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference 2000 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com