An interesting aspect to the present successful A's team is its versatility in terms of lefty/righty.

The roster features five left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters.

This enables them to field a lineup with up to7 of the 9 batting lefty--and all in-position. Yet they can still post a lineup having up to 8 of 9 hitting righty--all in-position. This makes it possible for them to stack the lineup to counter the starting pitcher either way.

It's rare for a team to have two middle infielders and a catcher who can hit left--but these A's do (And they all play righty in the field so no downside).

It helps with game management that there's usually a decent lefty and righty on the bench ready to pinch-hit.

The A's pitching is similarly well-balanced: the bullpen features 4 lefties and 4 righties, and 2 of 5 starters are lefties (Blackley counted as a reliever here).

I can't recall an A's team so well-balanced in lefty/righty terms--and I've been a fan for a very long time.