In posting a 0.66 ERA in 12 spring-training appearances, Bailey showed enough to make the A's. And once he earned his spot, Bailey kept moving to the back of the bullpen until he inherited the closer's role.
This season, he was 6-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 68 games. Along the way, Bailey struck out 91 batters in 831/3 innings and earned 26 saves.
So now the 25-year-old Bailey is enjoying an off-season, where he has a bit of security but still guards against complacency.
"I still feel I have to make the team, and if you think you have it made bad things can happen," Bailey said in a recent phone interview. "If you are not working every day to make the team, somebody is there to take that spot."
Bailey should know. He was one of those who took someone else's spot and never relinquished it.
He has taken a few weeks off since the season ended, but is already starting to gear up for next year.
Bailey isn't getting too wrapped up in rookie-of-the-year talk; he's among many candidates in a deep American League field.
"Going into last year, my goal was to make the team and make an impression," Bailey said.
Then he went on to make the American League all-star team.
"I won't be disappointed if I don't win the [rookie-of-the-year] award," Bailey said. "Obviously, I would be honored and thrilled if it did happen, but it's not something I think about a lot."
Bailey said that at season's end, he was tired. "The adjustment for me was not so much the innings, but . . . the times getting game-ready and not going in, and having to go in the next day to pitch."
He said he was afraid to dwell too much on his successful rookie season because in baseball, and any other sport, it's all about looking ahead.
