FILE - In this May 21, 2011, file photo, Oakland Athletics pitcher Brett Anderson works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco. The Athletics say left-handed pitcher Anderson will miss the rest of the
FILE - In this May 21, 2011, file photo, Oakland Athletics pitcher Brett Anderson works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco. The Athletics say left-handed pitcher Anderson will miss the rest of the season after having reconstructive surgery on his elbow on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Ben Margot, File, Associated Press
By Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. — Injuries to the pitching staff, an offense that struggles to generate any runs and a team that always seems to end up on the short side of close games.

The problems that marred the end of manager Bob Geren's tenure in Oakland and ultimately contributed to his firing are just as evident under replacement Bob Melvin.

The Athletics come out of the All-Star break with the third-worst record in the American League at 39-53 and are 12 games behind Texas in the AL West after being swept by the Rangers in a four-game series.

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The A's are on pace for their lowest marks in average, on-base percentage and home runs since moving to Oakland in 1968 and the second-lowest runs per game in the Oakland era.

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