We're only four games into the 2016 Oakland Athletics season and there is already one notable difference from last year's squad: the bullpen.
The Oakland front office invested tens of millions of dollars and one Jesse Chavez in a revamped corps of late inning relievers. While Chavez would look mighty fine as the team's fifth starter right about now (or third or fourth starter for that matter), the improvement in the bullpen is undeniable and has been an encouraging sight thus far.
However, this isn't to say that the bullpen hasn't had its hiccups. One Jimmy Rollins home run and one really, really bad inning in Thursday's game are the only real blemishes from the relievers on this young season.