When the Athletics packed their bags and headed to Sacramento, the idea was simply a low-key pit stop before they reached the bright lights of Las Vegas. However, it’s been barely two months into their stay at Sutter Health Park, and it’s becoming clear—this temporary setup is causing more headaches than anyone expected.

The latest sign of frustration happened just recently during a bizarre game against the Angels. Brent Rooker had sent a laser down the left field line that hit the foul pole—clearly out of play. That should have been an automatic double. Right? Instead, the ball bounced right back into play, and the A’s runner, Tyler Soderstrom, was tagged out at home. Mark Kotsay, the manager, couldn’t even challenge it in time. The reason? He couldn’t even see the play from the dugout.

“I’m completely blind on anything that goes down the line,” Kotsay said, simply having run out of words. So with no time left for review, the call stood, and so did the frustrations—they lost that game. But that is not even the wild part.

The real wild part is that the attendance is up! Turns out, according to the latest reports, that the A’s have seen a 65% jump in fans this season. But even before you start picturing stands packed and fans with crazy enthusiasm, listen to this—they are still second to last in overall attendance! So the surge may say more about curiosity and maybe a dash of loyalty than it does about fan momentum.

One thing is for sure: the players are not digging the place either. Just recently, JP Sears was seen banging his arm against the dugout ceiling in complete frustration. Because even the dugouts seem too cramped. Not just Sears; even starter Luis Severino didn’t mince words about the outfield clubhouses throwing off his entire rhythm. “This just is not a big league park,” he told the YES Network. And it’s all adding up, from claustrophobic corners to broken routines.

Sacramento was supposed to be a soft landing, but it seems more like an uncomfortable layover. And if anything, Sunday’s game tells a lot about the state of affairs for the Athletics.

The Athletics just can’t catch a break

It happened again. Sunday in Toronto felt like déjà vu for the Athletics and not the good kind. They were up by two heading into the eighth inning. JP Sears had done his part on the mound. The bats had come through, and things looked hopeful. But then, Addison Barger stepped up for the Toronto Blue Jays and crushed a go-ahead three-run homer, and just like that, the game slipped from their fingers. The A’s lost 8-4! And if this sounds familiar to you, it’s because it is—it’s been happening a few times.

This has been a theme all through May, a month that started with the A’s sitting at 16-15, just 2.5 games out of first in the AL West. Now, they are 23-36, last, and also reeling from 21 losses in their last 24 games. But it’s not all one thing; the bullpen honestly has been a mess as of late. Before May 6, Oakland’s relievers were great in late innings with a 3.61 ERA. But after that, a brutal 8.13 ERA in the seventh or later—the worst in the big leagues.

Justin Sterner, who looked unstoppable earlier, has hit a wall, and Grant Holman is right there with him. Even Tyler Ferguson had had his hiccups. Manager Mark Kotsay eats his words, saying, “We’re having a real hard time with a setup guy.” Part of the issue? Experience, or maybe the lack of it, given that both Sterner and Holman are rookies. And Ferguson came to the majors just this season.

The A’s definitely need to shuffle things up to give their team some life. Got any ideas? Let us know in the comments below.