by Michael Duca

The A’s who open up a three game set on Friday night in Fenway Park in Boston are coming off a very successful two city trip after splitting a four game series in Houston and sweeping the Rangers in Arlington.

One of the keys to the A’s success during their five wins out of seven games on this last part of this trip is surprising pitcher Jesse Chavez. Chavez on Wednesday threw a one hit shutout in seven innings of work against the Rangers, the win helped the A’s sweep the Rangers.

Chavez at the beginning of the year was no where near what A’s General Manager Billy Beane or A’s manager Bob Melvin would expect out of his right hander as Chavez came to the A’s with a career 5.48 ERA in 234 2/3 innings which he accomplished over 191 games.

After both pitchers on Oakland’s staff A.J.Griffin and Jarrod Parker both were lost to Tommy John surgery for the season Chavez has stepped up and in his last six starts he’s been 1.89 ERA with the best record on the team in strikeouts at 9.7. He’s averaging 5.1 strikeouts versus walks.

The A’s are also complimented by Sonny Gray (ERA 1.76) and Scott Kazmir (ERA 2.11). The A’s offense against Ranger starters Yu Darvish, Martin Perez, and Robbie Ross had rocketed 22 runs in 11 1/3 innings against.

Giants update, Panda struggling to meet the standard: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s asking price to the Giants is $90 million for five years worth of work which works out to what teammate Hunter Pence is getting.

Sandoval has been told by the team that he must reach a certain plateau on the stat sheet before the Giants would consider paying such a contract. Sandoval’s agent has said that negotiating a new contract now would be in the Giants best interest and that the Panda is worth the investment.

Giants General Manager Brian Sabean and Giants Manager Bruce Bochy disagree and have said that there are certain things that Sandoval needs to do in order to get what he wants, hit for average around the high .290s into the .300s, his run production and RBI production must be in the upper tier of the Giants pack.

Also Sandoval’s fielding must be top standard, errors down and put outs up. So far Sandoval has a lot of work in front of him as he’s hitting well under .200 at .177 entering Friday night’s action at Turner Field against the Braves with 11 runs, six RBIs and two homers.

While the goal standard Pence is hitting .262 with 18 runs, nine RBIs, and two home runs. While those might not be exactly Babe Ruth numbers Sandoval needs to match or pass those to keep his pace and case so at the end of the year he might be able to get what he wants.

As far as Gustavo Vazquez Sandoval’s agent is concern the Giants and Vazquez are at a standstill and are not discussing Sandoval’s contract, Sandoval is seeking upwards to $100 million for five years, he’s 27 years old and will be 32 at the end of such a deal, Sandoval has been an All-Star twice, carries high notoriety with the fans and selling of Panda merchandise.

He’s not in the best shape but trying to get a tad leaner he’s struggling at the plate and some say he might be pressing under the circumstances of trying to make the grade in a contract year.

Michael Duca does Giants and A’s commentary each week for Sportstalk