by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–A source said that after California Governor Jerry Brown’s mandatory 25 percent rationing on water that the Oakland Coliseum might consider using artificial turf. This might be the trend in California where the state had the majority of it’s rain in the month of December but since then just a few days of rain resulting in the push for water rationing.

If the Coliseum installs artificial turf it would be ironic because A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie said he was happy to leave Toronto since the Skydome only uses artificial turf and the Coliseum natural. At this rate the state is expected to run out of water by the end of 2016. This would not be a good idea for the A’s players to install artificial turf. A lot of players might by pass playing in California to play elsewhere where there is no drought.

The big push by MLB and teams in California on public service announcements that fans conserve water and the A’s might have to set that trend by saving on watering the natural grass at the Coliseum and turning to artificial turf. This drought is real it’s not a rumor and desperate measures will not be only be instituted by local government on water conservation but also MLB teams in California will have to take a pro active approach to the drought.

The pitching looking good: The A’s can count on starter Sonny Gray who nearly tossed a no hitter on Monday night’s opener his only hit he surrendered was to Rangers leftfielder Ryan Rua. Gray is a terrific pitcher the question is when he becomes a great pitcher he won’t be in Oakland too long if you know Oakland’s reputation they’ll start shopping him because his market value will go up.The average A’s player plays in Oakland maybe between three or four years. Four years in an Oakland uniform that’s a long career.

Also A’s general manager Billy Beane has a great eye for good talent in the pitching department the A’s will start Kendall Graveman on Thursday who has good stuff too. Graveman is not a household name but he pitched well against the Giants last Friday and he’s a young pitcher he’s a strong pitcher. Everybody has to look what happened to Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander his arm is bad out with a triceps strain, the Rangers Yu Darvish is out with Tommy John, the Giants Matt Cain is out he had elbow surgery to remove bone chips in the off season and is not expected back for two to three weeks.

Beane always finds a way to a solution to the A’s pitching, a few years ago pitcher Bartolo Colon came aboard was the number one pitcher at 40 years old and had success in Oakland. He’s still pitching with the New York Mets he won a couple of nights ago at the age of 42 but that’s the exception. A lot of young pitchers now about 57 percent have the Tommy John surgery which is really ridiculous and that’s why most guys can’t complete a game.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen to his podcast below