With just six seconds to play in the Kings victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, DeMarcus Cousins was issued a technical foul. It was the 16th technical foul of the season assessed to Cousins and 16 in a season means a one-game suspension for the player.
The Kings had hoped that the NBA would review the call and overturn the technical foul. On Thursday, the association issued its ruling and it did not go Cousins’ way. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced that Cousins will be suspended for one game without pay. The suspension will be served tonight when the Kings host the Miami Heat.
This is the third time this season that Cousins has been suspended without pay. He lost a game and pay in November for an elbow/forearm that was thrown at a player’s head. His second suspension came in March after an on the bench tirade directed at George Karl. That suspension was leveled by the Kings.
But wait, there’s more. For every two additional technical fouls called on Cousins, he would face another one-game suspension without pay. The Kings have six games remaining after tonight, and it is fair to say that Cousins has a target on his back.
In a season that has been full of disappointments and bizarre occurrences, you can add this suspension to the list of forgettable moments.
SAN FRANCISCO–The insignia on their green and gold cap reads A’s, but as the never ending rebuilding process drags into its third campaign you get the feeling they would be totally disappointed if it read: C+.
2016 is all about ramping up the progress the club made in the second half of 2015, when Oakland went 68-94 and finished in last place in the west.
Save one year third baseman Brett Lawrie, most of last season’s top cast and crew are back, highlighted by marquee trio of starting pitcher Sonny Gray, catcher Stephen Vogt, and power hitting outfielder Josh Reddick.
It’s the lesser known younger players who showed promise last season that will determine how well the A’s perform in 2016.
We’re talking pitchers Jesse Hahn, Chris Bassitt, and Kendall Gravamen. Infielders Mark Canna and Marcus Semian and Danny Valencia. And outfielder Billy Burns.
All those players will have to find a way from regressing.
Plus there are the new guys, infielder Yonder Alonso, outfielders Khris Davis and Chris Coughlan.
The A’s lost 3-1 Thursday night in the first game of the Bay Bridge series in San Francisco, but there were some promising signs, especially from starting pitcher Bassitt.
The youngster allowed one runs in four innings, striking out three. Offensively the A’s didn’t show much, collecting just three hits against four Giants hurlers.
The A’s will have two tune-up games vs. San Francisco before opening night Monday.
Photo credit: Josie Lepe Bay Area News Group–Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt (40) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning on Thursday night
SAN FRANCISCO–There is going to be changes over at the Oakland A’s and that might be everyday according to Oakland manager Bob Melvin. The A’s right fielder Josh Reddick looks like the only fixed position in the line up day to day. Those changes could even include the more reliables designated hitter Billy Butler, shortstop Marcus Semien, and Danny Valencia who plays the hot corner at third.
Melvin says that the A’s will have different position players from day to day and that the guys on that 25 man roster should expect different changes each day. Usually players would like to know what their role is and have a steady line up everyday but for Melvin there is a sure fire way to the method to the madness, “starters for us our relative, we’ll have two different line ups with what we feel are potential starters” said Melvin.
They won’t rest on their laurels this season and the players in the A’s clubhouse all understand the revolving door each day with the lineup card, “It seems to be better the problem last year some guys being too involved in themselves since were losing and were so far out if early.” said Reddick
Thursday night game versus the Giants: A’s starter Chirs Bassitt allowed only one run on three hits in four innings against the Giants at AT&T Park in the loss to the Giants 3-1. Bassitt who got lit up during Cactus League action in Arizona lends the good outing to a change in scenery. Bassitt while pitching in Arizona posted an 7.22 ERA but looked like world of difference pitching against the Giants Thursday night “I’m glad to get out of Arizona that’s for sure you look at me you look at (Jeff) Samardjiza (the Giant starter) anyone who throws a two seam nothing moves the way you want it to move in Arizona. It’s like a cue ball your throwing. It’s dry and you get out here and it’s like ‘where’s it been this whole time.’ said Bassitt.
The A’s are back at AT&T for Friday night right hander Kendall Graveman gets the call for the A’s and for the Giants right hander Jake Peavy a 7:15 PM first pitch. Weather forecast for Friday’s contest calls for wind and cold at 57 degrees at first pitch a big difference from the warm Arizona weather.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija throw to the Oakland Athletics during the second inning of an exhibition game Thursday, March 31, 2016, in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Morris Phillips
SAN FRANCISCO–Bigger than a giant Coke bottle and more expansive than a 30-foot long glove, the Giants and their soaring expectations blew through AT&T Park on Thursday for the opener of the Bay Bridge Series. And right on cue, the team performed like a million bucks.
Or $250 million bucks.
Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija represents a nice chunk of the Giants’ pricey, off-season remodel, and he was the complete opposite of Boston’s Pablo Sandoval on Thursday: prepared, healthy, and clearly capable. A five-inning stint in which he retired 15 consecutive batters, striking out five and walking none said as much. The former Cub, Athletic and White Sox was lights out after Oakland’s Billy Burns tripled to start the game.
“I’m just happy my arm feels good,” Samardzija said. “Camp is just about—especially for a guy like me that likes to throw hard—just getting that velo up, and getting that arm strength, and getting into the 80, 85, 90-pitch mark and knowing that when the season starts you’re ready to go a full pole, and be ready to throw a CG whenever you need to.”
“Good stuff, good tempo, really commanded all his pitches. The fastball had good run. He had a really nice slider with good depth to it,” manager Bruce Bochy said of Samardzija.
All eight, presumptive everyday starters backed Samardzija in the exhibition that went to the Giants, 3-1, including the retooled outfield with Angel Pagan in left, Denard Span in center, and a healthy Hunter Pence in right. In fact, it appears the team will start the season with everyone of consequence ready to go including Matt Cain, who missed the majority of the last two seasons.
Instead of angst regarding the team’s ability, the final days prior to Monday’s opener in Milwaukee could reveal some newfangled, procedural stuff cooked up by old sage, Bochy. How often will the Giants’ starting pitcher bat eighth in the starting lineup? Will the team retain 13 pitchers on the Opening Day roster?
Samardzjia hit eighth, Pagan ninth in Thursday’s lineup, a nod to both the hitting ability of the former Notre Dame football player, and the former leadoff man, Pagan, who has given way to Span in center and at the top of the lineup. The thought, popularized by Tony LaRussa, is that after the first time through the lineup, a team has two table setters ahead of its best hitters, and in this case, a capable hitting pitcher behind seven-hole guy Brandon Crawford. Samardzjia has 10 extra-base hits in his career, including a pair of homers, enough of a resume for the new starter to possibly challenge Madison Bumgarner as the team’s resident Babe Ruth.
Pagan looked dashing, his hair perfect at shoulder length, all on display when he rushed in and made a sliding catch on Yonder Alonso’s sinking liner in the third. At the plate, Pagan picked up a couple of hits, raising his spring average to .405. In the eighth, after four at-bats, the 35-year old veteran gave way to Gregor Blanco, a nice luxury as the team’s returning fourth outfielder.
The Giants think they’ve got a couple of other bench gems in Kelby Tomlinson and Ehire Adrianza, which has allowed the team to consider carrying just four outfielders as both Tomlinson and Adrianza have spent time playing some outfield in the spring. Adrianza has had an impressive camp, displaying his versatility and readiness to help the club in several capacities.
The Giants’ bullpen has an intriguing option in Josh Osich who’s being given every opportunity to replace the retired Jeremy Affeldt as a lefty-specialist. Osich did have a rough moment in the seventh when A’s All-Star Stephen Vogt touched him up with a majestically-hit RBI triple.
The A’s didn’t have much success at all: managing just three hits all night and booting several balls defensively. The whole package played out as a commercial for the Giants, a team that as it’s constructed could win a bunch of close, low-scoring games at home with their superior rotation and bullpen, especially at chilly AT&T. If that’s how it plays out, the Giants could challenge their record for home wins since the park opened in 2000, set by the 2003 squad that went 57-24 at home.
Jake Peavy will get the start in game two of the Bay Bridge Series facing Kendall Graveman at 7:15pm.
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