Oakland Athletics Left field Khris Davis (2) looks on in the dugout during an MLB game between the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on August 30 2017 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The obvious similarity between these two teams, is that they are both going to finish in the cellar. Also, the play15 miles apart separated by a few bridges in the same area.

The Athletics are in the top ten of the American League(#6 today) in home runs, the Giants can’t hit home runs and are very close to the bottom in that department. One of the “secrets” is Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics left-fielder has hit more home runs between 2016 and this season that anybody else in the major leagues. He hit 42 in 2016 and is close to hitting about the same this season.

Defense is not close. The Athletics have committed more errors than anybody in both leagues, while the Giants fielding this season still respectable.

The Athletics can play six rookies rookies in any given moment in a starting lineup as they have done this season. The Giants are an old club, who will have to get some younger talent in the near future to compete with Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Rockies, all who had improved greatly. Pitching.

The Giants still have Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Mike Moore and Jeff Samardzija, although none of them is in the race for a Cy Young Award this season, they are established starters, overall not having a very good year. The Athletics have Kendall Graveman, Sean Manaea,who are big league starters, while the rest of the rotation is constantly flying between AAA Nashville and Oakland all season long. Bullpen. The Athletics began with a decent bullpen with a few guys that had closed games like Santiago Casilla, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Only Casilla remains, so they will still be looking for their closer of the future, if nobody steps up, Casilla will try to do the job.

Giants last season needed a closer and they got an expensive one in Mark Melancon, but he has been in the DL a few times, and some of the other guys are not yet established, so they have work to do also in the off season when it comes to their relievers.

Speed. The Athletics had Rajai Davis, until recently when he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox. Rajai led the American League in steals(42) last season with Cleveland. When Rajai left the A’s so did the stolen bases for the A’s. Giants are not a team that is going to beat you with their speed. I consider this a draw. Attendance. Giants. Mid July their National League record of sellouts of 530 consecutive games ended. Since 2000, (except 2008 and 2009 seasons)the Giants have over 3 million per year. The Athletics need a new ballpark to even think they can have a record of that sort.

World Series. The Athletics won 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1989. The Giants 2010, 2012, and 2014. So there the Athletics still lead by one.

Happy and Healthy Labor Day weekend!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent, the LA Angels Spanish TV talent, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com