Category: Oakland Athletics

Matt Williams joins the A’s as the new third base coach for 2018

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Photo credit: @Athletics

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics announced today that Matt Williams, former All-Star third baseman and former manager of the Washington Nationals, is joining the A’s as the new third base coach, replacing Chip Hale.

Williams was an excellent fielder who won four Gold Gloves as a player. The A’s defense was not very good last year as they led the Major Leagues in errors. The A’s defense improved in the second half of the season, but they gave away too many games due to their crummy defense. Matt was the leading home-run hitter in the National League in 1994 and was on pace to break Roger Maris’ record of 61. Unfortunately for Williams, the players went on strike on August 12th and for the rest of the season, along with the World Series, was wiped out.

Williams’ bio follows below:
Williams spent five seasons on the Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff as a first base coach (2010) and a third base coach (2011-13, 16). He also managed the Washington Nationals for two seasons.  He was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) in his first season as a manager in 2014, guiding the Nationals to a 96-66 record and an NL East title.  He went 83-79 in 2015 for a 179-145 (.552) record in two seasons as a manager.

Williams played 17 seasons in the majors with San Francisco (1987-96), Cleveland (1997) and Arizona (1998-2003).  He was a .268 career hitter with 378 home runs and 1,218 RBI in 1,866 games.  Williams was a five-time All-Star and won four Gold Gloves as a third baseman.

Warriors blow it open in the third quarter to rout the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-101

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, left, drives the ball up court around Draymond Green (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland — On Wednesday night at Oracle Arena, the Golden State Warriors were without the services of Kevin Durant. Durant suffered a left thigh contusion Monday night on the first play of the game against the Miami Heat. He probably was able to play, but Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr decided to give him the night off and give his deep and talented bench more playing time. The team and the bench rose to the occasion as they were able to take control of the game in the third quarter and won 125-101. The Warriors are now 9-3 for the year. They’ve won five in a row and eight of the last nine.

The first two quarters were very close. The Warriors ended the half with a one-point lead (51-50). The Warriors seemed to be out of sync as they scored just 22 points in the first 12 minutes. Minnesota could not solve the Warrior defense either. They scored 22 in the quarter. The Warriors made several turnovers and seemed to be throwing the ball to the wrong team at times. The second quarter was more of the same. The Warriors committed 13 turnovers in the first half and Minnesota converted them into points. However, the Warriors were able to stay with the Wolves and the second unit (David West, Shaun Livingston, Omri Casspi) played well. Steph Curry started to get it going, and he finished the half with 14 points. Andre Iguodala, starting at forward in place of Durant, knocked down five. Draymond Green had six and Klay Thompson had eight. Taj Gibson led the Wolves with 10.

The Warriors broke it open in the third quarter. They scored 44 points and held Minnesota to 26. They stopped making turnovers and ran the court, found the open man, made three-point shots and shut down the Timberwolves offense. Behind the superb play of JaVale McGee, Iguodala, Thompson, and Curry, the Warriors sent a message that they can play even with Durant on the sideline. They led by 19 at the end of three 95-76 and won 125-101.

Game notes and stats — The Warriors had six players in double figures. Thompson led the Warriors with 28 points. He made six three-point shots. Curry finished with 22 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Iguodala finished with 11, West had 10, Casspi knocked down 13, and Nick Young added 12. McGee had three big plays in the third period to help spark Dubs in the third period. Patrick McCaw, Green, and Livingston all made contributions to help the Warriors win their fifth straight game. The Warriors moved the ball well in the second half and finished the night with 37 assists. Steve Kerr was “really pleased with the defense.” All five Timberwolves’ starters were in double figures, but they did not get much help from their bench. They dropped to 7-4 for the season.

The Warriors meet the young Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night at Oracle Arena. Game time is at 5:30 pm. It will be an opportunity for the fans to see the Sixers’ young stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell is in hot water with the law; Will Maxie get cut as a result of the assault?

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Photo credit: @NBCSAuthentic

By Jerry Feitelberg

Scottsdale, Arizona – A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell was arrested by the Scottsdale police yesterday for allegedly pointing a gun at a female food delivery worker. He was booked on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct. The A’s are disappointed with the news and are investigating the situation but had no further comments about Maxwell at this time.

It was a rough week for Maxwell as he claimed that he was refused service by a waiter at a restaurant in his hometown of Harvest, Alabama. He said the waiter recognized him as the first major league player to kneel during the playing of the national anthem. The restaurant found another waiter to serve them. However, the restaurant claimed they refused to service to an individual with the Maxwell party as he did not have proper identification.

A’s announce Ryan Christenson as new bench coach for 2018

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By Jerry Feitelberg

athleticsfarm.com photo: Ryan Christianson is coming to the show as bench coach for the Oakland A’s after spending the last five seasons in the A’s minor league systems most recently managing Double A Midland to back to back championships

The A’s had a press release today that stated Ryan Christenson will replace Mark Kotsay as bench coach on manager Bob Melvin’s staff next year.

The press release is below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                       October 19, 2017

A’s Name Ryan Christenson Bench Coach

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s named Ryan Christenson as bench coach on Bob Melvin’s coaching staff for the 2018 season, the club announced today.  Chip Hale, who moved from third base to bench coach in mid-June, will return to third base.  The remainder of the A’s coaching staff will return in their same roles.

Christenson has spent the last five seasons managing in the A’s farm system.  After Single-A stints at Beloit in 2013 and Stockton in 2014, Christenson guided Double-A Midland to back-to-back Texas League Championships in 2015 and 2016.  He served as manager at Triple-A Nashville in 2017 and his teams have a 391-307 (.561) record in five seasons.  As a player, Christenson was selected by Oakland in the 10th round of the June 1995 draft and played parts of six seasons in the majors with Oakland (1998-2001), Arizona (2001), Milwaukee (2002) and Texas (2003).  He was a .222 hitter in 452 games in his career.

In addition to Hale moving back to third base, Mike Aldrete returns as first base coach, Garvin Alston as bullpen coach, Darren Bush as hitting coach, Scott Emerson as pitching coach and Marcus Jensen as assistant hitting/catching coach

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The 1989 Earthquake World Series 28 Years ago today October 17,1989 October 17, 2017

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photo courtesy of sportsnaut.com: Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco (33) with then wife Esther Canseco to Canseco’s right teammate Carney Lansford (4) with son

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Today is the 28th anniversary of this momentous event. Do you remember where you were?

I was at a small auxiliary broadcast booth next to the roof of Candlestick Park doing the pregame show on radio for Game 3 of the World Series, when the quake happened. Out station (KIQI 1010AM) went off the air right away. Bob Self, our engineer, tapped me in the shoulder within seconds to signal me “we are off the air”. Bob is now retired living in Colorado.

Evelio Areas Mendoza, was my partner in the broadcast booth, we both left walking down to the main press box. Some reporters were trapped in the elevator. First media report of what has happened I saw at the Candlestick Park Press box on KPIX CH 5 (CBS Bay Area) with news anchor Ana Chavez. It took me until midnight to make it home to Fremont, the Bay Bridge was closed and I had to drive Evelio first to his home in San Francisco and then I drove south to take the Dumbarton Bridge back home. When I went to SF to drop Evelio, I also stopped at my parents place in the Mission District.(Evelio Area Mendoza, passed away a few years ago) My mother and father were fine, but very nervous, I remember most of the mess in their dinning room, the china that fell to the floor and broke as well as other stuff. On a service station just outside Candlestick Park saw A’s star Jose Canseco fueling his car, he was still wearing his uniform. And much more other craziness of that afternoon and night. I felt very lucky, Candlestick Park shook for a few seconds but it seemed like it was very long. First reports were that it was a strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake, later it was downgraded to 6.9, still considered a strong earthquake. I remember talking to other media outlets, print and electronic in the Bay Area, and outside the area, about the experience.

In history:

On October 17, just minutes before the start of Game 3, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area causing significant damage to both Oakland and San Francisco. Candlestick Park in San Francisco suffered damage to its upper deck as pieces of concrete fell from the baffle at the top of the stadium and the power was knocked out. The game was postponed out of concerns for the safety of everyone in the ballpark as well as the loss of power, with MLB Commissioner Faye Vincent later saying that he did not know when play would resume. The series resumed on October 27 and finished the next day. The October 28 finale set a record for the latest finish to a World Series at the time. The 1995 World Series played at the end of that strike shortened and delayed season, also finished on October 28; those two series have since been surpassed by both the 2001 World Series and 2009 World Series both of which concluded on November 4 of those respective years; the 2001 season was delayed in finishing due to 9/11–related postponements while the beginning of the 2009 season was postponed due to the World Baseball Classic.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez formerly did Spanish radio for the San Francisco Giants and is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

A’s win finale at Texas, hope to build on positive finish in 2018

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AP17274804589102
Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington,Texas, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Morris Phillips

Across the board, you pick the statistic, and the numbers reveal the A’s are trending toward a bounce back season in 2018.

But it’s the A’s, right? They’re always building.

True, but this time a group of youthful, talented players are in place, they’ve shown some acumen for winning at the big league level, and they may catch the rest of the AL West at a vulnerable moment.

Finishing the season with a 5-2 road win over Cole Hamels and the Rangers, winning 17 of 24, and going nearly the entire, second half of the season with a winning record (40-39) fosters that belief.

“I want guys, when they come to spring training next year, to be in a different mindset than we’ve been,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We want to hit the ground running.”

Oft-injured, and previously ineffective Daniel Mengden made the transition early, finishing 2017 strong, after two stints on the disabled list, strong enough that the 24-year old has put himself on the short list of candidates for next season’s starting rotation.

After Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea, Mengden has put himself in a group with Jharel Cotton, Paul Blackburn, Andrew Triggs and Daniel Gossett as candidates for the other three spots. And, as they did last season, the A’s may elect to forgo signing a veteran starter, confident they can get consistent they can get quality starts out of their young, core group.

After Sunday’s seven innings of shutout baseball–in the hot, Texas sun, no less–Mengden has belief that previously seemed unattainable.

“Having some time last year, then getting back this year, I knew what I had to do and stuck to the plan,” Mengden said.

 

A’s struggle on Saturday night losing 8-4 to the Rangers

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A's gossett teexas

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Daniel Gossett intended to pitch longer than 1.2-innings when he started the game for the Athletics in Texas on Saturday night but that was not to be the case. Gossett set the Rangers down in order in the first inning but would not survive the bottom of the second inning.

Gossett gave up four runs (all earned) off five hits including one home run in that fateful second inning. Joey Gallo hit his 40th home run of the season off Gossett with Nomar Mazara on base to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Gossett would never recover and would be replaced by Simon Castro.

Gossett would be tagged with the loss and will finish the season with a 4-11 record.

A’s bullpen could not post “Goose Eggs”

The Athletics needed their bullpen to put up “Goose Eggs” in the runs column but that did not happen. Six A’s relievers gave up four runs on eight hits. They walked four and struck out five.

Some nights the bullpen just cannot stop the momentum of the other team.

Texas feasted on A’s pitching

a's download (1)

Every Rangers starting player recorded at least one hit. Texas scored eight runs on 13 hits while leaving seven men on base. They went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Joey Gallo went 2-for-2 at the plate with both hits being home runs. He has now hit 41 round-trippers in 2017. Gallo scored three runs and recorded three RBI to up his season total to 80.

Rougned Odor had a 3-for-4 day with the bat. He hit his 21st double and posted his 75th RBI. Odor also recorded his 15th stolen base of the year.

Rangers on the hill

Andrew Cashner evened his record at 11-11 after being awarded the win on Saturday over the Athletics. He pitched 6.0-innings allowing two runs (both earned) off five hits. Cashner walked two and struck out two.

The Texas bullpen worked the final three innings and tried to let the Athletics back into the game. Matt Bush gave up a run in the eighth inning including a home run to Matt Joyce. Paolo Espino allowed a run in the ninth inning when Marcus Semien hit his ninth home run of the season.

Despite the late show of power, the Athletics came up four runs short on Saturday night.

Oakland in the batter’s box

a's vs rangers

The A’s scored four runs on eight hits while leaving seven runners on base. They went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Marcus Semien went 2-for-5 in the game. He hit his ninth home run and recorded his 40th RBI.

Matt Joyce had a 2-for-4 night at the plate including two runs scored and one RBI. He hit his 25th home run and posted his 68th RBI.

Khris Davis hit as the DH on Saturday night and went 2-for-3. He hit his 23rd double while adding his 109th RBI of the season.

Western Division Standings

Texas is now 78-83 for 2017 and is tied with Seattle for third in the west. The A’s record stands at 74-87 and they are alone in last place.

Starters for game 162

RHP Daniel Mengden (2-2, 3.75) will start for the A’s on Sunday in the season finale. He lost his last start to Seattle on Tuesday, September 26th 6-3.

The Rangers will counter with LHP Cole Hamels (11-5, 4.10). Hamels 4.10 ERA is his highest since the 2009 season.

The final game of the season gets underway at 12:05 p.m. PDT.

Rangers end seven game losing streak beating the Athletics 5-3 Friday night

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a's nunez hr

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Game 160 is in the books for the Oakland Athletics and it will go into the loss column as the Texas Rangers won the game 5-3. After falling behind early in the game, the A’s fought their way back into the contest but could not overcome the Rangers five-run lead.

The end of a dream

The Athletics (74-86) went into the final four-game series in Texas with the goal of catching the Rangers in the standings and finishing the season in a tie for fourth-place in the American League West. The only way that could happen was for the A’s to sweep the series in Arlington. That cannot happen now and the A’s will finish alone in last place in the West.

Perez gets his revenge

The A’s chased Martin Perez from the game last Sunday in Oakland when they scored five runs off him in the bottom of the fifth-inning. Perez went to the showers after 4.2-innings on the mound and was tagged with the loss as the Athletics completed a sweep of the Rangers.

On Friday night, Perez worked 6.0 — innings giving up three runs (all earned) off five hits. He walked two and struck out two A’s. Perez allowed one home run.

Three Texas relief pitchers worked one inning each and allowed no runs and no hits in their time on the mound. The relievers worked the principle of the “Goose Eggs” to perfection. By allowing no runs in their three innings of relief work, they preserved the win for Perez.

Nunez chased Perez from the game

In the top of the seventh inning, Perez walked the leadoff batter Khris Davis. He then gave up a single to Ryon Healy that allowed Davis to move up to second base. That brought rookie Renato Nunez to the plate who took a 1-2 Perez fastball over the wall in right-center field for a three-run home run — the first of his MLB career. Unfortunately for the A’s, that would be the end of their scoring for the night.

Alcantara takes the loss

a's alcan tex

Raul Alcantara made another start for Oakland on Friday night. He struggled in his 4.1-innings of work. Alcantara allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked two, struck out two and allowed one home run. Alcantara (1-2) was tagged with the loss.

The A’s used four relief pitchers. Moll gave up a run while Castro, Casilla and Coulombe were able to post “Goose Eggs”.

Texas was efficient at the plate

a's andrus

The Rangers scored five runs off nine hits while leaving six runners on base. They were 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

  • Shin-Soo Choo tied a career high by hitting his 22nd home run of the season with a runner on base raising his RBI total to 78.
  • Elvis Andrus hit his 43rd double of the year.
  • DH Nomar Mazara went 2-for-4 with two RBI and run scored. He raised his RBI total to 99 for 2017.
  • Rookie Willie Calhoun — who was born in Vallejo — went 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI.

A’s with the bats

  • Jed Lowrie broke the all-time Oakland record for doubles in a season when he hit number 48 off Perez Friday night. Jason Giambi was the previous record holder with 47.
  • The A’s scored three runs on seven hits while leaving seven men on base.
  • Oakland went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Up next on Saturday

The A’s will send right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-4, 6.81) to the hill to face the Rangers RHP Andrew Cashner (7-4, 3.42). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Photos by USA Today Sports Andrew Dieb

A’s behind a strong performance by Sean Manaea, down Texas Rangers for the seventh time in a row 4-1

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea (55) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Arlington, Texas- The Oakland A’s started the final four games of the season with a win over the Texas Rangers Thursday night as the beat the Rangers for the seventh time in a row by a score of 4-1.

The A’s Sean Manaea made his last start of the year and wanted to finish the season with a strong effort. Manaea had an up and down year. He spent time on the DL. He pitched well and at times didn’t pitch well. His record entering Thursday’s game was 11-10. He went six and 2/3rds innings and allowed just three hits. The only run allowed was unearned. Sean finished with a record of 12-10, and manager Bob Melvin had this to say about his young lefty:”He was efficient early in the game, early-count contact, pitched out of a couple jams,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s finishing on a strong note for a guy that was really grinding toward the end. Had a couple bouts this season with adversity and pitched through it, and he will be better for it come next year.”

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning. The Rangers’ Miguel Gonzalez, who lost 1-0 to the A’s last week in Oakland was pitching well until the A’s third baseman Matt Chapman homered leading off the inning. It was Chapman’s fourteen of the season. The Rangers, however, tied the contest in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Marcus Semien made an error that allowed Willie Calhoun to reach second. It snapped the  A’seight-game errorless streak. Drew Robinson singled to drive in Calhoun with the run.

The A’s plated two in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. With two out Jed Lowrie singled and that was followed by a Khris Davis double to put men on at second and third. Ryon Healy singled to drive in Lowrie and Davis. The A’s added a run in the ninth. Khris Davis singled, Healy reached on an infield single and Chapman drove in his second run of the game with a single. Oakland wins 4-1.

Game Notes- The A’s are now 16-5 in their last twenty-one games and are 35-35 in their last 70 games.

The A’s relievers did well against the Rangers Thursday night. Liam Hendriks got the final out of the seventh, Chris Hatcher pitched a scoreless eighth and Blake Treinen did the same in the ninth to preserve the win for Manaea and pick up his 15th save of the year.

A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell took a knee during the performance of the National Anthem. There were some boos as expected. Maxwell will continue to kneel until the end of the season.

Righty Raul Alcantara will start for Oakland Friday night and will be opposed by left Martin Perez.

The A’s announced that Bob Melvin has signed an extension to his contract that will take him through the 2019 season.

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Maxwell taking a knee in Arlington; A’s with one of the best MLB home records and one of the worst road records

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Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (6) and trainer Nick Paparesta, center, check on catcher Bruce Maxwell after Maxwell was hit on the mask by a fouled ball off the bat of Texas Rangers’ Ryan Rua in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. Maxwell continued playing in the game. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

On the Oakland A’s with Jerry:

1 The highlights of 2017 despite finishing in last place

2 A’s catch Bruce Maxwell takes a knee again this time in Texas on Thursday night. Will the rest of the team take a knee during the anthem in this series?

3 Maxwell talks about his surroundings in the greater Dallas Forth Worth area while taking this position as baseball’s only player to take a knee during the national anthem

4 Mark Canha who is supporting Maxwell during his silent protests before all A’s games hit a walk off home run on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners everyone’s been contributing for the A’s

5 The A’s who had one of the best records in the American League for home records finishing 2017 at 46-35 it was the road record where they have one of baseball’s worst records currently standing at 28-50

Jerry tells you all about it on the A’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com