Category: Oakland Athletics

A’s nip Padres in Cactus Leauge; send three more to Triple-A Nashville

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By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, March 18, 2017

MESA, Ariz. – Veteran second baseman Adam Rosales was involved in both A’s runs in Oakland’s 2-1 win over San Diego, a Cactus League contest that ended in a remarkable 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The Athletics improved to 11-8 in CL exhibitions, while San Diego is 7-13. It was the final spring contest between the teams.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a one-out solo home run by Dusty Coleman. The Athletics tied the game in the bottom of the third when Rosales walked, moved to third on Rajai Davis’ base hit, and scored on a wild pitch by Padres starter Luis Perdomo during Trevor Plouffe’s at-bat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rosales singled to center, driving in Mark Canha, who doubled to lead off the inning. Rosales was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but finished the game 1-for-2 with a walk.

Jamie Romak led off the San Diego ninth with a double off A’s pitcher Frankie Montas and moved to third on a groundout to short by Carlos Asuaje. But Montas retired Rafael Ortega on another groundout to shortstop Richie Martin to pick up his first CL save.

A’s starter Kendall Graveman threw six strong innings, striking out six without a walk while giving up one earned run on two hits. Ryan Dull (2-0), the second Oakland pitcher, struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning to get the win.

Besides Rajai Davis, Canha and Rosales, Khris Davis and Lavarnway also had base hits for the A’s.

Attendance at Hohokam was 7,303.

GOIN’ DOWN
The Oakland A’s optioned infielders Franklin Barreto and Chad Pinder and outfielder Matt Olson to Triple-A Nashville.
The A’s now have 45 players in camp, including 32 players on the 40-man roster, which is full, and 13 non-roster invitees. The breakdown includes 22 pitchers, six catchers, 10 infielders and seven outfielders.

SMOLINSKI SURGERY
Oakland A’s outfielder Jake Smolinski had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Thursday at Surg Center at Pima Crossing in Scottsdale, Ariz.. This was to repair Smolinski’s labrum and perform a bursectomy procedure.
Smolinski, who appeared in three games this spring and was 1-for-6 (.167) with a double and RBI, will be in a sling for the next four weeks. He hit .238 with seven home runs and 27 RBI in 99 games with Oakland last year.

WBC NOTES
A’s non-roster invitee Cesar Valdez made his first appearance in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic in their 10-3 win over Colombia. Valdez gave up one earned run in 1 2/3 innings. … Ryan Lavarnway, another A’s non-roster invitee, started all six games for Israel, hitting .444 (8-for-18 with a home run, two doubles and six RBIs. Lavarnway also earned Pool A MVP after hitting .556 with a homer in three games in Seoul. … Two A’s minor leaguers pitched in the WBC – Joey Wagman gave up one earned run in one inning against The Netherlands, and Jake Sanchez threw two scoreless innings for Mexico.

A’s CACTUS NEEDLES: 1B Yonder Alonso was tied for the Cactus League lead in walks going into Saturday with seven. He was 1-for-2 with a walk against the Padres. … 3B Matt Chapman is 5-for-13 (.385) with four walks and five RBIs over his last 10 games. … OF Rajai Davis is tied for ninth in the CL with three stolen bases. … OF Chris Parmalee is 4-for-8 (.500) in his last seven games after a 1-for-14 start. … Ryon Healy has driven in at least one run in eight of his last 11 games. He’s tied for the CL lead in RBIs with 13.

TAGS: Oakland Athletics,Cactus League,Sports Radio Service

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Doolittle feeling like his old self but is taking his time to return

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thankyoubaseball.com file photo: A’s reliever Sean Doolittle holds the Bill Rigney Award from last season, Doolittle is feeling better with each outing this spring

On today’s A’s podcast:

#1  A’s reliever Sean Doolittle got a 1-2-3 inning on Tuesday in relief and looks like he rehabbing and improving each day with his pitching.

#2 Doolittle says he’s gained a lot of confidence and has dated himself upon his return

#3 Doolittle from time to time considers throwing the off speed pitch but is selective when the time to throw it

#4  What does it mean to have Rajai Davis back a second time and Adam Rosales a third time

#5 With A’s pitcher Sonny Gray out what will Sean Manaea, Kendall Graveman, Jharel Cotton mean for the starting rotation

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A one on one interview with A’s manager Bob Melvin

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sfgate.com file photo: Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin in the A’s dugout during a 2016 season game interviewed with Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Tuesday from Mesa AZ

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Hohokam Park, Mesa–Temperatures today went all the way up to 96 degrees here in the Valley of the Sun. All the Athletics were on the field and after the practice, approximately one hour prior to first pitch, A’s Manager Bob Melvin sat with me on the A’s dugout(first base side).for a one-on-one interview, right after finishing throwing to his team the last round of batting practice.

Q; Bob, 2017 Spring Training, another year, another group of players and many familiar faces.

A: “Yes. And we tend to have some turnover here and you have to be able to embrace that, but we have a good group nucleus of guys that have come back, we added some guys that we really feel not only they’re going to be productive force on the field, but in gthe clubhouse, and then we have a whole host of wave of younger players that you probably will start to see this year, that makes this an exciting time for our organization”.

Q: About those new players, Rajai Davis cameback to Oakland for the second time, Adam Rosales for the third time. Matt Joyce, a veteran is now an Athletic.

A: “And Trevor Plouffe also, all these guys are pros,they are four position players than we got,they know how to play and in Rajai’s and Rosie’s case, they know how do we do things here, and sometimes is dificult from some guys coming from other organizations, but when you come here we need all 25 to win, that everybody will have to contribute and support your teammates (pause)…they have the background they know how it works here, and they actually can be resourceful for some of the other guys…in the case of Matt Joyce we were last in the league in on-base-percentage last year, we need guys that get on base a little bit more, he can definitely do that, Rajai will be leading for us, he can create that havoc that he does on the bases, Trevor Plouffe we feel we really got a guy that plays solid defense as a pro and knows how to play the game”.

Q: “Your pitching staff is young, with good arms very promising, guys like Sean Manaea, Kendall Graverman,Jharel Cogtton and others, but you also have a bullpen this year with options, talk about that”

A: Yes we do, we have quite a few veteran guys, it is great to Santiago Casilla on the right side of the bay this time, back in green and gold where he’s been before, he’s closed games, Ryan Madson has closed games, John Axford has closed games Sean Doolittle has closed game, Ryan Dull had a terrific year for us, Liam Hendricks…so we feel that we have some veterans in this bullpen that add more pieces to that bullpen and one guy you haven;t mentioned as far as young pitchers that is going to be a star is Frankie Montas, Oh my God…he is absolutely electric, where and when we get him, he is going to be fine, he didn’t have a lot of innings last year, and he could be a mix of starter and reliever, but once he gets here, you’ll noticed him real quickly”

Q: “Bob, finally on your number one starter Sonny Gray he is out with a lat(lateral)problem, how is he coming along, when do you expect to get him back?

A: “Yes, you know it is unfortunate, he came in such a great shape, the ball was jumping out of his hand like it normally does,he was throwing the ball really well, so…we are going to be careful with him, he feels good right now, but we are still going to give him another couple of weeks of no throw, and then incrementally have him back at the end of April, is probably what we are targeting, but he is a guy that we have to be careful with, because he means so much for this team on top of the rotation, so we are going to make sure he is a hundred percent when he comes back:.

Q: ‘Well Bob I just wanted to tell you, you are one of my favorite managers, you get along well with everybody, the players like to play for you, you are good with the media, with the fans, and I hope this team can surprise a lot of people, and I mean it”

A: “Well…coming from you that means a lot, we known each other a long time and you do a terrific job, so that is kind of humbling to get that kind of compliment”

Notes:The Colorado Rockies beat the Athletics 4-3, however Sean Manaea pitched 3 2/3 of scoreless ball and Sean Doolittle made his spring debut pitching a perfect sixt inning in relief. The A’S are now 10-6 this spring. Tomorrow, Wednesday the 15th the A’s have their second Day Off this spring and then on Thursday the 16th they travel to Goodyear, to face the American League champion Cleveland Indians. Rickey Henderson was in rare form today as he was coaching some of the A’s young players, we spoke for a while behind the batting cage as the Athletics took batting practice. I told Rickey that I saw his whole career from the start as a rookie with the A’S in 1979, and we were talking about the good old days of A’s baseball when they were winning pennants and going to the World Series, the Hall of Famer was blessed with a great body, he looks like he can still play… and maybe he can.

 

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: A’s spring training camp at Mesa and the players are gearing up for the season

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – MARCH 07: Oakland Athletics first baseman Yonder Alonso (17) and Oakland Athletics right fielder Matt Joyce (23) make their way to the dugout before the spring training baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 7, 2017 at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona.(Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MESA AZ–There is no better sight than to walk into the ball park after the winter off and to see the players stretch and prepare for their next exhibition game at Hohokam Park the spring home of the Oakland A’s. A’s manager Bob Melvin will be my pre game guest for today’s column later on, it’s a wonderful, wonderful time at spring training in March. I’ve been to a couple of games the Angels and A’s and the sold out Cubs and Angels which was played a couple days ago that game was played at Diablo Stadium in Tempe it was a sold out crowd.

Wednesday I’m going to see the Angels and Giants at Scottsdale and every place you go for spring training and I’ve been coming here for over 30 years. Every place you go now you can expect a sell out crowd. It’s pretty amazing what Major League Baseball has been able to do here in the Phoenix area when you have half of the teams training here it’s just a wonderful experience.

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

 

 

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: A’s starter Gray’s injury happens at a good time; A look at Giants Mad Bum and Rollins

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Oakland Athletics’ Sonny Gray walks to the mound during a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

On MLB Podcast with Matt:

#1 How important is it that A’s pitcher Sonny Gray gets some rest and because of insurance reasons didn’t make the WBC?

#2 Gray has a Lat injury it was said that it was better that he suffered the injury now than at the beginning of the season than later in the season.

#3  Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner pitcher four innings and gave up two unearned runs on Friday. He’s just getting some work in he’s a winner expect Mad Bum to do some damage this season.

#4 The Giants Jimmy Rollins whose expected to play the utility role on the downside of his career at second or shortstop to give either Brandon Crawford or Joe Panik a break. Rollins hit a two run homer a two run shot in Friday’s game.

#5 Giants pitchers Mark Melancon and Jeff Samardzija have been added to Team USA in the WBC. The concern is will having players away for any length of time effect their timing when they get back to the big club?

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Santiago takes a pass on the WBC; Doolittle facing live hitters; Marrero trying to make the club

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This is a 2017 photo of relief pitcher Sean Doolittle of the Oakland Athletics baseball team poses for a portrait. This image reflects the Athletics active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 Santiago Casilla said he will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic saying he needed to stay with the A’s and focus on the upcoming season

#2 Sean Doolittle is anticipating a return to his relief role he’s been throwing 20 pitches to live hitters at Hohokam Park in Mesa under the watchful eyes of manager Bob Melvin and pitching coach Curt Young

#3  Pitcher Kendall Graveman has been throwing sinkers allowing a hit, a walk, in the A’s shutout over Italy 7-0

#4 A’s manager Bob Melvin is going to take a look at Mark Canha at taking a shot at playing centerfield. For Canha it will be his first time playing centerfield professionally.

#5  A’s pitcher Frankie Montas pitched two innings of shutout ball on Wednesday surrendering three hits, three strikeouts, at 99 MPH

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: Raiders secure funds for LV stadium; ESPN cutting budget and air talent; plus A’s pitcher Santiago Casillia

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reviewjournal.com photo: Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis has his game face on as he walks by Las Vegas hopeful fans who have their smiling faces on as Davis builds momentum in moving the Raiders to Vegas

It looks like the Oakland Raiders determination to get out of Oakland will be solidified after coming to an agreement with Bank Of America that will cover the team’s stadium costs at the tune of $1.9 billion. The previous investors Sheldon Adelson and Goldman Sachs sacked the Raiders after promising to be investors for the team’s new Las Vegas Stadium. Both Sachs and Adelson backed out after they learned that neither would have any ownership stake in the football club.

Disney who runs a tight financial ship will be cutting ESPN’s budget as the network said that they would trim $250 millio which includes cutting air talent. Which on air personalities was not made public by ESPN but at that dollar figure the network will be trimming many positions and those who worked at the network for years will see those changes starting this month. Veteran Sunday Night Football host and Baseball anchor of highlights Chris Berman’s contract will not be renewed and is on the way out at the Worldwide Sports Leader.

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

 

 

A’s top Giants in Cactus League with power display

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Oakland Athletics’ Alejandro De Aza, left, gets caught in a run downbetween San Francisco Giants third baseman Jae-Gyun Hwang, right, and shortstop Brandon Crawford during the second inning of a spring baseball game in Mesa, Ariz., Friday, March 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Friday, March 3, 2017

MESA, Ariz. – San Francisco pitcher Jeff Samardzija admits he’ll miss his catcher during the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but at the same time, he’s not too worried, either.

Giants backstop Buster Posey will be playing for Team USA in the WBC, which means Samardzija will be throwing to a different catcher for a while.

“I can’t say that’s happened before,” Samardzija said in the visitors’ clubhouse at Hohokam Stadium following his start against Oakland. “We’ll find out, but I don’t think it’ll be that big of a deal.

“Buster might be a little more worried about it, but he’s such a professional, so ready to go. He’s done this enough times that he knows where he needs to be come March 20 (when the WBC ends). I hope he has a good time with (the WBC). They’ll have three catchers rotating there, so he’ll be in and out and I look forward to him having a good competition out there.”

Samardzija added, “We look forward to him representing the country well and come back to us healthy. … and win it!”

A’s PERSPECTIVE
Oakland manager Bob Melvin was pleased overall with the offensive power display Friday, and the innings he got from his bullpen, in particular, right-handers Paul Blackburn and Liam Hendricks..

“Blackburn has been very impressive,” Melvin said. “A long inning kind of took him out of his rhythm. We got him in the (Danny) Valencia trade from Seattle, and he’s got good stuff.

“(Liam) Hendricks was up in the zone a little bit, but his command was sharp and he was throwing the ball where he wanted to, He’s got subtle movement with everything he throws, keeps the ball down, his breaking ball is kind of short and he’s got a good changeup. His sinker is a late sinker, He’s doing a nice job for us.”

THE GAME
Oakland won 6-1 before 8,203 enthusiastic fans at Hohokam. Austin Slater, who replaced Hunter Pence in right field for San Francisco, drove in the only Giants run.

The Athletics, meanwhile, displayed some good bursts of power. Mark Canha smacked a pair of doubles, and Alejandro De Aza and Jaff Decker each had one two-bagger. Oakland also had home runs from Kenny Wilson, Yonder Alonso and Ryon Healy – the first of the spring for each.

Both the Giants and A’s used six pitchers in the game. Kendall Graveman threw the first two innings to get the win for Oakland, while Samardzija took the loss after tossing 2 2/3 innings.

Samardzija (0-1) struck out three without a walk, but also gave up a home run. Graveman struck out one and walked one while giving up one hit.

The Swingin’ A’s are 4-3 in Cactus League play, while the Giants are 3-6.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Cubs are picked to win it all again

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Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber hits a single during a spring training baseball game Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Looking around spring training the Chicago Cubs whose long drought of a World Series victory ended with a win over Cleveland. This is one of the greatest sports stories of my lifetime and most people’s lifetime that was 120 years in the waiting. It’s a great story and I’m glad the Cubs won it. The Cubs were favorites to win the World Series last season and are favorites to win it again.

The Cubs have terrific talent there one of the stories is what are they going to do with Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs have a lot of talent and the Cubs lost reliever Aroldis Chapman who went to the Yankees and the Cubs still have a formidable line up. The Cubs are just a great team and they should be fun. They got Wade Davis a closer from Kansas City and Schwarber wants to catch.

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

 

 

 

Angels nip A’s in Cactus League; No WBC for Gray

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Oakland Athletics first baseman Mark Canha hits a RBI-double against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a spring baseball game in Mesa, Ariz., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, February 26, 2017

MESA, Ariz. – Following the Oakland Athletics’ 5-3 Cactus League loss to the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, A’s manager Bob Melvin was upbeat about the positives he saw.

On starting pitcher Daniel Gossett, who is working for a shot at making the rotation, Melvin said, “He got outs. It probably wasn’t the command he’s used to having, probably some nerves for his first start. But this is a results-based game.”

Gossett pitched at three different levels in the A’s farm system last year, compiling a combined 10-6 record with an ERA of 2.69 in 27 starts for Single-A Stockton, Double-A Midland and Triple-A Nashville. He also led the A’s minor league system with 151 strikeouts.

Melvin’s other observations…
On Alejandro De Aza, who tripled and scored in the third inning and laid down a sacrifice bunt to set up a run: “He’s an interesting guy, gets a bunt down, he can play all three outfield spots, We’ve seen him give us trouble when he was with the White Sox, but so far, so good, He’s going to get some playing time here.”

On catcher Josh Phegley “I’ll usually go five with a starting catcher, but we know he can throw.”

NO WBC FOR GRAY
Various media sources, including ESPN, report that the Athletics’ Sonny Gray will not be allowed to pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Oakland general manager David Forst said the A’s right-hander was denied insurance coverage for the event.

Last August, Gray was placed on the disabled list with a strained right forearm and threw only one inning after he returned to the active roster. Because Gray didn’t pitch in 10 innings or more after August, his physical status became an issue for the company that insures players for the WBC.

Forst told the media that even though MLB pushed for Gray to receive an exemption, the final call is up to the insurance company.

Gray is the second player denied insurance to play in this year’s WBC. Catcher Russell Martin of Toronto was left off the Team Canada roster after having arthroscopic knee surgery last fall.

A’s players who are participating in the World Baseball Classic include John Axford (Canada), Santiago Casilla (Dominican Republic), non-roster invitees Ryan Lavarnway (Israel) and Cesar Valdez (Dominican Republic), and minor leaguers Jake Sanchez (Mexico) and Joey Wegman (Israel). Earlier, Liam Hendriks opted to leave Team Australia and Khris Davis won’t play for Team Mexico.

SUNDAY’S GAME
The Angels edged Oakland powered by a three-run seventh inning.

Oakland used eight pitchers, including Gossett. Aaron Kurcz (0-1) gave up three earned runs and walked two in one-third inning while taking the loss. Michael Brady and Tucker Healy each struck out two while working the eighth and ninth innings.

A’s shortstop Franklin Barreto had two hits; Ryan Lavarnway, Mark Canha and Jaycob Brugman each drove in a run.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The A’s travel to Scottsdale to face San Francisco Monday, host Cleveland on Tuesday, travel to Peoria to face San Diego on March 1, then return to Hohokam to host Texas (March 2), San Francisco (March 3), Cleveland (March 4), and travel to Peoria to play Seattle (March 5). March 6 is an off-day.

CACTUS NEEDLES: This is the Athletics’ 49th Spring Training in Arizona, and their third spring at Hohokam Stadium since returning to Mesa in 2015. The A’s previously spent 33 seasons at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. … Oakland lost its spring opener 4-3 to the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa. Matt Joyce and Matt Chapman homered for the A’s, and Rajah Davis stole two bases. … The A’s have 70 players in camp, the most since having 78 in camp back in 1982. This includes the 40-man roster, plus 30 non-roster invitees. The breakdown: 34 pitchers, six catchers, 19 infielders and 11 outfielders.

TAGS: Oakland Athletics,A’s,Cactus League,Sports Radio Service