Category: Oakland Athletics

Medical updates, roster moves, awards

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news-and-notes

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Alvarez shutdown for the season

The comeback of right-handed pitcher Henderson Alvarez has come to an abrupt halt after another disappointing development in his rehabilitation.

The A’s signed Alvarez expecting that he could return to pitching as soon as May as he recovered from shoulder surgery. There have been three attempts to get Alvarez ready in the minor leagues to make his major league comeback, but all have fallen short.

The next step is for Alvarez is to see Dr. James Andrews who will examine the shoulder and recommend further action. A recent MRI showed no structural damage but a second shoulder surgery looms as a possibility.

The 26-year-old Alvarez is under the A’s control for 2017, but a shoulder surgery would mean he would be unable to pitch next year. The A’s would have to decide if they would want to invest in a contract that would not pay off until 2018.

“I really feel bad for him,” Melvin said Tuesday. “This is a guy that’s worked so hard to get back with us and been right on the cusp a couple different times and had to go back and go through the rehab process again, which is very difficult to do, so my heart goes out to him.”

There is another Alcantara in the house

 The A’s have added another player to the expanded September roster. Infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara was recalled from the Stockton Ports on Tuesday. This will be the fourth time Alcantara has been on the Major League roster this season.

Alcantara was used a pinch runner in the Tuesday night game versus the Angels. After Billy Butler singled in the eighth inning, Alcantara ran for Butler and scored the A’s second run of the game when Joey Wendle singled to right field.

A’s claim RHP off waivers from Tigers

 The A’s claimed right-handed pitcher Donn Roach off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. Roach was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. The Sounds will need pitching help for the Pacific Coast League Playoffs as they have lost three starting pitchers – Mengden, Alcantara and Cotton – to the A’s expanded Major League roster.

Roach started the season in the Seattle organization. He made four relief appearances for the Mariners and 17 starts for Triple-A Tacoma before being designated for assignment on August 6.

The TigerS claimed the 26-year-old Roach off waivers and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo. He made five starts for the Mud Hens and posted a 3-1 record with a 3.03 ERA.

Roach made his Major League debut in 2014 with the San Diego Padres. He has also pitched for the Cubs in the big leagues.

A’s nominate Doolittle for Clemente Award

 The Oakland A’s have selected relief pitcher Sean Doolittle as the A’s nominee for the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award for his outstanding efforts in the community.

Each Major League team nominates a player they believe deserves the award based on their service to the community.

Doolittle works to assist military families, is a leader among Major Leaguers in helping to create LBGT alliances  and hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for Syrian refugees at his home in Chicago.

The award is named after and is a tribute to the Hall of Fame baseball player and great humanitarian who lost his life in an airplane crash bringing aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972.

Fans can vote for their favorite nominee by posting the nominee’s hashtag to @MLB on Twitter or on Facebook.com/MLB. Doolittle’s hashtag is #VoteDoolittle.

Scarsone named PCL Manager of the Year

 Nashville Sounds manager Steve Scarsone has been named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year. The award is given based the voting of the league’s managers and media representatives.

Nashville – which won the American Southern Division title – had 22 players spend time with the Sounds before being called up to the Oakland A’s this season. Of the Athletics’ current 25-man roster, 14 were with Nashville before being promoted to Oakland.

Scarsone is in his fourth season as the A’s Triple-A manager having been the skipper in Sacramento prior to the move to Nashville. He has been a manager in the A’s minor league system in Class-A and Double-A as well.

Scarsone played seven seasons in the Major Leagues as a utility infielder.

Christenson awarded Texas League Manager of the Year

 Midland RockHounds manager Ryan Christenson has been named Manager of the Year in the Texas League. He is currently trying to lead his team to its second consecutive Texas League Championship.

Christenson is in his second year as manager at Midland. He managed for the A’s minor league teams in Beloit and Stockton before being promoted to the Double-A RockHounds.

Christenson spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with most of his games being played for the Oakland Athletics. He also spent time with Arizona, Milwaukee and Texas.

Oakland A’s Wednesday game wrap: The A’s beat the Angels behind Jharel Cotton’s Sensational debut.

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Oakland A’s starter  Jharel Cotton had all his pitches moving and held down the Los Angeles Angels seen pitching in first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday

OAKLAND- The  Oakland A’s, behind a fantastic Major League debut by Jharel Cotton, defeated the Los Angeles Angels 4-1. Cotton came to Oakland in the trade that sent Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Cotton had it all going for him Wednesday. He fooled the Angel hitters with a devasting changeup, had command of his fastball and mixed in sliders and curves in winning his first Major League game. Cotton allowed just one run and two hits in six and 1/3rd innings of work. Ryan Dull, Liam Hendriks, and Ryan Madson shut the Angels down the rest of the way. Madson earned his twenty-ninth save of the year.

The A’s scored two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the seventh. Yonder Alonso was the hitting star Wednesday as he had three hits and knocked in a run. Max Muncy, Brett Eibner also drove in a run, too. Ryan Healy hit a solo homer in the game to help Cotton win. C.J.Cron hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Angels’ lone tally.

Cotton was born in St.Thomas in the U.S.Virgin Islands. He is twenty-four years old and is the fourth pitcher in big league history from the Virgin Islands. “It could not get any better.” Cotton said after the game. “Of course, my dream is to get to the big leagues. I’m here now, my dream came true.” Bob Melvin said this about Cotton’s performance “it didn’t look like anything fazed him. He’s got the stuff.”

The A’s have an off-day on ThursdTheywill face the Seattle Mariners this weekend in Oakland. Daniel Mengden will pitch for Oakland and Daniel is hoping to notch his first win at the Oakland Coliseum. His record in Oakland is 0-5.

 

 

After playing dead for seven innings, A’s spring to life in the eighth, and win 3-2 over the Angels

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no-for-nolasco

By Morris Phillips

In Ricky Nolasco’s lengthy big league career filled with ups and downs, he’s been a double-digit winner—and loser—numerous times. But he’s never had a won-loss record of 5-13, or lost for a 13th time in a season in the frustrating manner he experienced on Tuesday night at the Coliseum.

Nolasco was virtually unhittable, retiring the first 16 A’s he faced, and allowing just one hit through seven. By that point, the A’s were virtually inconsolable, as slugger Khris Davis threw his bat down in disgust after striking out to end the seventh.

Then everything changed in a hurry, the second time in three days the A’s have fashioned a late-game about face.

Trailing 2-0, the first five A’s to bat in the eighth reached, chasing Nolasco, and making the A’s 3-2 winners over the Angels in a most unique manner. Again, the most youthful of the A’s young roster led the way, and sounded like season veterans that have been through the paces afterwards.

“Whether we get 10 hits in the first five innings and lose or get whatever it was in the back half of the game and win, I don’t really care how it happens, I just want to get a victory,” Ryon Healy said.

Healy was the first Athletic to manage a hit—in the sixth—hardly the avalanche of offense A’s fans thirst for in a season of watching one of the worst teams in baseball in terms of producing offense on their home diamond. On Tuesday, the first six innings were more of the same for a team that’s won just 31 home games and is hitting .239 as a team in the Coliseum.

But the eighth was something to see as Nolasco walked Yonder Alonso, allowed a base hit to Billy Butler, then walked Arismendy Alcantara to load the bases. That ended Nolasco’s evening, despite him allowing just two hits and the two, eighth inning walks.

“It looked like he lost his release point,” Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia said.

Reliever Mike Morin followed Nolasco, and seven pitches later the A’s had the lead. Healy knocked in Alonso, and Joey Wendle, just one day removed from his first major league RBI and hitting just .214, delivered a two-run single through a drawn-in infield to put the A’s up 3-2.

Alcantara, briefly a major leaguer with the Cubs in 2015, and toiling with Single-A Stockton over the weekend, was promoted before the game and scored the winning run. Alcantara’s promotion was his fourth this season, giving him a keen appreciation of Northern California highways, and Wendle was participating in just his fifth major league game.

“For a guy that just got called up, that really makes him settle in,” manager Bob Melvin said of Wendle, though he probably he could have been speaking of Alcantara as well. “We liked him in the spring. Now he’s getting an opportunity.”

The A’s won for just the 12th time in their last 36 games, but they’ve played cardiac kids in winning on Sunday against the Red Sox, and again on Tuesday. On one level, it’s frustration for the guys that have spent the entirety of their season in Oakland. For the younger group, it’s fun mixed with frustration.

In the case of Wendle, he got his scouting report on the fly from hitting coach Darren Bush. Consider it the athletic equivalent of Donald Trump’s handlers prepping him mere seconds before a big campaign speech.

“He told me that he’s got a changeup, then he’s got a slower changeup,” Wendle said of Bush’s scouting report on Morin.

The A’s close their series with the Angels on Wednesday afternoon, as Jharel Cotton makes his big league debut in a matchup with the Angels’ Alex Meyer at 12:35pm.

 

 

 

 

San Francisco Giants Tuesday game wrap: Tomlinson’s hit wins it

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giants Kelby Tomlinson drove in Buster Posey for the gamer and is congratulated at first base by coach Bill Hayes at Coors Field on Tuesday night

Kelby Tomlinson came up with his biggest hit of the season when the San Francisco Giants needed it the most.

Tomlinson singled in the top of the ninth inning to score Buster Posey from third base, helping the Giants defeat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 at Coors Field.

Posey led off the ninth inning by reaching on a throwing error by former Saint Francis (Mountain View) High School standout Daniel Descalso who overthrew Gerardo Parra at first base, allowing Posey move to second base. Hunter Pence then beat out a infield single that allowed Posey move to third.

Boone Logan replaced Adam Ottovino, and was able to strikeout Brandon Crawford for the first out of the inning. Tomlinson then singled on an 0-2 pitch from Logan that easily scored Posey from third base.

Not only was this a big win for the Giants, but they found their bats as well, as they finished with eight hits, stopping a streak of five games where they were held to four hits or fewer. In the first six games of this road trip, the Giants are hitting just .124.

Eduardo Nunez drove in two runs, as he hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning and then drove in the tying run on a groundout in the top of the eighth inning.

Javier Lopez retired the final batter of the eighth inning to pickup his first win of the season. While Santiago Casilla closed it out in the ninth inning, as he was able to get Parra to ground into a game-ending double play to notch his 31st save.

Jeff Samardzija pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, while scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out nine.

Rookie Tyler Anderson pitched admirably for the Rockies, as he went 7.1 innings, allowing two runs and six hits.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Mengden won’t buy a house in Oakland he always has his bags packed

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AP photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden deals to the Boston Red Sox in Sep 3rd game in the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O the A’s are depending on some of their call up particularly third string catcher Matt McBride as the A’s are starting Stephen Vogt and second stringer behind him Bruce Maxwell. The A’s have an extra guy behind the plate he caught in two of the games in Boston and A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden the right hander is back he pitched against Boston lost and unfortunately lost badly.

Mengden pitched two thirds inning and was lit up giving up eight hits on seven runs all earned, gave up a home run, walked two, struck out two, it was kind of a rude welcoming back from Nashville for Mengden. You look at Mengden and you say wow how can that happen? You got to remember this kid started out in the month of April he was in double A ball in Midland. So Mengden has gone from double A to triple A, to the show back to the triple A, and now back to the majors.

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Alcantara has an A’s debut for the ages–and one to forget

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By Morris Phillips

Nerves were written all over the first major league appearance for Raul Alcantara.

Alcantara, the sixth pitcher to make his first big league start for the A’s this season, walked a batter, hit three more, and was charged with a balk, belying the excellent stats he compiled in his brief stint with AAA Nashville.  Plenty frustrating, and aided by some questionable calls by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza, Alcantara’s afternoon started with some pretty good pitches.  Then things deteriorated quickly.

With one out, and an  0-2 count against Mike Trout, Alcantara plunked the slugger, allowing his first baserunner.  Albert Pujols, doing his professional hitter thing, calmly deliver a single to center.  Again on a 0-2 count, C.J. Cron singled to load the bases.  Alcantara then plunked Jefry Marte, walked Andrelton Simmons and allowed a run-scoring, sacrifice fly to Nick Buss putting the Angels up 3-0.

In the second, Alcantara allowed a homer to Kole Calhoun.  In the third, Simmons doubled, then moved to third on Carapazza’s questionable balk call, and scored on Buss’ second run-scoring sacrifice fly.

Needless to say, very few pitchers have experienced a big league debut like Alcantara.  In fact, he became just the second A’s pitcher–and the first in 86 seasons–to hit three batters and commit a balk.  Still, the guy who compiled a 1.18 ERA in Nashville, striking out 24, and walking just three over eight starts bears watching according to manager Bob Melvin.

“Toward the end of his outing we saw the stuff that we think we’re going to see, and he got better as he went along,” Melvin said.  “Sometimes nerves hit you in your first outing, especially when a couple of things transpire.”

Through an interpreter, Alcantara denied nerves, saying “I was trying to make perfect pitches.”

Down 5-2 when Alcantara departed, the A’s would fall behind 8-2 in the fifth before rallying.  With three runs in the fourth, a single run in the fifth, and another impressive opposite field blast from Khris Davis in the seventh, the A’s made a game of it, crawling within 8-7.

But with the game on the line, a pair of sloppy errors allowed the Angels to add on in the ninth and win 10-7.  Having won just 11 times in their last 35 ballgames, it was more of the same for the A’s, but a few interesting happenings outside of Alcantara’s debut took this one outside the mundane.

Angels’ starter Jered Weaver was hit by a ball off the bat of Danny Valencia in the third, taking a shot to his hip and buttocks that he said wasn’t serious, but caused some numbness.  But just one day after the entire Angels’ organization was frightened by starter Matt Shoemaker being hit in the head by a batted ball in Seattle, it was definitely alarming.

Shoemaker remains in Seattle where he was operated on overnight after suffering a small skull fracture.  He was speaking after the surgery, and seems on track to return to Souther California at the end of the week.  Out of caution, as much as ineffectiveness, Weaver lasted just four innings on Monday.

Despite the abbreviated start, Weaver became the third pitcher to compile 2,000 innings pitched in an Angels uniform, joining Nolan Ryan and Chuck Finley.

Sean Doolittle pitched the seventh inning, his first appearance for the A’s since June 25 after battling shoulder issues.  Joey Wendle, the A’s starter at second base, picked up his first RBI in the big leagues in the fourth.

Sonny Gray, Chris Bassitt and Felix Doubront–three fifths of the A’s rotation at the beginning of the season made appearances before the game, all doing soft tossing in the field in the hopes they can at some point resume throwing off the mound.  None of three are expected to pitch again this season.

The A’s will face Angels’ starter Ricky Nolasco in the series second game on Tuesday evening.  Ross Detwiler was scratched from the start when he was ushered into Monday’s game in relief of Alcantara in the fourth.  Zach Neal will instead make the start for the A’s on Tuesday.

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s can’t escape this loss 10-7 to Halos to open series at Coliseum

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AP photo: Oakland A’s Danny Valencia gets congratulated in the dugout by his teammates after hitting a two run homer in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday

On the A’s podcast with Jerry unlike the A’s victory on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox after nearly getting no hit after eight innings by Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez as the A’s Khris Davis hit a doubled that scored Danny Valencia in for the game winner. Then came Monday’s labor day matinee the A’s couldn’t get past the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in a 10-7 loss. The win by the A’s on Sunday shows you how whacky baseball is. Here’s a team that for the first eight innings couldn’t buy a hit and they get one hit in the eighth inning and the gamer in the ninth inning.

Valencia walked and Davis connects for the double and the Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt made an error on the play and the A’s scored the winning run on just two hits 1-0. On the positive side and it was the only bright note in the whole week because the A’s got swept in Houston in three games then they came home and they were pounded by the Red Sox in the first two games of the series in double digits. So winning Sunday after nearly getting no hit was at least one positive on this current homestand.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com join Charlie O for the A’s podcast on Tuesday at the same address

 

 

 

 

 

Oakland A’s Sunday Game Wrap:A’s shutout Red Sox 1-0 in walk-off win

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MLB: Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics left fielder Khris Davis Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Just when it looked like a no-hitter was going to be pitched against the Oakland Athletics by Eduardo Rodriguez on Sunday, a 19-second video review overturned a call at first that would have been the third out in the bottom of the eighth inning and the bid for a no-hitter was over. Frankly, what happened next was unexpected.

The Red Sox brought in closer Craig Kimbrel to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning of the scoreless game. Danny Valencia led off the inning with a base on balls. With the potential winning run at first, the power-hitting Khris Davis came to the plate and hit a double to left field. Boston left fielder Brock Holt had trouble fielding the ball and Valencia was able to come home for the winning run. Davis was credited with a double and Holt was charged with an error so the run was unearned.

The Athletics defeated the Red Sox 1-0 in the final game of the three-game series. For the A’s, they score one run on just two hits while leaving six men on base. Oakland committed one error. Boston scored no runs off six hits and left nine men on base. The Red Sox committed two errors in the game.

On the Bump

It was a day that was all about pitching. The A’s had given up 27 runs in the first two games versus the Red Sox. Oakland needed a shutdown performance to give them a chance to salvage a win in the final game of the series.

A’s starter Kendall Graveman (10-9, 3.81) gave his team that chance on Sunday. He worked 6.1 scoreless innings for his team. Graveman struck out seven and walked just two. He threw 112 pitches (71 strikes).

A’s manager Bob Melvin said after the game that the key to the win was Graveman’s ability to work his way out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the fourth inning.

For all of his hard efforts, Graveman earns a no decision for the day.

Ryan Dull came on to relieve Graveman in the seventh inning with runners at first and second. Dull closed out the seventh and faced just four batters in the eighth inning to keep the shutout intact.

Closer Ryan Madson was brought in for the top of the ninth inning. He put the side down in order to keep Boston without a run on the board. Madson was the pitcher of record when Valencia scored the winning run so he picks up the win. Madson is now 5-4 on the season.

Graveman, Dull and Madson combined to shutout a very powerful Boston Red Sox team.

For most of the game, it appeared that Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 4.83) would be the story of the contest by pitching a no-hitter. The Red Sox left-hander was in command on the mound right from the beginning of the game. He struck out five and walked just two batters. Rodriguez had three 1-2-3 innings.

Rodriguez was cruising to another three-up, three-down inning when the unthinkable happened. With two out and Marcus Semien at the plate, the A’s shortstop hit a ball right back to the mound at the feet of the pitcher. Rodriguez could not find the ball. When Rodriguez finally found the ball, he fired it to first and Semien was called out. Almost immediately, the A’s were calling for a review and the umpires initiated a review because it was after the seventh inning.

It only took 19-seconds for video control in New York to overturn the call and Semien was called safe. That was all for the no hit bid. Rodriguez got Jake Smolinski to ground out to end the eighth inning.

Rodriguez pitched 8.0-innings giving up no runs on one hit. He struck out five and walked two. He threw 110 pitches (72 strikes). Rodriguez is now 0-2 with a 2.83 ERA in his last five starts.

Craig Kimbrel takes the loss for the Sox. He gave up one run on one hit. He walked one hitter. Kimbrel’s record falls to 2-4 for the year.

In the Batter’s Box

The Khris Davis double was the highlight for the Athletics on Sunday. Davis went 1-for-4 in the game including two strike outs but kept his concentration and aggressiveness when his team needed it the most. For Davis, it was his 20th double of the year and his 85th RBI.

It was Big Papi’s last appearance at the Coliseum on Sunday and things did not go the way he would have liked them go. Ortiz went 0-for-2 on the day with two walks.

Rookie Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 for his second consecutive multi-hit game.

In the Field

The Red Sox $60-million man – Rookie Yoan Moncada – committed his first big league error on Sunday. In the bottom of the second inning, Moncada attempted to field a ground ball hit to third by Ryon Healy. Moncada did not get in front of the ball and wound up waving at the ball with his glove as it bounced by him into left field. Even top prospects are humbled by the baseball.

Danny Valencia was charged with an error in the fourth inning when his throw to Marcus Semien drew the shortstop off the bag and allowed the runner to be called safe in what should have been a force out. The runner was originally called out and the Red Sox had to challenge the call. It took 1-minute 19-seconds for the original call to be overturned and for the error to be charged to Valencia.

Up Next – Here come the rookies

The A’s will host the LA Angels for a three-game series that will get underway on Monday afternoon at 1:05 PM. That game will feature the debut of RHP Raul Alcantara for the Athletics. Alcantara began the season at Double-A Midland and was then promoted to Triple-A Nashville. Alcantara made eight starts at Nashville and posted a 4-0 record with a 1.18 ERA.

LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 4.66) will start for Oakland on Tuesday night. The Angels have not named a starter.

The Wednesday afternoon game will feature another Major League debut as RHP Jharel Cotton will take the mound for the A’s. Cotton came to the A’s from the Dodgers as a part of the Josh Reddick/Rich Hill trade. Cotton made six starts for the Sounds and recorded a 3-1 record with a 2.82 ERA. One of those wins was a one-hitter that came very close to being a no-hitter. That performance won Cotton the PCL Player of the Week.

Alcantara and Cotton will be the 11th and 12th rookie pitchers to appear for the A’s this season. They will be the 26th and 27th pitchers used by Oakland in 2016.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Could Canseco’s use of steroids be affecting his brain

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
thecomeback.com photo: Jose Canseco bobblehead  as given out on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Canseco was asking why the body wasn’t beefed up looking?
OAKLAND–On Saturday Jose Canseco threw out the ceremonial first pitch during Jose Canseco’s Bobblehead Night at the Oakland Coliseum prior to the second game of a three-game series against the contending Boston Red Sox. Jose was scheduled to visit the Athletics Spanish Radio Network booth,after visiting A’s television and radio, but he never did, saying that “his Spanish is not that good”. Which is very interesting, since I used to talk to him at length and interviewed him many times when he was playing from the very first time he got to Oakland in the mid-1980’s. I still have audio-cassettes, remember those? With some of my radio interviews with him. I even interviewed him for Telemundo Television in the past.
I wonder if steroid use could affect your ability to remember a language that you once spoke. He was born in Cuba, and always spoke Spanish, when he left and when he got to the United States very early in his childhood. I remember speaking with Jose Canseco Sr, and he told me he used to speak to Jose in Spanish all the time.
However, long-term steroid abuse anabolic steroids and human growth hormones, can act on some of the same brain pathways and chemicals—including dopamine, serotonin, and opioid systems—that are affected by other drugs. This may result in a significant effect on mood and behavior and certain inconsistent patterns.
Who knows, really how the use of steroids affects people, probably some have more effects than others, some have even died very young of heart issues. Canseco was always a strange person, when he played for the A’s sometimes I would approach him during batting practice hours before a game and he would asked me about a previous home run he hit the day or night before. I remember one time he told me that Sportscenter reported his home run was 425 feet,when it actually was 450 feet. I remember I told him “who cares, it went over the fence and they all count as home runs, they do not give you anything extra for the total distance that the ball traveled. Those were they days when colleagues on national television used to say stuff like “chicks dig the long-ball”. So he was actually so obsessed by how far his home run went, that he actually forgot to work on his skills on defense. That is why one time a ball (while playing right field) hit him on top of his head and bounced and went over the fence for a home run. I don’t remember him asking how far that ball went. And never dared to ask him, since all hits to the head can be very dangerous.
Canseco is currently playing in the north bay, in Pittsburg in an amateur baseball league and probably is trying to get back as a coach in Major League Baseball, or some-kind of organized professional league where he would actually receive a steady check.
I hope Jose’s brain is still functioning well enough to speak Spanish, he is in his early 50’s, and Spanish is a very important language in California, much more important now than when he began playing with the Athletics. The A’s should also have a Bobblehead Day for Mark McGwire and bring him to the Oakland Coliseum. Big Mac and Big Jose do not get along, but who cares? If we are going to forget about all the players that took steroids, we must be consistent. The period when Canseco and McGwire played, those were the good times when the A’s were winning pennants and playing in three consecutive World Series. Those were really the “glory days”, aside from the early 70’s when the team won three consecutive World Series. But the 70’s seem so far away that nobody really remembers.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Angels Spanish TV talent and the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
 

Red Sox relentless again versus the A’s, win 11-2, their fifth consecutive double-digit win against Oakland

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By Morris Phillips

A’s manager Bob Melvin used the word relentless to describe the Boston Red Sox, but this time it isn’t a weathered sports cliché.  When it comes to facing the A’s, the Red Sox really are relentless.

The A’s fell for the fifth consecutive time to the sock ’em Sox on Saturday night, and actually achieved a season-best in terms of runs allowed, losing just 11-2.  In the first four meeting with Boston, the A’s allowed 56 runs, and at least 13 in each game.

“Teams that take a lot of pitches and make you throw a lot of pitches, it’s like a boxer.  Just body blows and body blows and then they give you a good one,” Melvin said.

Before the A’s could manage their first hit–that didn’t come until the sixth inning against Red Sox’ starter Rick Porcello–Boston put up nine runs.  The body blows Melvin described came in the third when the Red Sox scored seven runs, all seven with two outs.

A’s starter Daniel Mengden, recalled from AAA Nashville to make the start, didn’t survive that third inning.  So far in his career, Mengden’s no fan of pitching in the Coliseum, he fell to 0-5 in home starts, tying an undesirable team record by losing his first five career decisions at the Coliseum joining Dallas Braden and Steve Ontiveros on that list.

The Red Sox pounded out 17 hits, with Mengden allowing eight of those, highlighting the issues the A’s ragged bullpen have had with Boston this season.  One night after the bullpen threw 187 pitches, three A’s relievers actually kept things respectable, led by Chris Smith, who got the team through four innings himself, allowing just one run.

Porcello retired the first 15 hitters he faced, with some impressive defense behind him, and picked up the win, his major league-leading 19th.  Porcello’s enjoyed success against everyone he faced this season, not just the A’s, as he became the first Red Sox pitcher in their long history to win 19 times in 22 decisions.

The Red Sox third straight win allowed them to gain a tie atop the AL East with the Blue Jays, with both teams two games ahead of the Orioles.  All three teams would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today, but instead will jockey head-to-head with at least six meetings between each of the teams still remaining in the last month of the season.

The A’s fell 21 games under .500 with the loss, their fifth straight, further illustrating two clubs heading in opposite directions.  The A’s managed five hits after Porcello blanked them over the first five innings, but they rank last in the AL in runs scored after the abbreviated offensive effort.

CANSECO RETURNS: Jose Canseco made his rounds at the Coliseum on the night the team honored the slugger with a bobblehead giveaway.  When asked if MLB has toughened its stance against performance-enhancing drugs, he lauded the league for its efforts, saying the risk/reward no longer makes it prudent to experiment with PED’s given the stringent penalties in place.