Category: Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s beating some playoff teams could be a spoiler in September

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ibabuzz.com: Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin gets the club ready for the Houston series which started Monday night at Minute Maid Field

On the podcast with Jerry, the A’s won their second series in the row over the St Louis Cardinals taking two out of three from the Cards over the weekend. The A’s previously won over Cleveland and St Louis both sets had one at home and on the road which was remarkable and the A’s opened a series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field on Monday night.

The A’s win over Cleveland was over a team that is in first place in the AL Central that series was played at the Oakland Coliseum. They also took a series from the Cards who are in second place who are behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cards are right in the thick of  things and in the Wild Card right behind the San Francisco Giants.

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

 

 

 

 

Oakland A’s Sunday Game Wrap: A’s beat Cards 7-4 to win series 2-1 on the road

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

 

8-28-16by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics bats came alive on Sunday as they hit two home runs and three doubles to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4. The victory also gave the A’s the series win 2 games to one. To win a series from a potential playoff team on the road has to be very satisfying to an Oakland team that has struggled so much in the month of August.

The A’s offense was facing  left-hander Jamie Garcia who was seeking his 11th win of the season. The A’s served notice in the top of the first that they were not going to go down easy when Khris Davis hit a two-run home run (34) to right center field to give Oakland an early 2-0 lead.

The A’s never trailed in game as they scored seven runs on nine hits while leaving four runners on base. The A’s played error free baseball. The Cards scored four runs on eight hits and left three runners on base. St. Louis committed two errors in the contest.

The A’s are now 57-73 for the season and the Cardinals fall to 68-61 for the year.

In the Batter’s Box

Khris Davis continues to lead the way for the A’s by using his power to put runs up on the board. Davis hit his two-run home run with a 3-2 count, two out and Danny Valencia on at first. For Davis it was his 34th home run of the season and his 84th and 85th RBIs of the campaign.

Ryon Healy extended his major league leading hitting streak to 14 games as he went 2-for-3 on Sunday. Both of Healy’s hits were doubles off Garcia. He did score a run when he was driven home on Vogt’s home run in the third inning.

Speaking of Stephen Vogt, he had a 1-for-3 day by hitting his 11th home run of the year – a three-run shot and had a total of four RBIs in the game. Vogt has 40 RBIs for the season.

Danny Valencia was a real contributor on Sunday as he went 3-for-4 with the bat. He hit his 18th double, scored two runs and added an RBI. Valencia did all of that in seven innings as he was lifted in a double switch (inter-league game in a National League park).

Matt Carpenter was the man with bat for the Cardinals on Sunday. He had a 3-for-4 game that included a home run (17), two doubles (29), 3 runs scored and a RBI (58). Carpenter did all of that from the leadoff spot in the order.

On the Bump

Right-hander Andrew Triggs made his fifth start of the year for the A’s on Sunday and picked up his first win as a starter. He worked 6.0 innings giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits (one hit was the HR to Carpenter). Triggs struck out eight Cardinal batters and walked none. He threw 88 pitches (58 strikes) while facing 22 batters. Triggs should be very happy with his performance and the run support from his teammates.

Ryan Dull came on to relieve Triggs in the seventh inning. Dull gave up one run on two hits in his time on the hill. After allowing a single to Greg Garcia, Alberto Rosario hit a double to right field off Triggs. Eibner fielded the ball, threw it to Pinder -the cutoff man. Pinder decided to throw home. It was too late to put out Garcia who scored but catcher Stephen Vogt realized Rosario was heading for third. Vogt fired the ball to Healy who put the tag down and Rosario was the third out of the inning. For our Sabrmetrics readers, the play went 9-4-2-5. You will not see that scoring breakdown very often during the season.

Liam Hendriks worked an inning for the second game in a row. He allowed no runs on no hits while striking out one batter. It was his sixth hold of the year.

Ryan Madson came on in the bottom of the ninth because it was a save situation. The A’s closer did give up two hits in the inning but Madson kept things under control to close out the game and pick up his 27th save of the season.

Up Next

The A’s left St. Louis and traveled to Houston where they will begin a three-game series with the Astros on Monday night.

LHP Sean Manaea (5-8, 4.53) will be the starter for Oakland. Manaea’s last outing was a 7.0 inning performance versus the Cleveland Indians where he allowed just one run on three hits and struck out eight batters. He picked up his fifth win of the season in that game.

The Astros will counter with RHP Joe Musgrove (1-2, 5.20). Musgrove was called up from Triple-A Fresno on August 2nd. This will be his fifth start for Houston since being promoted. Musgrove has lost his last two starts. In his last start on Tuesday against Pittsburg, Musgrove lasted just 4.0 innings giving up five runs on eight hits. He was charged with the loss.

The A’s and Astros play a night game on Tuesday and wrap up the series with a day game on Wednesday.

The Cardinals left for Milwaukee where they will play a three-game set with the Brewers.

Oakland A’s Saturday Game Wrap: A’s win a close one in St. Louis 3-2

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Cards

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics ended up on the right side of a one-run game on Saturday night when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2. For a team that has been on the wrong end of so many close games this season, to win a one-run game on the road against a team that may well wind up in the playoffs has to be a confidence builder.

The game was decided in the top of the eighth inning. With Oakland (56-73) trailing 2-1 and one out, the A’s Khris Davis lined a single to center. Rookie Ryan Healy extended his major league leading hitting streak to 13 games when he hit a double to left field that moved Davis up to third.

The Cardinals (68-60) made a pitching change after Healy’s double sending reliever Matt Bowman to the showers and bringing in Seung Hwan Oh to pitch. Max Muncy hit a grounder to first baseman Brandon Moss who decided to throw home to try and throw out Davis who was attempting to score from third. Davis scored and Muncy was safe on a fielder’s choice while Healy moved up to third. It was one of those “hero or goat” decisions that did not go the way Moss wanted it to go.

Brett Eibner was the next A’s batter and he hit a fly ball to shallow center field. When the ball was caught, Healy was on the third base bag and he took off for home. The throw home bounced away from catcher Yadier Molina and Healy scored what would turn out to be the winning run of the game.

The series is tied at 1-1 with the rubber game of the match to be played on Sunday.

On the Bump

RHP Zach Neal made his fourth start of the year for the A’s on Saturday. He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out six hitters and walked none. He did give up a home run Randal Grichuk. Neal threw 91 pitches (61 strikes) while facing 24 Cardinal batters. Despite his strong outing, Neal did figure into the decision.

LHP reliever Daniel Coulombe took over for Oakland in the bottom of the seventh inning. Coulombe worked 1.1 innings allowing no runs, no hits and no walks to go with three strike outs. He was the pitcher of record when the A’s took the lead in the top of the eighth inning so Coulombe picked up his second win of season.

The A’s changed pitchers with one out in the top of the eighth inning and RHP Liam Hendriks entered the game. Hendriks faced two batters and struck both out to end the inning.

The bottom of the ninth was closer time. RHP Ryan Madson set the side down in order allowing no hits and no walks while striking out one. He recorded his 26th save of the year.

The big story of the game for St. Louis was the start by RHP Alex Reyes. Mike Leake was scheduled to pitch but has be diagnosed with shingles and may be on the sidelines for sometime.

Reyes – who had to deal with a 50-game suspension earlier this year – made his first start for the Cards. He pitched 4.2 innings giving up just one run (earned) on two hits while striking out four and walking four. Reyes was pulled in the top of the fifth inning primarily due to pitch count. He had thrown 89 pitches (51 strikes) and with two men on base St. Louis manager Mike Matheny decided it was time for a pitching change. Reyes did not figure into the final decision.

Right-hand reliever Matt Bowman (2-5) who was on the mound when Davis scored and was responsible for Healy because he gave up the hit to the A’s third baseman took the loss.

RHP Seung Hwan Oh who gave up the sacrifice fly to Eibner was charged with his third blown save of the season.

In the Batter’s Box

The A’s scored their three runs on just four hits. They also took advantage of the four walks that were issued to them.

The spotlight has to be on Ryon Healy extending his hitting streak to 13 games. His batting average now stands at .281 with 39 hits including eight doubles and six home runs in 139 at bats. Remember this is from a young man who played his first 36 games of the season at Double-A Midland in the Texas League.

Khris Davis had a timely hit in the top of the eighth inning and scored the tying run for the A’s. He picked up his 83rd RBI of the year when he walked in the top of the fifth inning and forced catcher Bruce Maxwell home to score the A’s first run of the game.

The A’s do not win the game if Brett Eibner does not do his job and put wood on the ball that would become the sacrifice fly – RBI in the eighth inning that would win the game for Oakland.

Cardinals leadoff man Greg Garcia did his best going 2-for-4 and scoring a run on Saturday night. Garcia hit his eighth double of year off Zach Neal.

Center fielder Randal Grichuk also had a big game for St. Louis. Grichuck hit his 18th home run of the season in the second inning off Neal. He went 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored and a RBI (47).

Up Next

The A’s and Cardinals close out the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11:15 AM PDT. RHP Andrew Triggs (0-1, 4.38) will start for the A’s and will face the Cardinals LHP Jamie Garcia (10-9, 4.37) who is looking his 11th win of the season.

Oakland A’s Friday game wrap: Cardinals Top A’s 3-1 In Rookie’s First Win

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: Yonder Alonso center is congratulated by Danny Valencia left after hitting a solo homer in the second inning at Busch Stadium against the St Louis Cards the run accounted for the A’s only score on Friday night

The Oakland Athletics fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Friday night at Busch Stadium, falling on the short end of a pitchers’ duel. Rookie Luke Weaver held the A’s to one run on four hits for his first professional win while Ross Detwiler allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings of work. Yonder Alonso hit a solo homerun for the A’s.

Detwiler (1-3, 5.74 ERA) opened the game with a single to leadoff man Matt Carpenter before yielding a two-run homer to Jedd Gyorko with no outs. He’d also allow a sacrifice fly to Jhonny Peralta in the bottom of the sixth, but the homer would be all the Cards (68-59) would need to back their rookie starter.

Weaver (1-1, 3.60) pitched six innings, punching out seven A’s while only walking two. He yielded only four hits, one of which being Alonso’s seventh homer of the year in the top of the second. He was otherwise sterling in his first victory at the major league level. The Cardinals bullpen pitched three scoreless frames of relief capped by Seung Hwan Oh picking up his 13th save of the year.

The A’s (55-73) turn to Zach Neal in Saturday’s contest looking to get a strong start out of the longman turned starter. Neal has allowed nine runs over his last two starts. Alex Reyes will take the hill for the Cardinals who look to hold on to the final National League Wild Card slot.

A’s trade lefty reliever Rzepczynski to Nationals for 2B prospect Max Schrock

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Photo: MiLB.com

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics made a trade today with the Washington Nationals that makes it abundantly clear they are in a youth movement as the end of the season approaches.

The A’s sent left-handed relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski and cash to the Nationals for minor league infielder Max Schrock.

Rzepczynski was acquired over the winter from the San Diego Padres as part of the Drew Pomeranz trade. He was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 56 relief appearances for Oakland this season. Rzepczynski will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Rzepczynski broke into the major leagues in 2009 with Toronto. He has also pitched for St. Louis, Cleveland and San Diego.

The A’s received second baseman Max Schrock from the Nationals. Schrock was selected by Washington in the 13th round of the 2015 draft out of the University of South Carolina.

The 21-year old Schrock is 5-foot-8, 180 pounds. He bats left and throws right. Schrock is known as being a pure hitter. He is not a power hitter but he makes the most of every opportunity he has with the bat. Schrock is a good fielder and average runner.

Schrock was promoted from Class-A to High Class-A Potomac of the Carolina League at mid-season. In 54 games with Potomac, he hit .341 with a .373 on base percentage. Schrock collected 79 hits in 232 at bats including 11 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI. Schrock also was trying to make a name for himself as a base-stealer at Potomac by going 7-for-9 in the stolen base category.

Schrock can be considered to be on the fast track of player development as he has gone from short-season A ball to High Class-A in less than a season. Scouts are projecting that Schrock could be ready for major league service as early as the 2018 season.

The A’s have their number 14 prospect – 2B Joey Wendle – at Nashville and Franklin Barreto – Oakland’s number one ranked minor leaguer – is playing second base for Double-A Midland. So, where does Schrock wind up playing? For now, he will probably wind up in a Stockton Ports uniform for the rest of the season unless there are some major late season roster moves in the farm system.

With Pinder, Wendle, and Barreto all at second base, how does Schrock fit into the A’s players development plans? Simply put – he can hit. In baseball if you can hit, a team will find a position for you to play. In the case of Schrock, do not be surprised to see him being worked out at a corner outfield spot – especially in left field where arm strength is not as crucial.

For now, the A’s minor league spotlight is on Max Schrock.

The A’s send Marc Rzepczynski to the Nats

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland-The A’s traded lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski to the Washington National Thursday. The A’s will receive a prospect, Max Schrock, in return. Schrock is 21 years old. Rzepcyzinski had an ERA of 3.00 in 56 appearances. The 30-year old lefty had a ground ball percentage of 70.5% which was second-best in the Majors this year.

Oakland A’s Thursday day off report: The A’s meet the St.Louis Cardinals this weekend in St.Louis

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by Jerry Feitelberg

pinterest.com file photo: St Louis Cardinal manager Mike Matheny prepares his Red Birds for the Oakland A’s who come to Busch Stadium on Friday night

ST LOUIS–The Oakland A’s resume interleague play Friday evening as they meet the ever dangerous St.Louis Cardinals. The Cards, managed by Mike Matheny, are currently in second place in the NL Central Division. They trail the Chicago Cubs by thirteen and one-half games and with a record of 67-58. they find themselves just 1/2 game behind the San Francisco Giants in the race for the first Wild Card spot. They lead the Miami Marlin by one and one-half games for the second Wild Card.

The Cardinals, who always seem to be contenders for a playoff berth, have been hit hard by the injury bug. They have placed twelve players on the DL since July 1st. The list includes relievers, Trevor Rosenthal and Jordan Walden. Starting pitcher Michael Wacha is also on the list.  Aledmys Diaz, Matt Adams, and Matt Holliday are position players out with injury and not available. However, the Cards still have players that can make life miserable for the A’s this weekend. Matt Carpenter has been a solid performer for St. Louis for several years. He is hitting .284 and has an OBP of .400. His OPS is a  cool .933 . Other regulars are former Stanford product, outfielder Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk, former Athletic, Brandon Moss, Yadier Molina, Jhonny Peralta and Gregg Garcia.

The pitching matchups this weekend will feature A’s lefty Ross Detwiler (1-2) vs. Luke Weaver (0-1). On Saturday, Zach Neal (2-3) will pitch for Oakland and the A’s will face Mike Leake(9-9). On Sunday, Andrew Triggs (0-1) will pitch and lefty Jaime Garcia (10-9) will pitch for St. Louis. Triggs, by the way, pitched very well last week against the Cleveland Indians and lost a heartbreaker 1-0.

It should be an interesting series this weekend. The Cardinals do not have a good home record. they are 29-34 and it appears that Busch Stadium hasn’t been to their advantage this year. The A’s would love to play spoilers. The A’s manager Bob Melvin will be using his young players. Ryon Healy, Jake Smolinski, Chad Pinder will all see significant playing time this weekend. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are playing for a playoff berth and can not afford to take the A’s lightly. The A’s took two out of three from the Indians and would love to do the same in St.Louis. Let the fun begin.

 

 

Oakland A’s Wednesday post game wrap: The A’s win again, take the series from the Indians

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Kendall Graveman Oakland A’s starter pitches to visiting Cleveland in the first inning Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND–The A’s beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s, behind another strong performance by Kendall Graveman, took the three-game series, two games to one. The A’s,  for the third game in a row, did not allow the Indians more than one run in the contest. Andrew Triggs, although he lost the game, Sean Manaea and now, Kendall Graveman are showing signs that the A’s are building a solid rotation for the future.

Graveman has become the ace of the staff. He has won nine of his last eleven starts, and his record is now 10-8. Also, his ERA is now 3.97 and is the lowest since April 25th. Graveman went six and 2/3rds innings and allowed just one run and six hits. Marc Rzepczynski, Ryan Dull, and Ryan Madson closed out the game for the A’s. Trevor Bauer took the loss for the Indians.

The A’s scored all their run second inning. Khris Davis started the rally with a triple. Ryon Healy, who extended his hitting streak to eleven games, singled to drive him in with the A’s first runs. Max Muncy and Chad Pinder also had RBIs in the frame to give the A’s a 3-0 lead. The Green and Gold plated two more runs when Indians first baseman Carlos Santana overran a Danny Valencia popup that allowed two more runs to score. Santana was charged with an error, and those runs were unearned.

The Indians scored their only run in the top of the seventh when the Indians’ catcher, Roberto Perez, homered to right field. The umpires reviewed the play and the call was upheld.

Game Notes- The Indians’ starter, Trevor Bauer, gave up all five runs, three of which were earned and nine hits. Bauer saw his record drop to 9-6.

The A’s have an off-day Thursday as they travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals over the weekend.  Ross Detwiler (1-2) will pitch Friday night.

 

 

Oakland A’s Tuesday game wrap: Youthful A’s experience good times in rare laugher over the first-place Indians

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Baseball’s supposed to me fun, and it was just that for the A’s on Tuesday, in need of some enjoyable moments in the midst of 17 losses in 23 games.

After beating the AL Central-leading Indians 9-1, even business-like manager Bob Melvin loosened up, recounting some of the memorable moments of a rare laugher for his club.

“Guys getting their first RBIs, playing full games, not subbing guys out, not hitting for guys,” Melvin said. “You think back and remember what your first RBI and so forth was like so it adds a little bit more to it.”

The A’s makeshift lineup featured guys better known in Midland, Texas than in Oakland, but they made themselves at home one hit a time. Eight Athletics had at least one hit, and Chad Pinder and Bruce Maxwell picked up their first big league RBI, as the A’s piled up 13 hits, quite a departure for a team that’s been mostly quiet at the Coliseum, hitting .239 as a team at home.

While Pinder and Maxwell recorded career firsts, Jake Smolinski landed full out in right center with the ball in his club, which in turn landed him on SportsCenter with one of the evening’s top plays. Danny Valencia had spent the week embroiled in his controversial fight with teammate Billy Butler, but on Tuesday he was flashing the leather as well, playing Mike Napoli’s one hopper of the wall cleanly, then throwing out the Cleveland catcher at second base with his one-hop throw.

So good were the A’s, the outcome was never threatened after Indians’ starter Danny Salazar saw himself saddled with a three-run deficit after facing just four batters. The fourth batter, Khris Davis hit his 33rd home run with two runners aboard. But the A’s didn’t take their foot of the gas, scoring two runs in the third, one in the fifth, and three more in the eighth.

Sean Manaea was the beneficiary of all the offense, winning for the fifth time in his 13 starts at home. Manaea lasted seven innings, allowing three hits and a run, about a nice of a line a young pitcher can achieve against a powerful lineup that’s been limited to two runs in two nights by Oakland pitching.

Salazar had never gotten much fuss from the A’s, winning each of his 2015 starts easily. But 2016 in general has been more challenging for Salazar, trying to regain his form after ending a lengthy stint on the disabled list on August 18. He came in with wins in 11 of his 15 decisions, but left after failing to retire a hitter in the fifth, and the A’s ahead comfortably 6-0.

“I thought he was up with too many fastballs and because of that it didn’t really seem like they had to respect his off-speed pitches. The hope is that he gets some repetition including side days and stuff and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.

The A’s have their initial win against Cleveland after dropping the first four meetings this season. They’ll look to capture the series on Wednesday afternoon in the finale when Kendall Graveman faces the Indians’ Trevor Bauer.

 

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: The true cause of the Valencia-Butler brawl and what happened in the clubhouse

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AP file photo: Oakland A’s DH Billy Butler in Mon Aug 16th photo against the Texas Rangers in Arlington is currently on the seven day DL for concussion like symptoms the question is how long will he be an Oakland A after the recent mishap with teammate Danny Valencia?

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O, It was last Friday night at US Cellular Field in Chicago before the A’s were to open a three game series with the Chicago White Sox. The A’s Danny Valencia was taking warm ups and had just arrived in the A’s clubhouse and was met by a shoe representative. A’s designated hitter Billy Butler was also in the clubhouse at the time Butler didn’t need to workout like Valencia does and basically Butler is a professional hitter that’s all he does.

Butler told the representative that Valencia doesn’t wear the shoes that he claims he wears after Valencia told the rep he wears the shoes in pre game workouts. Butler interjected to drop Valencia from the endorsement deal since Valencia doesn’t wear the shoes and uses non standard spikes. After the rep left the clubhouse Valencia could have lost $10,000 to $20,000 in endorsement deals and confronted Butler saying “Don’t you ever loud talk me in front of a rep. That was wrong” Butler and took a couple of steps towards Valencia saying, “I can say whatever I want, and your bitch ass isn’t going to do anything about it”

One player described what happened next that both bumped heads and started pushing each other then Valencia took a swing and connected with Butler’s temple. Butler had a concussion as a result he has vomiting and nausea. Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer a former teammate of both Butler and Valencia tweeted support for Valencia and Coco Crisp of the A’s also sent in a support tweet for Valencia. Butler has moved his spot in the clubhouse further away from Valencia’s locker location at the Oakland Coliseum and his old spot is now taken up by pitcher Jesse Hahn.

More on the Butler-Valencia fiasco on this podcast with Charlie O and on the A’s each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com