Category: Oakland Athletics

A’s try to get focus on their play on the field, but they run into Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco

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By Morris Phillips

The A’s returned to the Coliseum on Monday, losers of seven of eight, and saddled with a story of a clubhouse fracas that put the team in a more negative light than their desultory play.

So unlike Ryan Lochte, the team fessed up, and demanded that the focus return to their play on the field, which they insisted would not be impacted negatively.

And the result? Carlos Carrasco, as good a starting pitcher away from his home park as there is in big league baseball in 2016, pitched so well it mattered little what the A’s said before the game, or what they did during it as the first place Indians took down the A’s, 1-0, while surrendering just four hits.

While Carrasco was great, the A’s Andrew Triggs was slightly less than that, throwing six shutout innings allowing three hits and a walk. Triggs was a footnote, but manager Bob Melvin was quick to give his starter credit for his efforts in trying to put the team in a better light.

“You feel for him because he’s such a good solider about going up and down (to the minors) and appreciates the opportunity he gets,” Melvin said. “You can’t help but pull for a guy who’s a great team guy and he performed.”

Triggs’ night could have had a different outcome had Coco Crisp hadn’t been thrown out at third trying to stretch a double in the sixth. Called out by third base umpire Clint Fagan, Crisp saw the call upheld by a replay demanded by the A’s. Was Crisp thrown out? Melvin diplomatically said no, as did the team’s announcers upon seeing the same replays, but the call stood, and the game stayed scoreless after six innings and Triggs’ departure.

The A’s would go the entire game with just one player reaching second base, and one at-bat with that runner in scoring position. The Indians would fare better on one swing of Carlos Santana’s bat, in which reliever Ryan Dull allowed the slugger to pull his offering down the right field line with such force and placement that it decided the game.

Santana’s big shot would stand up when Carrasco pitched a scoreless eighth, followed by closer Andrew Miller’s dominant 1-2-3 ninth.

Carrasco improved to 6-3 in his 10 road starts, lowering his already miniscule 1.97 ERA on the road. The 29-year old veteran struck out nine, the fourth straight start he’s struck out at least eight batters.

The A’s played without shortstop Marcus Semien who was on hand for the birth of his first child, and also without designated hitter Billy Butler, who was placed on the 7-day concussion protocol list. Butler’s circumstances were all anyone wanted to discuss before the game as it’s rumored that he suffered his injuries in the scuffle with teammate Danny Valencia over the weekend in Chicago that was confirmed by team officials.

The team announced before the game that both players had been fined for their actions, and Valencia pinch hit in Monday’s game, striking out against Miller in the ninth.

The A’s fell to a season-worst 19 games under .500 after losing for the 17th time in 23 games, marking their worst 125-game record since 1997 (53-72).

On Tuesday, the A’s look to bounce back with Sean Manaea on the mound in a matchup with Cleveland’s Danny Salazar.

 

 

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Players supportive of Valencia; Butler did he violate the code?

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On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg, when you have a ball club with 25 guys with 25 backgrounds things could happen. What was odd about the Danny Valencia-Billy Butler clubhouse brawl in Chicago you have to go back to the A’s former manager Tony LaRussa and former A’s manager Art Howe there was always a great harmony in the A’s clubhouse. It was loose and they were always having fun and for something like this to happen something like this hasn’t happened since the 70s.

The A’s players back in the 70s really didn’t like each other but they won three consecutive World’s Championships in 1972-74. So this is strange. Valencia had a reputation of not being the nicest of guys and Coco Crisp and the Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer were teammates before and both said they were very supportive of Valencia in this recent brawl with Butler. Butler told a representative that Valencia was not wearing the cleats Valencia said he promised he would be wear and the players feel Butler violated the baseball secret code by passing on this information to the representative.

Listen to the A’s podcast with Jerry each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

A’s Update: the clubhouse fight; Butler to DL; both players fined

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Butler Valencia

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The details are now coming out on the clubhouse fight between Billy Butler and Danny Valencia on Friday night in Chicago. Apparently, it was just as advertised. Butler told a shoe representative that Valencia was not wearing the brand named spikes in games that he is paid to wear, and Valencia took exception to Butler involving himself in his endorsement deals.

The situation deteriorated and yelling turned into a fight. Reports have Butler taking a punch off the side of his head that has now brought on concussion like symptoms. Butler was kept out of all three games in Chicago over the weekend. He would normally have been the Designated Hitter on Saturday and Sunday against left-handed starting pitchers.

The bottom line is that it appears Butler was stepping in on Valencia’s business and possibly affecting Valencia financially. Players get paid for wearing certain shoes, gloves, batting gloves, etc. As with most people, Valencia did not appreciate someone messing with his money. Does that make hitting a man on the side of his head and possibly giving him a concussion justified? No, of course not, but it does become more understandable.

A’s general manager David Forst told the media prior to the Cleveland game on Monday that both players have been fined undisclosed amounts. Forst said nothing about suspensions for the players which means none are probably forthcoming.

Butler has been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list which means he will have to pass testing and be cleared by MLB before returning to play, so seven days off is a minimum. Infielder Arismendy Alcantara has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take Butler’s place on the roster.

Valencia is not in the lineup for the Monday night game with Cleveland but the Indians are are starting a right-hander on the mound for game one.

This situation is just another pothole on what has been a very rough road that has been the A’s 2016 season. Flare ups happen in every major league locker room and most go unreported because they end without injury. In this case, the flare up became a case of unacceptable workplace violence. Both players are very lucky they are highly paid athletes and not a couple of analyst working side-by-side in cubicles. If they were analyst, they would be unemployed tonight.

Report: The battlin’ A’s may be back – Butler and Valencia “scuffle”in clubhouse

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

 

butler  valencia

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Multiple reports have the A’s Danny Valencia and Billy Butler involved in a clubhouse scuffle on Friday night in Chicago. The reported altercation resulted in possible injuries to Butler that kept him out of the games with the White Sox over the weekend.

The first report of the altercation came from the San Francisco Chronicle. Jane Lee of MLB.com reported she had received confirmation of the confrontation between the two players.

A’s manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Saturday that Butler would be unavailable to play due to nausea and vomiting not related to the flu. Butler would normally been in the lineup at DH both Saturday and Sunday as the White Sox started left-handed pitchers.

Valencia started the game on Saturday night versus the White Sox and kicked off a mini-rally by hitting his 15th home run of season to lead off the ninth inning. He did not play on Sunday.

The Chronicle did ask Valencia about the incident on Sunday and he responded, “No comment. What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.”

USA Today is reporting that the incident started when Butler told a shoe representative that Valencia was not wearing the cleats that he claim to be wearing.

Butler and Valencia were teammates in Kansas City in 2014 and then were reunited last season in Oakland.

Valencia has been with six different teams in his seven years in the major leagues. The rumors that have followed him have been that he is not a good teammate or that he is difficult to get along with in the clubhouse.

Eric Hosmer of the Royals would appear to disagree with that assessment:

Coco Crisp of the A’s seems to be in agreement with Hosmer:

Hosmer is a former teammate of Butler and Crisp is a current teammate and neither had any comment about the Designated Hitter.

There will certainly be more to this story and we will bring it to you as it breaks. It will be interesting to see who is in the lineup tonight for the Athletics. Cleveland is planning on starting the right-handed Carlos Carrasco so Butler would not be the starting DH.

Oakland A’s Sunday game wrap:White Sox pitching too strong again as A’s lose 4-2

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

8-21-16

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Chicago White Sox won the “rubber game” of the three-game series with the Oakland A’s on Sunday 4-2. The loss dropped the A’s record on the six-game road trip to 1-5.

The White Sox struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning with two of those runs scoring with two out. When a team is having trouble winning games, allowing two runs to score with two men out is a back-breaker. It certainly was for the A’s on Sunday.

The A’s did cut the Chicago lead to one run in the top of the fourth inning when Khris Davis hit a two-run home run (32) to center field but that would be all the scoring for Oakland in game.

Jose Abreu – who has become an Athletics killer – led off the bottom of the fourth inning with his 16th home run of year to give the White Sox a much needed insurance run and a 4-2 lead in the game. That would prove to be the final scoring play of the game.

On the Bump

The White Sox were able to lean on their starting pitching again on Sunday as they sent LHP Jose Quintana to the mound in search of his 10th win of the 2016 season. Quintana had not been able to get that 10th victory in his two previous outings.

Quintana had everything working for him on Sunday. He gave up just two runs (both earned) on eight hits. The two runs did come off a home run. Quintana walked one and struck out eight Oakland batters. He faced 29 hitters and threw 99 pitches (66 strikes) in his 7.0 innings of work. Quintana did pick up the win and his record now stands at 10-9.

The Chicago bullpen was solid in helping Quintana get the win. Nate Jones came on in relief in the eighth inning and gave up no runs on one hit. He struck out two and was credited with holding the lead for the starter for the 25th time this season.

RHP closer David Robertson took over in the top of the ninth inning for the White Sox. Robertson did give up a lead-off single to Yonder Alonso but then settled down to retire the side and pick up his 32nd save of the year.

Zach Neal (2-3) made another emergency start for the A’s. Neal had actually been reassigned to the bullpen when it appeared that Jesse Hahn would be back to start this game for Oakland. When it was determined Hahn could not go, Neal stepped back into the starters role.

Neal gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning with those runs coming after what should have been an inning-ending double play. Neal would give up one additional run on a Abreu home run in fourth inning, and he ultimately became responsible for the loss.

Neal pitched 4.2 innings giving up the four runs (all earned) on eight hits (one home run). He walked none and struck out two batters. His record now stands at 2-3 with a 5.49 ERA.

The A’s bullpen did a great job again on Sunday. The four Oakland relievers – Hendriks, Rzepczynski, Dull and Coulombe – allowed no runs on just three combined hits and one walk. The A’s bullpen is doing everything they can do to give their team a chance to get back into games and pick up wins.

In the Batter’s Box

The White Sox spread the offense over the entire line up again on Sunday. Seven of the nine men in the batting order picked up at least a base hit against the Oakland pitchers. Todd Frazier – who has been having a tough year with the bat – went 3-for-4 on Sunday driving in two of the Sox four runs. Frazier hit his 14th double of the season and picked up RBI 75 and 76 in the game.

Jose Abreu who hit his 16th home run of the season also scored two runs for Chicago.

Chicago Shortstop Tim Anderson had a 3-for-4 day and scored a run.

The White Sox went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

Khris Davis was the A’s man with the bat on Sunday. He hit his 32nd home run of year and picked up two RBI to make his total 79 for the season.

Marcus Semien was also seeing the ball well on Sunday. He hit two doubles (17) off Quintana in the game and also scored a run.

A’s rookie second baseman Chad Pinder started the second game of his career on Sunday and picked up the first hit of his major league career. Pinder hit a single off Quintana in the top of the seventh inning with one out. The pressure of getting the first hit is off and now Pinder can settle in and just be a hitter.

The A’s went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

Defense

The A’s did not turn a double-play that would have ended the bottom of the first inning and held the White Sox scoreless. Jose Abreu grounded into a force out to shortstop Marcus Semien who tossed the ball to second baseman Chad Pinder who stepped on the bag to erase Melky Cabrera. Pinder then threw to first. The throw was low and to the right of first baseman Yonder Alonso’s glove and he was unable to make the catch. Abreu was safe at first and Tim Anderson advanced from second to third with two out.

The play was one that fans have become used to seeing Alonso dig out of the ground on a regular basis but he was not able to do so on Sunday. The inning continued and Chicago scored three runs. Pinder was charged with an error for his throw.

Up Next

The A’s jumped on their plane after the game and headed home to Oakland where they have a three-game series with the American League Central Division leading Cleveland Indians. The pitching probables are:

Mon. 8/22 7:05 PM  RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-6, 3.34) vs. RHP Andrew Triggs (0-1, 4.98)

Tue. 8/23 7:05 PM RHP Danny Salazar (11-4, 3.57) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (4-8, 4.73)

Wed. 8/24 12:35 PM RHP Trevor Bauer (9-5, 3.88) vs. RHP Kendall Graveman (9-8, 4:09)

Photo: Chicago Tribune

Oakland A’s Saturday game wrap: Sale too much for A’s hitters, Sox win 6-2

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Abreu

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Chris Sale was the first pitcher to win 14 games in the major leagues. It took him six games and 49 days to book his 15th win of the season. Win number 15 came on Saturday night in Chicago against the Oakland Athletics by the score of 6-2.

Sale pitched eight innings of scoreless baseball and gave way to his bullpen to close out the game in the top of ninth inning. The A’s seized on the opportunity to face someone else other than Sale and had the tying run on deck when Chad Pinder flied out to deep center field just three feet from the fence with two men on base for the final out of the game.

The Oakland loss ties the series at one game apiece with the rubber game of the match to be played on Sunday afternoon.

On the Bump

Left-handed starting pitcher Chris Sale (15-6) was the story of the night for the White Sox. The 6-foot-6 Sale came out and took control of the game from the beginning. He gave up no runs on just three hits. Sale faced 29 hitters and walked three while striking out eight. Sale wanted the win so badly he threw 120 pitches (74 strikes) in pursuit of the victory.

Nate Jones came on in the top of the ninth inning to close the game out for Sale and proved to be no mystery for A’s hitters. Jones gave up two runs (earned) on three hits and managed to get only one out. He was responsible two runners on base when he left the game.

Closer David Robertson had to enter the game for Chicago. He managed to get Yonder Alonso to strike out and Chad Pinder to fly out to deep center field for the final out of the game. Robertson picked up his 31st save of the season.

LHP Ross Detwiler started for the A’s and had one of those games that a pitcher would like to have erased from his memory. Detwiler (1-2) gave up six runs (earned) on 10 hits in just 4.0 innings of work. He walked one, struck out two and issued one home run. Detwiler threw 81 pitches (55 strikes) in four innings of work. He faced 23 batters. Bottom line, it just was not Detwiler’s night.

The A’s bullpen did all they could do to keep their team in the game. Daniel Coulombe, Chris Smith and John Axford combined to hold the White Sox scoreless over the 4.0 innings. In fact, the A’s relievers did not allow a baserunner in final four innings.

In the Batter’s Box

Every White Sox hitter except DH Justin Morneau had a hit in the game off Detwiler.

Jose Abreu led the way for Chicago going 2-for-3 on the night driving in two runs and scoring two runs. One of his hits was his 15th home run of the season and the other was his 28th double of the year. Abreu now has 66 RBI for the season.

Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Sox Saturday night. Cabrera also drove in two runs and scored a run. Cabrera hit his 29th double and recorded his 56th RBI in the game.

Danny Valencia had a 2-for-4 night for the A’s. Valencia started the Oakland mini-rally in the top of the ninth inning by hitting his 15th home run of the season into the seats in right center field.

Chad Pinder made his major league debut on Saturday night in Chicago. Pinder who was called up from Triple-A Nashville when Tyler Ladendorf went on the DL will play second base against left-handed starting pitchers. Pinder went 0-for-4 for the night but made the game interesting when he hit a David Robertson cut fastball that was up in the zone to deep center field with two runners on in the top of the ninth inning. Unfortunately, the ball was about three feet short of going over the wall and White Sox CF Adam Eaton was fast enough to haul it in for the final out of the game.

You’ve got to be kidding me

In the top of the ninth inning with one out and Ryon Healy on at first, Stephen Vogt hit a ground ball on the right side of the infield that was fielded by second baseman Carlos Sanchez. Sanchez tossed the ball to shortstop Tim Anderson. Anderson stepped on second base forcing out Healy and threw to first but Vogt was called safe.

A’s manager Bob Melvin challenged the call at second base. The video replay made it very clear that Anderson did not come within a foot of touching the bag. The call was overturned and Healy was called safe.

What happened next? Brett Eibner hit a line drive single to right that allowed Healy to score and moved Vogt up to second. Replay has changed the game.

Up Next

The plan was for Jesse Hahn to come off the disabled list and make the start versus the White Sox on Sunday. Those plans went on hold when Hahn did not feel right after throwing in the bullpen on Saturday. Hahn had felt good after pitching in Nashville on Tuesday but that was not the case on Saturday.

With Hahn on still on the DL, RHP Zach Neal – who had actually returned to the bullpen – will make another start for Oakland. Neal started last Sunday against the Mariners in Oakland. He worked 5.1 innings giving up five runs on eight hits. Neal has a record of 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA. He has a 7.98 ERA as starter and a 3.15 ERA as a reliever.

The White Sox will send LHP Jose Quintana to the hill on Sunday. Quintana in 9-9 on the year with a 2.85 ERA. This will be his third try at picking up win number 10.

Photo: Chicago Tribune

Oakland A’s Friday game wrap: Homer Happy A’s Enjoy Big Game off Big Game James

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt congratulates starter Kendall Graveman for his complete game and shutout over the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field on Friday night

The Oakland Athletics trounced the Chicago White Sox 9-0 Friday night from U.S. Cellular field. Kendall Graveman fired his first career complete game shutout and the A’s offense torched starter James Shield. Yonder Alonso, Khris Davis and Stephen Vogt homered for the A’s.

Graveman (9-8, 4,09) needed only 98 pitches to make tidy work of the pale hose, yielding only two hits while striking out five batters without a walk. Shields (5-15,5.98), on the other hand, yielded seven runs over just 4 2/3 innings of work.

Max Muncy drew a two-out bases loaded walk in the top of the second, but the A’s failed to add another run in the frame. The next inning, Davis would plate a pair after launching his 31st homer of the season with Danny Valencia on base. Vogt would take Shields deep in the fifth for a solo shot and Alonso would add his 6th dinger of the season with a runner on for a 6-0 lead through five. A throwing error by shortstop Tim Anderson would plate another A’s run for a 7-0 edge.

Vogt would knock in his second run of the game off reliever Matt Albers in the top of the 6th, then Marcus Semien would add an RBI single in the ninth off former A’s farmhand Michael Ynoa to end the scoring.

The A’s face Cy Young winner Chris Sale in Saturday’s matchup, with rookie Chad Pinder expected to make his A’s debut at second base. Oakland counters with Ross Detwiler.

MLB Podcast with Tony Renteria: If there is one team the Giants can get healthy on right now it’s the New York Mets

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AP photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain stands on the mound after surrendering a home run to the Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew McCutchen in the Pirates rally in the fifth inning of Wednesday afternoon’s game at AT&T Park

On the MLB podcast with Tony Renteria the Giants had the lead melt down once again on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T with a 4-0 lead the Giants saw it dissipate and the Bucs wound up winning it 5-4. The Giants were snake bit by that Pirate team and  that Pirate outfield was just amazing they were in the top five in almost every year as a combined outfield in the National League and it’s just an amazing outfield and it really hurt he Giants through the series overall.

What the New York Mets advantage is in the series with the Giants starting Thursday night is their ability to run and steal bases by the bunch load and Mets manager Terry Collins is right there’s no reason why the Mets should be playing the way they’ve been playing. If there’s a team that the Giants can get healthy on real fast it’s the New York Mets.

Tony also talks Oakland A’s baseball in the podcast join Tony each week for the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s vs the White Sox Preview

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP file photo: Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt breaks his bat against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday August 14 at the Oakland Coliseum will be one of three of the best players the A’s have going in the line up in Chicago Friday against the White Sox

Chicago-The Oakland A’s are in Chicago to play a three-game series against their long-time rivals, the Chicago White Sox. Both the A’s and White Sox are experiencing very disappointing seasons in 2016. The A’s were hoping to improve after finishing last in the AL West last year. It has not gone well for the Green and Gold for a variety of reasons. The A’s thought the starting pitching rotation would be a plus for them. It was just the opposite. Sonny Gray and Rich Hill were supposed to be the number one and number two pitchers of the staff. Gray has not been the same this year. He has been on the disabled list twice, and when he was healthy, he was not good. Hill, on the other hand, pitched well but was on the DL with a groin strain and later with blisters on his throwing hand. The A’s traded Hill to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and he has not been able to pitch since his arrival there on August 1st. The A’s lost Chris Bassitt and Felix Dubrount for the season. Both pitchers had Tommy John Surgery. The A’s have called up Sean Manaea, Zach Neal, Daniel Mengden, Andrew Triggs, and Dillon Overton from Triple-A Nashville. Some have had success, but they have not been consistent.

Josh Reddick was the leader of the A’s offense. Josh will be a free agent at the end of the year and did not accept a contract extension from the A’s. So, he is now playing for the Dodgers. The A’s received three pitching prospects from te Dodgers, and they are toiling in the minors right now.  The three best players on the A’s are Khris Davis, Marcus Semien, and Stephen Vogt. Coco Crisp has ben playing well, but this may be his last tango in Oakland. The A’s are looking at Jake Smolinski in center field and Brett Eibner in right.

The A’s have had used the DL 26 times so far this year. Injuries are part of the game, but the A’s were not able to use some of their best players, and they are now seventeen games under the .500 mark are sinking to the bottom of the AL West again

The White Sox front office seems to be in disarray this year. General Manager Rick Hahn and team President Kenny Williams appear to be at loggerheads. The rumors are flying that they have a dysfunctional relationship. Hahn’s contract is up at the end of the season, and he may be out the door. Hahn considered moving the best asset Chris Sale at the trade deadline. Hahn, thinking like the A’s Billy Beane, wanted a package of first-class prospects to start the rebuilding process. They want to avoid signed older, but expensive, free-agent players. The front office saw the success of the Houston Astros and are looking to use that model to rebuild the club. They noted the Yankee’s success with the Core 4 players and the Red Sox program that brought them World Series crowns in 2007 and 2013.

The White Sox made several moves over the winter to improve their club. They signed the veteran Jimmy Rollins to fill the void left by Alexei Ramirez at short. They traded for the A’s second baseman Brett Lawrie and made a big deal with the Cincinnati Reds to bring in Todd Frazier to play third base. Rollins didn’t do the job and was released. Tim Anderson and Tyler Saladino have taken over and share playing time at the position. Lawrie is currently on the DL with a hamstring injury but is on a rehab assignment with the Birmingham Barons. Frazier has good power numbers as he has thirty-one homers and 74 ribbies to his credit. However, his batting average is a lowly .213.

The White Sox thought that they would have a strong starting rotation with Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon, Jose Quintana and James Shields. Sale has been pitched well. He owns a record of 14-6 and can be dominant when he is on his game. Rodon is just 3-8 while Quintana is slightly better at 9-9. The White Sox obtained James Shields from the Padres in the hopes that the big righty had some gas left in the tank. Shields appears to be on the downside as he owns a record of 5-14 combined. The White Sox have a quality closer in the person of David Robertson. Robertson has thirty saves so far this year. Matt Albers, Nate Jones, and Dan Jennings have been prominent pitchers in the Chicago bullpen.

The big first baseman, Jose Abreu is hitting .280 but has just fourteen dingers and 65 ribbies so far. Melky Cabrera is in left and Adam Eaton patrol center field for the Sox. Melky is hitting .297 and Eaton is at .276.

The A’s Kendall Graveman will start for Oakland Friday night. Graveman did not pitch well early in the year but has improved and has been more consistent lately as he has been able to put his pitches where he wants them. His command, in other words, is better. He is 8-8 for the year, and the White Sox will send James Shields to the hill. As mentioned earlier, Shields is not having a good year.

It will be a series of the bottom-feeders, but the A’s are looking to the future. They are evaluating the players that will be here in 2017 and some of the favorites may not be with Oakland next year. The White Sox are in the same boat. Both teams are playing out the string. Bob Melvin and his staff still prepare the same way. The White Sox manager, Robin Ventura, hopes to have his job next year. Rumors are swirling, and he may not be back. Winning this series is a strong incentive for him. The A’s want to snap the losing streak and get back to winning.

 

 

 

A’s Minor League Spotlight: 2016 Number 1 Draft Pick LHP A.J. Puk

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Puk

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Every team in baseball wants a tall, strong, left-handed pitcher that can throw hard and be the number one man in the rotation. The Oakland Athletics may have found that player in the 2016 MLB Draft.

With their number one pick (sixth overall), the A’s selected A.J. Puk – a 6-foot-7, 220 pound, left-handed pitcher out of the University of Florida. Richie Martin – Puk’s teammate at Florida – was the A’s number one draft pick in 2015. Martin is currently playing shortstop for the Stockton Ports of the California League.

The A’s 2016 second-round pick (47th overall) – right-handed pitcher Logan Shore – was also a teammate of Puk at Florida and the two are currently are teammates at short-season Class A Vermont.

Puk was considered to be a possible number one overall selection before the actual draft. Some inconsistency on the mound during his junior year along with some problems with back spasms caused him to drop down in the draft. Those problems did not deter the Athletics who did not hesitate to take Puk with the number six pick.

The fastball is Puk’s best pitch. It is rated well above above average and he throws it 96-97 mph regularly. He also has a plus slider that he delivers at 88-90 mph. Some within the A’s organization have referred to his slider as disappearing much like the slider thrown by Dave Righetti in his Yankee days – which is high praise. Puk is also rated high because he can maintain his velocity deep into games.

Puk’s third pitch is the change-up and it is still in the development stage. Scouts feel it should be major league ready soon. His control and consistency also needs improvement but that is why he is in the minor leagues. Given the chance to develop, Puk should become an impact starter for the Athletics.

Puk is currently pitching for the Vermont Lake Monsters of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League. He has a record of 0-2 in seven starts with an ERA of 2.70. In 20.0 innings pitched, Puk has given up 11 runs (6 earned) off 13 hits. He has walked six and struck out 27 batters. The big left-hander has a batting average against of .171 and a WHIP of just 0.95.

In his last start, Puk worked 3.2 innings. He gave up no runs on just one hit. Puk walked two and struck out eight batters. The only downside he had in the game was his high pitch count of 67 (43 strikes) which is probably why he was pulled from the game.

The current estimate is that fans could see Puk in a green and gold uniform sometime in the 2018 season which would mean he would progress through the farm system very quickly.