On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg the A’s are coming off a successful series with the Kansas City Royals after taking two of three at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s got great pitching help from Sonny Gray on Saturday for his second win of the season. Gray pitched seven innings, gave up two runs, and the A’s won game two of that series 5-3.
On Sunday the A’s needed great pitching and every hit they could muster against baseball World Champs in their 3-2 win against the Royals. Billy Burns came through with a two hopper triple that headed into the Royals bullpen. Burns not noted for his top flight speed wound up at third base after challenging the Royals outfielders who are noted for their rifle arms.
Jerry covers the New York Yankees and their pitching staff as the A’s prepare for a three game series in the Bronx followed by trips to Toronto and Detroit.
photo credit bing images: Aroldis Chapman New York Yankees
The Oakland A’s play the Yankees in New York Tuesday night to start a ten-game road trip that will take them to New York, Toronto, and Detroit. It will be a major test for the A’s to face these three potent teams. First, up will be the Yankees. The legendary franchise is struggling a bit to start the season. The Yankees are a veteran club, and many of their key players are reaching geezer status. However, these geezers can be dangerous, and the Yankees have a starting rotation that could be one of the best in baseball. The Yankee bullpen is also strong even with Aroldis Chapman out with a 30-day suspension.
Alex, Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Jacoby Ellsbury lead the Yankee lineup. All these players have made the All-Star team in past years. A-Rod has been an MVP. Teixeira and Ellsbury were MVP candidates. The Yankees acquired former Chicago Cub shortstop, Starlin Castro, to play second. Castro has responded and is hitting .333 and has an OPS of .925. The Yankees also have stolen thirteen bases so far to lead the league in that category. A’s catchers Stephen Vogt and Josh Vogt will have to be on their toes to keep Ellsbury and Gardner from stealing a base.
The starting rotation inclu the veteran C C Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Pineda and Luis Severino. Their bullpen is excellent. Dellin Betances is the setup man, and Andrew Miller is the closer for right now. Johnny Barbato and Chase Shreve have also performed well so far.
The Yankees have committed seven errors in the first eleven games. The A’s, however, lead the league with ten.Both the A’s and the Yankees are one game under the .500 mark. The record for the Green and Gold is 6-7. The pitching matchups for the three games are the following. On Tuesday, the A’s will send LHP Eric Surkamp to the hill. Surkamp enters the game with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 4.00. He will be opposed by Michael Pineda (1-1, 6.55 ERA). On Wednesday, it will be Kandal Graveman (0-1, 2.38) going against Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 6.94.) Thursday’s game will feature lefty Rich Hill (1-2, 4.15 ) versus Luis Severino (0-2, 5.91.)
The A’s are starting to hit, and they gained a little confidence as they beat the World Series Champs, the Kansas City Royals, two out of three over the weekend. Graveman, Chris Bassitt, and Sonny Gray have all pitched well. Rich Hill has had two not-so-good outings and one good performance so far. Eric Surkamp has to perform well, or he may be sent down when Jesse Hahn is ready. The A’s bullpen has been fairly good this year. They are way better than last year.This road trip will be a big test for the team.
The A’s still have work to do to improve the defense. They lead the league with ten errors in the first thirteen games. If they are to improve over last year’s won-lost record, they cannot give opponents extra outs. Bob Melvin, Ron Washington, and company have their work cut out for them. Lastly, the A’s need to win at least five games on the trip. It will be a tall order as the pitchers will face three potent offensive lineups. Should be interesting.
Kansas City Royals’ Mike Moustakas (8) hits a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Morris Phillips
photo on the cover by AP: Coco Crisp (4) and Josh Reddick (22) jump for joy after the A’s win the series over the Kansas City Royals Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum
OAKLAND–Billy Burns’ hard hit groundball in the eighth inning didn’t have the look of a game-changer, but it was, keying perhaps the biggest win of the young season to date for the A’s.
Facing Joakim Soria, Burns fought off a 2-2 pitch, sending a two-hopper over and past the first bag and into the visitor’s bullpen, allowing the speedy centerfielder to do what he does best… run. Reymond Fuentes raced over from right field, and bobbled the pickup, which allowed Burns to cruise into third base standing up. Most any other major leaguer—not gifted with Burns’ wheels—would have settled for two bases.
With the blessing of first base umpire Mark Carlson, and by a matter of inches, Burns had put the A’s in position to pull out a 3-2 win over the World Champion Royals, who just happen to be the current kings of pulling out close, low scoring ballgames.
“Fortunate to sneak one down the line there,” Burns said.
“Got it just enough inside the line and hit it just hard enough to get by (first baseman Eric Hosmer),” manager Bob Melvin said.
Burns’ big hit was followed by Josh Reddick’s sacrifice fly that broke a 2-2 tie that for the A’s was plenty hard earned. The A’s game-winning third run may not have been as hard earned as the first two runs, but it was surely a long shot. With the game tied late, Hosmer was hugging the line, and definitely not in the mood to let Burns get a shot for extra bases. But the ball shot past the diving Hosmer, evading his glove by inches.
Earlier the A’s were confounded by Royals’ starter Kris Medlen, who allowed just two hits, and kept the A’s from fully taking advantage of the four walks he issued. The one gift the A’s did benefit from was really on catcher Salvador Perez, who couldn’t snag Medlen’s strikeout pitch to Chris Coghlan, allowing Coghlan to reach on a passed ball, and Coco Crisp to score from third base.
That pulled the A’s within 2-1 in the fourth inning, but they’d get no closer until pinch hitter Jed Lowrie grabbed a bat in the seventh.
Coghlan delivered the hardest hit ball for the A’s on Medlin’s final pitch—one out into the seventh—a ground rule double that one-hopped the centerfield fence. Manager Ned Yost then called upon Kelvin Hererra, his prized setup man, to maintain the narrow lead.
But Lowrie delivered an RBI single on a 3-2 pitch after fighting off a pair of nasty sliders. Lowrie’s hit not only tied the game, but rendered the efficient Medlin to a no-decision.
A’s starter Chris Bassitt got deeper into the game than Medlin, pitching seven full, but also was saddled with a no-decision. Bassitt pitched well again, allowing five hits and two runs with a home run ball allowed to Mike Moustakas with two outs in the fourth the one pitch he wished he could get back.
“I was caught between pitches and wasn’t convicted to it at all,” Bassitt said. “And that’s kind of what happens when you throw a pitch that’s not really convicted against a good hitter. He makes you pay for it.”
Closer Ryan Doolittle was given the day off, and Ryan Madson stepped up in the ninth, earning his fourth save. John Axford pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and picked up the win. Oakland took the final two against the Royals, after dropping four straight and seven of their first eight games this season at the Coliseum.
The A’s flew to the East Coast after the game and will open a 10-game road trip in New York on Tuesday. After three against the Yankees, the A’s travel to Toronto and then finish with four games in Detroit. Eric Surkamp will pitch the opener at Yankees Stadium, opposed by Michael Pineda in a 4:05pm EST start.
Oakland Athletics’ Josh Reddick, right, is congratulated by Billy Burns and Marcus Semien (10) after hitting a three-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
By Morris Phillips
The Coliseum Complex hosted two reigning World Champs on Saturday afternoon in the NBA Warriors and the World Series Champion Royals, dwarfing the A’s and their early-season struggles at home.
Nonetheless, the Athletics—now 26 seasons removed from winning big—measured up by posting a big win, and avoiding their worst start to a season at home since 2001.
Josh Reddick hit a three-run shot in the first inning to back Sonny Gray, who labored through six innings in the A’s 5-3 win. The A’s improved to 5-7 on the season, and won for only the second time in eight games at the Coliseum.
“You never want to say this early in the season anything’s a ‘must’ win, but it was a big win for us,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Stephen Vogt homered for the second consecutive game, and the A’s pounded out double-digit hits for the first time in 2016. But this one was won in the middle innings as Kansas City tried to mount a comeback, challenging Gray with lengthy at-bats in the fourth and fifth inning, but denting the A’s ace for just one run.
Gray’s pitch count mounted in the first three innings, and the fourth and the fifth put him at 100 pitches for the game. Just like they did in their post-season run to the World Series crown, the Royals were battling at the plate, while Gray felt his stuff was good, he was missing location more often than what he would find comfortable . The A’s defense behind Gray gave, but occasionally took, with second baseman Jed Lowrie committing a pair of errors.
“Today he dug deep for us to get through that sixth inning,” Melvin said of Gray.
“They’re really pesky and make you work for every single out,” Gray said, basically describing each of the first five innings.
With a run in, and two on in the fourth, Gray induced a ground ball from Alcides Escobar that ended the inning. In the fifth, Kendrys Morales looked at a pair of called strikes before grounding into an inning-ending double play with two more runners aboard.
Eager to compete—and win—Gray made sure he avoided eye contact with Melvin when entering the dugout after the fourth and fifth, in fear that the manager would lift his starter. Melvin took Gray’s cue and sent him back out for the sixth.
“Obviously, I’d like to get deeper. But I’m glad they gave me the opportunity to go back out there,” Gray said.
Gray rewarded that faith with a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth that required his final 14 pitches of the afternoon. The A’s bullpen took it from there as John Axford, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson recorded the final nine outs.
Chris Young took the loss for Kansas City, falling to 0-3. The 6’10” veteran looked like a mechanical mess, allowing Reddick’s blast, walking a couple, and getting pulled in the fifth with the Royals trailing 4-2.
The win ended a four-game losing streak dating back to their sweep last weekend in Seattle. Lucky for Oakland, the AL West hasn’t set the world on fire in the first two weeks, and the first place Rangers—just 7-6—are comfortably within reach.
The A’s look for a series win on Sunday with Chris Bassitt on the mound opposite Kansas City’s Kris Medlin at 1:05pm.
DOOLITTLE SAYS HE FINE, AND MELVIN CONCURS: Sean Doolittle pitched to just one batter, and wasn’t in his familiar closers’ role on Saturday, one day after allowing Eric Hosmer’s mammoth home run over the center field wall, just part of his early struggles that have his ERA sitting at 6.35. Melvin made it clear that his closer hadn’t been demoted, but had earned a reduced role on Saturday after working the previous two days.
Doolittle retired Alex Gordon on seven pitches to end the eighth.
He spoke afterwards, and after looking at video, and speaking to catcher Stephen Vogt, felt encouraged that he hasn’t compounded his trouble by not getting out of innings after allowing some damage. Still, he understands the anxiousness of the fans and others, especially with the team struggling and the specter of Jim Johnson’s awful April two years ago.
“Against the backdrop of what’s been happening this season, it looks way worse than it is,” Doolittle said.
AP photo: The Kansas City Royals Edinson Volquez pitches to the Oakland A’s in the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum Friday
OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland Athletics early season offensive woes continued Friday night at O.Co Coliseum, with Edison Volquez and the World Champion Kansas City Royals stymieing the A’s 4-2. Stephen Vogt collected three hits, including a solo home run, but starter Rich Hill surrendered 3 runs over 4 1/3 innings to put Oakland behind early. Volquez (2-0, 2.04 ERA) pitched 6 innings, holding the A’s (4-7) to only 4 hits and a pair of earned runs. In total, the A’s only mustered 6 hits, with half coming from their 2015 all-star backstop.
Hill, the A’s big money offseason signing, continues to have mixed results in the early going. In his last start against the Seattle Mariners, the 6 million dollar man allowed only 5 hits and a single run in a six-inning win, but his surprise opening day start lasted just 2 2/3 innings and 4 earned runs. Friday began looking more like the latter than the former.
Leadoff man Alcides Escobar walked to open the game, then Omar Infante singled. Lorenzo Cain hit a run-scoring single that advanced Infante to third base. Eric Hosmer bounced into a double play that plated Infante. Hill would walk Kendrys Morales before finishing off Alex Gordon to end the first with the A’s trailing 1-0. Hill yielded a pair of singles in the 2nd as well, but managed to strand the runners at 2nd and 3rd to avoid more damage.
“I thought he had good command of his breaking ball,” said Vogt of his batterymate. “He struggled at times with his command of the fastball. He also got himself into some hitter’s counts. They also had some pretty good pieces of hitting. His pitch count got higher than he wanted early.”
Stephen Vogt hit his first homer of the season off Volquez in the bottom of the 2nd, taking a 2-2 offspeed pitch and depositing it into the bleachers in right field. Vogt would go 3-for-4 to momentarily buck an early season slump and raise his average to .273.
Hill yielded his 3rd run of the day in the top half of the next inning on Kendry Morales’ 500th career RBI. The A’s southpaw walked Cain to open the inning, then saw the Royals center fielder move to second on a ground out by Eric Hosmer. Morales went back up the box for a 3-1 lead. Hill (1-2, 4.15) would last only 1 1/3 more innings before being chased from the game, ultimately being tagged for the loss.
Oakland would pick up another run in the bottom of the fourth, with the A’s catcher again in the middle of the action. Vogt singled to right field, then moved over to second on a Jed Lowrie bounce out. Another A’s slumping slugger Kris Davis singled Vogt home to pull the A’s within one run with five innings left to play.
It’d be the closest the A’s would get to the Royals (8-2), with Volquez pitching another scoreless pair of innings, then turning the game over to lights-out Kansas City pen. Kelvin Herrera and Joakim Soria pitched scoreless innings to set Wade Davis up for his 5th save.
Kansas City would stake its closer to a two-run lead after Hosmer took a 1-1 Sean Doolittle pitch halfway up Mount Davis for his first long ball of the year. Doolittle entered the game with the A’s trailing 3-2 after Fernando Rodriguez, Marc Rzepczynski and Ryan Dull pitched a combined 4 innings in relief. Doolittle has now given up 3 homers and 4 earned runs over his 5 1/3 innings of work this season.
“I can’t remember the last time a lefty has hit a homer off him,” said Melvin of his former closer. “On that particular pitch you have to give the hitter some credit.”
Oakland looks for ace Sonny Gray to play stopper Saturday. He’ll face the beguiling Chris Young and his repertoire of offspeed pitches and odd angles. The lanky righty is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA this season.
A’s Weekend Preview update
By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 14, 2016
THIS JUST IN …
On Saturday, Oakland Alameda Coliseum and Oracle Arena will host dual events, when the Oakland Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals at 1:05 p.m. and the Golden State Warriors open their NBA postseason play at 12:30 p.m.
In a statement from the A’s, the team highly recommends traveling to the Coliseum by BART and Capitol Corridor. If arriving by vehicle, please note there will be limited parking and an increased parking price of $40, the price being charged for the Oracle Arena event. Parking will be limited and fans will be turned away from parking once lots are full. Coliseum parking lots open at 9 a.m. and ballpark gates open at 11:05 a.m.
Saturday’s game will throwback to the BillyBall era when 15,000 fans receive a Stephen Vogt 1981 Replica Jersey, presented by Cache Creek Casino Resort. The A’s have postponed the Play Ball 5K to Sunday, July 17 due to the dual event.
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Given the Oakland Athletics’ extensive use of its disabled list over the last few seasons, it’s only fitting that the Swingin’ A’s have settled on a new healthcare provider.
The A’s announced that Sutter Health has entered into a multiyear partnership of undisclosed length with the club, and the announcement stated that the A’s and Sutter Health will “promote health and wellness initiatives,” including a new youth wellness program.
This weekend, the A’s host Kansas City for a three-game set at the Oakland (formerly O.co) Coliseum. On MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day celebration, right-hander Edinson Volquez will be on the mound for the Royals, facing Oakland left-hander Rich Hill. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Games on Saturday and Sunday start at 1:05 p.m. Sonny Gray is slated to start on Sunday.
A’s reliever Ryan Madson, a former Royal who helped KC win the 2015 World Series, will be presented with his championship ring and a gold-trimmed uniform worn by Kansas City in its first two games.
By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 14, 2016
photo credit songsforteaching.net: Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson will be honored by every MLB club on Friday for Jackie Robinson Day
Given the Oakland Athletics’ extensive use of its disabled list over the last few seasons, it’s only fitting that the Swingin’ A’s have settled on a new healthcare provider.
The A’s announced that Sutter Health has entered into a multiyear partnership of undisclosed length with the club, and the announcement stated that the A’s and Sutter Health will “promote health and wellness initiatives,” including a new youth wellness program.
This weekend, the A’s host Kansas City for a three-game set at the Oakland (formerly O.co) Coliseum. On MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day celebration, right-hander Edinson Volquez will be on the mound for the Royals, facing Oakland left-hander Rich Hill. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Games on Saturday and Sunday start at 1:05 p.m. Sonny Gray is slated to start on Sunday.
A’s reliever Ryan Madson, a former Royal who helped KC win the 2015 World Series, will be presented with his championship ring and a gold-trimmed uniform worn by Kansas City in its first two games.
AP photo: Fear the Beard the LA Angels Matt Shoemaker makes work of the Oakland A’s and did wonders for lowering his 18.00 ERA with a win over the A’s on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum
OAKLAND–The A’s entered the game with the Angels hoping to rebound from Tuesday night’s loss and get a much-needed win. That, however, did not happen as the Angels defeated the A’s 5-1 to sweep the three-game series. The Angels starter, Matt Shoemaker, entered the game with an ERA of 18.00, but he stopped the A’s cold. He went six innings and allowed just one hit. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia used four more pitchers who allowed just two more hits. The A’s big blow was a home run by Marcus Semien that averted a shutout. Eric Surkamp pitched okay, and he was a bit wild as he walked four, hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch. He threw ninety-six pitches in just four and 2/3rds innings of work. He left the game trailing 2-0, and he absorbed his first loss of the year.
The Angels drew first blood in the top of the third inning. Mike Trout singled to lead off the frame. He stole second to get into scoring position. Surkamp retired Albert Pujols and C.J.Cron but was not able to retire Kole Calhoun. Calhoun singled to right to drive in Trout.
In the top of the fifth, it was the Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun show again. Trout led off with a double to left. He advanced to third on an Eric Surkamp wild pitch and scored on a single off the bat of Kole Calhoun. A’s trail 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Angels’ starter Matt Shoemaker has been masterful allowing the A’s just one hit through the first five innings of play.
The Angels scored another run in the top of the eighth. That man, Kole Calhoun, continued to torment the A’s. Calhoun doubled to left and then scored on a single by Andrelton Simmons to increase the lead to three. Calhoun has three hits and two RBIs to lead the Halos attack. The A’s Marcus Semien led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to make it a 3-1 game. It was just the second hit of the game for Oakland. For Semien, it was his fourth home run of the year. He leads the A’s in that department.
The Angels put the game away in the ninth. With one out, former Athletic Craig Gentry singled. Mike Trout followed with his third of the afternoon to put men on at first and second. They advanced to second and third on a Liam Hendricks’ wild pitch. Albert Pujols singled to drive in both runners. Angels in the driver’s seat 5-1 as the game heads into the bottom of the ninth.
Game Notes- The A’s have played seven games at home so far this year and have lost six of them. They won three in Seattle, and their record stands at 4-6. They face the defending World Champs, the Kansas City Royals for three games starting Friday night at the Coliseum. The A’s send lefty Rich Hill to the mound and he will be opposed by Kansas City’s Edinson Volquez. Game time will be at 7:05 PM Friday
Time of game was three hours and three minutes, and there was a small crowd of 11,216on hand to watch the proceedings.
On the MLB podcast with Tony the San Francisco Giants are getting the long ball help from from Trevor Brown who was actually brought up for his defensive skills but he’s really broke out the bats and hit two home runs he has three this season. Brown hit a two run homer in Colorado to help the Giants take the lead on the Rockies and eventually the Giants won it by seven runs 7-2.
The Giants Jeff Samardzija got the win and pitched one of his finest starts of the season going eight innings, the Giants got further home run help from Hunter Pence his second of the season of Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The Rockies didn’t stand a chance against Giant hitting on Tuesday night.
Oakland A’s continue their struggles and the relief staff has caved in again closer Sean Doolittle lost another save opportunity and was the losing pitcher on Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum as he gave way to a two run homer in the ninth to the LA Angels Geovany Soto. The A’s after the loss drop from being in first place after sweeping the Seattle Mariners to third place at 4-5. The A’s need to get it going soon because losing like this you could lose a lot of ground fast.
“We take a lot of pride in what we do. We were handed a lead late in the game and I couldn’t get the job done.” said Doolittle in the post game conference. The A’s on offense got help from A’s shortstop Marc Semien hit two home runs and now has three homers on the season. Not bad for Semien who hits ninth in the lineup.
AP photo: The LA Angels Geovany Soto took A’s pitcher Sean Doolittle deep for a ninth inning two run homer which led to the Angels victory on Tuesday night
OAKLAND–The A’s wasted a terrific outing by Kendall Graveman Tuesday night as they lost to the Angels by a score of 5-4. Graveman went six innings and allowed just one run and four hits. John Axford did his job in the seventh but Ryan Madson gave up two runs in the eighth and Sean Doolittle did the same in the ninth. The Angels snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and the team came running out of the dugout to congratulate Huston Street for shutting the A’s down in the ninth. Doolittle was charged with a blown save and the loss.
The A’s jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter, Billy Burns, drew a walk from Angels’ starter Hector Santiago. Burns stole second then advanced to third when Josh Phegley flew out to right field. Josh Reddick singled to drive in Burns.
The Angels tied the game in the top of the second. Graveman walked Albert Pujols, who led off the inning. Kole Calhoun singled to right advancing Pujols to third. Graveman got Andrelton Simmons to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Pujols scored on the play.
The A’s scored twice in the bottom of the third. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien hit a home run over left field fence to start the inning. Billy Burns then singled. Burns went to second on a ground out. Burns stole third and scored when Josh Reddick grounded out to first. Pujols thought about throwing home, but there was no way that he could have thrown Burns out. Reddick received credit for his second RBI of the game. A’s lead 3-1 after three.
The A’s added a run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead. Marcus Semien hit his second solo home run of the game. For Semien, it was his third home run of the season, and they have all been solo jobs.
The Angels rallied in the top of the eighth. With one out, Yunel Escobar and Daniel Nava singled to put men on at first and second. The A’s third pitcher of the night, Ryan Madson struck out Mike Trout for the second out. He now faced the ever-dangerous Albert Pujols. Madson had Pujols in a two-strike hole, but the future Hall of Famer came through with a double to left driving in Escobar and Nava. A’s lead 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
The Angels took the lead in the top of the ninth. With one out, A’s closer, Sean Doolittle, walked pinch-hitter C.J.Cron. Angels ‘ catcher Geovany Soto hit his first home run of the year off Doolittle to give the Halos the lead 5-4. The Angels’ Huston Street set the A’s down in order in the bottom to secure the win for Los Angeles.
Game Notes- The hitting stars for the A’s were Marcus Semien with two solo home runs and Josh Reddick with two RBIs. The A’s record drops to 4-5 and, with the win, the Angels improve to 4-4. Game three of the series will be played at 12:35 PM at the Oakland Coliseum. Lefty Eric Surkamp will make his second start of the season for Oakland, and the Angels will counter with Matt Shoemaker.
Time of game was two hours and forty-one minutes. 13,492 fans left the stadium disappointed as the A’s bullpen failed to close out the game.
