Category: Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s Monday game wrap up: A’s offense off to good start in Cactus Leage

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By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Monday, March 21, 2016

AP photo: The San Francisco Giants Jeff Smardzija who started throws against the Oakland A’s in the first inning on Monday

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – When the Oakland Athletics arrived for spring training last month, a look at their roster didn’t strike too much fear into their opponents. Yet, here they are again, not only holding their own in the Cactus League, but offering a glimpse of possible good things to come.

After Monday, the A’s are 9-8-3 in exhibitions. As part of the evaluation process, there have been plenty of errors – 28 so far – and the pitching staff has issued 82 walks, most in the majors, and have the highest CL earned run average at 5.80.

On the upside, the Swingin’ A’s are doing just that – hitting the ball. Going into Monday’s 6-4 win over San Francisco, Oakland’s offense ranks fourth in the CL in slugging (.476), walks (69) and fewest strikeouts (135). They’re also tied for fourth in on-base percentage (.354) and doubles (42), fifth in batting (.267) and runs (118).

As per the philosophy of Moneyball, the A’s also have the second fewest stolen bases in the Cactus League with nine.

Swinging a hot bat of late is Yonder Alonso, who had his third two-hit game Saturday vs. the Giants and is hitting .440 overall. Speedster Billy Burns has hit safely in eight straight games before going 0-for-2 on Monday.

First baseman-DH Billy Butler is 6-for-15 in his last six games; Coco Crisp is 4-for-13 in his last four games after a 1-for-16 start; Danny Valencia has homered in four of his last six games; and Josh Reddick is not only 6-for-12 in his last four games, he’s reached base safely in each of his 10 spring contests.

Third baseman Matt Chapman, a non-roster invitee, is making a strong case to hang around. Chapman hit his fourth home run of the spring off Giants starter Jeff Samardzida, a two-run shot in the fifth. He’s hitting .269 after a slow start.

Outfielder Sam Fuld saw his hot hitting come to a halt after suffering a sprained left shoulder. Before the injury, Fuld was batting .417 overall – .556 (10-for-18) in his last four games. Fuld will miss the rest of spring training.

SAMARDZIJA GOES SIX
A good day in spring training can’t always be defined by numbers. Jeff Samardzija had six rocky innings Monday against Oakland, but that’s not the whole story.

Samardzija (0-3) gave up six earned runs on six hits – including two home runs. He struck out three, but still felt he was making the necessary progress at this stage of the Cactus League schedule.

“It’s spring training man! I feel good. It was a great day out there,” Samardzija said. “The ball was down and everything was where I wanted it. There were a couple of pitches I left over the plate that they took advantage of, but overall, it was exactly what I wanted out there.”

Samardzija threw 81 pitches, and called that “a good day.”

“We didn’t get through the five innings last start, so we wanted to make sure we got through five today,” Samardzija said. “I felt good, so we went out there for another one.

“You just want to get that one crossed off the books so you know you’re ready to go for the year.”

THE GAME
Oakland starter Chris Bassitt (2-0) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Aside from giving up Hunter Pence’s third CL home run in the fourth, it was a solid outing for Bassitt.

Hitting highlights included Khris Davis’s third double, and home runs by Matt Chapman and Chris Coghlan in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

In relief of Samardzija, Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez and Josh Osich each threw a scoreless inning for the Giants (9-12).

Daniel Coulombe, borrowed from the A’s minor league camp, worked a scoreless ninth to earn his first spring save.

CACTUS NEEDLES: The Athletics optioned INF Tyler Ladendorf and INF Max Muncy to Triple-A Nashville. On Sunday, The A’s reassigned RHPs Ryan Brasier, Angel Castro and Eduard Santos, C Bryan Anderson, and INFs Franklin Barreto, Matt Olson and Chad Pinter to their minor league camp in Mesa. … A’s non-roster C Bruce Maxwell played for Germany in the World Baseball Classic qualifier in Mexico last week and hit .500 with a home run, walk and two RBIs in two starts behind the plate. … The Giants reassigned RHP Vin Mazzaro, LHP Ricky Romero, INF Hak-Ju Lee, OF Kyle Blanks to their minor league camp, and optioned RHP Clayton Blackburn and LHPs Ty Blach and Steven Okert.

TAGS: Oakland Athletics,San Francisco Giants,Cactus League,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Graveman’s velocity is right there; lots expected of Hill and Bassitt in starting rotation

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt delivers in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants on Monday in Scottsdale AZ

Things are shaping up well for the Oakland A’s especially in the rotation, Kendall Graveman has velocity throwing 90 MPH, Jesse Hahn whose been looking very good, Rich Hill seems to have corrected some of his problems and the ace of this rotation is Sonny Gray. Hill was signed to a $6 million contract and will he perform he’s going to be pitching in a pitchers park and he should do okay.

A’s starter Chris Bassitt who gave up four runs and eight hits and a home run to the Giants Hunter Pence Monday afternoon. It’s spring training and he’s working on his pitches maybe a cutter, his fast ball, it’s experimenting in spring training to see what pitches do. The last two weeks we might see pitchers like Gray, Hill and Graveman working a little bit longer.

Jerry takes an in depth look at the A’s pitching staff and the position players each week on the A’s podcast right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Watching one with the fans A’s get some offense in on Giants 8-1

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
AP photo: A’s second baseman Marcus Semien takes high throw as SF Giants Angel Pagan slides safely
SCOTTSDALE AZ–On a bright and sunny day with 86 degrees in the Valley of the Sun, and inside Scottsdale Stadium, spring training home of the Giants, I left the secure and sterile press box setting to walk among the fans, 12,095, who watched a very poor appearance by the Giants Madison Bumrgarner. The Giants #1 hurler pitched 2 2/3, gave up seven hits five earned runs and struck out four Athletics. Billy Butler hit his firs home run of the spring. For the Athletics starter Felix Doubront completed four innings gave up one run on five hits, walked one and struck out two Giants, his ERA is 3.00. Bumgarder said: “It felt even better than I expected”, but also and about his lack of command “My delivery was terrible”. He expects to be much sharper for Opening Day.
Every year coming here (and for me it has been around 30 years)I used to come here when they were 5 teams, now a total of 15 train here,all within 45 minutes of each other. One of the things I have done each year, is leave the press box and walk around the fans, talk baseball. listed to them. Let’s face it, these games final score doesn’t mean much. This was  predominantly a Giants attendance, as it should be at their home field, but many fans were seen wearing the A’s green and yellow.
Anthony Molina is from San Mateo, and a Giants fan and was telling me: “I think we are the best team in our division, I do not think the Dodgers can survive losing Greinke” and he is probably correct, when I asked him what was the key for the Giants this year(his opinion) “I think we have the pitching and Bochy knows what he is doing…I am a little worried about the hitting, hopefully Pence can have a great year and you know, with Posey and Belt..I hope we score enough runs”. Bob Eisele told me he was from Salinas, and a huge Giants fan, and he has been coming to spring training with his wife Alma for, like ten years now “We are going all the way again, this is our year again, this guy on the mound Bumgarner is our man he is going to win twenty games and take us to the World Series again”. Wearing an A’s hat was Robert Rosillo, from Milpitas “Man, I don’t know what to expect this year, you know we trade all our good players, but I think we are going to better, last year from the beginning our  bullpen let us down, let’s hope is better this time.”
Close to the fair post in left field there were about five  young men drinking beer with Giants caps on, one had a Lincecum jersey on, I asked him are you a big Lincecum fan? “Yes, I wish they would have kept him, I like to have seen him retired with the Giants….I mean he won two Cy Young man, he has thrown no-hitters, he was one of our best pitchers ever, but that’s life, nothing I can do” one of his buddies followed saying “Nah, we didn’t needed Timmy, we are fine, I wish him the best it was time for him to go -you know what I mean- yes, like he says he was good but now he might just be a reliever, maybe”
If you ever walked this stadium behind the outfield it is a perennial party, beer, hot dogs, wine, you name it is on the air and everybody standing up(many with their backs to the game)actually not watching the game at all), it is by far behind the bleachers and in the grass a social event, but all in good fun. Back in the 1980’s when Billy Martin was managing the A’s you could drive or fly here and get a hotel anytime, but today, you must make reservations no later than January.
CACTUS NOTES: Albert Pujols hit two tremendous home runs(now has three)in the game today against the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit 40 in 2015 and when I spoke with him recently he told me he feels fine, and totally recuperated from foot surgery this winter, he is 36 years old and his son A.J(14)was with uniform shagging fly balls during practice prior to a game at Tempe Diablo Stadium…The company I keep? Jose Mota is my broadcast partner for the games of the LA Angels on Fox Sports West TV/Fox Deportes, Jose is working the World Baseball Classic Qualifying round at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Panama….Manolo Hernandez-Douen, my partner at Oakland with the Oakland A’s Spanish Radio Network is now the Vice President of the BBWAA(Baseball Writers Association of America)Bay Area chapter, and according to their bylaws he will serve as President in 2017.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com
     
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That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Cahna improves his average to .929 with two hits on Friday

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

GOODYEAR AZ– Jesse Hahn started the game and completed four innings of work allowing four runs(one earned) walked one and struck out five, and he looked like he is almost ready for the season, but R.J Alvarez came in relief and allowed two hits and four earned runs in 1/3 of an inning and was charged with the loss.Mark Cahna on his second season had these numbers on his rookie year, .254 with 16 home runs and 70 RBI in 124 games. The San Jose native says he is happy with his spring training, and he should be. This Sunday the A’s host the Chicago White Sox at Mesa.
Mark Cahna continues to enjoy and excellent spring, got two hits in three at bats and is now hitting .929. Josh Phegley hit his second homer of training camp for the A’s who now  have a record of 6-7.
CACTUS NOTES: Remember Cliff Pennington?who started his major league career with the Athletics in 2008 and played until 2012 with the green and gold, he is now with the LA Angels and is having a tremendous spring, hitting .1016 an according with what Angels manager Mike Scioscia told me “he is in the run for that second base position”with Gregorio Petit and and very talented rookie Rey Navarro, all competing for the position that last season was filled by Johnny Giavotella, however, even if he doesn’t make that second base position, Pennington could be the utility man in the infield for this years’ LA Angels….Mike Gallego who was the third-base coach for the A’s, until the Ron Washington’s return to Oakland is now working for the Angels as Director of Baseball Development…Jarrod Parker will undergo elbow surgery on April 1, and depending what happens his future still unclear…Matt Cain made his first appearance of the spring as he started tonight’s game against the Padres in Scottsdale, he went 2 plus innings, 7 hits and 3 earned runs with a total of 51 pitches he made. Cain(The Horse)has been plagued by injuries and multiple surgeries. I believe he is one of the keys to the Giants new rotation, and will have more on that later this month on my 2016 season predictions.. Saturday the Athletics split squad visit Scottsdale to play the San Francisco Giants…
Sold-out Patches: The 2016 Arizona Spring Training logos, which all the 15 teams wear(patch)on the shoulders were sold out at every stadium  souvenir shops I have been so far, If you caught any of the games on TV it is the patch that is designed as a US route/road emblem or sign with the letters AZ.  For the 15 teams training in Florida it is the same but it reads FL.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Tony Renteria: Parker getting his swing ready in camp; alook at Cain’s progress from the mound; Lincecum is well sought former Giant

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photo credit: rantsports.com–Giants Jarrett Parker getting tuned up for spring training

On the MLB podcast with Tony the San Francisco Giants outfielder Jarrett Parker who hit three home runs in one game last September says he’s anxious to get started. The Giants have been watching the young player and whether he can continue swinging a mean bat. The Giants pitcher Matt Cain has been taking throws off the mound and is set for tossing his first exhibition game. Giants manager Bruce Bochy is hoping the experienced pitcher’s arm is okay and that he can get back in action again.

The Kansas City Royals slipped in a couple of scouts at a rehab facility that former Giant pitcher Tim Lincecum was throwing at. The two scouts were ceremoniously escorted from the facility. Lincecum has drawn all sorts of interest from a number of ball clubs and where he’ll end up is anyone’s guest. Oakland A’s pitcher Jarrod Parker whose back on the DL after throwing 12 pitches in a simulated game before leaving. Parker who had two Tommy John surgeries is still the subject of the A’s bullpen puzzle and who will replace him while he’s on the DL.

Tony explains the rest of what’s happening in MLB catch all the baseball headlines in the podcast below and every week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s, Gray beat Giants in Cactus League; Cueto hit by liner

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By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Monday, March 14, 2016

AP photo of SF Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto warming up in Scottsdale AZ on Thu Feb 18, 2016

MESA, Arizona – If this were a regular season matchup, Monday night’s Cactus League mound dual between Oakland’s Sonny Gray and San Francisco’s Johnny Cueto would be marquee material.

Gray had the better of it, working 4 2/3 innings to get the win in a 10-3 verdict over the Giants before a sellout crowd of 10,080 at Hohokam Stadium.

The All-Star right-hander threw 64 pitches, struck out four without a walk, gave up two hits – including a home run in the fourth inning to Matt Duffy – and earned his second win of the spring.

“It’s a good atmosphere for playing (the Giants), no matter where we play,” said Gray, who is in the final year of his A’s contract. “I felt really good, I felt my stuff was sharp, and I didn’t walk anybody, which was good. I had a couple more three-ball counts than I’d like to.

“I didn’t know how many pitches I’d throw, or how many innings. I just tried to go out there and compete,” he continued. “A lot of people say ‘it’s just spring training.’ For me, every time I take the mound in the spring, it’s a game. You may want to just work on stuff, but it’s never fun to give up runs or hits. Mentally I think you’re in every game. You still want to put up zeroes, no matter who you’re throwing against.”

A’s catcher Stephen Vogt said Gray “looked good,” saying, “I thought he threw a lot of good breaking balls, he threw a handful of sliders – that was maybe his most inconsistent pitch, but he still threw some pretty good ones. He had good command of his fastball, and threw some really good changeups as well.”

“We threw everything today,” Gray said. “We treated it like a regular season start, and we got some really good work in, I think.”

Gray also dodged a line drive hit by Conor Gillaspie in the fifth inning.

“It was a fastball,” Gray said. “I don’t know where it went – I was just ducking.”

VOGT IMPRESSED
It’s not just the pitchers who get tuned up. Vogt was behind the plate for his first chance to catch Gray this spring.

“Being under the lights with Sonny out there against the Giants helps to get ready mentally,” Vogt said of his first game behind the plate this spring. “There was a lot of adrenaline. It felt great to get back there and get started catching.”

Vogt said it was important to be back behind the plate. “There were some things to work on, like my timing – I was a little jumpy on things like going down too early to block pitches and anticipating a little too much. But for the most part, I felt great.

“Now, it’s just a matter of building the arm strength back up, and I’m ready to go.”

“It’s nice to have him back out there,” Gray said. “We still need to see what we’re going with, especially in the early part. But it was good to get out there and work with him.”

CUETO STATUS
Cueto was taken to a local hospital to undergo tests for a possible concussion. Tests showed that Cueto suffered a contusion after Oakland leadoff hitter Billy Burns lined his first pitch of the game off his head.

After being examined by the Giants trainers, Cueto stayed in the game and worked three innings. As per Giants team policy in these situations, Cueto was not available to talk to the media.

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said Cueto’s condition would be monitored Monday night through Tuesday.

“No signs of anything yet,” Bochy said. “That really shows you how tough he is. It shows how much he wanted to pitch, even in a spring training game.”

In Cueto’s three innings, a three-run homer to Josh Reddick was among the five hits he surrendered while striking out two and walking one.

THE GAME
Oakland 3B Danny Valencia hit his second home run of the spring, and Tyler Ladendorf hit his first CL homer in the eighth inning. Despite the margin of the final score, A’s reliever Felix Doubront worked the last three innings to get his first spring save.

MOVIN’ ON
San Francisco reassigned 11 players to its minor league camp: RHP Tyler Beede, RHP Sam Coonrod, RHP Chase Johnson, RHP Albert Saurez, C Aramis Garcia, C Tyson Ross, C Matt Winn, INF Christian Arroyo, INF Ryder Jones, INF Rando Moreno and OF Junior Arias.

The Giants also optioned eight players: RHP Ray Black, RHP Kyle Crick, RHP Ian Gardeck, RHP Joan (pronounced Joe-on) Gregorio, RHP Derek Law, LHP Adalberto Mejia, RHP Jake Smith and RHP Chris Stanton.

Meanwhile, the Athletics optioned RHP Andrew Triggs and RHP J.B. Wendelkin and INF Joey Wendle to Triple-A Nashville.

A’s ANNOUNCE TV SCHEDULE
The Athletics announced that all 162 regular season games will be televised, including 147 on CSN California. The remaining 15 games will be available in the A’s TV territory on MLB Network and ESPN.

TAGS: Sports Radio Service,Oakland Athletics,San Francisco Giants,Sonny Gray,Johnny Cueto

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s manager Bob Melvin and an exclusive interview with Amaury

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by Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

photo credit:fansided.com–A’s manager Bob Melvin who interviewed with Amaury Pi Gonzalez Mon Mar 14, 2016

Hohokam Park, Mesa. March 14. Monday–One of the best and most underrated managers in the game is Bob Melvin of the Oakland Athletics. He has led the A’s to three postseason appearances in the last four plus seasons. He was born in Palo Alto and currently lives in Berkeley; he will be 55 years old next October. Before the games between the A’s and their Bay Area rivals San Francisco Giants, we sat on the bench dedicated to the late Bob Welch A’s pitcher, at the right hand corner of the A’s dugout. This was the first night game this spring for the Athletics.

Q: We are almost at the half way part of this seasons Spring Training for your team, the news on pitcher Jarred Parker was not good, but overall, can you give me an overview of how you see your team at this time?

Melvin: ”We are about as .500 as you can get, we are 5-5-2(5 wins 5 loses and 2 ties) but we have seen a lot of good things, we have some new players we are looking at different positions, we are looking at the health of our players at this point, Our numbers would suggest like games six to 14, you run into some injury problems and we have tried to combine that with giving guys two days off, and then maybe a little bit two days and extend them from now and basically at this time we are trying to keep everybody healthy, obviously the Jarrod Parker situation is not pretty, someone I have grown to be very close with – he has been here for a while and he has many friends on this side of the field, I feel for the kid and you know as good as he was, and as good a person as he is as hard as he works. This has been a couple of tough tough days for everybody here”.

Q: You do a tremendous job with a team that basically changes in player personal every year. What is the biggest challenging for you every year come Spring Training?

Melvin: “Well, you know there are a lot of variables to that, trying to create the good clubhouse dynamic that we have been known for a team that embraces individualism and let them do their thing, and we had some success in doing that, and obviously last year we have some difficulty, we do have some turnover here, but we have guys that have been here for a while, like Coco Crisp, Sonny Gray, Stephen Vogt, Josh Reddick and the keys for those guys in the clubhouse is to make everybody feel comfortable, we had some turnover coaches-wise too, having Ron Washington back here has been terrific, is great to have him like another manager with a sounding voice too, and was has gone under the radar here this spring is the return of Mark Kotsay as a coach in an Oakland A’s uniform, he quit playing just a couple of years ago and players have a ton of respect for him and he is really good in this job he is taking it to it like a natural he has schedules and a lot of things that he has to take care specially in Spring Training and he has handled it flawlessly, so at this time I am very happy with him and my coaching staff”

Q:Can you tell me about this young pitcher you have by the name of Sean Manaea, the scouts speak very highly of him.

Melvin: “For good reason….he is a great talent he pitched in the Fall League this year and for a young guy to come to camp and into a new organization he is out there with the mind that he needs to work on things, can’t say enough of good stuff about him, we will see him a few more times hopefully and really the sky is the limit for this kid”

Q: Finally. Today is the first night game of this training camp for our team, I believe years ago they played night games towards the end of the spring schedule. Guys like the great Orlando Cepeda has told me he liked to play more at night; he could see the ball better. How do you feel about that?

Melvin: “I do like that, once you play so many day games in a row, and everyday seems to be the same, this plays in nicely, and playing the Giants on a TV game there is more enthusiasm, we have Sonny Gray on the mound tonight and Johnny Cueto for them, this would suggest a nice little break in the action. As far as playing I night, I like it when I used to play I usually play during the days on Sundays, since I was s semi-backup guy, so I got used more to playing during the day, but I think the routine of playing the night games is better for the players, they are not getting up early and rushing to the park.”

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

 

     
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Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: More improved A’s roster for 2016 season

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by Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit: zimbio.com–A’s first baseman Mark Canha will be taking his swings this spring training in Mesa AZ

For A’s pitcher Jarrod Parker whose on the 60 day DL due to an elbow injury was not going to be in the starting rotation as Parker would have been coming out of the bullpen for the A’s had he stayed healthy. The A’s are going to have to go in a different direction and try and find someone to fill in in that slot. What A’s manager Bob Melvin has in mind for the A’s and we’ll see what happens.

The A’s have some flexibility they picked up outfielder Chris Coghlan as well as Mark Canha at first base. Coco Crisp will be coming back with Billy Burns in center and Josh Reddick in right the A’s have a pretty good depth and they have a lot of flexibility the A’s have a lot of players that can play more than one position.

Listen to the rest of Jerry’s A’s podcast below and each week right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s, Brewers settle for tie in spring slugfest

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By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, March 5, 2016

AP Photo: Oakland A’s catcher Josh Phegley gets a walk off solo shot in the last of the ninth with two outs for the tying run

MESA, Arizona – The 5,218 fans who came to Hohokam Stadium enjoyed a good look at the future of the Oakland Athletics in Saturday’s Cactus League exercise with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Eight of the Athletics’ top ten prospects, as evaluated by Baseball America, are on the 40-man roster – six of them in uniform for Saturday’s game, which ended in an 8-8 tie after nine innings, three hours and 39 minutes.

It was the Athletics’ first tie game of the spring after going 1-2 in their first three contests.

No. 1 prospect Franklin Barreto reached on an error and scored a run, No. 3 prospect Matt Chapman walked and scored a run, and No. 7 prospect Chad Pinter went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI single.

Other prospects had good days as well. Andrew Lambo was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, and Tyler Ladendorf drove in a pair of runs.

THE GAME
Reserve catcher Josh Phegley’s solo home run to left with two out in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at 8-8.

The Brewers surged ahead in the top of the ninth on a two-run homer by Yadiel Rivera off Oakland reliever Dylan Covey.

Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning and pushed four runs across in the fifth. Eric Sogard and Carson Blair led off the inning with base hits, followed by an RBI single by Lambo. A walk to Chapman loaded the bases.

New Brewers pitcher Brooks Hall threw a wild pitch that allowed Blair to score, with Lambo and Chapman moving up a base. Pinder followed with a walk to re-load the bases, setting the table for Ladendorf, who laced a single to left, scoring Lambo and Chapman.

The A’s added an unearned run in the sixth when Barreto reached on an infield error and scored on a two-out single by Pinder.

Milwaukee made it close in the top of the seventh with a four-run rally, including a three-run homer by Andy Wilkins, and a solo shot to right by non-roster invitee Alex Presley. Both home runs were surrendered by Tucker Healy, whose pitching line was four earned runs on two homers and a hit by pitch in one-third of an inning.

Left-hander Rich Hill started for the A’s, working 1 1/3 innings. He gave up one earned run on two hits, struck out one and walked three. Ryan Brasier, Liam Hendriks, Raul Alcantara, Daniel Coulombe, Trey Cochran-Gill, Healy, Kris Hall and Covey all saw mound action for Oakland.

CACTUS NEEDLES: As an indication of the Cactus League’s growth over the last decade, this was the only exhibition game scheduled this spring between the Brewers and A’s. It’s the first time since at least 1986 (when such records were kept) that the two clubs had met only once in March. … The A’s have 62 players in camp, including 22 non-roster invitees. … The A’s next three CL games are against San Diego (Sunday), Kansas City (Monday) and Texas (Tuesday).

TAGS: Oakland Athletics,Sports Radio Service,Cactus League,Daniel Dullum

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: It’ll be hard to predict where the A’s will end up this season

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo credit: pinterest.com–1908 Chicago Cubs who defeated the Detroit Tigers in the 1908 World Series in their last World Series victory

 MESA AZ–As their Spring Training camp opened in Mesa, Arizona, the Oakland Athletics who finished with a 68-94 record in last place in 2015, have the eternal optimism that springs bring. The Chicago Cubs are 4 to 1 favorites to win the 2016 World Series. The Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers to win the 1908 World Series.. As of today, this is the last World Series title for the Chicago Cubs. Nobody is picking the A’s to win anything this season,it is as simple as that, and the World Series is not even in the discussion.
Predicting how the Athletics would finish in the standings each year is not an easy task, for a team that is in constant evolution, and specially in the American League West by itself-a very turbulent and difficult division to predict.
The Houston Astros have the Cy Young and the Rookie of the Year and a young and dynamic team. the Texas Rangers have their #1 pitcher Yu Darvish back, and very experience players, the Seattle Mariners still have a formidable team with big name stars, and the Los Angeles Angels, just like the Athletics have many questions that will have to be answered as this Soring Training develops as well as during the regular season.
Recently during a Presidential primary in Iowa a candidate won by a “coin flip”, I am tempted to also toss a coin in the air and make a prediction how the Oakland Athletics will do this season. Their bullpen engine was replaced now with John Axford(Colorado),Liam Hendricks(Toronto), Ryan Madson(Kansas City), Marc Rzepczynski(San Diego), and hopefully a healthy Sean Doolittle from the start. The A’s bullpen was not a pretty site in 2015. The team also acquired 26 year old right handed starter Henderson Alvarez(Miami). Alvarez had shoulder surgery in July of last year so he will not be ready for the start of the season, but he has the potential to be the #2 on the rotation behind Sonny Gray.
Alvarez was 0-4 last season and 12-7 and 2.65 earned run average during the 2014 season. A’s also added Yonder Alonso(San Diego) who will be competing to play at first base, and who also had a 2015 season restricted by injuries. Chris Davis came from Milwaukee where he hit .247 with 27 home runs and 66 runs batted it. I like to be optimistic about Davis who does have power, however,there is a difference  between Miller Park in Milwaukee and the O.Co at Oakland. Jed Lowrie(Houston .222, 9 homers 30 runs batted in)is back with the A’s.
Billy Butler needs a rebound season, Mark Canha will be on his second season, Sony Gray and Stephen Vogt are All Stars, Josh Reddick begins his fifth season with the club and 2015 was his best since 2012, he hit for ,.272 with 20 home runs and drove in 77 runs. Billy Burns brings speed and excitement to the lead-off spot and veteran Coco Crisp needs to be healthy most of the season. Later next month, when the team breaks camp and we can see who is healthy and who is not who is ready and who is not and all that stuff that happens during Spring Training, I will have a much clearer picture and my predictions for this up coming season.
Sorry, but right now, I cannot predict where the Oakland A’s will finish in 2016.  Can I have that coin again?  let me see…
 Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
     
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