Category: Oakland Athletics

Can the A’s win the Division?

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s beat the Seattle Mariners today at the Oakland Coliseum. It’s really something to see a shift in attitude and play in just one day. The A’s acquired Adam Dunn in a trade with the White Sox yesterday

and all he did was hit a home run in his first at bat as an Athletic. The A’s, who played lousy ball in the four games in Anaheim, seemed to right the ship and played like the A’s that played so well for the first four months of the year. Jed Lowrie played in his first game since going on the DL and Geovany Soto, acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers, drove in two with a single and actually threw out a runner trying to steal.All these were positives. The hitting came to life and the defense was crisp. A’s pitcher Jason Hammel picked up his second win as an Athletic and his performance was outstanding. He pitched well his last time out and seems to have gotten his game back on track. This gives the A’s five strong starters in the rotation.

The A’s have twenty-five games left to play. They have five more with Seattle as well as series with the Phillies , Astros , Rangers and Angels. The A’s have to get their mojo back and go on a tear if they are to win the division. The Angels are playing well and now have a 4 /12 game lead over the A’s but there is reason not to believe that the A’s can’t win the division and avoid the one game playoff with the second wild card team.

It was a big momentum shift for the A’s on Monday and let’s hope that they can continue to play well down the stretch. They are in the last month of play and the season is no longer a marathon. It’s now a sprint to the finish and the A’s won the division on the last day of play in 2012. Who is to say that can’t happen again this year?–

Jerry Feitelberg
jyf1938

Disaster in SoCal – the Angels sweep four in a row from the A’s

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matt shoemaker

 By Charlie O. Mallonee

Have you ever had a nightmare that will not go away? Every time you close your eyes, it comes back.

That was the kind of nightmare the Oakland A’s experienced in Los Angeles versus the Angels in their critical four-game series to determine the leader in the American League West. Every time the A’s closed their eyes, they saw an Angel pitcher dominating the hitters and keeping the A’s from scoring runs. They saw Angel’s batters having very little difficulty hitting Oakland pitching. Every time the A’s players looked at the scoreboard, they saw themselves as the losers in very critical games.

The A’s went into the game on Sunday hoping salvage one win in the four-game series. It was not to be as Los Angeles pitcher Matt Shoemaker pitched seven scoreless innings while his hitters limited A’s starter Scott Kazmir to just.1.1 innings of work. The Angels beat the A’s 8-1 to sweep the series.

The Angels struck first and struck hard in the bottom of the second inning. Josh Hamilton led off the inning with a single to left field. Howie Kendrick then walked. David Freese flied out to center. Erick Aybar singled to left field and Josh Hamilton scored as Kendrick moved up to second base. Chris Iannetta walked to load the bases for the Angels. After Curt Young made a visit to the mound, Scott Kazmir walked Gordon Beckham forcing in a run from third base. Kole Calhoun then walked forcing in Aybar for the third run of the inning.

Bob Melvin made a trip to the mound to remove Kazmir before the next hitter. As Dan Otero ran in from the bullpen, Melvin started toward home plate umpire Gerry Davis to complain about the strike zone. Davis immediately ejected Melvin.

Mike Trout singled off Otero driving two runs in and putting the Angels up 5-0. Albert Pujols grounded out to third but Kole Calhoun was able to score from third. Josh Hamilton was safe at first on a fielding error but Mike Trout was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second to end the inning. When the dust settled, the A’s starting pitcher was in the clubhouse, Bob Melvin was ejected and Oakland trailed the Angels 6-0.

The Angels added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mike Trout led off the inning with a home run to left center field off Jesse Chavez to make the score 7-0 Los Angeles.

The A’s finally stopped their streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Sam Fuld walked. Fuld advanced to second on defensive indifference as Josh Reddick was at the plate. Reddick then hit a single to left and Fuld scampered home to score the A’s one and only run of the game.

The Angels added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Chris Iannetta took an Evan Scribner pitch over the left center field wall for the eighth run of the game.

Shoemaker’s record improved to 14-4 on the season. He worked 7.0 innings giving up no runs on just five hits. Shoemaker walked none and struck out seven Oakland A’s. He threw 103 pitches (70 strikes).

Scott Kazmir’s record fell to 14-7 for the year. He gave up six runs (all earned) in his 1.1 innings on the mound. Kazmir walked six batters and struck out none. Dan Otero, Jesse Chavez and Evan Scribner combined to close out the game for the A’s.

Oakland now trails the Angels by five full games in the American League West. The Angels have Monday off and then begin a series in Houston on Tuesday. The A’s will be back in action on Monday as they open a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners.

The Angels and A’s will face each other again in a three-game series in Oakland September 22-24.

 

 

Dunn to the rescue?

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by Charlie O. Mallonee
The Oakland Athletics are making moves to jumpstart their offense by completing a trade with the Chicago White Sox for outfielder/designated hitter Adam Dunn. The A’s acquired Dunn and cash considerations in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Nolan Sanburn.

Dunn is currently batting .220 with 20 home runs and 54 RBI in 106 games for the White Sox. He is tied for seventh in the American League with 65 walks but he is ranked seventh with 132 strikeouts. Dunn will do one of three things for the A’s at the plate – hit a home run, walk or strikeout.

Dunn has played DH, first base, right field and left field for Chicago this season. Prior to the start of the game in Anaheim, A’s manager Bob Melvin indicated that Dunn will be used mostly as the designated hitter for Oakland.

Adam Dunn is a .237 career hitter with 460 home runs and 1158 RBI in 1976 Major League games. His 460 home runs ranks him 36th on the all-time list just one behind David Ortiz.

Dunn is expected to join the A’s on Labor Day. Because the trade was completed by August 31st, Dunn will be eligible to play in the post-season for the Athletics.

A’s Shutout by Halos, Endanger of Being Swept by Rivals

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By Matthew Harrington

There is an inevitability in Major League baseball that, no matter the abundance of talent assembled on one squad, every team will hit a rough patch. Anyone who thinks an organization can plod through the minefield of a 162-game schedule unscathed from a barrage of consecutive losses at some point probably believes the plumbing at O.Co Coliseum is just fine and dandy as well.

While the Oakland Athletics looked like they previously found a way to advance their 25-man platoon through the tormenting minefield of a grueling MLB season without a valley to match their peak, the losses have piled up at an alarming rate of late. The A’s, who led the Majors in Wins at the All-star Break, have finally hit the frustrating patch of the season. It appears to have come at the most inopportune time for the Green and Gold.

The A’s entered a critical four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels Thursday night looking to bridge a one-game deficit in the American League West standings. With a couple of wins in Anaheim, the A’s (78-57)hoped to pass then put some distance between them and the Halos entering the season’s seminal month. After being shutout 2-0 Saturday night at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Oakland is now just looking to keep fans from having to use all five of their fingers on one hand to count the number of games back they will be entering play on Labor Day.

The loss Saturday opened the floodgates of frustration, with the A’s locker room proving to be a frigid place following a second-consecutive shutout at the hands of LA. The Swingin’ A’s have been mostly swinging and missing of late, scoring only three runs over 28 innings in SoCal. Oakland boasts 15 hits in the series.

Saturday the A’s only mustered three hits Saturday against a string of Angels pitchers. Manager Mike Scioscia called upon eight different relievers for the injury beset Angels, using long reliever Cory Rasmus to pitch the first three scoreless innings.

Michael Roth retired only one Athletic in relief of Rasmus to open the fourth before loading the bases, prompting A’s manager Bob Melvin to pinch-hit right-hander Jonny Gomes for Josh Reddick against the lefty Roth. Scioscia countered by bringing in right-sider Yoslan Herrera (1-1, 5.87 ERA)to limit the damage. Gomes bounced a chopper that deflected off a leaping Herrera’s glove right to second baseman Howie Kendrick who started the inning-ending double-play to make Herrera Saturday’s winner.

The Halos (82-53) would score twice (with only one run earned) off A’s starter Jeff Samardzija in the bottom half of the inning. The Shark (6-11, 3.14) pitched a complete-game, eight inning effort but wound up the loser despite his nine strikeouts. He did save a bullpen that remains short-handed even with the addition of Evan Scribner for the recently demoted Drew Pomeranz.

While the A’s still boast home-field advantage in the one-game playoff over the Detroit Tigers as holders of the top Wild Card spot, the A’s need to take Sunday’s finale to build confidence down the stretch run. Melvin will send Scott Kazmir to the mound looking to play stopper while Matt Shoemaker takes the hill for the Halos looking for the sweep.

 

The Angels shut out the A’s

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The Oaktown boys had another tough night Friday in Anaheim as they lost again to the Los Angeles Angels 4-0. The A’s sent their ace, John Lester, to pitch for them and while he pitched well, it was not enough to right the ship. The Angels had their ace, Jered Weaver, going for them and Weaver went seven innings allowing just three hits and no runs. The A’s now have their work cut out for them as they are now three games back of the Angels and with two games left in this series, the A’s will leave Anaheim 5 games back if they lose the next two, three games back if they split the two games or one game back if they win both. Jeff Samardzija will pitch Saturday against TBA and Scott Kazmir goes on Sunday against Matt Shoemaker.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Angels got two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Erick Aybar led off with a single. The next batter Chris Ianneta, hit a fly ball to deep

left center field. The A’s center Fielder, Coco Crisp, made a valiant effort to make a leaping catch as the ball was going over the fence. Crisp jumped as high as he could and he actually caught the ball in his glove but his momentum carried him full force into the wall causing him to drop to the ground. He was not able to keep the ball in his glove and it fell to the ground for a two run home run. Coco was

visibly shaken up on the play and was in a lot of pain. Bob Melvin and the team trainer raced out to center field and Coco had to leave the game.

The Angels scored another run in the sixth as the A’s made two errors in the inning and the Halos were able to load the bases with two out. Lester walked Chris Ianneta to force in the run. Lester was done for the night going six innings allowing four hits and three runs one of which was unearned. Evan Scribner came in to pitch the seventh and with two out, future Hall of Fame player, Albert Pujols, blasted his 24th home run of the year to left field. For Pujols, it was his 516th home run of his fantastic career.

Joe Smith pitched the eighth and Huston Street pitched the ninth for the Angels to secure the win.

Final score 4-0 in favor of the Halos.

Notes: Jon Lester took the loss and his record for the year is now 13-9. The Angels’ Jered Weaver picked up the win and is now 15-7 for the season. The A’s will now have their first losing month since May 2012 ending a streak of fourteen consecutive winning months. They are 12-15 for August with two games left to play this month.

After the game, Coco Crisp, when asked about the play that he almost made on the ball that went over the fence, said “ just tried to time it…hit the wall and caught it but didn’t know if I had it until I dropped down.” He also said “ we’re going through a rough stretch right now but we’ve been playing hard.”

A’s manager Bob Melvin echoed that when he said”things aren’t going our way right now.” When asked about Lester’s performance he “ though he did real good.”

The A’s need to get the offense going. Now that Yoenis Cespedes is in Boston, it is imperative to other players to pick up the slack as managers around the league are not going to pitch to Josh Donaldson.

Donaldson has been hot in his last five games going 8 for 16 but Weaver would not give Josh anything to hit in the sixth inning when Donaldson had a man in scoring position. Weaver ended up walking him

to prevent him from doing any damage.

Game three of the four game series will be played Saturday night at 6:05pm

A’s and Giants commentary: Brew Crew can give Giants the business this series; A’s need to get some hitting in Angels series

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by Michael Duca

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants have had much success from the last series winning three out of the last four games on this homestand over the Colorado Rockies. The Giants opened up a three game series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. The Brewers are in second in the National League Central and likewise the Giants another second place team in the N.L. West behind the league leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Brewers remind me of the 2010 Giants they could have that kind of come back potential and the Brewers have a lot of pitching that nobody seems to believe in and a lot of pitching that nobody thought they had. Commissioner Bud Selig and the Brewers former owner wanted to install a team when he owned the Brewers that gave hope to the fan in Milwaukee in July and August and low and behold the Brewers have a shot at this.

The Brewers have a good of a shot at winning this as anyone, the St.Louis Cardinals who are right behind the Brew Crew and don’t ever count them out they have a potent line up and experience in the post season. The Cardinals have some big boppers starting with Matt Adams hitting .303 leading the club in hitting, Jhonny Peralta leading the Cards with 18 homers and Matt Holliday 68 RBIs.

Giants starter Yusmiero Petit is a phenom he’s 4-3 with an ERA of 3.44, he set the Major League record retiring the first eight batters he faced against the Rockies and extended his streak to 46 consecutive batters an MLB record. I said this week in this space that Petit is a throwing machine with 96 strikeouts he’s walked only 17 batters and he’s on track to taking pitcher Tim Lincecum’s spot in the rotation at the rate he’s going.

Oakland A’s update: The A’s who lost the first game of the four game series in Anaheim 4-3 to the Angels and are two games back but one game does not make a four game series. You can’t put too much stock right now into this race as the A’s seem to be doing more with pitching than they are with hitting. The A’s aren’t manufacturing a lot of runs and the team offensively seemed to hit a funk since the Yoenis Cespedes trade to Boston.

I don’t know what to tell you, you have guys who pitched for the A’s who got sent down to the minor leagues who probably would be number three or number four pitchers in the Angels rotation and the Angels would love to have a pitcher like a Drew Pomeranz who had his emotions get the best of him back in June when he lost a ball game against the Texas Rangers and punched a chair breaking his hand. Pomeranz is a talent the Angels would like to have.

The Angels have had injuries, they have had poor performances and once they get the injury bug like the Angels you feel it up and down the line up. Angels pitcher Garrett Richards just rejoined the team on crutches as he’s out with a season ending knee injury. The loss of Richards has put the hurt on the Angels rotation, the Angels demoted pitcher Wade LaBlanc, he was designated for assignment and replaced with Trevor Cahill.

The Angels Mike Trout is a guy who’s tearing it up and the only way you can pitch a guy like that is you pitch him inside, he’s hitting .291 with 30 homers, and 94 RBIs. There is not much you could do with a guy like Trout because the Angels are going to make you adjust when he’s at the plate. Trout can do it all he’s now got two 30 home run seasons.

Michael Duca does Giants and A’s commentary weekly for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fuld’s Go-Ahead Homer Lifts A’s in the Ninth

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By Matthew Harrington

Once again the Oakland Athletics kept pace with the American League West Leaders, the Los Angeles Angels, coming from behind Wednesday night to top the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The A’s clung to a one-game divisional deficit and notched their league-leading 12th win when trailing after seven innings.

The A’s rallied from down 3-2 in the ninth inning, scoring three runs off Astros closer Chad Qualls to make Dan Otero (8-1, 2.21 ERA) the winning pitcher. Eric Sogard tied the game on a run-scoring single before Sam Fuld ripped a two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie and provide the A’s (78-54) their game-winning hit. 

In his return to the major league roster, Drew Pomeranz pitched adequately for Oakland. The lefty allowed one unearned run over 5 1/3 innings on three hits. He struck out seven Astros but departed with the no decision after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento for first basemen Nate Freiman earlier in the afternoon. Freiman was sent to Class A Beloit to stay close to the parent club as he waits out the handful of days until his expected return to the major league roster when rosters expand September 1st.

Houston starter Brad Peacock matched Pomeranz, throwing 5 1/3 innings of one-man baseball with six punchouts but neither starter factored into the final decision. Chad Qualls (1-4, 3.55) was hitched with the loss and blown save after surrendering the run-scoring hits to Sogard and Fuld in the ninth. Interim A’s closer Eric O’Flaherty picked up his first save since taking the mantle for an injured Sean Doolittle. The lefty allowed a solo shot to Chris Carter in his inning of work but finished up the ninth inning to seal the game up 5-4.

The A’s scored first on a Jonny Gomes sacrifice fly, but Houston (56-78) leveled the advantages after Jose Altace scored on a wild pitch in the home half of the inning. Coco Crisp hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to put Oakland on top 2-1 but the Astros scored twice in the bottom of the seventh on Robbie Grossman and Altuve RBI singles off Fernando Abad and Otero respectively.

With the win Wednesday ,  the A’s enter a pivotal four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels one game behind their Southern California foes. Sonny Gray takes the ball Thursday night at Angel Stadium looking to down C. J. Wilson and the Halos for the AL West lead.

Thats Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s finding out that winning the west might go down to the wire

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

ANAHEIM–The Houston Astros managed by Bo Porter will not finish last their going to finish next to last, their not going to lose 100 games. Porter is doing a great job and Chris Carter hit a home run on Tuesday night against the Oakland A’s a three run shot that helped beat the A’s 4-2 at Minute Maid Field.

Carter a Redwood City native and designated hitter for Houston has 32 homers and 77 RBIs and is one of the best sluggers in baseball. The A’s are having problems, they lost pitcher Sean Doolittle and he’s out for two weeks. Now their going to have to find someone solid like Doolittle closing games.

On Tuesday it was Gregorson who gave up the three run homer, the A’s also have catcher John Jaso whose out with a concussion indefinitely and the club has some injury problems. This is like I said before a race for the finish line. The L.A. Angels keep winning and they hold first place over the A’s and the Angels host the A’s starting this Thursday that will be a test for the A’s.

The Angels have the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night at the Big A and this will be the last time the Halos play a National League team and the then the A’s are in Anaheim for a four game series which is crucial for both teams here in August.

The A’s and Angels are both grasping for the brass ring as the pennant race is razor thin right now. One of these teams are vying for the division and if they make it fine but everybody is trying to get into the division. Because you win the division you win the best of five and if you win the wild card you play one elimination game that’s a big difference.

I subscribe to the theory of former A’s manager Tony LaRussa the most difficult thing to do is to win your division. You play 162 games and you try and win your division. Once you win your division then your in decent shape but we’ll have to see what happens. Both of these teams are probably going to make it to the playoffs.

However aside for the Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Angels let us not forget about the Seattle Mariners their six games out and in first place in the wild card and they still have a bunch of games left with the A’s and Angels and if the M’s can keep winning they’ll keep rising to the top.

So this very well could be a three team race for the division with a few days left, most teams have to win between 28-38 games after tonight. Now is when the rubber hits the road and were going to see what teams are contenders and what teams are pretenders.

Amaruy Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for Angels baseball and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com each week

Late Houston Rally Sinks the A’s

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Oakland A’s 4-2 Tuesday night in Houston. The A’s sent Jason Hammel to pitch for the Green and Gold. Hammel

has a 1-5 record and an ERA of 6.75 since coming to the A’s on July 1st. Hammel had two good outings but has not pitched well and was bombed in his last outing. The A’s allowed him to skip a start and he was well rested and he pitched extremely well for seven innings. Without question it was his best outing as he allowed just three hits and the only run allowed was a Dexter Fowler blast to right field in the fourth inning. He threw just 93 pitches and 60 were strikes. He was opposed by Astro lefty Dallas Keuchel who also pitched very well. Keuchel went seven innings allowing just five hits and two runs, one of which was unearned. The A’s were shocked when Luke Gregerson blew the save and took the loss.

The A’s took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Coco Crisp drew a walk to start the inning

Craig Gentry laid down a push bunt that Houston starter, Dallas Keuchel, couldn’t handle. Keuchel was charged with an error but it was a very difficult play and it could have been ruled a hit. Josh Donaldson and Derek Norris hit into ground outs but Jonny Gomes, who hits left-handed pitchers very well, singled to drive in Gentry with the first run of the game for the A’s.

The Astros threatened in the bottom of the third. Hammel hit Gregorio Petit with a pitch. With one out, Jose Altuve hit a double that went into the stands sending Petit to third but had it not gone into the stands Petit would have scored. Former Athletic Chris Carter, who has 31 home runs so far this year, hit a line shot to left field that Jonny Gomes made a great play robbing Carter of at least a double and saving two runners from scoring.

The A’s scored another run in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jonny Gomes singled and then scored on a double to left off the bat of Nate Freiman. Freiman took third on the throw home but the A’s could not bring him home. The A’s and Jason Hammel were hoping for a shut down inning. The Astros’ Dexter Fowler had other thoughts as he blasted a home run to lead off the Astros half of the fourth.

The score stands at 2-1 after four.

The Astros took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Luke Gregerson was is relief of Jason Hammel who went seven innings and allowed just one and really pitched well. With one out, Robbie Grossman reached on an error. Gregerson hit Jose Altuve with a pitch to put men on at first and second.

Chris Carter then blasted a monster home run to left field to put the Astros in the lead 4-2 at the end of eight innings. Chad Qualls pitched the ninth and shut the door on the A’s and Qualls picked up his fifteenth save of the year for the Astros.

Notes- With the loss the A’s drop ½ game behind the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels had a 7-0 lead in their game against Miami and should they win the game the A’s will be a full game behind the Angels.

Geovany Soto, acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers, started in his first game as an A and had a hit.

The A’s conclude the three game set with Houston Wednesday then head to Los Angeles for a huge four game series with the Angels. Lefty Drew Pomeranz will go for the A’s and he will be opposed by the Astro’s Brad Peacock.

Samardzija Whiffs 10, Pulls A’s Even Atop AL West Standings

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics did their part Monday night in finding a way to return to the top of the American League West Standings. The A’s beat the Houston Astros 8-2 at Minute Maid Park, riding a dominant performance from Jeff Samardzija to victory. Josh Donaldson knocked in three runs while Derek Norris and Josh Reddick picked up a pair of RBIs apiece.

Samardzija (6-10, 3.23 ERA) turned in a much-needed deep outing for the Athletics, pitching eight solid innings of two-run ball. Samardzija, who fanned a whopping 10 Astros Monday, provided some respite for a taxed Oakland bullpen that was called upon to pitch six innings Sunday against the Angels after starter Scott Kazmir scuffled.

The A’s (77-53) staked Samardzija to an early lead after a run-scoring double off the bat of Josh Donaldson in the top of the third inning, then added two more runs an inning later on Josh Reddick’s 10th home run of the season off Houston starter Scott Feldman. Feldman (7-10, 4.34) yielded three runs over seven innings of work, taking the loss for the Astros.

In the eighth inning, Former Athletic Chris Carter lifted his 31st long ball of the season to right field, blemishing Samardzija’s shutout bid. The blast, coming with a man on, drew the Astros (55-77) within one run at 3-2.

Eric O’Flaherty, installed by manager Bob Melvin as interim A’s closer after All-star Sean Doolittle hit the disabled list Sunday with a strained right intercostal, looked en route to get his first save opportunity in his new role. While the lefty was loosening up with the A’s at the plate in the top of the ninth, his offense decided to delay him of his first chance. Oakland exploded for five runs in the frame to stake O’Flaherty to an 8-2. O’Flaherty worked his way around a double and walk to pitch a scoreless ninth and nail down the win.

The win, mixed with an Angels loss to the Marlins Monday, means Oakland now stands tied atop the West with Los Angeles. They’ll turn to Jason Hammel Tuesday night in hopes of maintaining the top spot in the division. Hammel will be opposed by the Astros’ Dallas Keuchel.

Joining Oakland Tuesday night will be newly-acquired catcher Geovany Soto. Soto, acquired Sunday from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations, will take the place of John Jaso. Jaso was placed on the seven-day disabled list after suffering a concussion Sunday. The A’s also moved Kyle Blanks to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Soto. Oakland also added minor league catcher Bryan Anderson from the Cincinnati Reds for cash as a contingency plan.