Category: Oakland Athletics

Boston’s Lester strikes out 15 in win over the A’s

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By Morris Phillips

he A’s got hit with the triple whammy on Saturday: John Lester’s outstanding pitching, Jonny Gomes’ big blast with the bases loaded and a healthy dose of Boston/Fenway magic.

Enough to do in the AL West leaders for sure, but a ninth inning rally had the Boston fans and Red Sox’s dugout plenty nervous, showing that the A’s don’t concede without throwing a flurry of late punches. Still the A’s fell for the second straight day, 6-3 at Fenway Park.

“It’s easy to just cash it in after you’ve struck out 15 times in eight innings and hadn’t had too many good swings and you’re frustrated.   And then to get those kind of at-bats in the ninth inning,” manager Bob Melvin said.

The A’s hadn’t experienced much adversity on the road in 2014 coming in. By winning 12 of their first 16 road contests, the team had performed exceptionally, taking the lead of its stellar starting pitching throughout. But a visit to the Green Monster–the home of hair-trigger offense–combined with starts by Dan Straily and Tommy Milone, the A’s struggling fourth and fifth starters, has a resulted in a pair of tough losses.

If nothing else, the two contests clearly show where the A’s will need improvement if they want a third straight season to extend into October. Straily and Milone are a combined 1-5, while the A’s top starters—Scott Kazmir, Sonny Gray and Jesse Chavez—are 10-1.

With the A’s batters having their hands full with Lester, Milone was effectively done after Gomes’ grand slam in the first inning. Milone walked leadoff batter Dustin Pedroia and third place hitter David Ortiz. Then after he struck out Mike Napoli, Gomes-the former Athletic—took Milone over the Green Monster for an early 4-0 lead.

Ortiz blasted the 436th home run of his career leading off the third to give Boston a 5-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Lester was rolling with his assortment of hard stuff on the corners, with the high fastball giving him an effective out pitch. The three-time World Series champ struck out all nine A’s starters at least once and got Josh Reddick for a hat trick. When he wasn’t striking A’s hitters out, he was still recording outs, getting Craig Gentry to hit into an inning-ending double play in the fifth.

Speaking of hat tricks, the Fenway crowd proved multifaceted by cheering loudly for each of the three goals in the Bruins big rally in the final six minutes of their win over Montreal in the second round of the NHL Playoffs across town.   The Bruins trailed 3-2 late before the big rally carried them to a 1-1 tie in their best-of-seven series.

The A’s late rally came after Lester called it a day after eight innings and 15 strikeouts. The first four hitters reliever Chris Capuano saw reached, allowing the A’s to score twice.   Closer Koji Uehara was summoned and he was initially shaky, walking Yoenis Cespedes to load the bases. But Uehara recovered, getting Derek Norris to ground into a run-scoring, fielder’s choice, striking out Alberto Callaspo and getting pinch-hitter Brandon Moss to fly out to end it.

The A’s figure to be far more competitive throughout the entire nine innings on Sunday when Sonny Gray (4-1, 1.76 ERA) gets the start. The young right hander will face ageless veteran John Lackey, looking to beat the A’s for the 20th time in his career that began in 2002 in Anaheim.

Straily And Relievers Have A Night To Forget, A’s Lose 7-1

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By Kahlil Najar

BOSTON – Tonight was a night that the A’s pitching staff wishes they could forget. Dan Straily (1-2) threw more balls than strikes and the A’s relieving crew of Otero, Cook and Pomeranz gave up five runs in the last four innings including a grand slam to give Boston a 7-1 victory over the Athletics.

The A’s gave up two runs in the bottom of the second with a single from A.J. Pierzynski who was able to score Grady Sizemore and Jackie Bradley Jr. who hit a double to drive home Pierzynski. The A’s were able to get on the board in the third when Clay Buchholz threw a wild pitch and John Jaso was able to score from third.

The big hurt came in the bottom of the sixth when Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam over the Green Monster and give the Red Sox a 6-1 lead. Pedroia now joins Carl Yastrzemski as the only players to hit 100 home runs and steal 100 bases in a Red Sox uniform. Mike Napoli added one more run in the bottom of the eighth when he singled home Shane Victorino and made it a 7-1 final.

On the A’s leaving 21 men on base Head Coach Bob Melvin said, “We hit some balls hard. We hit a lot of balls hard, actually — right at people and then didn’t get some hits when we did have some guys on base.”

For his pitching performance Straily said “I felt like every single time, every batter I was behind 2-0. That’s just not the way to pitch. It’s just a frustrating day.”

Boston and Oakland head back out tomorrow afternoon as Boston sends LHP Jon Lester (2-4) against Tommy Milone (0-2).

 

Michael Duca on A’s and Giants: Chavez turning out to be key for A’s rotation:Panda’s agent and Giants not talking entering May at .177

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by Michael Duca

The A’s who open up a three game set on Friday night in Fenway Park in Boston are coming off a very successful two city trip after splitting a four game series in Houston and sweeping the Rangers in Arlington.

One of the keys to the A’s success during their five wins out of seven games on this last part of this trip is surprising pitcher Jesse Chavez. Chavez on Wednesday threw a one hit shutout in seven innings of work against the Rangers, the win helped the A’s sweep the Rangers.

Chavez at the beginning of the year was no where near what A’s General Manager Billy Beane or A’s manager Bob Melvin would expect out of his right hander as Chavez came to the A’s with a career 5.48 ERA in 234 2/3 innings which he accomplished over 191 games.

After both pitchers on Oakland’s staff A.J.Griffin and Jarrod Parker both were lost to Tommy John surgery for the season Chavez has stepped up and in his last six starts he’s been 1.89 ERA with the best record on the team in strikeouts at 9.7. He’s averaging 5.1 strikeouts versus walks.

The A’s are also complimented by Sonny Gray (ERA 1.76) and Scott Kazmir (ERA 2.11). The A’s offense against Ranger starters Yu Darvish, Martin Perez, and Robbie Ross had rocketed 22 runs in 11 1/3 innings against.

Giants update, Panda struggling to meet the standard: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s asking price to the Giants is $90 million for five years worth of work which works out to what teammate Hunter Pence is getting.

Sandoval has been told by the team that he must reach a certain plateau on the stat sheet before the Giants would consider paying such a contract. Sandoval’s agent has said that negotiating a new contract now would be in the Giants best interest and that the Panda is worth the investment.

Giants General Manager Brian Sabean and Giants Manager Bruce Bochy disagree and have said that there are certain things that Sandoval needs to do in order to get what he wants, hit for average around the high .290s into the .300s, his run production and RBI production must be in the upper tier of the Giants pack.

Also Sandoval’s fielding must be top standard, errors down and put outs up. So far Sandoval has a lot of work in front of him as he’s hitting well under .200 at .177 entering Friday night’s action at Turner Field against the Braves with 11 runs, six RBIs and two homers.

While the goal standard Pence is hitting .262 with 18 runs, nine RBIs, and two home runs. While those might not be exactly Babe Ruth numbers Sandoval needs to match or pass those to keep his pace and case so at the end of the year he might be able to get what he wants.

As far as Gustavo Vazquez Sandoval’s agent is concern the Giants and Vazquez are at a standstill and are not discussing Sandoval’s contract, Sandoval is seeking upwards to $100 million for five years, he’s 27 years old and will be 32 at the end of such a deal, Sandoval has been an All-Star twice, carries high notoriety with the fans and selling of Panda merchandise.

He’s not in the best shape but trying to get a tad leaner he’s struggling at the plate and some say he might be pressing under the circumstances of trying to make the grade in a contract year.

Michael Duca does Giants and A’s commentary each week for Sportstalk

Huge Third Inning Lifts A’s to Sweep of Rangers

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics (18-10) rode a huge seven-run third inning to exact revenge on the hosting Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park, sweeping their American League West foes one week after suffering the same fate at the hands of the enemy from the Lone Star State. With the series win, including a 12-1 game three blowout over the 2010 and 2011 World Series Runner-ups, the A’s now sit three games ahead of the Rangers (15-13) for first in the division, with the green and gold owning the best record in the AL.

Jesse Chaves (2-0, 1.89 ERA) pitched seven innings of one-hit baseball, surrendering no runs on eight strikeouts and a lone walk. Oakland tagged Rangers starter Robbie Ross Jr. (1-2, 3.86) for 10 runs, six earned, over 3 1/3 innings. The Athletics also knocked Rangers relievers Alexi Ogando and Shawn Tolleson for a run apiece.

Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Cespedes and Eric Sogard had RBI base hits in a seven-run third inning. Alberto Callaspo and Nick Punto also knocked in runs on outs in the frame. Derek Norris hit a run-scoring single in the fourth, as did Sogard to make it a 10-0 A’s lead. Callaspo plated Donaldson on a fifth-inning single off Ogando and Crisp launched a solo home run, his third of the season, to right center with two outs in the sixth to complete the A’s 12-run day.

Josh Wilson connected on an RBI double off reliever Luke Gregerson in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Rangers their lone score in the series finale. Jim Johnson gave up one hit in the ninth to finish off the A’s sweep of their divisional rival.

The A’s continue their road trip in first place, traveling to Boston to face the reigning World Series Champion Red Sox for a three-game set. The A’s will send Dan Straily to the mound to open the series after an off-day Thursday. The Red Sox rotation is yet to be set with a double-header against the Tampa Bay Rays on the books after a rainout Wednesday night.

 

A’s Wallop Rangers 9-3

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ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 29: Derek Norris #36 of the Oakland Athletics hit a two run double for Coco Crisp #4 and Yoenis Cespedes #52 in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 29, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 29: Derek Norris #36 of the Oakland Athletics hit a two run double for Coco Crisp #4 and Yoenis Cespedes #52 in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 29, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

By Kahlil Najar

ARLINGTON – A day after beating Yu Darvish, the Oakland A’s beat the Rangers other ace Martin Perez 9-3. Derek Norris went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and Yoenis Cespedes appeared to be feeling a lot better as he crossed the plate three times.

The A’s got on the board first when Derek Norris smacked his fourth double of the year and drove in Coco Crisp who had doubled to lead off the game and Cesepedes who had ben walked right before he got to the plate. Josh Reddick added to the A’s lead in the top of the second when he drove in Craig Gentry from third on a ground out to Prince Fielder.The A’s then made it a 4-0 game when Norris hit his second double of the night and drove in Cespedes for his second run of the night.

The Rangers finally erased the zero from their scoreboard when Alex Rios hit a sharp fly ball double to center field and drove in Adrian Beltre to make it 4-1 after four innings. The A’s then added five runs in the top of the fifth with two bases loaded walks, a single from Reddick that scored Cesepedes and Callaspo and a wild pitch from the Rangers Jason Frasor that scored Brandon Moss who was at third to make it a 9-1 game.

The Rangers were only able to muster up two runs in the bottom of the fifth and closed the scoring on the game for a 9-3 win for Oakland.

A’s pitcher Scott Kazmir is now an impressive 4-0 and lasted five innings and only surrendered three runs and struck out four. Cook, Abad and Doolittle finished off the last four innings and only gave up one hit and struck out five.

The A’s and Rangers square off again on Wednesday in Arlington when the A’s send up Jesse Chavez against Robbie Ross Jr.

Gray Dominates, Darvish Scuffles As Oakland Takes AL West Lead

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, April 28, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, April 28, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

By Matthew Harrington

All eyes were focused as two opposing aces took the hill Monday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington, with the visiting Oakland Athletics countering Texas Rangers star Yu Darvish with young phenom Sonny Gray in the battle for first place in the American League West. The A’s (16-10)proved victorious behind their young arm, securing a 4-0 decision to open up the three-game series against the 2010 World Series runner-ups and take their place atop the division standings.

For Darvish, a pattern of struggles against the A’s plagued the Japanese sensation once again in one of his worst starts since exploding on the Major League scene in 2012. His foe in green and gold produced an earmarked performance which, to date, goes down as Gray’s greatest outing in his blossoming career pegged for superstardom.

The Swinging A’s knocked Darvish around early, scoring four runs and knocking the Rangers All-Star out of the game after 3 1/3 innings. Darvish retired seven of the first eight batters he faced, but his lack of command of the strike zone forced him out of the game trailing 4-0 with 83 pitches thrown. Monday marked just the second time in 66 career starts Darvish failed to pitch through five innings, with his loss to Gray being the shortest appearance of his career. Darvish (1-1, 2.59) is now 1-7 against Oakland with a mortal ERA of 4.73 all-time.

Gray took the decision of who pitches the ninth inning out of manager Bob Melvin’s hands, pitching his first ever complete game. Rumors had swirled that Jim Johnson, relegated to middle relief after a pair of rough outings to open the season, may see a return to the closer’s role. The A’s starter ensured the speculation would continue on another day, finishing his masterpiece himself to open the three-game series in Texas. Gray needed 108 pitches, 73 for strikes, to dispatch the Rangers (15-11) handedly Monday night. Gray (4-1, 1.76) picked up six strikeouts with only one walk while allowing only three hits including a generous scoring decision on catcher Robinson Chirinos’ single in the sixth inning.

Athletics third basemen Josh Donaldson delivered the big blow of the day, ripping a two-run single with the bases loaded in the third for a 2-0 lead with one out. Catcher John Jaso greeted Darvish with a single to open the next inning before coming home on Josh Reddick’s line-drive triple to right in the following at-bat. First basemen Daric Barton scored Reddick with a sacrifice fly for the fourth and final A’s run. Darvish faced one more batter, walking Eric Sogard before turning the game over to Aaron Poreda. Poreda finished the inning before starter Nick Martinez came out of the bullpen to pitch the final five scoreless frames.

The Rangers best chance to touch Gray up for a run came in the sixth inning after Chironos reached first with one out on a play scored a hit after shortstop Jed Lowrie deflected the ball to Donaldson at third base. Chironos advanced to second on a wild pitch with Michael Choice at the plate. Choice lined out, but Chironos moved to third on another wild pitch with Elvis Andrus at the dish. Andrus grounded out to third to end the scoring threat.

The Rangers only other at-bat with a man in scoring position came with Leonys Martin at second base after a single and a Chirinos hit-by-pitch with one out in the bottom of the third. Gray induced a grounder from Choice on an 0-1 count that Lowrie scooped up at short, stepping on second base for the force out before firing the ball to first to complete the twin killing and escape unscathed.

The A’s continue game two of the three-game set Tuesday evening, sending Texas native Scott Kazmir to the mound looking to remain undefeated on the season and add to a now one-game division lead over the team in the opposing dugout. The Rangers counter with lefty Martin Perez, author of a three-hit complete game shutout of his own against Gray and the A’s at O.Co Coliseum last Wednesday.

Astros stop the Athletics 5-1

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Collin McHugh congratulated by his Houston teammates Photo credit: Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle
Collin McHugh congratulated by his Houston teammates Photo credit: Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The great baseball adage is that “good pitching beats good hitting”. That was true on Sunday afternoon in Houston as the Astros beat the Athletics 5-1. Houston starter Collin McHugh established control of the game and guided his team to the victory in the fourth and final game of the four-game series.

McHugh pitched 8.2 innings giving up just one-run on two-hits. The A’s only run was scored in the top of the ninth inning with two outs. McHugh struck out seven and walked just three batters. His ERA is now an impressive 0.59 as McHugh improved to 2-0 in two starts this season for the Astros.

McHugh started the season with a career record of 0-8 in the Major Leagues. He was 0-4 in 2013. McHugh won his first start versus Seattle pitching 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out 12. His performance on Sunday makes a strong statement that 2014 is going to be a different kind of season for 27-year old right-hander.

McHugh was helped to victory with good run support by the Astros. Houston scored five-runs on seven-hits. The middle-infielders led the way on offense. Second baseman Jose Altuve went two for four including one homerun, two RBI and one run scored. Shortstop Jonathan Villar went two for three including a double and a triple. Villar posted two RBI and two runs scored.

The A’s only score came in the top the ninth inning. With two out, Brandon Moss was hit by pitch. The home plate umpire did not call the hit by pitch and A’s manager Bob Melvin challenged the call. Replay clearly showed the ball hitting Moss’ left foot. With Alberto Callaspo hitting, Moss stole second base. Callaspo singled to center allowing Moss to score.

Oakland’s only other base hit came in the top of the first inning when Jed Lowrie singled to right field.

A’s starter Tommy Milone gave up four-runs (all earned) on five-hits while striking out two and walking two in 6.2 innings of work. Dan Otero worked one-third of an inning and gave up one run. Jim Johnson worked one scoreless inning of relief.

The loss dropped the A’s record to 15-10 for the season and their road record to 9-4. Oakland leaves Houston with a 2-2 split in the four-game series.

The A’s left after the game for Dallas-Ft. Worth to play a three-game series with the Texas Rangers. Game one of the series on Monday night may prove to be a pitching duel as Oakland sends Sonny Gray (3-1, 2.25) to the mound to face-off with Yu Darvish (1-0, 1.61).

A’s mastery of Astros ends with late Houston rally

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By Morris Phillips

Finally, the Oakland-Houston mojo took a night off.

The Astros broke open a tie game with a four-run eighth inning and went on to defeat the first place A’s 7-6 at Minute Maid Park. The Astros had lost six in a row at home, and eight straight—dating back to last season—to the A’s.

On top of that, the Astros hadn’t scored a run off the Oakland bullpen this season—more than five games and 14 2/3 innings—until they broke through against Sean Doolittle, who was charged with all four runs. Doolittle faced four batters in the eighth without recording an out and took the loss.

“Every now and then, that’s going to happen to everybody. But you don’t expect that to happen to him,” manager Bob Melvin said of Doolittle’s struggles.

The loss allowed the Texas Rangers to catch the A’s atop the AL West with both teams now sporting 15-9 records. The Rangers rallied with three runs late to top the Mariners, 6-3 in Seattle.

With only a half-inning to slice Houston’s commanding lead, the A’s made it interesting as Brandon Moss came up with a three-run homer and Nick Punto followed with a base hit to put the tying run on base with no outs. But Coco Crisp grounded into a fielder’s choice and John Jaso and Jed Lowrie struck out against Raul Valdes who was summoned to record the final two outs.

The Astros improved to 6-25 all-time against the A’s which ramps up the anticipation for Sunday’s final of a series that has seen two A’s plunked and Astros’ pitcher Paul Clemens and manager Bo Porter ejected. Will the A’s continue their mastery of Houston after a one-night break and/or will the tension likely exacerbated by the lopsided nature of the series pop up with a plunking or confrontation?

The A’s Tommy Milone faces the Astros’ Collin McHugh in the finale at 11:10am PST.

Atheltics Put Up 7 In The Ninth To Seal 12-5 Win Over Astros

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HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 25: Derek Norris #36 and Josh Donaldson #20 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after Donaldson hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning of their game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on April 25, 2014 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 25: Derek Norris #36 and Josh Donaldson #20 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate after Donaldson hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning of their game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on April 25, 2014 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

By Kahlil Najar

Houston – The Oakland Athletics (15-8) put up a seven spot in the top of the ninth and beat the Houston Astros (7-17), 12-5. The A’s 12 runs are a season high for the team and they came after scoring ten runs last night against these same Astros. Daric Barton was the hero of the game tonight when he smacked a single off of Jose Altuve that landed in right field and scored three runs to give the A’s the lead. This was an extraordinarily long affair that lasted over four hours and the play wasn’t great by both teams as they combined for four errors and left a combined 21 runners on base.

After only four innings of play, the Athletics and Astros were tied at five runs a piece. Josh Reddick got the A’s on the board first when he hit a deep shot to center field that scored Alberto Callaspo and landed him safely at third. While on third, Daric Barton hit a grounder to center field and scored Reddick to give the A’s a 2-0 lead. After a single to Eric Sogard and a walk to John Jaso, hot hitting Jed Lowrie came up to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a line drive single to right field which scored Barton and Sogard and brought the lead up to 4-0.

Houston got on the board in the bottom of the third when Altuve doubled to left field and scored Villar to make it a 4-1 A’s lead.

In the fourth, the A’s John Jaso hit a sac fly to left that scored Sogard for his second run of the game and gave the A’s a 5-1 lead headed into the bottom of the fourth. The Astros scored four runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a throwing error from Josh Donaldson that scored two and a single by Dominguez to make it a 5-5 game.

The top of the ninth was a mess if you are a Houston Astros fan. The A’s sent up 12 hitters in the inning and made the Astro relievers throw 53 pitches. It all started when Brandon Moss was hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a single by Callaspo. Craig Gentry laid down a bunt that was recovered but not thrown to any base so the bases were loaded for the A’s with no outs. Barton came up to the plate and smacked a single at Altuve who was playing in and scored Moss and Callaspo. When Astros right fielder George Springer couldn’t get the ball on the first try, Genrty scored all the way from first and gave the A’s an 8-5 lead.Nick Punto came up next in relief of Sogard and hit a double to right field that put him at second and Barton on third. Coco Crisp grounded out after Punto but was able to get Barton across the plate and make it a 9-5 lead for the A’s.

Derek Norris then hit his second double of the year and score Punto from second and made it an even 10-5 lead for the A’s. After a ground out from Lowrie, Josh Dondalson came up and hit his third 2-run homer of this series and make it a 12-5 lead.

Fernando Abad came in to close the game in the bottom of the ninth. After a fly out by Dexter Fowler, Abad hit Jason Castro on the backside. Both sides were warned and Houston Manager Bo Porter was eventually thrown out by home plate umpire Jordan Baker after he came out to argue something that Baker didn’t agree with. Adab then got a strike out and a fly out to end the game.

Both teams head back to Minute Maid field tomorrow at 4:10 pm PST when the A’s put up Dan Straily (1-1) against Dallas Leuchel (2-1).

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s may have to sign long lease;San Jose move seems out of reach

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–The jury is still out for me regarding if the Oakland A’s are not going to move to San Jose they can only play at Oakland. The Giants say you can play at AT&T Park while their building a new park while their building a new park in Oakland. It would probably would make sense that the A’s would have to talk to the Giants and coordinate all of this. The City of Oakland wants to keep the A’s but their going to lose the Warriors who are gone, they’re going to build a nice place south of AT&T Park.

The Raiders, no worries only ten home games per year but their probably are going to be gone too. The City of Oakland needs the A’s more and the A’s need the City of Oakland. The ten year deal is possible although it’s just posturing now unless A’s owner Lew Wolf says no right away. Right now it’s more positioning and were not sure if it’s going to happen quickly.

This is a like a domino effect that things will fall into place that might as well happen, it’s a very weird situation and I don’t see why Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig doesn’t meet the A’s and Giants in the same room and say to them it’s for the better of the game let’s do a deal here.

The A’s can approach Giants president Larry Baer and ask him, “do you want $100 million?” so the A’s can go to San Jose and get terriorial rights back. The A’s gave the Giants territorial rights to San Jose under former A’s owner Wally Haas. San Jose was not the headquarters to Silicon Valley and it was just another city. It’s a very confusing situation and Wolf is not getting any younger and maybe he could sell the team and maybe somebody at Clorox or Dreyers might be able to come in and buy the team.

The A’s are not worth a lot of money now, their a bargain at $300 million in baseball terms, I wish I had $300 million and you could probably buy the A’s for $350 million. San Jose is a warm market town and it’s a warm weather baseball town. San Jose Mercury News reporter Mark Purdy says that San Jose has the population to support the A’s.

Remember it’s in the Bay Area and people who support the Giants don’t only live in San Francisco but they can come from Alameda, Marin, Palo Alto, and San Jose and former Giants owner Bob Lurie did a study a few years ago on who goes to Giants games at Candlestick, a lot of people during the Candlestick era said they came from the South Bay.

I hate to say it if you build a brand new ball park in downtown San Jose in a town with that kind of income and those people down there make good money. It’s the most properous area the Silicon Valley. It was named by the census that these kids down there are making six figures and they support the Sharks and it’s 41 home games and not 81 home games like in baseball.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week on Sportstalk