Tag: Oakland A’s

Spring training: While A’s bats come alive, Giants have interesting roster decisions

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Photo credit: baseballinthebay.com

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, March 17, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Every team faces this dilemma at some point during spring training–what to do when a valued prospect runs out of options? The San Francisco Giants are no exception.

The Giants have three players on their 40-man roster who are in that predicament: outfielders Gorkys Hernandez and Jarrett Parker along with right-handed pitcher Cory Gearrin.

Parker has bounced back-and-forth between Triple-A Sacramento and the Giants since 2015, hitting .257 in parts of three seasons with San Francisco. The left-handed hitting outfielder has hit 103 homers in seven minor league campaigns. So far, this spring, Parker is hitting .235 with two homers and five RBIs.

Since 2012, Hernandez has had big league shots with Pittsburgh, Miami and the Giants. He’s a .255 career hitter, valued more for defense (two errors out of 328 chances in four seasons). In 13 Cactus League games, Hernandez is hitting .188 after going 2-for-2 in San Francisco’s split-squad game Saturday against Cincinnati in Goodyear.

In three seasons with Atlanta and three with the Giants, Gearrin is 10-8 with a 3.47 earned run average, mostly in relief. This spring, the 32-year-old hurler has a 1.29 ERA in seven appearances.

Though spring training is nearing the end, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said it’s still too soon to make any final decisions, not just on the aforementioned, but other areas of the team.

“We’re looking at our options to see what we can do,” Bochy said. “We’ve got some time, still. But nothing’s been decided.”

Here’s how it works: Once a player is put on the 40-man roster, a team has three option years on that player. When a player spends at least 20 days in the minors in any of those three seasons, that becomes an option year.

Then, if that player does not make the 25-man roster after using all of his options, he must be exposed to waivers before he can be sent outright to a minor league affiliate.

The trick is, if a player is valued enough, to try and sneak a prized prospect through waivers. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. General managers are watching more than just their own players this time of year.

TRANSACTIONS
San Francisco optioned infielder Ryder Jones to Triple-A Sacramento, leaving the Giants with 47 players in camp.

THE GAME
The battle of Bay Area split squads saw the Athletics strike early and defeated the Giants 8-3.

Oakland’s spiit-squadders opened the game with a four-run rally – all unearned – off Giants’ starter Ty Blach. After Franklin Barreto opened the game by reaching on an infield error, the big hits were an RBI double by Matt Joyce, and Jake Smolinski’s RBI double, which preceded a Sheldon Neuse home run to right-center.

The A’s built a 7-0 cushion until San Francisco scored two in the fourth and one in the fifth. Hunter Pence had an RBI single in the fourth, and Brandon Belt added a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Oakland starter Andrew Triggs (2-0) threw 3 2/3 inning to get the win, giving up two earned runs on two hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked three. Chris Bassett, Eric Jokisch and Daniel Gossett gave up one run over the last 5 2/3 innings. Gossett threw four scoreless innings, scattered two hits, struck out five and picked up his first CL save.

Blach (1-1) worked the first five innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits – three earned – struck out four and issued no walks.

“(Oakland) took some good swings,” Blach said. “Getting a shut-down inning after we put up some runs, definitely some good things to build on.”

“It was a tough day for Blach,” Bochy said. “He was off with his location and left balls up. It’s not going to work in Arizona. But he got his work in, and I liked that fifth inning when we wanted to get him up over 80 pitches and he had a solid 1-2-3. It was a nice way to finish.”

With one start left in the Cactus League before heading north, Blach said he felt his spring has been a good one.

“I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of being in the strike zone for the most part, but I’d like to get back to commanding the ball a little bit better in the zone and get ahead a little more often,” Blach said. “I’m just kind of refining some things and I feel like the breaking ball is where I want it.

“I’m just taking it day by day, trying to get better.”

The announced attendance was 12,045 – a sellout.

OTHER GAMES
In other split-squad games, Seattle beat the A’s 4-1 in Mesa, while Cincinnati edged the Giants 5-4 in Goodyear.

After Saturday’s Cactus League play, Oakland is 11-8, San Francisco is 10-11.

UP NEXT
On Sunday, the Athletics host the Chicago White Sox at Hohokam Stadium, while the Giants head up the 101 to play Colorado. The final Arizona games for both teams are on Friday.

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Oakland A’s,San Francisco Giants,Cactus League,Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oakland Coliseum Is Still in the Game

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Photo credit: @WestCoastTurf

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND, Calif. — Discussions are starting this month by the City of Oakland in order to buy the Coliseum and the adjacent Oracle Arena.

This is what Karen Boyd spokeswoman for the City Oakland said: “The city of Oakland and Alameda County are aligned in the view that development of the Coliseum property would be simplified and streamlined with a single owner that controls all aspects of the future development process,” City Administrator Sabrina Landreth said in a statement to The SF Chronicle. “To that end, the city and county are engaging in discussions on the terms of an agreement that will be mutually beneficial. We will publicly discuss the outcome of these negotiations at the appropriate time.”

This is very significant because if the Athletics cannot build their new park at Howard Terminal, the current location of the Oakland Coliseum will be the one waiting on deck.

The Oakland Raiders are moving to Las Vegas in 2020. Their stadium is under construction.

The Golden State Warriors are moving in 2019 to Chase Center. Their stadium is also under construction in San Francisco. It’s within walking distance from the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park.

In September 2017, the Athletics officially announced that the Laney College location was their preferred location, but then in December, the A’s swung and missed strike one when the Peralta Community District Board of Trustees said no and added that they didn’t even want to start negotiating. Right now, the A’s management have their sights at the Howard Terminal, which BART doesn’t approve. but if they swing and miss strike two, they will have a count of 0-2 with one pitch remaining and that would be the place where they have been playing for over 60 years, the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum.

Would the A’s even consider the rebuilding of the Coliseum to a much more baseball only, fan-friendly ballpark with a capacity of around 45.000? This will not be a face lift, but they will demolish the Coliseum, and rebuild a brand-new ballpark. If that materializes, the A’s will have to play their games in another park for the time being, while they build a new one at the current location. But that would be another show.

The saga of the new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics continues, which makes things look more like a Telemundo novela as the days go by.

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cotton comes back to Bay Area to have elbow looked at; changes within the A’s pitching rotation; Laureano has broken finger and will go back to minors

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Photo credit: @zesty_mlb

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Jharel Cotton has been sent back to the Bay Area to have his elbow looked at and is going to have an MRI.

#2 If Cotton is out for a significant amount of time, the A’s are going with a rotation of Andrew Triggs, Daniel Gossett, Daniel Mengden, and Paul Blackburn. AJ Puk whose looked the best in the rotation could wind up the one pitcher on the A’s.

#3 The A’s outfielder Ramon Laureano has a broken finger after Giants pitcher Roberto Gomez threw in on his hands. Laureano will be out several weeks and will rejoin the A’s minor league club, the Nashville Sounds.

#4 Calling him long shot to make the A’s opening day roster, Ryan Dull, is suffering from shoulder soreness and recently has thrown a 20-pitch bull session.

#5 A’s pitcher Kendall Graveman allowed five hits and four runs in three-plus innings. When Kendall pitched to the Royals, he had given up a smash hit and a walk that started off the Royals’ fourth inning rally on Tuesday.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Melvin says Lucroy on track to catch 115-120 games; benches empty between A’s and Giants could lead to a rivalry of sorts; Kerr has freedom of speech to speak out on gun control

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

On the Podcast with Amaury:

1. Amaury talks about catcher Jonathan Lucroy and says that this A’s team can really sneak up on teams.

2. Lucroy, one of the many free agents who were available, signed on for this season for $6.5 million, who manager Bob Melvin says will catch 115-120 games.

3. The A’s and Giants starting to show some preseason action. Giants pitcher Sam Dyson threw high and tight at the A’s Khris Davis on Monday. Two hitters later, they were bean, which forced the umpires to warn both benches. Could this be the beginning of a Bay Bridge rivalry?

4. Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors head coach, spoke at a Newark High School gym on Monday about gun control and how his father was murdered by gun violence and that he supports the student walk out and protest for gun control. Amaury says Kerr has a right to say what he wants and that he has the freedom of speech.

5. Amaury also talks about his Topps Basketball card from the 1990s when he was the Golden State Warriors’ Spanish play-by-play announcer.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play-by-play Spanish talent for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

A’s sign catcher Jonathan Lucroy to one-year, $6.5 million contract

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, March 12, 2018

MESA, Ariz. – Free agent catcher Jonathan Lucroy landed with the Oakland Athletics on Monday morning after agreeing to terms on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, the team announced.

“We’ve been in touch for about a month,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “We kept the conversation going and ultimately, it got to the point where it became realistic and we became excited about it.”

To make room for Lucroy on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-handed pitcher Jario Labourt for assignment.

“It’s very positive for me,” Lucroy said. “I talked to Bob (Melvin, manager) and Kots (coach Mark Kotsay) about it. I know from calling some games against them, this is a pretty good lineup and (the A’s) have some pretty good arms on the mound.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to look forward to, and we can sneak up on some people. Our division is going to be good, but we’ll be right there with them.”

Lucroy, a two-time All-Star for Milwaukee in 2014 and 2016, split last season between the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies. After hitting .242 for the Rangers, Lucroy was traded to Colorado on July 30 for Pedro Gonzalez, and hit .310 in 46 games before becoming a free agent after the season.

The 31-year-old Lucroy is one of a growing list of free agents signing a one-year deal well into spring training.

“This is a good opportunity for me, both from a competitive standpoint and a playing time standpoint,” Lucroy said. “Any time you get a chance to compete for a division and the league, there’s a possibility to do that. And I’m happy and proud to put this uniform on.”

Lucroy figures to add a veteran presence and power to the otherwise youthful A’s lineup and will likely take over the starting duties behind the plate from incumbent Bruce Maxwell. He’s a .281 career hitter with 96 home runs and 458 RBIs over his eight-year career.

Lucroy, who finished fourth in the 2014 National League most valuable player voting, has also thrown out 177 base stealers, most by an MLB catcher over that span.

Labourt had not pitched this spring after Oakland claimed him off waivers on March 4 from Cincinnati, two days after he was picked up by the Reds on waivers from Detroit.

On Sunday, the A’s optioned Labourt and right-handed pitcher Lou Trivino to Triple-A Nashville. Oakland also reassigned left-handed pitchers Jeremy Bleich and Jarret Martin, right-handed pitchers Nolan Blackwood and Bobby Wahl, catcher Santiago Chavez and infielder Nick Noonan to their minor league camp.

The Athletics have 50 players in camp, including 39 on the 40-man roster (which is full) along with 11 non-roster invitees.

GIANTS UPDATE
The Giants, meanwhile, rank near the top of numerous Cactus League categories after 18 games. San Francisco leads in team batting average (.307), total bases (365) and on-base percentage (.371). Going into Monday’s game in Mesa, the Giants are also tied for second in home runs (34) and runs batted in (122).

Outfielder Mac Williamson is swinging one of those hot bats for the Giants. In 15 games, Williamson is hitting .412 with two doubles, two triples, four homers and 13 RBIs. Infielder Kyle Jensen, a non-roster invitee, has also had a strong spring for the Giants, with five home runs in 19 at-bats – most of any National League player.

The team reports that third baseman Evan Longoria is still listed as day-to-day with stiffness in his left heel and ankle. Catcher Hector Sanchez is dealing with a hamstring pull and hasn’t played since Feb. 28. He’s expected to possibly miss another week or two.

Following Monday’s game, the Giants optioned right-handed pitchers Tyler Herb, Pierce Johnson, Chase Johnson and Reyes Moronta; left-handed pitchers Steven Okert and D.J. Snelten; catcher Aramis Garcia and infielder Miguel Gomez to Triple-A Sacramento. San Francisco also reassigned right-handed pitchers Tyler Cyr, Jose Flores, Dereck Rodriguez and Madison Younginer; and infielder Alan Hanson to its minor league camp.

ORLANDO CEPEDA UPDATE
The Giants issued a brief update on the medical status of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, saying, “The Cepeda Family would like to thank the baseball family for its concern and well wishes for Orlando. We are pleased to report that Orlando continues to make significant progress every day and is showing major signs of improvement. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”

Cepeda, 80, was hospitalized in February after suffering cardiac arrest and falling in a parking lot, where he sustained a severe blow to the skull.

THE GAME
Jarrett Parker’s RBI double in the eighth helped San Francisco regain the lead and take a 6-5 Cactus League decision Monday over the Athletics. Orlando Calixte, who was hit by a pitch from A’s reliever Daniel Gossett (0-1), scored on the play.

Righthander Roberto Gomez (2-0) threw 1 1/3 innings to get the win; Joan Gregorio and Manny Parra each threw a scoreless inning. Parra earned his first save of the spring.

The Giants broke the game open in with five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Centerfielder Steve Duggar’s two-run home run – his fourth – and a two-out, three-run double by catcher Nick Hundley were the key blows off A’s reliever Ryan Buchter.

Oakland rightfielder Stephen Piscotty belted his second CL homer, a solo shot to left in the second inning off San Francisco starter Chris Stratton. It was also the first hit off the righthander, who struck out three and walked one in four innings.

The A’s closed to within 5-4 in the sixth on Franklin Barreto’s two-run homer off Sam Dyson, and tied the game at 5-5 on Jake Smolinski’s sacrifice fly to center.

Jharel Cotton, the Oakland starter, struck out five and walked three in four hitless innings. Piscotty was 2-for-2 before departing in the fifth.

Announced attendance was 8,539.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The Giants (10-7-2) face a Chicago Cubs split-squad in Mesa on Tuesday, then head to Peoria on Wednesday (Seattle) and Thursday (San Diego) before taking Friday off. The A’s split squad visits Scottsdale on Saturday while the Giants send their other split squad to Goodyear to face Cincinnati.

Oakland (8-7-2) heads to Glendale to face Kansas City on Tuesday, has an off day on Wednesday, returns to Hohokam Stadium for games on Thursday (Seattle), Friday (Cleveland), Saturday (Seattle – SS) and Sunday (Chicago White Sox).

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San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, A’s, Jonathan Lucroy, Cactus League, Sports Radio Service.

Oakland A’s unlock doors to newly constructed headquarters in Jack London Square, discuss ballpark relocation

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By: Alexandra Evans

OAKLAND—As of Monday, January 8, the Oakland A’s have unlocked their newly constructed, 40,000 square-foot headquarters in Jack London Square.

A day after its opening, the club invited members of the media to take a tour of the facilities, built by Devcon. Stocked with A’s memorabilia (such as the orange ball proposed by former owner Charles Finley, the team’s earliest jerseys and amateur scouting reports for iconic players, including Reggie Jackson), exclusive office space for all branches of the franchise, a refreshment corner, fitness center, personalized A’s-themed artwork, and even a batting cage, each community meeting will be accompanied by state-of-the-art amenities and, being located directly on the water, a clear view of Alameda and San Francisco.

“This location in Jack London has great bones,” said A’s president Dave Kaval. “It’s got a lot of great parts of the experience here like the water, people like congregating here.”

Kaval referred to the new headquarters as a “sampler,” a representation of having a collaborative work environment and embracing their past. Fans and other members of the community now have the opportunity to witness Oakland’s “vision” of their impending new ballpark.

The A’s have called the Oakland Coliseum their home for 50 years, though the club has decided to relocate the ballpark to a different spot in Oakland, such as the Peralta Community College District site–adjacent to Laney College–and the Howard Terminal. After a year of contemplation, they selected the Peralta site in September 2017.

Kaval explained that the club will relocate with the intent to provide all those affiliated with the franchise (executives, players, fans, media members, and the community) with a more modern, holistic experience in and out of the office, and on and off the field. Additionally, the relocation will not allow the A’s to produce the revenue required to compete “at the highest quartile with some of the bigger level teams,” Kaval described.

“[The relocation] fulfills our needs as an organization,” Kaval continued. “It allows us to have a better fan experience, win more world championships by having a bigger payroll, and fits the community’s needs in terms of what it needs to develop, be it affordable housing, a commercial center, or a ballpark village.

“When we talk about having a world-class fan experience, that includes the ingress and egress, getting to and from. You don’t want to be sitting in a parking lot for 45 minutes… it’s very important that wherever we go, we have a plan for that which is very well thought-out.

“We’re focused on those guiding principles of creating a ballpark privately financed, a key part of what we are doing here,” said Kaval, also adding that the confidential financing matters are unusual in the development of venues in Oakland.

The ballpark relocation is one of the biggest projects in the history of Oakland, and it is going to take more than construction workers and team executives to ensure success.

“We need our fans, we need the community, we need the civic leaders, we need everyone together to make it happen, and it will have so many positive externalities if it is done the right way,” Kaval contended.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame at Oakland A’s FanFest on January 27

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Photo credit: @70sBaseball

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame will be at the Oakland Athletics’ FanFest this January 27 at Jack London Square in Oakland. The HHBM HOF is celebrating its 20-year anniversary, since it was founded in San Francisco in 1998 by Mr. Gabriel “Tito” Avila Jr., who’s currently the president of this non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Beginning in 2018, the HHMB HOF have 67 inductees from 1999 to 2017. One of those inductees is Ted Williams, and many have asked me: “How come, is he a Latino player?” Williams’ mother was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Her name is Maria Hernandez-Benzor. Therefore, Teddy Ballgame classifies as a player with Hispanic heritage.

When the museum attends the A’s FanFest this next 27th, they will also celebrate the great history of the A’s list of Latino players, including Dagoberto Blanco “Campy” Campaneris, (shortstop), Diego Segui (pitcher) and second-baseman Rigoberto
“Tito” Fuentes, who played with the A’s as well as the Giants. All three HHBM HOF inductees were born in Cuba.

The museum doesn’t merely induct players because of their statistics, but also their historical relevance, good sportsmanship and community involvement. It doesn’t necessarily means that to be inducted into the HHBM HOF, you also have to be in Cooperstown. Best example is Campaneris, who is arguaby the best ever shortstop in A’s history. He’s a three-time World Champion who also played all nine positions in one game on September 8, 1965.

Mr. Avila is the president and founder of the museum. He founded the HHBM in the Mission District in San Francisco, California, on October 24, 1998, and Incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization on June 23, 1999 in Sacramento, California.

Gabriel “Tito” Avila, Jr. is a former semi-pro, Sandlot, high school, college player and a Vietnam Era Veteran from New York City. He’s a San Francisco resident who wanted to honor the greatest Hispanic Baseball position players of all-time.

The HHBMHOF is International and dedicated to recognizing the contributions made to baseball by Hispanic players. Since its inception, the HHBMHOF has inducted (65) players, coaches, broadcasters, Negro Leagues Hispanic players, MLB scorers, and Pioneer Executives. Founding members include Orlando Cepeda and Tito Fuentes.

Avila told me how he felt after 20 years of founding the museum and Hall of Fame: “The HHBM HOF to date has inducted into its HOF 67 inductees and 21 pioneers. We have also recognized Hispanics and non-Hispanics with numerous awards. As we are a National Traveling Museum Hall of Fame, and I am very proud of the work we have done, with our Board of Directors and the help of two local baseball stars, in Orlando Cepeda and Tito 23 Fuentes.”

Also, Mr. Avila Jr. said: “We are elated to be associated with the Athletics and I want to take this time on behalf of the HHBM to congratulate the A’s for their 50th Anniversary, which they are celebrating this year.”

This 2018, the A’s will celebrate their 50th Anniversary at Oakland, since they moved from Kansas City in 1968, winning four World Series in Oakland. The A’s will play a totally free game for their fans against the Chicago White Sox on April 17, a date that marks 50 years to the day after the team’s first game at the Coliseum in 1968. Fans can sign up for tickets to this 50th anniversary game beginning at 8 a.m. PT on Jan. 10 by visiting athletics.com/50.

NOTES: Daktronics of South Dakota is installing 14 LED displays at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The focal point will be a 9,500 square-foot video display inright field, the third largest in Major League Baseball behind Cleveland and Seattle. The 9,500 square-foot scoreboard will be equal to the size of 890 60 inch television and be ready for the 2018 season.

Big Papi’s new show: David Ortiz’s new television show is called “Big Papi Needs a Job”which will debut January 31 on Fusion.

Giants: At the beginning of the 2018 season, the San Francisco Giants have the oldest roster in the National League, with an average of 28 years old per player, which doesn’t seem that old, but in today’s game many teams have superstars in their mid 20’s. Yankees: With their winning 2017 season they have a 25 consecutive years ending with winning records.

Numbers: Giancarlo Stanton wore #27 with the Marlins, this year (his first with the Marlins) he will also wear #27 in pinstripes, and by the way the Yankees have won 27 World Series to date, most in history.

Puerto Rico: The Winter League is set to begin January 5, after Hurricane Maria, it will only be an abbreviated season four teams and total of 18 games.Puerto Rico was in very bad shape prior to the Hurricane, they had declared bankruptcy, after years of political corruption and mismanagement.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio play by play announcer talent for the Oakland Athletics radio KIQI 1010AM/990AM San Francisco/Oakland,and the play by play talent for the Los Angeles Angels on Fox Sports West TV in Los Angeles and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

Matt Williams joins the A’s as the new third base coach for 2018

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Photo credit: @Athletics

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics announced today that Matt Williams, former All-Star third baseman and former manager of the Washington Nationals, is joining the A’s as the new third base coach, replacing Chip Hale.

Williams was an excellent fielder who won four Gold Gloves as a player. The A’s defense was not very good last year as they led the Major Leagues in errors. The A’s defense improved in the second half of the season, but they gave away too many games due to their crummy defense. Matt was the leading home-run hitter in the National League in 1994 and was on pace to break Roger Maris’ record of 61. Unfortunately for Williams, the players went on strike on August 12th and for the rest of the season, along with the World Series, was wiped out.

Williams’ bio follows below:
Williams spent five seasons on the Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff as a first base coach (2010) and a third base coach (2011-13, 16). He also managed the Washington Nationals for two seasons.  He was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) in his first season as a manager in 2014, guiding the Nationals to a 96-66 record and an NL East title.  He went 83-79 in 2015 for a 179-145 (.552) record in two seasons as a manager.

Williams played 17 seasons in the majors with San Francisco (1987-96), Cleveland (1997) and Arizona (1998-2003).  He was a .268 career hitter with 378 home runs and 1,218 RBI in 1,866 games.  Williams was a five-time All-Star and won four Gold Gloves as a third baseman.

A’s win finale at Texas, hope to build on positive finish in 2018

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AP17274804589102
Oakland Athletics closer Blake Treinen throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington,Texas, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Morris Phillips

Across the board, you pick the statistic, and the numbers reveal the A’s are trending toward a bounce back season in 2018.

But it’s the A’s, right? They’re always building.

True, but this time a group of youthful, talented players are in place, they’ve shown some acumen for winning at the big league level, and they may catch the rest of the AL West at a vulnerable moment.

Finishing the season with a 5-2 road win over Cole Hamels and the Rangers, winning 17 of 24, and going nearly the entire, second half of the season with a winning record (40-39) fosters that belief.

“I want guys, when they come to spring training next year, to be in a different mindset than we’ve been,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We want to hit the ground running.”

Oft-injured, and previously ineffective Daniel Mengden made the transition early, finishing 2017 strong, after two stints on the disabled list, strong enough that the 24-year old has put himself on the short list of candidates for next season’s starting rotation.

After Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea, Mengden has put himself in a group with Jharel Cotton, Paul Blackburn, Andrew Triggs and Daniel Gossett as candidates for the other three spots. And, as they did last season, the A’s may elect to forgo signing a veteran starter, confident they can get consistent they can get quality starts out of their young, core group.

After Sunday’s seven innings of shutout baseball–in the hot, Texas sun, no less–Mengden has belief that previously seemed unattainable.

“Having some time last year, then getting back this year, I knew what I had to do and stuck to the plan,” Mengden said.

 

There’s a method to the madness in the A’s season-ending win streak

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AP17267727359219
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) places his hand on the shoulder of Bruce Maxwell as Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem prior to a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–For a last place club, the A’s sure have a way about themselves. Maybe, that’s because they’re not going to be a last place club much longer.

Winning 14 of 17 in September has the A’s within striking distance of the fourth place Mariners, who visit the Coliseum for the final three home games starting Monday. The A’s have been stuck in the AL West cellar since May 30, and haven’t had a winning month in well over a year. The monthly streak is likely to end, while catching the Mariners will be significantly trickier.  But either way, the A’s biggest winning roll since 2013 portends better days ahead.

With a youthful club stripped of almost all of its veteran presence, the A’s haven’t stepped back, they’ve stepped forward, sweeping the Rangers with a 8-1 win Sunday to backup a rare, succesful road trip. Manager Bob Melvin’s list of needed improvements wasn’t short or easily achievable, but his club made all the checkmarks anyway.

“We needed to play better against Houston and we swept them,” Melvin recounted. “Second was we had to play better on the road, and we had a good road trip. And then we want to finish up here and play well within our division because we have not played well within our division this year.”

In a season where the norms for winning big league ballgames has shifted dramatically, the A’s have been ahead of the curve. Scoring is up slightly, home runs are being hit at a record pace, and the percentage of at-bats that end with either a strikeout, a walk or a home run has never been higher.

Wait for the big inning then pounce? You could term it that. It’s definitely not Moneyball, but maybe Moneyball 2.0. Whatever you call it, the A’s are good at it, with Sunday’s five-run fifth the latest example.

With Rangers’ starter Martin Perez softened up by being forced to throw 71 pitches through four innings, the pitcher reached the breaking point in the fifth by allowing singles to Josh Phlegley and Jake Smolinsky.

Marcus Semien then popped out trying to advance the runners with a bunt. Martin’s next pitch was roped by Matt Chapman for an RBI double, then four pitches after that, Jed Lowrie contributed a two-run double. That chased Perez before he could finish five innings, and qualify for a win.

Capping the inning, Khris Davis greeted effective reliever Tony Barnette with a 445-foot bomb with a man aboard, and the A’s led 5-0. Davis has now homered 40 times in consecutive seasons, a first for an Oakland Athletic.

The A’s would add two in the sixth, and one more in the eight and the rout was on.

Currently, the A’s rank in the top five in the American League in homers, walks and strikeouts. While Melvin and the A’s would love to see the strikeouts reduced (the A’s average more than nine a game) the additional pitches extracted from the opposing pitcher have the desired effect of elevating pitch counts as Perez’ number grew burdensome on Sunday.

Jharel Cotton was the beneficiary of the runs against Texas, pitching five innings to earn the win, his ninth.

For the A’s on Sunday, that’s hitting, pitching, and defense as the club committed no errors, and turned a nifty double play. Check, check and check.

“Let the teams in our division know we’re on our way back,” Melvin said. “This three-year period we’ve gone through is hopefully over.”