Oakland Athletics News

Two more Oakland A's relievers -- Andrew Bailey and Craig Breslow -- hampered by injuries
Comment
March 18
Oakland Tribune
 
"With Opening Day less than three weeks away, the A's are trying to nurse several of their key relievers back to health. Manager Bob Geren revealed Wednesday that closer Andrew Bailey and left-hander Craig Breslow recently underwent MRIs for pain in their throwing elbows. The right-handed Bailey was diagnosed with inflammation around the elbow and will be shut down for five to seven days. Breslow has tendinitis near his elbow joint and won't throw for three to four days. Both pitchers expressed optimism they'll return to the mound in plenty of time to be ready for Opening Day, April 5. "We're encouraged by where they're at," Geren said before a 6-1 loss to the Giants at Phoenix Municipal ..."
Duchscherer: 'I'm on my way back'
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March 18
MLB.com
 
"A rather battered Oakland pitching corps received a dose of good news Wednesday in the form of a seemingly healthy Justin Duchscherer, who threw three innings of a Minor League intrasquad game and reported he "felt good physically." The right-handed Duchscherer, recovering from a February nerve ablation procedure after missing all of 2009 due to minor elbow surgery and a bout with clinical depression, tossed 45 pitches -- most of which were fastballs with a few cutters and breaking balls making their way in the mix. "I'm on my way back to what I want to do," Duchscherer said. "My command is not terrible. I thought it was pretty good, almost in midseason form." The next step for ..."
Bailey's injured elbow further thins bullpen
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March 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The A's believe their bullpen is among the best in the majors - if everyone's present and accounted for. Wednesday, four relievers were out of commission. Closer Andrew Bailey will shut it down for five to seven days with lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, and will need to throw on the side a couple of times before reappearing in games. "Better now than when the season starts. We have time to take care of it," Bailey said. "Last year was my first year of relieving. Getting up, getting down (in the bullpen), I wasn't used to that. It's probably the heaviest workload I've ever had in my life. This is probably a little side effect from that. But I'm very optimistic I'll be ..."
Ex-coach Ron Washington's cocaine use stuns A's
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March 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Ron Washington's flunking of a drug test last summer didn't cost him his job. Nolan Ryan and Texas Rangers officials kept him aboard - even though Washington offered to resign - because they believed he was the right man to manage the Rangers, who had their first winning record since 2004. Wednesday, when the positive test for cocaine became public, the Rangers continued to express support for Washington, who's entering the final year of his contract. It remains to be seen how revelations of cocaine use by a baseball manager will be received in Texas and whether it would have greater impact there than Tim Lincecum's pot bust did in the Bay Area. "Hopefully, it's over quick and people don't ..."
Andrew Bailey out 5-7 days
Comment
March 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Andrew Bailey, the A's prized closer and the American league's top rookie in 2009, will be shelved for five to seven days with elbow soreness, manager Bob Geren said today. Also, left-handed setup man Craig Breslow is out three or four days with another elbow issue. "Those are loose estimates," Geren said. Both relievers had MRIs. Bailey, who has tossed four scoreless innings in spring training, was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow. Breslow has medial tendinitis. Not a good day for A's relievers. If that wasn't enough, Michael Wuertz (shoulder) was scratched from pitching in a minor-league intrasquad game this morning (he still hasn't appeared in a ..."
Michael Taylor of the Oakland A's plays through Type 1 diabetes
Comment
March 17
Contra Costa Times
 
"Michael Taylor receives the occasional letter from parents who thank him for being an inspiration to their child. They're not talking about Taylor being one of the major leagues' top prospects. The A's outfielder is paving his way to the big leagues while battling Type 1 diabetes, a condition Taylor was diagnosed with at age 9. Before he hits the field every morning, Taylor pricks his finger to draw blood and measure his blood-sugar level. Then he injects himself with a shot of insulin, an exercise he repeats five or six times daily. That's the laborious part of dealing with a disease that affects up to 3 million Americans. The payoff comes when he talks to children with diabetes and sees ..."
A's Michael Ynoa makes good first impression
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March 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The A's had no game on Tuesday, so manager Bob Geren and pitching coach Curt Young visited the team's minor-league camp because Dallas Braden was scheduled to pitch in a minor-league intrasquad game. They got a bonus, baby. After Braden threw four innings, Geren and Young moved to an adjacent field to watch 6-foot-7 Michael Ynoa, 18, who signed with the A's at 16 for $4.25 million. Ynoa, who missed last season with an elbow ailment, threw in a game situation for the first time in spring training and came away feeling fine physically. "When I heard he was pitching, it was a good day," Young said. Ynoa was summoned in mid-game, creating a buzz around the vast Papago Park complex. Several ..."
Battered Ben Sheets can't get an out
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March 16
Contra Costa Times
 
"The hits in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 13-5 win over the A's on Monday came in all varieties against Ben Sheets — line drives, seeing-eye singles, even a towering homer mixed in for good measure. The A's Opening Night starter faced 10 hitters and left without recording an out. His final line: 0 innings pitched, eight hits, 10 runs (nine earned), one walk and an ERA that reads 31.15 after three Cactus League starts. "People have had bad springs before, but this is taking it to a whole new level," Sheets acknowledged. The A's are more concerned with how Sheets' surgically repaired right elbow is doing. And that's what made his afternoon an odd one. He said he felt better ..."
Sheets feels 'great,' but he can't get anyone out
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March 16
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Ben Sheets could find a little humor in his hideous day, because it's not yet the regular season. After allowing 10 runs without recording an out in the A's 13-5 loss to the Reds on Monday, the A's new $10 million starter said, "I know people have had bad springs, but this is taking it to a whole new level." Because Sheets has missed much of the past three seasons with injuries, including all of last year after elbow surgery, the first concern after such a stumble would be his health. However, Sheets emphasized that he felt the best he has all spring, much better than he had in his previous start, when he had trouble getting loose. "I felt great," he said several times. According to an ..."
Stewart teaches pitchers about grit
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March 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In the morning, Trevor Cahill and the rest of the pitchers listened to an hour-long talk by Dave Stewart, who spoke about how to battle through games and control the pace, things Stewart was known for in his heyday. Then Cahill went out and put that into practice, going four innings and allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two in the A's 10-3 victory over Kansas City on Sunday. He threw his new curveball five or six times and was pleased with it. Cahill was born in 1988, a year in which Stewart won 21 games for Oakland. "He talked about how the rest of the team feeds off the pitcher," Cahill said. "You should want the ball and have confidence in yourself.""
Selig says there's no ballpark report yet
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March 15
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"Commissioner Bud Selig was at Scottsdale Stadium on Sunday meeting with Giants managing general partner Bill Neukom and president Larry Baer, presumably updating them on his committee that's analyzing the A's ballpark situation. "I've been talking to both clubs," Selig said. "There are a lot of situations that I wish didn't come to me. But as they often tell me, that's why we have a commissioner. I'll wait until the committee has done its work." Though Selig appointed the three-man committee last March, he said he hasn't received a report or recommendation despite reports to the contrary. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' office has said Selig received the report. "I've talked to them a lot," ..."
A's rough up Davies in 10-3 victory over Royals, but Tejeda shows improvement
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March 15
Kansas City Star
 
"The muddled competition for the final slot in the Royals' rotation crystallized somewhat Sunday afternoon when Robinson Tejeda delivered 2 1/3 shutout innings after another rough outing by Kyle Davies. Oakland roughed up Davies for six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings in rolling to a 10-3 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The A's scored two runs in each of the first three innings. Davies and Tejeda are generally viewed as the top two candidates to round out the five-man rotation. Kyle Farnsworth, Edgar Osuna and Philip Humber are also in the mix. "It goes without saying," Davies acknowledged, "that if you're going to make the team, you've got to start showing that you can command ..."
Athletics' Trevor Cahill makes strong bid for No. 5 spot in rotation
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March 15
Oakland Tribune
 
"Just about every A's pitcher received a pep talk from 1989 World Series MVP Dave Stewart on Sunday morning. Trevor Cahill just happened to be the first one to put that inspiration to use. Starting against Kansas City at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Cahill allowed just two hits and one walk in four innings as the A's went on to a 10-3 win. Cahill had given up five earned runs in his first four innings in two starts this spring, but he located his fastball well and used his sinker and the occasional curveball to make his best case to date for being the A's No. 5 starter. "The biggest thing is I felt a lot more comfortable out there," Cahill said. "I was overthrowing the last two games, big ..."
Chavez doesn't just swing bats, he makes them
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March 14
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Eric Chavez always takes a keen interest in bats. The A's infielder likes to design his own, choosing the wood, the handle, providing all the specifics. He enjoys watching the manufacturing process, too. "I love it," he said. "It's the coolest thing." Now, Chavez can head to his own bat company to see his bats produced. He is a primary investor in a venture called Diego Bats, after Chavez's oldest son, and it's the real deal: The company is churning out major-league certified bats used by Oakland's Mark Ellis and Kurt Suzuki, among others. "It's good, because it's Eric's company, so I can always tell him what's going on - and I know since he's here, it's always going to be the best ..."
Oakland A's Daric Barton is focused to stay 'in a zone' all season
Comment
March 14
Contra Costa Times
 
"Daric Barton said he rediscovered who he really was as a baseball player when he began the 2009 season at Triple-A Sacramento. Now the A's are finally getting a look at the player they always thought Barton could be. Projected to be Oakland's starting first baseman on Opening Night, Barton has set a torrid pace in his first seven games of Cactus League play with a .444 batting average (8-for-18) through Saturday and a .565 on-base percentage. During Saturday's game against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, Barton reached base four times and drove in two runs. He's hit safely in each of his last six games and earned five walks. "I feel like if I'm disciplined and I'm selective," Barton ..."
Oakland A's Gio Gonzalez is working on being fifth starting pitcher
Comment
March 14
Contra Costa Times
 
"It's no secret that there's going to be some competition for the final spot in the A's starting rotation. But Gio Gonzalez simply wants to improve with each outing. Consider Saturday a step forward. Effectively using three pitches, including an improved changeup, Gonzalez threw three shutout innings to even his Cactus League record to 1-1 as the A's held on to beat the Giants 8-7 at Scottsdale Stadium. Gonzalez allowed two earned runs in two innings against the Chicago Cubs on Monday. "It's not trying to compete," said Gonzalez, who faced 12 batters and had three strikeouts. "It's just trying to work." Gonzalez started to use his changeup with some effectiveness at the end of last season ..."
Pain-free Duchscherer progresses well
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March 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Judging by Justin Duchscherer's first time facing hitters, it's all systems go for the right-hander. Two and a half weeks ago, Duchscherer had the nerve endings burned around his sacroiliac joint to reduce irritation in the hip area. "This is the best I've felt in four or five years," Duchscherer told The Chronicle by phone after throwing two sets of 15 pitches Friday in Phoenix. "There's no pain anywhere in my body. And before (the procedure), I had days where I couldn't walk." Duchscherer is considered the No. 2 starter, but in order to be on the Opening Day roster, it's possible he could go in the fifth slot. "I don't buy into that 1 through 5 (starter) stuff," he said. "If I get the ..."
Oakland A's Justin Duchscherer gets nailed by line drive during spring training throwing session
Comment
March 13
Contra Costa Times
 
"Justin Duchscherer's return to the A's almost came to an abrupt halt as the veteran right-hander was hit by a sharp comebacker from catcher Max Stassi midway through his session of throwing to live hitters at Municipal Stadium. On the pitch, Stassi smoked a sinker back up the middle that was headed straight for Duchscherer's head. He got his glove up just in time, and the ball ricocheted off the bottom part of his left hand and the top of his glove and hit his right shoulder. Duchscherer went down in a heap, but got up quickly and retreated to the dugout. With several people looking on in dead silence, it became apparent that Duchscherer was more rattled than anything. He took a few sips ..."
Competition heats up for A's shortstop slot
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March 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Adam Rosales had two more hits Thursday, and he started and played most of the game at shortstop. The infielder is 5-for-11 a week into the spring. Do the A's have a shortstop competition brewing? Manager Bob Geren said last week that there is "competition" at the position, but Thursday he said emphatically that Cliff Pennington, who spent the second half of last season playing shortstop for Oakland, remains the favorite. "Cliff is definitely the front-runner," Geren said. "Cliff is doing exactly what we want." Still, the A's made a strong run at Marco Scutaro this winter, offering him a three-year deal to take their starting shortstop job. Scutaro took two years in Boston instead. Then, ..."
Michael Wuertz is taking it slow this spring
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March 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Michael Wuertz hasn't appeared in a spring game yet, and he won't until Wednesday. Never fear, however. The A's setup man is spending the first two weeks of the Cactus League season doing side sessions, building up his arm strength to be ready for April 5. He got plenty of work last year, and he throws a slider, which can be hard on the arm - taking it slow in the spring is a nod to the 74 appearances he made last year, the eighth most in Oakland history. "In the past, it's always taken me a while to get ready," Wuertz said. "So we're trying to do something else, get my work in different ways." Wuertz tends to have poor springs, anyway, in part because in the dry air, his slider isn't as ..."
Oakland A's catcher Kurt Suzuki earns trust of pitching staff
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March 12
Contra Costa Times
 
"Catcher Kurt Suzuki and new A's pitcher Ben Sheets already have found a certain chemistry after Sheets' only two spring training starts. There remain a few kinks to be worked out, though. For instance, Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, Suzuki put down a sign, and Sheets shook it off. Suzuki flashed two other signs before coming back to the first one, which Sheets finally agreed to. "Think I threw a double," Sheets said. But A's manager Bob Geren doesn't think it'll take long for the two to get on the same page. And Sheets said he won't necessarily throw everything that Suzuki wants at this stage of the spring, even though it might be the correct call. That'll happen, though. ..."
Chavez seeks enjoyment in his waning career
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March 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Eric Chavez said he's just trying to enjoy what remains of his career as much as possible, and if that includes home runs like the two he hit Wednesday, all the better. "I already know the window for my career is very short," said Chavez, who has had two back surgeries and three shoulder surgeries. "I don't know how short." Chavez hit a massive two-run homer slightly to the right of center in the first inning of the A's 9-5 loss to the White Sox, then added a solo shot to right in the sixth. "The last two or three days, my body has felt as good as it's ever felt," Chavez said. That said, he wakes up in pain every day and he has to be careful for the first 45 minutes to make sure he ..."
Sheets resumes career againsts Brewers after 17-month layoff
Comment
March 11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"It was one of those days no Brewers fan would voluntarily commit to memory. Sept. 27, 2008. The 161st game of the season. Lasting just 2 1/3 innings, Ben Sheets gave up four runs in what had every appearance of a devastating loss to the Chicago Cubs. Afterward in the clubhouse, Sheets said, "That's it. That's all I have. I have a broke arm." And that was that for Sheets and the Brewers, the last in a mind-numbing litany of injuries that finally severed what could have been a beautiful relationship between the franchise and its all-time strikeout leader. Sometimes, though, things have a way of working out. The Brewers recovered in Game 162 to make the playoffs, and maybe, just maybe, Big ..."
Harden glowing over Canada gold
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March 10
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"After pitching 22/3 innings against the A's on Monday, Rich Harden said, "It was a good one, an exciting game. It was definitely nice. I was stressed out that game. It was good for the sport. Really got people involved." A spring training game? No, the Olympic gold-medal hockey game. Harden, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, played hockey as a kid, remains an avid fan and celebrated the Canadians' victory over the Americans. After the game, he spoke with his sister, who watched at a San Francisco tavern. "They had a bunch of Canadians in there and were celebrating pretty good," Harden said. "The phone got passed around the bar, and I was talking to all these random people.""
Speedy Crisp edges closer to playing center for Oakland
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March 10
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The A's aren't shelling out $5.25 million for Coco Crisp to be their designated hitter. But for the third time in four days, Crisp was the DH on Tuesday as he recoups from surgeries in both shoulders. "He's a guy who needs to play the field," second baseman Mark Ellis said. Crisp, one of the best defenders in today's game never to win a Gold Glove, said he anticipates debuting in center field late this week. The A's, who are emphasizing speed and defense much more than in previous years, have the complete package with Crisp, their new leadoff hitter who's known for his speed in the field and on the bases. So much so that Rajai Davis - last year's center fielder and leadoff man - now plays ..."
Cliff Pennington looks to nail down starting shortstop job with Oakland Athletics
Comment
March 10
Oakland Tribune
 
"A's shortstop Cliff Pennington became a father in November. But when he wasn't busy changing diapers, he was keeping up with the A's offseason maneuverings. He's aware the team explored other shortstop options, reportedly offering Marco Scutaro a three-year contract to return to Oakland. Such news didn't bother Pennington, but he acknowledged it provides motivation this spring as he tries to prove he's the full-time answer at the position. "If they want to bring somebody in, that's fine. I go out there and play my game and do what I can do," Pennington said. "They're trying to make moves to improve the team." The A's think highly of Pennington, a 2005 first-round pick. That's why he ..."
Team rep Ziegler digs into job
Comment
March 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Brad Ziegler is the A's player representative and hopes to keep the role at least until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. The current labor contract expires after the 2011 season. Exciting stuff? It is to Ziegler. "I'm fascinated by the inner workings of the game," he said. Ziegler, whose main gig is contributing to one of the American League's deepest bullpens, keeps A's players informed on labor issues as player rep. The hottest: whether big-leaguers soon will be tested for human growth hormone. Most players in the A's clubhouse were subject to steroid testing from their first day in pro ball and consider giving urine samples part of the game. They're not old enough to ..."
Oakland A's top prospect Chris Carter more than a slugger
Comment
March 8
Oakland Tribune
 
"Chris Carter is a handful for opposing pitchers when he steps into the batter's box. He's also quite the challenge during an interview. Carter is polite and accommodating with the media, but he's generally a man of few words. The A's don't mind if their top prospect speaks softly as long as he continues carrying a big stick. Manager Bob Geren envisions Carter, 23, someday anchoring the middle of his lineup, an image that doesn't appear far down the road. The first baseman already was considered the A's best power-hitting prospect after belting 39 homers for Single-A Stockton in 2008. He turned heads last season by hitting .329, spending most of the year with Double-A Midland but getting ..."
Teen catching on quickly
Comment
March 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Max Stassi is 18 years old, and he looks barely that. He's also a shade small for a professional athlete, at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. The A's fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft has some obvious role models, though: team broadcaster Ray Fosse was once an 18-year-old catcher in big-league camp, and he became an All-Star. Closer to home, Woodland-born Stassi finds inspiration in diminutive Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is from Woodland and who was the American League MVP in 2008. "He's definitely the guy I look up to," said Stassi, who is actually several inches taller than Pedroia. "Small stature, plays hard. He's 5-6, 135 pounds soaking wet, but he's fearless." Onetime ..."
Duchscherer says he will be good to go
Comment
March 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Justin Duchscherer wants to meet with manager Bob Geren to "get on the same page" about expectations for the start of the season. Geren said he didn't think Duchscherer would be ready to open the season because he's two to three weeks behind other starters and would need to elevate his pitch count to 100. "He's still optimistic about Opening Day, but I don't think so," Geren said. "Getting him built up to 100 pitches makes it difficult to do without six starts." Duchscherer is returning from a procedure that burned the nerve endings around his sacroiliac joint. He was surprised to hear Geren's comments, saying, "That's what Bob said? That's news to me." Duchscherer said he "felt great" ..."
Ben Sheets' tenacity is no joking matter
Comment
March 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"The A's have a treasure in Ben Sheets, perhaps in more ways than they realize. They're going to need some humor, insight and old-fashioned courage as the season goes on, and Sheets loads all of that into a package that also includes four invitations to the All-Star Game. As Sheets made his spring debut in Friday's exhibition against the Milwaukee Brewers, it wasn't so hard to flash-forward to the regular season at the Coliseum: just a few thousand fans, strident voices heard loud and clear, a lineup devoid of star power, costly mistakes putting runs on the scoreboard. But there also was Sheets, taking the mound against big-league competition for the first time in 17 months in the wake of ..."
Sheets returns to mound, Chavez tries first
Comment
March 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Ben Sheets made his first start in an A's uniform Friday in the team's Cactus League home opener, and Eric Chavez made his first-ever start at first base, with an assist from Brewers first-base coach Ed Sedar. Sheets got knocked around a bit in the A's 8-7 victory over his former club, the Brewers. He allowed four hits and two runs, one earned, in 12/3 innings, but said he felt good overall in his first appearance in a game since Sept. 27, 2008. Sheets spent 2009 recovering from elbow surgery. "I felt great, I really did," said Sheets, who threw 34 pitches and was hitting 92 mph on the radar gun. "I was a little nervous - it had been 17 months since I last faced a batter. But the batter ..."
A's pitcher Ben Sheets sees initial start as 'W'
Comment
March 6
Contra Costa Times
 
"It was a short day's work, but Ben Sheets considered it a big hurdle cleared. Sheets threw 1?2/3 innings in his A's spring debut Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) in an 8-7 A's victory. It marked Sheets' first start in 17-plus months after he missed all of last season recovering from right elbow surgery. His command was off on his fastball and curveball, but Sheets felt fine physically afterward. For that, he considered his day a "W." "Seventeen months since I last faced a batter," he said. "I ain't gonna lie, it's not like I wasn't nervous out there. Once I got (in the flow), I felt pretty good." Milwaukee, Sheets' former team, put good ..."
Sheets resumes career againsts Brewers after 17-month layoff
Comment
March 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 columnist Michael Hunt
"Phoenix - It was one of those days no Brewers fan would voluntarily commit to memory. Sept. 27, 2008. The 161st game of the season. Lasting just 2 1/3 innings, Ben Sheets gave up four runs in what had every appearance of a devastating loss to the Chicago Cubs. Afterward in the clubhouse, Sheets said, "That's it. That's all I have. I have a broke arm." And that was that for Sheets and the Brewers, the last in a mind-numbing litany of injuries that finally severed what could have been a beautiful relationship between the franchise and its all-time strikeout leader. Sometimes, though, things have a way of working out. The Brewers recovered in Game 162 to make the playoffs, and maybe, just ..."
Sheets Brings New Mind-Set to A's Team in Need of Change
Comment
March 6
New York Times
 
"Every day he reports to work at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Ben Sheets greets his fellow Oakland Athletics this way: "Good morning, champions!" His teammates, who are coming off a last-place finish in the American League West, love him for it. "That's the mind-set we need around here, and he reinforces it every day," said Dallas Braden, a pitcher with one full season in the majors. "Whether it's with a smile on his face or a scowl - which we haven't seen yet - every day it's upbeat and it's all positive. That's something we kind of missed." The A's have missed the playoffs the last three seasons, and Sheets has never been. Before Friday, when he threw 32 pitches in an 8-7 victory over his ..."
After parting on good terms, Fox faces Cubs
Comment
March 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jake Fox said he has no bitterness toward his former organization. He appreciated Jim Hendry's honesty with him; the Cubs' general manager told Fox that he was trading him because he didn't want to hold him back from a promising big-league career. "But at the same time, if you think I'll have a good career, why not let me play?" Fox wondered before the A's Cactus League opener against the Cubs. "We parted ways on good terms, but a part of you says, 'You missed a player who was right under your nose the whole time.' " Fox was at third Thursday in Oakland's 9-3 loss to his former team, and he made some nice plays there, including tagging out runners twice on throws from left fielder Rajai ..."
Rough start for Oakland A's in Arizona
Comment
March 5
Oakland Tribune
 
"The A's resembled a team ironing out first-game kinks in their exhibition opener Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. But Cactus League results quickly fade from memory when the calendar reads early March. So the A's will leave behind their 9-3 defeat at HoHoKam Park as well as the lopsided stats that went with it. Seven Oakland pitchers combined to serve up five homers. The A's mustered just three hits. "We had a little trouble keeping the ball in the park obviously," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We gave up five homers. But I saw some good things." Among them - a solo homer from newly acquired infielder Adam Rosales in the fifth inning and a monster blast from top prospect Chris Carter in ..."
A's fireballer impresses with his control
Comment
March 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Henry Rodriguez was one of those September call-ups whose time was brief but whose impression was big. That's what a 100-plus mph fastball will get you. Rodriguez isn't automatically mentioned in connection with the Opening Night bullpen. But with the kind of talent he has, if the right-hander continues to show the kind of location he did in Wednesday's intrasquad game, he could have a shot. Rodriguez struck out Chris Carter and got Gabe Gross and Travis Buck to ground out; he hit 95 mph on the radar gun. "Firm to quite firm," Gross said with a grin about Rodriguez's velocity. "His stuff had life out there, and he threw me a good curveball, good depth.""
Coco Crisp still a ways away from playing; Kouzmanoff probable for tomorrow
Comment
March 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"It's a three-inning intrasquad today, with Matt Wright starting for the "visiting" A's team and Gio Gonzalez for the home A's. Here are the lineups: Visitors: Davis lf, Sogard 2b, Suzuki c, Carter 1b, Cust dh, Buck rf, Wimberly cf, Whitney 3b, Green ss Home: Ellis 2b, Barton 1b, Sweeney dh, Taylor lf, Fox c, Patterson cf, Rosales ss, Brown rf, Petit 3b Kevin Kouzmanoff is fine after taking a line off his shin on Monday; he'll play in tomorrow's game against the Cubs in Mesa, according to manager Bob Geren, although Geren does plan to check in with Kouzmanoff again later to make sure he's good to go. Geren said yesterday that Coco Crisp was a ways away from playing in the outfield because ..."
Rosales' look is all-too familiar
Comment
March 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If you squint your eyes and look across the diamond, it appears as if Bobby Crosby is still manning shortstop for the A's this spring. That's not Crosby, it's Adam Rosales, but from a distance, especially, he's got the same look: the height, the frame, the high socks, the No. 7 jersey. Rosales has darker hair and different facial features, but otherwise ... it's eerie. "Oh my gosh, it's unbelievable," said second baseman Mark Ellis, who played alongside Crosby for his entire time with Oakland and counts Crosby among his best friend. "The first day I saw Adam, when I saw him swing the bat, it's exactly alike, and the way he walks, everything. Then I saw him in uniform, and with the number ..."
Long-ball hitter is a long shot
Comment
March 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Bob Geren has seen hundreds of homers in the big leagues, but one was belted with so much authority that he recalls it clearly. Dallas McPherson crushed an opposite-field shot off then-A's closer Octavio Dotel with one out in the ninth on Sept. 24, 2004, at Anaheim, and it is etched in Geren's memory. "He hit one as far to left field as our right-handers did," the A's manager said Tuesday. "I talked to Dallas when we signed him, and he remembered it perfectly. It was a long one." McPherson, now 29, was once one of the jewels of the Angels' superb minor-league system. He was touted as a future star, especially after winning Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2004. The following ..."
A's bullpen was stellar in 2009 and might get better this year if Joey Devine stays healthy
Comment
March 3
Oakland Tribune
 
"The A's felt confident in their bullpen when last season began. But they couldn't have guessed the names that emerged to anchor one of the major leagues' top relief corps. Andrew Bailey went from unheralded rookie to All-Star closer. Michael Wuertz became a dominant setup man after struggling to find his niche in previous seasons with the Chicago Cubs. And left-hander Craig Breslow, claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in May, wound up appearing in 77 games, second most in the American League. All of Oakland's key relievers return. And with the possible addition of Joey Devine, who missed last season with an elbow injury, the A's feel any lead they take into the late innings is in ..."
Souza's inspiration close to home
Comment
March 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Whenever his workouts get tough or the gym regimen takes its toll, A's right-hander Justin Souza finds inspiration in his younger brother, Cory. "When my cardio gets hard and I have to push myself, I think of my brother, and I keep going," Souza said Monday. "He can't do this, so I will. I have to take advantage of my health, I can't forget that." Cory Souza, now 20, received a double lung transplant when he was 9 years old. Doctors in Sacramento had told his parents, Rick and Kathy, that Cory's cystic fibrosis had advanced to the point that he had only three days to live. "I'll never forget this - they told my parents to tell my brother, 'It's OK to give up,' " Justin Souza, 24, said. ..."
Anderson serious about conditioning
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March 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The left-hander doesn't have a new delivery. He hasn't changed his position on the rubber. But he has lost 5 pounds, and as strength and conditioning coordinator Bob Alejo said, Anderson has redistributed the rest, making it really more like a 10-pound swing. Basically, Anderson has gone from a little chunky to closer to svelte. "I'll never have a six-pack (abs) or anything," said Anderson, who will be one of the starters in today's intrasquad game. "But I can see my kneecaps now." Anderson didn't change his diet much apart from trying to steer clear of soft drinks, but he spent the offseason in Oklahoma City lifting weights and doing cardio. "A lot of StairMaster," he said. "That makes ..."
Pitcher Clayton Mortensen seeking to make amends
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March 2
Oakland Tribune
 
"Spring training provides a clean slate for every player, and nobody on the A's looked forward to the new season more than right-hander Clayton Mortensen. Mortensen was part of the three-player package the A's received from St. Louis in July for outfielder Matt Holliday. He joined the A's rotation in September after injuries depleted the staff. But he generated unwanted attention when he was arrested the morning of Oct. 4 for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Mortensen issued an emotional apology in front of reporters that day at the Oakland Coliseum, after the A's final game of the season. He said he couldn't wait to report to camp this spring, eager to restore his image ..."
A's sign pitchers Jason Jennings, Brett Tomko
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March 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The A's signed the 2002 NL Rookie of the Year on Sunday and also brought back the man with the best ERA among Oakland starters last year. Right-handers Jason Jennings and Brett Tomko agreed to minor-league deals, and Jennings, who won 16 games with Colorado as a rookie, reported to camp Sunday morning. He'll be groomed to start, but he also could wind up in middle or long relief. General manager Billy Beane noted that Jennings was effective in relief for Texas last year until he started to get used frequently, then his numbers took a dip. Jennings, 31, said he'd be happy to work in any role for the A's. He nearly signed with the Giants, he said, and he also talked to the Mets and ..."
Well-traveled Coco Crisp at home with the Oakland A's
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March 1
Contra Costa Times
 
"Major league teams covet switch-hitting outfielders who play good defense and fly around the bases. That explains why new A's outfielder Coco Crisp hasn't grown roots at any stop in his career. Crisp has been traded three times since being drafted by St. Louis in 1999, and the acquiring teams have coughed up quality players to get him. "It'd be nice to be in a spot where you don't have to move or think about next year," Crisp said. "But in this day and age, only afew have that opportunity." Crisp was a wanted man by the A's this offseason even as he was coming off surgery to both shoulders. The team, looking to strengthen its defense up the middle, signed Crisp to a one-year, $5.25 ..."
A's notebook: Pitchers Jason Jennings, Brett Tomko added for depth
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March 1
Oakland Tribune
 
"The A's added some veteran pitching depth Sunday by signing right-handers Jason Jennings and Brett Tomko to minor league contracts. Jennings, the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year with Colorado, flew into Phoenix in the morning and was in uniform. Tomko, who went 4-1 with the A's last season after being signed in August, still is recovering from nerve damage in his right arm suffered in his final start last season. A's manager Bob Geren said he was told Tomko could be ready sometime in May. Tomko will report to minor league camp later this month to continue rehab. Jennings, 31, is 62-74 with a 4.95 ERA in nine major league seasons split among Colorado, Houston and Texas. He was ..."
Suzuki expected to take it up a notch
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February 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Kurt Suzuki is a relentless overachiever. His story is much told; walk-on at Cal State Fullerton to College World Series starter, not highly touted as a minor-leaguer and now one of the top catchers in the AL. Suzuki was the A's most consistent performer last year. He was one of the team's best offensive players, and he did a marvelous job working with an extremely young pitching staff. He's durable. He's got some power. He's fast. A leader in the clubhouse. So what will he do next? Is there another level the 26-year-old can reach? "It's too hard for me to say," Suzuki said. "I try to get better every day, whatever the day brings. When Don Wakamatsu was here, he'd say, 'Just stick with ..."
Henderson says Davis could get 75-80 stolen bases
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February 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson will be working as a baserunning instructor for the A's for much of this week. Why not longer? Because "he looks better in the uniform than anyone else," general manager Billy Beane said. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson spent a good 30 minutes on Saturday at Papago Park talking to Rajai Davis, the A's top base stealer, and afterward, Henderson declared that Davis could steal 75-80 bases this season. Said Davis, "Easy. ... Sleeping." The A's would like the outfielder to have more confidence in his running, so his attitude is a good start. Henderson said that Davis needs to have "no fear." In addition, Henderson said, Davis' balance could be better, because he's ..."