Athletics News

Kennedy says he's interested in rejoining A's
Comment
October 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Adam Kennedy was one of the final additions to the A's in 2009, but he might be one of the first to join the roster this offseason. The veteran second baseman, who spent most of the year at third for Oakland after coming from Tampa Bay in a minor-league deal in May, would like to return, and his agent, Paul Cohen, told The Chronicle that talks have been "very positive." Players may file for free agency one day after the World Series ends, but if Kennedy does so, that won't indicate a shift in thinking about Oakland. A's assistant general manager David Forst said the team expects that Kennedy will file for free agency, and, he said, "The ball is in their court. We let them know we're ..."
For all of their efforts, Raiders not tackling
Comment
October 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The good news for the Raiders is there's a simple solution to their perpetually sinking run defense: Tackle the guy. The bad news is if the Raiders have yet to master the most Pop Warner League of functions, umm, wow. "We have to do a better job of tackling," Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour said Wednesday. "I think that's the main issue." Let's get this straight: The Raiders gave up 316 rushing yards to the Jets on Sunday simply because they could not tackle? "It is such a basic thing, and obviously we need to do a better job," Seymour said. "Guys were in the right gaps, but we didn't tackle well." That might be the most troubling component of the Raiders' slide to No. 30 in NFL ..."
Raiders know one (win) is the loneliest number
Comment
October 20
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Don't get Raiders coach Tom Cable wrong: He thoroughly enjoyed Sunday's 13-9 upset of the Eagles at the Coliseum. It's simply that the Raiders have won one game in a row before. The trick now is to turn this into a win streak and not merely a tripped-over acorn. "The most important thing for me is for us to do it again," Cable said Monday. "That's really all I care about. Do it again. You have to put them together. You have to have consistency." Cable said one win makes players feel good and two straight breeds confidence. Only a third win in a row makes them believe, and the Raiders haven't done that since 2002. In other words, beat the visiting Jets on Sunday, or the Eagles victory is ..."
Pitching project down, lineup revamp up next
Comment
October 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If the A's were conducting a clinical trial or product testing, this past season might be considered Phase 1: Pitching. Next year, then, would be Phase 2: Position Players. That means more growing pains as Oakland adds players such as first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter, third baseman Brett Wallace, second baseman Adrian Cardenas and perhaps first baseman/outfielder Sean Doolittle and catcher Josh Donaldson at some point. "We have a long way to go, " A's general manager Billy Beane said Monday of the rebuilding efforts. "It's going to take some time and some commitment. I don't know in our marketplace if there's any way to speed up that process. There's no magic potion to turn a ..."
Giants, A's remember day that shook baseball
Comment
October 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"Twenty years ago today, at 5:04 p.m., a half-hour before World Series Game 3 at Candlestick Park, Al Michaels told a national TV audience, "I think we're having an earth..." The Giants and A's were rendered irrelevant after the Loma Prieta quake shook the region. Amid death and destruction, the Series was pushed back 10 days. While the Giants resumed working out at the 'Stick, A's manager Tony La Russa took his team to Phoenix for two days to maintain a higher level of focus. The A's completed a four-game sweep with just two starting pitchers, Dave Stewart and Mike Moore, and an imposing offense that outscored the Giants 32-14, matching the most one-sided World Series in history. The A's ..."
Mrs. Lurie shows her grace and class
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The ground had stopped shaking, but I hadn't. The 7.1 earthquake that put Game 3 of the 1989 World Series on hold rattled me like few things ever have. What I didn't know scared me. Was this the main event, or a foreshock? Was it a small quake centered nearby, or a catastrophic event centered miles away? Were the rumors true? Had cars really been pitched from the Bay Bridge into the water? Had the scoreboard at the Oakland Coliseum really crashed to the ground? I did know one thing — there would be no baseball. Candlestick Park was without power. And it was getting dark. Still, there was a job to do. I made my way to the locker rooms to interview A's and Giants players. Then it was time to ..."
Writing by the headlights of a parked car
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"n the aftermath of the earthquake before Game 3 of the Bay Bridge World Series, everyone pretty much banded together to lend assistance. That included members of the fourth estate. After gathering as much information as I could — Were rumors true that the Coliseum scoreboard had collapsed? — I needed place to write. I finally settled on a piece of pavement in front of the players' parking lot at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman, then covering the Giants for the Oakland Tribune and until this day a good friend, turned on the headlights of his Honda Accord so I could see. Henry was writing in front seat of his car, Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse was writing ..."
Candlestick Park was the real Series champ
Comment
October 14
San Jose Mercury News
 columnist Mark Purdy
"The crowd cheered and applauded a natural disaster. That's what so many people forget. I was in the upper deck at Candlestick Park, where they put the overflow media. I knew exactly what was happening. I looked up to my left at the enclosed 49ers press box and noticed the windows wobbling and bending and shivering. I thought, "Man, if those things pop out, we're in real trouble." Just then, the shaking stopped. And the cheering started. Lusty roars. Loud. The vibe was: "Hey, it's a Bay Area series and this is cool!" But then reports reached the ballpark about the bridge and the fire. The scoreboard flickered out. Power was gone. Things grew quiet. I hiked down to the field and interviewed ..."
Who will start at running back?
Comment
October 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Raiders coach Tom Cable won't name a starting running back. He'd just the same use the labels 1A and 1B. It might not matter if it's Justin Fargas or Michael Bush who replaces injured starter Darren McFadden when the Raiders visit the New York Giants on Sunday. If the depleted offensive line doesn't block better, there aren't many running backs on earth who will get far beyond the line of scrimmage. "It seems like they're challenging us to throw the ball a little bit," Fargas said. "Sometimes you say, 'Hey, you know what? We're gonna stick to what we do and we can run it anyway.' But it's tough. "If you're not at your very best, it's gonna be hard." It's been hard for the Raiders' rushing ..."
Another slog ahead: Hitting rebuild next
Comment
October 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"If the A's were conducting a clinical trial or product testing, this past season might be considered Phase 1: Pitching. Next year, then, would be Phase 2: Position Players. That means more growing pains as Oakland adds players such as first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter, third baseman Brett Wallace, second baseman Adrian Cardenas and perhaps first baseman/outfielder Sean Doolittle and catcher Josh Donaldson at some point. "We have a long way to go," A's general manager Billy Beane said Monday of the rebuilding efforts. "It's going to take some time and some commitment. I don't know in our marketplace if there's any way to speed up that process. There's no magic potion to turn a ..."
McDonald relishes touchdown
Comment
October 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For the amount of time he's on the field as a non-starter, Ray McDonald might be the 49ers' most productive player. The third-year defensive end is listed as the backup to starter Justin Smith but he's a big part of the defensive-line rotation. On Sunday, McDonald scored the first touchdown of his career when he scooped up a fumble and chugged 11 yards into the end zone with 14 minutes left in the game for San Francisco's final score of the day. Quarterback Kyle Boller was credited with the fumble when he attempted to hand off to wide receiver Danny Amendola on an end around. Amendola was bobbling the ball when he was smacked by outside linebacker Manny Lawson. McDonald, trailing the play, ..."
A's close out season with their seventh consecutive loss
Comment
October 5
Contra Costa Times
 
"The A's hobbled to the 2009 finish line Sunday, suffering their seventh consecutive loss in a 5-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels. Despite an encouraging September in which the A's went 17-10, the A's finished the season on a season-high losing streak to finish the campaign 75-87. It's the seventh time in their Oakland history they've finished last in the American League West, but first time since 1998. Oakland manager Bob Geren decided to use a bullpen-by-committee approach, starting reliever Brad Kilby and following him with six others. Andrew Bailey finished off his AL Rookie of the Year with a 1-2-3 ninth and one strikeout. The A's took a 2-0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly form ..."
Mortensen arrested on suspicion of DUI
Comment
October 5
Contra Costa Times
 
"A's right-hander Clayton Mortensen was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of drunk driving, the team announced in a release circulated during Sunday's 5-3 season-closing defeat to the Los Angeles Angels. Mortensen, 24, was released Sunday morning from Santa Clara County Jail and made it to the Oakland Coliseum for pre-game drills. "The A's are aware of the situation and will have no comment until further details are available," the release said. Mortensen was obtained from St. Louis in the Matt Holliday trade along with third baseman Brett Wallace and outfielder Shane Peterson. He went 2-4 with a 7.81 ERA in six starts with the A's after the trade. The regret was obvious on Mortensen's ..."
A's pitcher Clayton Mortensen arrested on suspicion of drunk driving
Comment
October 5
Contra Costa Times
 
"A's right-hander Clayton Mortensen was arrested Saturday night under the suspicion of drunk driving, the team announced in a release Sunday afternoon. Mortensen, 24, was released this morning from Santa Clara County Jail and was at the Oakland Coliseum in time for pre-game drills before the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Angels."The A's are aware of the situation and will have no comment until further details are available," the release said."
Eveland faces uncertain future
Comment
October 4
Contra Costa Times
 
"A's pitcher Dana Eveland had plenty working for him at this time last year. He finished the 2008 season second on the team in innings pitched and was one of the most experienced pitchers on a staff that was getting younger and younger. After wrapping up his 2009 campaign with a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum, Eveland's outlook is decidedly different from what it was one year ago. The left-hander compiled an 8-6 record in Triple-A Sacramento this season, finishing with a 4.94 ERA in 21 starts. After starting the season in Oakland, Eveland eventually became a casualty of the A's youth movement, unable to regain a consistent spot in the rotation after ..."
Crosby takes what may be his final bow
Comment
October 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In possibly his final game starting for the A's, Bobby Crosby was the only member of the lineup to hit the ball hard through the first seven innings Saturday at the Coliseum, and he scored Oakland's first run. He came up representing the tying run with two outs and one on in the ninth, but he grounded out to end the game, and the A's fell 4-2 to the Angels, their sixth loss in a row. "I felt great swinging the bat, and I hadn't been in there in a while," Crosby said. "I wish I could have done something my last at-bat, but I've had plenty of good memories here. "I don't know if I'm playing (today) so it's definitely possible this was my last game here. This is all I know, and I've always ..."
Scott Kazmir is sharp, Jason Bulger has a scare
Comment
October 4
Los Angeles Times
 
"A shoulder injury to reliever Jason Bulger on the eve of the playoffs put a slight damper on a sharp outing by left-hander Scott Kazmir, who gave up three hits in five shutout innings in the Angels' 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Bulger, who is 6-1 with a 3.56 earned-run average in 64 games, gave up a walk, a run-scoring triple to Eric Patterson and struck out two batters in the eighth inning before signaling to the bench that he felt tightness in the front of his shoulder. He came out of the game. "They didn't want to risk injury; it's more precautionary," said Bulger, who sat out a week and a half in late August and early September because of tightness in the back of ..."
Losing A's hope Bailey's a winner
Comment
October 3
Oakland Tribune
 
"As their season winds to a quiet close this weekend, the A's are stepping up the attack for their one chance at postseason glory - landing the American League Rookie of the Year Award for their 22-year-old bullpen wonder, Andrew Bailey. "I know he's up for Rookie of the Year, but he should be Rookie of the Year," said manager Bob Geren before the A's 5-2 loss Friday night to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. "He's been dominant. He's just better than everybody else." To try to drive home that point, the A's media relations department sent out a comparative statistical evaluation of AL rookie candidates Friday to everyone on their national e-mail list. They did so under the heading "The ..."
Gonzalez looks ahead to 2010 in 5-2 loss
Comment
October 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"While Angels starter Jered Weaver used his final regular-season assignment as a tune-up for the playoffs, A's starter Gio Gonzalez used it as a final 2009 audition for the 2010 rotation. Weaver's next appearance figures to be Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Red Sox. Gonzalez hopes his next outing will be as a member of next year's rotation. While manager Bob Geren said Gonzalez is "definitely in the mix," the lefty's performance in Friday's 5-2 loss showed he has advanced - but with more seasoning required. Gonzalez collected the most strikeouts (10) and fewest walks (0) in his 24 career starts. His development showed with his fastball command and a plunging curve that ..."
Jered Weaver sharp, Kevin Jepsen shaky in Angels victory
Comment
October 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"Jered Weaver's spark plugs, air filter and brake fluid look fine. The right-hander looked sharp in his final tuneup for the playoffs Friday night, throwing five shutout innings with five strikeouts and no walks in the Angels' 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. But the check-engine light came on for setup man Kevin Jepsen, who suffered his second shaky outing in seven days, giving up singles to three of the four batters he faced and two runs in the ninth inning. "I feel like I'm out there trying to work on things instead of doing what I normally do, which is go after guys and let it all hang out," Jepsen said. "My velocity is fine, my slider is good, and I'm throwing strikes. I'm just ..."
Anderson done in by error
Comment
October 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In 2006, the A's used the Mariners as a springboard to the division title, taking 17 of 19 games between the teams. Since then, Seattle has turned the tables, going 37-20 against the A's, including taking eight of nine at Safeco Field this year. Adam Kennedy gave the Mariners a hand Thursday with an error that led to three unearned runs in the fifth inning of Seattle's 4-2 victory. Brett Anderson, the budding star among Oakland's rookie starters, finished up his season with an 11-11 mark, with his four-game winning streak coming to an end. Thursday's loss was no ordinary loss, however - he allowed only one earned run, on a homer by Adrian Beltre in the second, in five innings. "He's going ..."
Buck tries to cash in on shot
Comment
October 1
Contra Costa Times
 
"A's right fielder Travis Buck picked a heck of a time to work his way back into the lineup. The A's had no answer for Seattle right-hander Brandon Morrow, a Santa Rosa native who allowed just one hit over eight innings as the Mariners blanked the A's 7-0 at Safeco Field on Wednesday night. Morrow, who starred at Cal after leaving Rancho Cotate High, allowed Rajai Davis' fourth-inning infield single, the A's only base runner through the first seven innings. Morrow also walked two in the eighth. Buck had one of those walks in an 0-for-2 night. He drew just his second start since being recalled Sept. 19 for his third stint with the A's. He started in place of regular right fielder Ryan ..."
Mariners throttle Cahill, A's
Comment
September 30
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Oakland's hopes of a non-losing season and finishing higher than last place evaporated on the same night. The A's needed to win each of their final six games to remain at .500 for the season, and they had to sweep Seattle to have a shot at third place, but Trevor Cahill had his first real off night in seven weeks in Oakland's 6-4 loss to the Mariners and Cy Young Award candidate Felix Hernandez. Oakland will finish with its third losing season in a row. In his final appearance of the season, Cahill gave up eight hits and six runs in 42/3 innings, the first time the rookie right-hander had allowed more than three runs in a start since Aug. 6. He said he was struggling with his best pitch, ..."
Power outage has A's in dark
Comment
September 30
Contra Costa Times
 
"The A's acquired Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday last winter hoping to boost their sagging power numbers from 2008. But instead of landing more knockout punches, the A's have found success jabbing opponents into submission. They entered Tuesday night's game, a 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field, ranked 27th out of 30 teams in home runs (134) but ranked fourth in stolen bases (130). They also were hitting .285 since the All-Star break and had scored the third-most runs in the major leagues over that span - with Holliday having been traded July 24 and Giambi released shortly after. It brings up the issue: Do the last-place A's continue building around their speed and baserunning ..."
Garciaparra: Season is a bust
Comment
September 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Oakland's strong finish is not enough to satisfy Nomar Garciaparra. Only a playoff spot would make him happy, so the infielder really does not like finishing in last place. "This is how I evaluate this season: I'm disappointed, upset and embarrassed," he said. "I hope everyone feels that way. I've always believed one team has a great year, seven have decent years, and the rest have awful years. And to be out of it for the past two months is an embarrassment - you want to at least have a chance. We didn't do enough." Will the A's failures keep Garciaparra, 36, from wanting to play another season? He nearly retired after last season before flirting with the Phillies, then signing with ..."
A's core secure, but others are likely to move on
Comment
September 29
Contra Costa Times
 
"The A's take comfort knowing that several of this season's core players are locked into the picture for next year as well. Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill lead a young starting rotation that's expected to improve with experience. Closer Andrew Bailey heads a strong group of relievers. Catcher Kurt Suzuki is developing into one of the American League's best at his position. But the front office has several tough roster calls to make this offseason. The following players could be waving goodbye to Oakland after the regular season concludes Sunday: 3B Adam Kennedy: A case could be made for Kennedy, 33, as the team's most valuable player, and he should attract interest as a free agent. He was ..."
A's receive props, but not a win
Comment
September 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Before Sunday's finale at Angel Stadium, A's manager Bob Geren called starter Edgar Gonzalez the key. That turned out to be the case - Gonzalez wasn't at his best in the Angels' 7-4 victory, which eradicated the A's hopes of finishing above .500. Oakland could still finish even, but would have to win all six remaining games to do so. Oakland's victories in the first two games of the series and the team's overall impact on the division race in the past two weeks was duly noted in the Angels' clubhouse; the Angels realized after the A's took the first two that they'd better get down to business. "They're playing good baseball, man," Angels pitcher John Lackey said. "Sometimes a team with ..."
Bullpen gives A's lots of relief
Comment
September 28
Contra Costa Times
 
"Much attention has been paid to the A's young starting pitchers, viewed as the backbone of the team for seasons to come. Oakland's relievers, by comparison, have gone about their work in anonymity. But the bullpen's performance has been the biggest bright spot of the A's season, and the unit should set up strong for 2010. The A's lost 7-4 to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, trimming the Angels' magic number for clinching the American League West to two. Yet the weekend series spotlighted how good the A's relief corps has been when pressed into heavy duty. Starter Dana Eveland lasted just 3 1/3 innings Saturday. But the bullpen held the Angels to two runs over the final 5 2/3 innings, ..."
A's comeback falls short against Angels this time
Comment
September 28
Contra Costa Times
 
"After erasing a seven-run deficit to win Saturday, the A's showed signs of another comeback Sunday. But it fell short, and Oakland lost 7-4 to the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of a three-game series at Angel Stadium. The Angels trimmed their magic number for clinching the American League West to two. The A's still took two of three in Los Angeles and are 5-0-4 over their last nine series. That's their longest stretch without losing a series since July 27-Sept. 3, 2006."
It's one away for Angels now
Comment
September 28
Los Angeles Times
 
"It took nearly six months and 155 games to get here, but now the regular season comes down to one game for the Angels. No more complicated mathematical formulas, no more magic numbers, no more scoreboard watching. Win one more game against the Texas Rangers and they capture their fifth American League West title in six seasons. "The challenge is very clear," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We need to win a game. That's it." It could happen tonight. But it really doesn't matter when the Angels do it, as long as they do it before the second-place Rangers leave town for the weekend. So even if they lose tonight, the Angels get to try again Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday. But it does matter ..."
Another big rally leads A's
Comment
September 27
Contra Costa Times
 
"Right now, Oakland's offense is clicking with Suzuki, who entered this season with all of 14 career homers, hitting cleanup. Suzuki hit a two-run homer and had four RBI as the A's erased an early seven-run deficit and then authored another comeback in claiming a wild 15-10 victory at Angel Stadium. The A's have won 16 of their past 20 games and lead the majors with a 17-7 record this month. They entered Saturday leading the majors in runs, doubles, extra-base hits and stolen bases in September. Jack Cust had a three-run homer and also drove in four runs. Daric Barton had a career-high four hits and two RBI. Mark Ellis added a three-run homer in the A's six-run eighth, when they turned a ..."
Pair of comebacks turn into A's 15-10 win
Comment
September 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Going in, this one looked like a mismatch, with A's killer John Lackey pitching against Dana Eveland, who'd spent most of this year in the minors. Add to that the fact that Oakland's defense was spotty and the team fell behind by seven runs. "The odds weren't in our favor at that point," Oakland third baseman Adam Kennedy said. The A's offense apparently was not informed of that, twice coming from behind and coming away with a 15-10 victory over the division-leading Angels on Saturday. Oakland chipped back to cut the deficit to one after seven innings, then Kurt Suzuki tied the game in the eighth with a two-out single off Kevin Jepsen. Jack Cust added a go-ahead double and Daric Barton an ..."
Angels squander big lead, lose to Oakland, 15-10
Comment
September 27
Los Angeles Times
 
"The rotation finally jells in late August, and the offense goes into a lengthy funk. The hitters break out Saturday night, reaching double figures in runs for only the second time this month, and the pitchers can't get anyone out. If the Angels don't get their act together soon, they will be surprise entrants in a race few thought they'd be running this week: one with the Texas Rangers for the American League West title. The Angels blew a seven-run, fourth-inning lead Saturday night to the Oakland Athletics, who scored 13 runs against starter John Lackey and four relievers from the fifth through eighth innings in a 15-10 victory in Angel Stadium. That gave the Angels their first four-game ..."
Ellis adapts to new role
Comment
September 26
Oakland Tribune
 
"A's second baseman Mark Ellis began the season flanked by an accomplished group of infielders in Eric Chavez, Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi. But as the season's final week is about to unfold, his most crucial role is that of mentor to wet-behind-the-ears shortstop Cliff Pennington. Things obviously didn't go as scripted this season for the A's, who beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Friday. Cabrera was traded, Giambi was released, and the A's adjusted their goals after falling from contention in the American League West. Likewise, different things have been expected of Ellis -- like dishing wisdom to Pennington, who was installed at short after Cabrera was dealt. The two stood ..."
A'S 3, ANGELS 0 / Gonzalez cool as ice, relievers even better
Comment
September 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In his brief big-league career, Gio Gonzalez has become known as much for his nervous energy as for his talent. He's got a great deal of the latter, but at times his emotions still work against him. Not on Friday night in the A's 3-0 victory at Anaheim - Gonzalez appeared unflappable in his 61/3 scoreless innings of work against the pending division champs, especially in the diciest situations. "That was beyond a quality start," Oakland closer Andrew Bailey said. "Gio threw up some goose eggs." Every time the Angels got a man in scoring position, Gonzalez bore down. In the third, with men at first and second, he got Erick Aybar to hit into an inning-ending double play. In the fifth, after ..."
Angels come up empty against Athletics
Comment
September 26
Los Angeles Times
 
"Not tonight. Probably not Sunday. Maybe, just maybe, one last gasp for the Texas Rangers. The Angels' magic number remains at four. There will be no clinching tonight. And, unless the Angels win their next two games and the Rangers lose their next two, the Rangers still will be alive when they arrive in Anaheim on Monday. Four games, mano a mano. No scoreboard watching necessary. The Angels could eliminate the Rangers live and in person. The Rangers could . . . no, they couldn't really sweep that series and throw a major scare into the Angels, could they? Probably not, but the way the Angels have played the last two games cannot encourage the home team. They appeared mighty sluggish Friday ..."
A's continue offensive surge
Comment
September 25
Contra Costa Times
 
"With the A's scoring runs at their current pace, they have plenty of margin for error. No pun intended. Oakland turned in more shaky defense Thursday afternoon, but that was overshadowed by another high-powered offensive showing in a 12-3 victory over the Texas Rangers before an announced crowd of 11,124 at the Oakland Coliseum. That capped a 6-2 homestand for the A's, who also have won 14 of their past 18 games as they hit the road for the season's final trip. The A's chased Texas ace Scott Feldman after just 3?1/3 innings, beating the 17-game winner for the second time in 11 days. Seven players in Oakland's lineup recorded hits, and six notched RBI. "It seems like every game we're ..."
All of young lineup contributes to win
Comment
September 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Though they've all moved on to other teams, posters of Orlando Cabrera, Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday still hang in the A's clubhouse. The remaining youth-filled roster is making a case that it might be time to replace the experienced players' likenesses with some of their own. On a Thursday afternoon that included hits from seven of the A's nine starters and an RBI from eight players, Triple-A Sacramento call-up Eric Patterson was the key component in a 12-3 victory over the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum. Patterson, who hit his first home run in 53 games the night before, went 2-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs on Thursday. The only two A's who didn't get hits - Daric Barton and ..."
Feldman hits bumpy road in loss to A's
Comment
September 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"No pitcher in Rangers' history has had as much success on the road as Scott Feldman this season. The right-hander entered Thursday with victories in eight straight road starts and 12 wins away from home. His ERA in 15 road games was a tidy 2.58. But his run of success came to an end at McAfee Coliseum in the Rangers' 12-3 loss to Oakland. Feldman (17-6) matched his career high for walks with five, and allowed seven runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. The game turned with the Rangers leading 2-0 in the third. A 3-2 pitch to Daric Barton just missed with two outs and the bases loaded. The walk brought in the first of four A's runs in the inning, and Feldman was visibly upset when Chuck ..."
A's can't rally from atypical play in field
Comment
September 24
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"This one had the-end-of-the-season-can't-come-too-soon written all over it. Three-fourths of the Oakland infield made errors on Wednesday, leading to three unearned runs in a 9-8 loss to the Rangers at the Coliseum, and the A's couldn't quite scramble back despite their best efforts. Most painful for Oakland, after scoring five times in the fourth to take the lead, the team turned around and gave up four in the fifth, all with two outs. "That shouldn't happen," A's starter Clayton Mortensen said. "Especially after getting the lead, I've got to complete that inning." Three runs were charged to Mortensen in the inning and one to reliever Brad Kilby. It was unearned, but still the first run ..."
Rookie, defense let A's down
Comment
September 24
Contra Costa Times
 
"Clayton Mortensen didn't exactly take a step forward Wednesday night in trying to work his way into the A's 2010 pitching plans. And the right-hander wasn't helped much by his defense. Despite the blemishes, the A's had a great shot to win a game they dropped 9-8 to the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum. Their bats never let them fall too far behind, and they trailed by just a run entering the final two innings. But Rangers closer Frank Francisco slammed the door in the ninth, and the A's lost for just the third time in their past 13 games. Mortensen (2-3), inserted into the rotation when fellow rookie Vin Mazzaro was lost to injury, left after 4?2/3 innings, though four of the seven ..."
Rangers stave off A's
Comment
September 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Texas Rangers aren't living in a dream world as the games tick away on the 2009 schedule. They know it will take one of the most remarkable stretches in baseball history if they are to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Maybe their performance Wednesday night was the start. If nothing else, it helped the Rangers keep hope alive. Hank Blalock drove in four runs and hit his 25th homer, and Marlon Byrd delivered the key hit as the Rangers outlasted Oakland for a 9-8 victory. The Rangers made up a game in the American League West standings on first-place Los Angeles, and now trail the Angels by 6 1/2 games with 11 remaining. Four are at Angel Stadium next week. "It's going ..."
Hairston may have to pull plug on season
Comment
September 23
MLB.com
 
"By A's outfielder Scott Hairston's estimation, he's been playing in pain since July. On Tuesday, he stopped just short of saying enough is enough. Currently sidelined by a swelling in his hip and a related back problem, he suggested he could very well be done for the year. "At some point, you've gotta know when to stop," he said. "And right now, I'm stopped. I've gone as far as I can go." Hairston, who was removed from Monday's loss in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Rangers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, said there wasn't a specific play that caused his most recent health issue. In fact, he's all but certain that everything he's been dealing with is somehow tied ..."
A winning month, at long last
Comment
September 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"When Texas snapped the A's seven-game winning streak a night earlier, it appeared the Rangers might be bent on avenging the sweep Oakland had dealt them the week before, impairing Texas' playoff hopes. Instead, the A's turned the jets back on again in a 9-1 victory over the Rangers at the Coliseum. Oakland has won 10 of the past 12, and the team has clinched a winning month for the first time since June 2008. That ends a streak of eight losing months, tied for the second longest such run in team history. A's rookie starter Trevor Cahill won his fourth consecutive decision and he became the fourth pitcher in Oakland history under the age of 22 to win 10 games, joining Vida Blue (1971), ..."
A's chemistry cooled Bradley's fire
Comment
September 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Gwen Knapp
"The Cubs' decision to suspend Milton Bradley for the rest of the season serves as a reminder of the extraordinary team chemistry on the 2006 A's. Bradley's volatility didn't entirely vanish that year, but his time in Oakland was relatively stable and pleasant. Frank Thomas had a remarkably calming effect on Bradley. The Big Hurt could simply tap Bradley on the shoulder or elbow and cool off a heated argument with an umpire. Bradley and Nick Swisher, who along with CC Sabathia has enlivened the Yankees' clubhouse this season, met in the dugout after home runs and executed a goofy, intricately choreographed home run dance. The easygoing nature of that team carried over. And who can forget ..."
A's run circles around Rangers
Comment
September 23
Contra Costa Times
 
"A mad scamper around the bases was the last thing Daric Barton needed Tuesday night. After sitting out Monday's game with a bone spur in his left heel, Barton returned to first base for the A's and figured prominently in their first two scoring rallies. That was all the offense required in the A's 9-1 victory over the visiting Texas Rangers in front of another smallish announced crowd - 10,475. The A's received a solid 5?2/3 innings from Trevor Cahill, who became the eighth rookie to win 10 games in a season in Oakland history. Fellow rookie Brett Anderson notched his 10th victory in his last start. Barton, who entered the night hitting .375 with four doubles over his previous eight games, ..."
Hairston's injuries and frustration are mounting
Comment
September 23
Contra Costa Times
 
"Scott Hairston's list of injuries is growing, and the frustration bothers him just as much as the pain. The A's left fielder missed Tuesday's game against Texas with inflammation in his left hip. But that's just his latest ailment. Hairston has played several weeks with a sore left quadriceps, and recently the sacroiliac joint in his back has given him problems. "My quad's really sore today, my hip is not feeling too great," he said Tuesday. "It's frustrating. I want to be out there, and my body is not letting me do it." Hairston, 29, was installed in Oakland's lineup immediately after being obtained in a July 5 trade with San Diego, and the A's consider him a key piece to their future. ..."
Rangers can't get it done against Athletics
Comment
September 23
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"One thing that manager Ron Washington won't do is admonish one of his players for giving maximum effort while trying to make a play. That's what Nelson Cruz was doing Tuesday night as he tried to get the Texas Rangers back in the dugout in the second inning. A line drive was headed toward him in right field. A catch would end the inning. A dive and a miss, though, and Oakland would likely break a scoreless tie. Cruz did miss, and the Athletics wound up with two runs on the play after an errant throw home. That sequence proved to be the key element in 9-1 loss at McAfee Coliseum. Oakland scored five runs in the seventh to break open a 3-1 game that could have been a tied contest had the ..."
Little to cheer as A's winning streak ends
Comment
September 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The loudest reaction from a sparse Monday night crowd at the Coliseum came in the fourth inning, when A's manager Bob Geren strode toward the mound. The crowd of 10,851 picked the right time to stop practicing for Presidents Cup attendance and make some noise, because it was about the only thing that could have induced a positive response in the A's 10-3 clunker against Texas. Edgar Gonzalez gave up six runs (five earned) in 31/3 innings, so the reaction was about equal parts jeers for his performance and genuine claps for Geren's decision to yank the starter. Gonzalez failed to get past the fifth inning for his third consecutive start and moved his record to 0-3. He had made two decent ..."
A's streak ends with big thud
Comment
September 22
Oakland Tribune
 
"As convincing as the A's beat the opposition while winning seven games in a row, Monday night's streak-buster also was no cheapie. The Texas Rangers pounded A's starter Edgar Gonzalez early and coasted to a 10-3 victory, preventing the A's from bagging a season-high eighth straight win. Oakland outscored its opponents 45-12 during the win streak and never trailed in any of the games. That changed in a hurry Monday, as the Rangers scored four runs in the first two innings and led 6-0 by the fourth to end most of the intrigue for an announced crowd of 10,581 at the Oakland Coliseum. "We haven't had too many of these all year," A's manager Bob Geren said of the lopsided loss. "You know the ..."