Oakland Athletics News

A's fountain of youth: Cahill flows
Comment
July 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On an evening the A's learned that Ben Sheets will, in fact, miss the rest of the season, Trevor Cahill demonstrated why the team might still be OK even without the one remaining veteran in the rotation. Without Sheets and Justin Duchscherer, the remainder of the starters are all 26 and under, with an average age of 23. On Wednesday night, Cahill, the 22-year-old All-Star, worked eight scoreless innings and the A's beat the division-leading Rangers 3-1. A's starters have the lowest ERA in the league, and they have allowed no more than two runs in 10 of the past 13 games. "It's very young and talented," Oakland manager Bob Geren said of his rotation. "They've all done a great job.""
'Moneyball' film crew brings missing buzz back to Oakland Coliseum
Comment
July 29
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Tony Hicks
"Five hours of waiting, being herded like cattle, and occasionally cheering at a fake baseball game was getting old. Scores of "Moneyball" extras at the Oakland Coliseum were chilled, fatigued and skeptical about the promise of Hollywood glamour, not to mention irritated about Chex Mix qualifying as "snacks." Then he appeared. At first he resembled another film production guy, walking from the third-base dugout Tuesday toward a group trying to set up a shot of a game that took place eight years ago. The man in the gray pullover, beige pants and wool hat turned to the crowd, displaying the profile that has launched a million tabloids. A woman screamed. Idle chatter vanished. Someone dropped"
Sheets done for the season with torn flexor tendon
Comment
July 29
Oakland Tribune
 
"A's right-hander Ben Sheets was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow that will require surgery and sideline him the rest of the season, manager Bob Geren said before Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. The veteran pitcher feared such a diagnosis when he was placed on the disabled list Saturday and revealed that his elbow has bothered him all season. This is a reoccurrence of the injury that sidelined Sheets for all of the 2009 season. He underwent surgery for a torn flexor tendon in February 2009, and the A's signed him to a one-year, $10 million contract this past January in the hopes he was recovered and would return to his All-Star form. Sheets, 32, went 4-9 with a"
A's would need big offer to move relievers
Comment
July 28
ESPN.com
 
"Despite rumors that Oakland would talk about set-up relievers Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow and Brad Ziegler, assistant GM David Forst told Rumblings on Tuesday that "it would have to be an over-the-top deal for us to even consider it." The A's hold options on all their potential free agents except Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets. So they're strongly contemplating "bringing back the same 25 guys next year," Forst said. The A's have played hard and played well despite all their injuries. And they believe a big finish could set the stage for better things next year, much the way it did in San Diego last year."
Hollywood's stars visit Coliseum
Comment
July 28
Oakland Tribune
 
"A's video coordinator Adam Rhoden is a huge movie buff, and Philip Seymour Hoffman ranks as one of his favorite actors. So imagine Rhoden's surprise when he was organizing film Sunday afternoon and the Academy Award winner strolled into his office inside the Oakland Coliseum. Filming for the movie "Moneyball" started Monday at the Coliseum. And encounters such as Rhoden's have been common as A's employees have interacted with the Hollywood A-listers involved in the movie, based on the 2003 Michael Lewis book that examined how A's general manager Billy Beane and his staff built a winning team. Rhoden was rushing to get work done before Sunday's game against the White Sox when "Moneyball""
Nelson Cruz homer in 10th dooms Oakland A's
Comment
July 28
Oakland Tribune
 
"The presence of Texas Rangers left-hander Cliff Lee on the mound Tuesday night didn't bode well for the A's. The absence of closer Andrew Bailey from Oakland's bullpen didn't help either. Both circumstances factored heavily as the A's lost the opener of a pivotal three-game series 3-1 when Texas' Nelson Cruz hit a walk-off two-run homer off reliever Michael Wuertz in the bottom of the 10th. Wuertz struck out cleanup hitter Vladimir Guerrero to lead off the inning but walked Josh Hamilton. Cruz, a former A's prospect traded to Milwaukee before the 2005 season, then hit a towering shot to left field on a 1-1 slider. When the ball finally found its landing spot in the seats, the first-place"
Bailey could return for tonight's game
Comment
July 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Going into their biggest series of the season to date, the A's still were without closer Andrew Bailey. Bailey, who has had back spasms since a two-inning effort against Boston on July 20, might be back in action today, though. He threw long toss Monday and also did flat-ground work, and he said it went well. If Bailey throws a side session this afternoon, he might be cleared to pitch against first-place Texas. Bailey, a two-time All-Star, has not allowed a run in 13 of his past 15 outings, compiling a 1.10 ERA in those 16 1/3 innings. Michael Wuertz, filling in as closer during Bailey's absence, had allowed one run in 13 appearances before giving up Nelson Cruz's two-run game-winning"
Rangers show their strength in 10th inning
Comment
July 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Oakland is trying narrow the gap in the AL West, and when it comes to games against first-place Texas, the teams seem well-matched despite some major differences in strengths. The A's, built around young pitching and speed, and the heavy-hitting Rangers needed extra innings Monday for the third time this season in Arlington. With one out in the bottom of the 10th, former Oakland farmhand Nelson Cruz gave Texas a 3-1 victory with a two-run homer off Michael Wuertz. Asked if the 1-1 pitch was a slider, Wuertz said, "It was supposed to be. It didn't slide too much, it just hung." The ball didn't carry far over the wall in left, though Wuertz said initially he thought the ball was "way out""
AL West race heating up
Comment
July 27
San Francisco Examiner
 columnist Glenn Dickey
"The AL West, which has taken a back seat to its National League counterpart, may be about to get interesting. With a big spurt in the month before the All-Star Game, the Texas Rangers seemed to take control of the division, which they now lead by seven games over the Los Angeles Angels. To bolster their pitching staff, the Rangers traded for Cliff Lee. Though Lee is obviously a very good pitcher, that acquisition comes with a big question mark because Lee has repeatedly said that he hates pitching in the Rangers' home park at Arlington. He's not alone. The park is very hitter-friendly and the Rangers usually have impressive hitting stats while their pitching stats are, well, not so much."
Oakland A's open key stretch against AL West-leading Texas Rangers
Comment
July 27
Oakland Tribune
 
"Still a bit unsure of what it all means in terms of the big picture this season, the A's nonetheless are playing their best baseball as they prepare to go head-to-head with the team they're chasing in the AL West, the Texas Rangers. Oakland has won nine of its past 11 and 16 of its past 24 games and has won four consecutive series. For the past month, only the Yankees have a better record than the A's in the American League, but they're still 7?1/2 games behind the Rangers heading into a stretch where they play them six times in the next 13 days. Whether people choose to believe him, general manager Billy Beane maintains he doesn't want to mess with the team chemistry, even though the"
Speed, smarts give A's a leg up in stealing
Comment
July 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Rajai Davis has 29 stolen bases this year and has been caught only six times. Since joining the A's early in the 2008 season, he has 95 steals. The Oakland outfielder possesses the speed and the savvy to rate as one the game's top baserunning threats. Davis says success on the bases results directly from the men on the mound. "If the pitchers held the runners, it would be really tough to steal bases - but they don't," Davis said. "That's what gives us opportunities." As power-deprived as the A's are in 2010, they need to take advantage of as many opportunities on the basepaths as they can. They tied a season high with four stolen bases in a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday. The A's"
Dallas Braden ends victory drought, pitches Oakland A's past Chicago White Sox
Comment
July 26
Oakland Tribune
 
"It was hardly perfect, but after nine starts without a victory that included a depressing stint on the disabled list, Dallas Braden was definitely happy to be a winner again Sunday. Eleven weeks to the day since his May 9 perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Braden delivered 6?1/3 solid innings against the Chicago White Sox, and despite some anxious moments once he departed, the A's preserved his long-overdue 'W' with a 6-4 victory at the Oakland Coliseum. While Braden maintained he hasn't been dwelling morosely about his long streak without a victory, the left-hander admitted it felt like "eons" since his last one. "I can finally quit answering calls from the Oakland Zoo looking for"
Wuertz is throwing like it's 2009 again
Comment
July 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"With Andrew Bailey unavailable because of back spasms, A's manager Bob Geren called on Michael Wuertz to pitch the ninth with Oakland in front 6-4 on Sunday. Wuertz set down the White Sox in order to collect his third save of the season and second in four games. The right-hander went 6-1 with a 2.63 ERA last season. He began this season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis and then struggled to regain his form from 2009. Wuertz seems to have rebounded; he has allowed only one run in his past 13 appearances. Said Geren of Wuertz: "He physically wasn't feeling all that great consistently in the first half. He had days where he felt great, days where he didn't. "Now, he feels pretty"
Braden gets first win since perfect game
Comment
July 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Dallas Braden picked up the victory in the A's 6-4 decision over the White Sox on Sunday. Here's some perspective on how long it had been since his previous win: -- LeBron James was beloved in Cleveland. -- Spain not only hadn't won the World Cup, the 32-team tournament had yet to begin. -- Roy Halladay hadn't pitched a perfect game. "Eons. Eons," is how Braden described how long his drought had lasted. Braden's previous victory had been his perfecto against Tampa Bay on May 9. After that, he endured nine winless starts, a major-league record for a pitcher following a no-hitter. He went 0-5 with a 4.10 ERA in that stretch. On Sunday against Chicago, he allowed three runs on five hits in 6"
At 31, Oakland A's rookie Matt Watson glad to be in bigs
Comment
July 26
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Gary Peterson
"Matt Watson is one of the first A's in the clubhouse each day. This could have something to do with the fact he was such a late arrival to the major leagues. His extended career arc wasn't by design. But as a 16th-round draft choice (by the lame-duck Montreal Expos, no less), Watson came to appreciate the value of perseverance. He was a veteran of five minor league seasons before he got his first taste of the bigs as a September call-up with the New York Mets in 2003. "I never gave myself a chance then," Watson said Sunday, before starting in left field and going 1 for 2 in the A's 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. "I grew up such a big Mets fan, and here I'm playing with the Piazzas and"
Sheets awaits 2nd diagnosis; season in doubt
Comment
July 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Many thought Ben Sheets would be gone in a trade right about now, with the deadline fast approaching. Instead, the franchise's all-time most expensive pitcher is off the roster the more predictable way for Oakland: Sheets was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday before the A's 10-2 victory over the White Sox. Sheets, who missed all of last season after flexor-tendon surgery, said his elbow has swelled far more than usual his past few starts. When asked if the injury might be season-ending, he said, "It's possible. I don't know. I don't like the fact it's so swollen. It's been so up and down the last two weeks, so up and down all year." Sheets will visit his own orthopedist, Dr."
Oakland A's silenced by Chicago White Sox's Mark Buehrle in 5-1 loss
Comment
July 25
Contra Costa Times
 
"As well as they've played of late, it'll be a telling next two weeks for the A's. They have entered a stretch in which they'll play 12 of 15 games against first-place teams Chicago and Texas. The White Sox came into Oakland on Friday night and immediately gave the A's, who'd won seven of their previous eight and 14 of 21, a bitter taste of why Chicago leads the American League Central. Veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle, pitching on the one-year anniversary of his perfect game against Tampa Bay, thoroughly snuffed them with a 101-pitch complete-game four-hitter as the Sox won 5-1. Buehrle (9-8) outdueled the A's hottest pitcher, Trevor Cahill, who came into the game 8-1 with a 2.85 ERA over"
Snakebitten Oakland A's blow out Chicago White Sox but place Ben Sheets on disabled list
Comment
July 25
Contra Costa Times
 
"Just when it seems the A's disabled list reaches full capacity, there turns out to be room for another member. Right-hander Ben Sheets was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday with a strained right elbow, not only robbing the A's of their most experienced starter but also taking away their best bargaining chip with the trade deadline approaching. And although the A's aren't jumping to conclusions about how much time Sheets could miss, the veteran pitcher expressed concern about whether he'll be able to return at all this season. That news put a damper on an otherwise encouraging afternoon as the A's walloped the Chicago White Sox 10-2 at the Oakland Coliseum. Sheets developed swelling in"
A's sign Kurt Suzuki to four-year contract extension
Comment
July 24
Oakland Tribune
 
"The A's signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year contract Friday worth a guaranteed $16.25 million. The contract kicks in this season, superseding the one-year $420,000 deal Suzuki had in place, and runs through 2013. There's a vesting option for 2014 based on Suzuki's starting a minimum number of games in 2013, his agent, Dan Horwits, confirmed. Suzuki, 26, is the second young core player the A's have locked up this season. Left-hander Brett Anderson received a four-year, $12.5 million deal in April that includes club options for 2014 and 2015. Suzuki would have been arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season. His new deal buys out his arbitration years and, if the option"
Oakland A's projected outfield has started just five games together
Comment
July 23
Oakland Tribune
 
"The plan was in place in spring training. Coco Crisp, Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney would give the A's one of the majors' most athletic outfields, covering foul line to foul line and making things happen offensively. But as with many of their plans, the A's have been forced to detour because of injuries. That projected outfield has started together in just five of Oakland's first 95 games. Crisp, signed in the offseason to play center field, missed 70 of Oakland's first 72 games because of a broken pinkie and a strained rib cage muscle. Sweeney announced Monday he was having season-ending right knee surgery, leaving a hole in right field. The A's, who sit 7?1/2 games out in the American"
A's ready to move Sheets
Comment
July 22
ESPN.com
 columnist Jayson Stark
"Here's another fellow whose team (Oakland) would be delighted to move him. Heck, the A's pretty much signed him so they could move him in July. They'll even pick up much of the $4.5 million or so that's left on his contract this year. "If you call on him, you'd better be ready to make a deal, because they're ready," said an exec of one team. "If you're just kicking tires, don't call. And if you do call, you'd better know you want him, and you'd better know definitively what you're going to give up because they've done their homework, and they know exactly what they want." All that is conducive to deal-making. But here's what isn't: We're also talking about a fellow who is 4-9 with a 4.53"
Sources: A's not aggressively shopping Sheets
Comment
July 22
Foxsports.com
 
"The A's seemingly have every reason to trade right-hander Ben Sheets. — Left-hander Brett Anderson could rejoin their rotation as soon as Sunday, giving the team six strong starters. — Sheets is on target to reach all of his incentives and earn an additional $2 million on top of his remaining salary, which presently is around $3.5 million. — Sheets will not be a ranked free agent, so the A's will not receive draft picks when he signs with another team. The A's, however, are not aggressively shopping Sheets and do not appear motivated to trade him, major-league sources say. Sheets, 32, is pitching as well as almost every pitcher on the market, with a 3.64 ERA in his past 14 starts. But all"
Reds aiming to save wear and tear on current bullpen with another arm
Comment
July 22
Foxsports.com
 
"The Reds have been aggressive in looking for late-inning bullpen help, sources say. The reason is simple: The team doesn't want its key relievers – Francisco Cordero, Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes – to grow fatigued over the season's final two months. Another veteran who can handle the eighth inning would lighten the workload on the others. Masset, Cordero and Rhodes (in that order) rank among the top 15 relievers in the majors in appearances. That is the most of any team."
Blevins making his mark
Comment
July 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Andrew Bailey is a two-time All-Star, Craig Breslow has earned the set-up job, and Michael Wuertz is looking more like himself. But lately, the most effective pitcher in the A's bullpen, which didn't allow a run in the series with Boston this week, has been Jerry Blevins. The left-hander hasn't allowed a run in 12 appearances, and he has allowed five hits and struck out nine in nine innings during that span. Tuesday night, he cruised through a 1-2-3 inning. The night before, he came in with the bases loaded and two outs and he got pinch hitter Bill Hall to ground out. The next inning, he struck out David Ortiz. "That's what I love," Blevins said, "those are-you-going-to-beat me,"
Baseball survivor hits first big-league homer
Comment
July 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Matt Watson's last shot in the big leagues came in 2005, when he was up with Oakland for 19 games. Since then, he has pursued baseball in some unusual spots - Japan, South Korea and independent baseball in Lancaster, Pa., which explains his old-timey beard. "It's the Amish look," he said. On Wednesday, the 31-year-old outfielder, who was drafted in 1999, hit his first major-league home run in the A's 6-4 victory over the Red Sox in Oakland. The A's took the series with Boston and got over the .500 mark for the first time since June 11. Watson, meanwhile, probably earned more playing time. "We're all very happy for him," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "He's definitely going to get a few"
New Billy Beane is no longer money for Oakland A's
Comment
July 22
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Monte Poole
"He introduced himself to baseball's establishment with a defiant idea, a wink and a grin and, in short order, picked up the badge of swagger that comes with engineering eight consecutive winning seasons. All of which led to A's general manager Billy Beane being feared, respected, detested and envied — and famous beyond baseball. No other fringe-player-turned GM in the history of American sport has been accorded such rock star status. In the Bay Area, Beane was the most admired non-playing sports figure since Bill Walsh transformed the 49ers into winners in the early 1980s. Though the owners and players and managers in Oakland would come and go, Beane, to the robust cheers of A's fans,"
Coco Crisp, Cliff Pennington swap spots in lineup
Comment
July 22
Oakland Tribune
 
"Coco Crisp and Cliff Pennington swapped spots in the batting order Wednesday, with Crisp dropping down to the No. 9 spot and Pennington assuming the leadoff role. Manager Bob Geren said he plans to stick with that look for the next several games in order to take pressure off Crisp as he tries to shake his slump. Crisp is 4 for 31 over his past seven games. "Coco's been struggling a little bit, so we'll give him a few days down at the bottom," Geren said. "He's (still) our leadoff hitter." Pennington is hitting .264 overall but entered Wednesday hitting .409 (38 for 93) over his past 29 games. His best moment Wednesday came at shortstop, where he teamed with second baseman Mark Ellis for a"
Oakland A's continue winning ways, beat Boston Red Sox 6-4
Comment
July 22
Oakland Tribune
 
"Lots of A's players had reason to smile individually after Wednesday's 6-4 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox. Matt Watson connected for his first major league homer, Jack Cust went deep yet again, and Michael Wuertz continued his return to form in the bullpen. But the momentum the A's are building is definitely of the team variety. And taking two out of three from the Red Sox was a feather in the cap considering Oakland entered the day 23-31 against clubs with a .500 record or better. "It's real encouraging," Cust said. "That's a good team over there. We'll try and build off this and take it into the next series." The A's have won seven of eight and 14 of their past 21, and"
Oakland A's revolving door spins with no end in sight
Comment
July 21
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Tim Kawakami
"The A's best players come and go, and usually get injured along the way. The fans mostly stay away. The present is always in flux. The future is undetermined. The roster is a work in progress, stuck in chaos, mixed with complete, dumbfounding uncertainty. If I can remember correctly: This team was supposedly building toward a new stadium in 2011 in Fremont, then it was 2012, and now it's maybe 2014 or later in San Jose or some other galaxy in some other far away millennium. Simple as that. Right, Billy Beane? "I've lost track," the A's general manager said wearily before Tuesday's game against Boston. You think you're thrown off by the constant churn surrounding this franchise? Beane will"
Not much worry about Crisp's slump
Comment
July 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Coco Crisp entered Tuesday night in an 0-for-17 slump, but hitting coach Jim Skaalen was not remotely concerned. "He's been hitting in a lot of bad luck," Skaalen said while standing behind Crisp, watching him spray line drives during batting practice. "He might be trying to do too much, but his swing is fine." Crisp extended his hitless streak to 18 at-bats with a groundout in the first and then he doubled and stole third to start Oakland's four-run, game-tying rally in the third. He then was ejected by home-plate umpire Bob Davidson in the 10th after he struck out and was leaving the batter's box. Crisp turned back around and had an animated discussion with Davidson until manager Bob"
Henry Rodriguez hopes to stay, have better command
Comment
July 21
Oakland Tribune
 
"Henry Rodriguez is quite familiar with the home clubhouse at the Oakland Coliseum. He's just never had the chance to settle into it. The hard-throwing reliever was called up Monday for his fourth stint with the A's this season and fifth of his career, but he's never enjoyed an extended stay in the big leagues. If Rodriguez has any success this time around, perhaps he'll stick around a while. The A's bullpen, which has been shaky at times this season, isn't stocked with high-velocity relievers. Rodriguez brings a fastball that has cracked 100 mph. "Anybody with that velocity, (who is) in the strike zone at this level is real special," pitching coach Curt Young said. "It's a matter of him"
Kevin Kouzmanoff comes through for Oakland A's in 10th
Comment
July 21
Oakland Tribune
 
"Kevin Kouzmanoff was the 10th-inning hero Tuesday night, but there was lots of late-inning entertainment leading up to the A's clinching a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Rajai Davis made a nice sliding catch for Oakland in left field to end the top of the ninth. Cliff Pennington and Mark Ellis teamed up for one of the A's prettiest double plays of the season in the top of the 10th. And thanks to some extracurricular theatrics — including home plate umpire Bob Davidson ejecting two people — a crowd of 20,271 was plenty riled up in the bottom of the 10th when Kouzmanoff lined a game-winning single to right field to score Daric Barton and help the A's even up a three-game series. The"
Big hits, flashy D lead to A's win in 10
Comment
July 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Unusual things happen when Dallas Braden is on the mound, and anytime a knuckleballer such as Boston's Tim Wakefield is starting, things can go haywire. The combination led to one of the A's more intriguing victories of the season Tuesday night at the Coliseum. Braden, still searching for his first victory since his May 9 perfect game, came off the disabled list and went 4 2/3 innings and 94 pitches, just about his limit. Braden has made nine starts without a win since his perfect game, the longest such streak in big-league history. So no W for him, but closer Andrew Bailey got one instead when Kevin Kouzmanoff singled home Daric Barton with two outs in the 10th inning to give the A's a"
Good audition, but no win for Sheets
Comment
July 20
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Many people believed that Monday night's start might be an audition of sorts for Ben Sheets, with the trade deadline approaching, though the A's have expressed little interest so far in moving him. Instead, the man gaining some notice in Oakland's 2-1 loss to Boston was Gabe Gross, in right field - a position temporarily unsettled with Ryan Sweeney going on the disabled list. (Rajai Davis is likely to move there when left fielder Conor Jackson returns from the DL.) There were mixed results for Gross, who made a terrific throw in the sixth to nail Kevin Youkilis trying to go from first to third on a single to right by Adrian Beltre. "I didn't even think we had a shot," Sheets said of the"
Oakland A's are hurting for sluggers
Comment
July 20
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Cam Inman
"Batting third, fourth and fifth in the A's lineup are options (e), (f) and (z). The heart of the order? Nah, the heart of darkness. Already embarrassingly weak on the major league bell curve, the A's 3-4-5 spots got even weaker Monday. Leading hitter Ryan Sweeney won't be employed in the No. 3 hole anymore this season. He exited Monday to undergo knee surgery. And he takes with him a 56-game streak without a home run, typifying the A's power-starved lineup. Ah, but there still is catcher Kurt Suzuki, designated hitter Jack Cust and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to carry the A's lineup up the American League West standings. Wait, this just in: Kouzmanoff, scratched because of lower-back"
Sweeney shuts it down for the year
Comment
July 20
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On a night two heavily bandaged clubs were facing each other at the Coliseum, the A's began things by placing everyday right fielder Ryan Sweeney on the disabled list so he can have season-ending knee surgery. Then the A's, who have used the DL 18 times this season, fell 2-1 to the Red Sox, who have used the DL 16 times. Both teams currently have 10 players out of action, and Boston is missing many big-name players, including starter Josh Beckett, catchers Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek, and 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia. The clubs entered Monday with an astonishing combined total of 1,300 player-games missed. Sweeney, 25, has played on chronically sore knees his entire pro career, but"
Injuries, then Boston Red Sox spoil Oakland A's homecoming
Comment
July 20
Oakland Tribune
 
"On a day when the A's learned that No. 3 hitter and starting right fielder Ryan Sweeney would miss the rest of the season, all the good vibes from a five-game winning streak also went on the shelf. Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox added more misery to Oakland's dismal homecoming news with a 2-1 victory Monday night at the Coliseum before just 19,341 fans, many of them rooting for the visitors. The A's opened their six-game homestand with an opportunity to move over .500 for the first time since June 11, but the day went badly for them before they even took the field. The sour development with the 25-year-old Sweeney, who will have surgery on his right knee to address a patella"
Club supports Ryan Sweeney's decision to have knee surgery
Comment
July 20
Oakland Tribune
 
"The timing of Ryan Sweeney's decision to have knee surgery may have been bad, what with the A's on one of their best streaks of the year. Nonetheless, the club supports the outfielder's call to shut it down for the year and protect his future. "It got to a point where it was very painful for him, and it was recommended that to go on in the future and feel 100 percent healthy, this was the right way to go," manager Bob Geren said. "It was a decision by a lot of people, mainly him. We backed him 100 percent." The 25-year-old Sweeney, the A's No. 3 hitter much of the year, will have surgery to correct patella tendinitis in his right knee, which has been bothering him since last season. He has"
A's pitchers scouted as trade targets
Comment
July 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The trade deadline looms at the end of next week, and even though the A's have indicated that they don't plan any major moves, there are still scouts following the team. Tonight's starter, Ben Sheets, remains a potential target for Philadelphia and Minnesota, among others, and Detroit was checking out reliever Michael Wuertz in Kansas City this weekend and in Oakland earlier this month. Craig Breslow is on Detroit's radar, too, but like Wuertz last year, Breslow would be extremely difficult to pry away. The Tigers are forthright about their need for a reliever since Joel Zumaya's season-ending injury, and Wuertz has been in their sights before, but it's unlikely the A's would sell low on"
With sweep complete, A's schedule gets tougher
Comment
July 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Everything is coming together for Oakland, or so it seems. Then again, maybe it's just that the A's are at their best against bad teams. Whatever the case, a decisive sweep of the Royals has put Oakland back at the .500 mark just in time for the schedule to turn tough again. The usually power-poor A's even got three home runs Sunday in a 9-6 victory at Kauffman Stadium, including a three-run blast by designated hitter Jack Cust. Oakland has won five in a row heading into a series against the Red Sox that opens tonight at the Coliseum. "We're putting it all together," said Sunday's starter, Vin Mazzaro, who worked a career high 7 2/3 innings. "We're on a good streak now, we're going to face"
Staying aggressive on the bases
Comment
July 19
Oakland Tribune
 
"As their lead grew on Sunday, so did the A's aggressiveness on the bases. Hitting three home runs was the offensive highlight in a 9-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals, but the A's also attempted five stolen bases. They were successful on just two of those against Royals catcher Jason Kendall — Coco Crisp stole second and third in the seventh. But the emphasis on the running game was what stood out. The A's were 6 for 10 on steals for the series. "(We were) thrown out a couple times stealing, but we were going to continue to put pressure on them the whole series," manager Bob Geren said. If the A's power continues to show up as it did Sunday, they won't need to run as much. But it's"
Oakland A's extend win streak to five games by sweeping Royals
Comment
July 19
Oakland Tribune
 
"Three games against the Kansas City Royals can be enough to boost any team's confidence, but that doesn't take away from the quality of play the A's displayed over the weekend. A 9-6 victory on Sunday completed a three-game sweep and gave the A's a season-high five-game winning streak. It also pulled their record to .500 (46-46) for the first time in nearly five weeks. They were 33-33 on June 15. Most importantly, it gives the A's a shot of momentum as they enter a 12-game stretch that figures to define whether they remain in the hunt in the American League West. The first stage of that challenge starts tonight at home with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, who are 52-40."
Yost still steaming over reversed call
Comment
July 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Royals manager Ned Yost wasn't too pleased about the call that was reversed in the first inning Friday night, saying that it is not a good precedent. Oakland's leadoff man, Coco Crisp, stung a liner past first base that bounced on the line, but it was called foul by umpire Larry Vanover, who was jumping out of the way of the ball at the time. The ball kicked up chalk and left a clear impression, so when A's manager Bob Geren asked for Vanover to ask for help from the rest of the crew, the umpires convened and decided to give Crisp a double. The A's, of course, liked the reversal; Geren said Saturday, "I've always believed whatever it takes to get a call right." Yost said he didn't like it"
Royals' Jason Kendall likes what he sees of former pupil Kurt Suzuki
Comment
July 18
Oakland Tribune
 
"Jason Kendall is getting an up-close look at A's catcher Kurt Suzuki this weekend, and Kendall likes what he sees from his old protégé. The A's called Suzuki up from the minors in June 2007 to observe Kendall, then in his third season as Oakland's catcher. They were soon convinced Suzuki was ready to start, and Kendall was traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 16 of that season for reliever Jerry Blevins and catcher Rob Bowen. Kendall is now starting for the Kansas City Royals. This weekend's series against Oakland is his first time facing the A's in the regular season since they traded him, so it's his first extended look at Suzuki as a polished big leaguer. "He's going to be an All-Star,""
Oakland A's shake off heat, Kansas City Royals, to win their fourth game in a row
Comment
July 18
Oakland Tribune
 
"The gametime temperature was 106 degrees Saturday night with the heat index factored in at Kauffman Stadium. Unbearably humid to most, but pretty ideal baseball weather in Adam Rosales' opinion. Rosales played like a man in his element during the A's 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Royals. He drew the start at second base and delivered three hits and two RBIs, including the game-winning single off All-Star closer Joakim Soria (0-2) in the top of the ninth. That gave the A's their fourth straight win dating back to before the All-Star break and clinched a series victory on this mini three-game road trip to begin the second half of the season. Rosales, born and raised in"
Royals lose fifth straight in 6-5 loss to Oakland
Comment
July 18
Kansas City Star
 
"In many ways, this was a typical Royals loss, the kind fans in Kansas City have grown far too accustomed to in recent years. So before we get into how the latest defeat, a 6-5 heart-breaker at the hands of the Oakland A's on Saturday night, was a bit different from the others, let's run through the checklist of brutal elements to which the Royals treated a crowd of 26,634 at Kauffman Stadium. Ready? Here we go: •Royals take an early lead? Check. •Opposing team ties the game in the late innings? Check. •Royals blow a golden opportunity to re-take the lead? Check. The one thing that set this apart was the name of the man who gave up the winning run and took a rare loss in the process -"
Braden still in line for Tuesday return
Comment
July 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Oakland could soon get a starter off the disabled list: Dallas Braden is close to set to pitch Tuesday's game against Boston. Braden will throw a side session today, and that will give the A's more of an idea, but manager Bob Geren said Tuesday looks good at this point. Braden told Geren he had some fatigue after hitting the 70- to 75-pitch mark on Thursday at Class A Stockton, but Geren said that should improve Braden's next time out. Braden missed his final start of the first half because of elbow tendinitis. Brett Anderson, out with elbow tendinitis, went four innings and allowed seven hits on Thursday, just as Braden did, but Anderson was in the Arizona rookie league. He threw 63"
Dallas Braden may start Tuesday in Boston
Comment
July 17
Oakland Tribune
 
"Write it in pencil, but Dallas Braden appears on target to come off the disabled list and start Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. Braden said his left elbow felt good after he threw four-plus innings in a rehab start for Single-A Stockton on Thursday, his first start at any level since June 22. He flew into Kansas City on Friday afternoon and joined his teammates shortly before the A's 5-1 victory over the Royals. The only thing bothering him was the expected soreness that came with his return to the mound. "The left side of my body feels like it got run over by a Greyhound," Braden said. "But I was able to throw some breaking balls. The biggest thing is knowing I can extend (my arm)"
Coo-Coo call lifts Coco Crisp and A's to 5-1 win over Royals
Comment
July 17
Oakland Tribune
 
"The strangest play in the A's 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium happened on the first at-bat. If it was an omen of things to come for the A's in the second half, they'll gladly take it. Leadoff man Coco Crisp yanked a ball down the right-field line that originally was ruled foul, then was switched to a double after an umpires' conference. That got Oakland's offense rolling early against Royals ace Zack Greinke, paving the way for a victory that was void of any drama after the A's took control early. "I don't know what was supposed to happen, no one did," Crisp said of his foul-turned-extra base hit. "I don't know if it's ever happened in the history of"
As second half begins, A's try to determine if they are buyers or sellers
Comment
July 16
Oakland Tribune
 
"There's no convenient label to slap on the A's as the second half of the season begins. With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, it's tough to gauge whether they're buyers or sellers. Their 43-46 record leaves them 7?1/2 games back in the American League West, well within striking distance. But how much confidence does this team inspire based on its first half? The A's are just 22-30 against teams with a .500 record or better. They're 26-20 at home but just 17-26 on the road. If there's optimism coming out of the All-Star break, it's based on the young pitching depth that's helped the A's withstand a rash of injuries. Oakland boasted the AL's third-best staff ERA (3.85) in the first"