Oakland Athletics @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Magnante does it all for Oakland

2006-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

07/20/2006
During the summer and early fall, Rick Magnante is a manager for the A's Class A team, and for the rest of the year, he is a scout in Southern California. For Magnante, it is the best combination he could hope for.
"I think I have the best job you could have in baseball," Magnante said. "I'm having the time of my life. To be able to do both is extremely gratifying."
In his scouting career, the 58-year-old is known for signing Barry Zito, Bobby Crosby and Jason Giambi for Oakland. He started scouting in the Brewers organization in 1979 and the A's hired Magnante in 1996.
His managing career is very green compared to his scouting one, and he is in his first season with the Vancouver Canadians. Magnante was given the position after managing the South African team during the World Baseball Classic in March.
The skipper took on what was arguably the most inexperienced team in the tournament.
"We had one player that was a reliever in Double-A," Magnante said. "We had another eight or nine teenagers and some 30-year-olds looking for a 40-hour work week."
The South African team almost upset Canada in its first game, but blew a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. It ended up going 0-3 in the WBC in a pool with the United States, Mexico and Canada.
His team was outscored 38-12 in the tournament, including a 17-0 loss to Team USA, but Magnante said he will never forget managing on a world stage.
"It was the best baseball experience I've had in my life," Magnante said. "It was a privilege to be able to manage that team, [especially when the players gave] me their best against those three teams.
He had a chance "to grow the game in the African nation, to create a greater interest, and give them an opportunity to come to the U.S. and compete against the best. It was a heartwarming experience."
Magnante, who managed in the Detroit Tigers' Minor League organization, wanted to get into coaching from the time he started scouting, and was given advice by Tom Gamboa.
Gamboa -- who has coached with the Tigers, Brewers and Angels, and is best known for being attacked by two fans at Chicago in 2002 when he was the first-base coach for the Kansas City Royals -- was an area scout for the Brewers organization in 1979, and said that scouting was Magnante's best chance to get involved with baseball.
"There were no managing jobs available," Magnante said. "[Gamboa] said to me, 'I know you want to get on the field, and scouting was the best way to get in the loop.'
"The only thing I knew was the field, I never even knew about scouting."
Magnante surely surpassed his own expectations and went on to earn the Southern California Scouts Association Scout of the Year Award and the A's Dick Bogard Memorial Award in 2001 and 2003.
He says that his scouting career has helped him in managing during the Classic and with the Canadians this season, saying the two skills go hand in hand.
Being a scout before "gives you a little bit better feel with what the scouts see in a player. You take a more creative look at the player and look at more of an upside with a player."
So far, his experience as being a scout has turned into success for Vancouver on the field. The Canadians are 19-11 in the West division of the Northwest League and are two games behind Salem-Keizer for first place.
The A's farm system has a reputation for winning and having great prospects, and this season isn't any different with the Canadians.
A few of the standout players include starter Scott Deal, center fielder Jermaine Mitchell and outfielder Matt Sulentic.
Deal is in his second year out of high school and is 5-0 this season with a 1.64 ERA, and hasn't given up a homer in 33 innings.
Magnante said that Mitchell is a "tool-orientated player with tremendous athleticism."
Mitchell was drafted in the fifth round out of UNC Greensboro in June during the First-Year Player Draft and has the numbers that usually earns a promotion in the Athletics farm system.
He leads the Canadians with 17 walks, a .463 on-base percentage and is batting .363 with 14 RBIs.
Sulentic was drafted as the A's second pick in the third round this year out of Hillcrest High School in Dallas and is hitting .327 with an on-base percentage of .368.
"To my knowledge, [Sulentic] is the only high school position player that I have seen in the [Class] A league," Magnante said. "He is a blue chip prospect, and he is giving us more than what we have expected."
Sulentic, Deal and Trevor Cahill -- this year's first selection -- show that the A's have changed their draft attitude towards high school players over the past few years.
"We were college-orientated in our selections until the last few years," Magnante said. "Teams started to emulate us in the past with the draft. I just think it shows our ability to adapt in the draft. And not going just one place for players in the draft. It seems to be paying off."
Magnante said he is much in favor of the "A's philosophy" with player development and is content with coaching at the Class A level.
"This is a perfect job for me," Magnante said. "I don't have an agenda and I don't aspire to be in the big leagues. I like being the kindergarten teacher. As long as they ask me back, I'll be back next year."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Kotsay having fun with switch

2006-07-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- Mark Kotsay couldn't remember the last time he played first base in a big-league game, which wasn't surprising considering how hard his bell was rung by a Russ Ortiz fastball Tuesday night.
Kotsay, a center fielder by trade, stayed in the game and was feeling just fine Wednesday morning, and while his last action at first base was in 2000, he's had enough experience for the A's to trust him with a start there in the finale of a three-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
"It's fun," said Kotsay, who made 12 starts at first base for the Marlins in 1999 and had made 24 appearances -- 12 starts -- at the position before Wednesday. "Any time you get to switch positions, it's fun."
And Kotsay was having a whole lot of fun before the game. A's manager Ken Macha said Kotsay was already in the clubhouse at 8:50 a.m., throwing a baseball against the wall to practice his scoops.
Kotsay said he just wanted to measure up to the "high standard" established by backup catcher Adam Melhuse, who made a pair of great digs in his first start of the season at first base Sunday in Boston.
"I think I'm fairly athletic, and hopefully that translates into catching some ground balls," Kotsay said.
Kotsay was unable to catch the one grounder hit his way, though, booting a seventh-inning ball off the bat of Ramon Hernandez. And when he recovered, he flipped the ball too far ahead of Barry Zito, who was covering first base. He was charged with two errors on the play.
"I led Z too far," Kotsay said before joking, "I thought he was an athlete. My bad."
Kotsay also said his jaw still hurts from the Ortiz fastball, which hit the ear flap of his helmet so hard that it caused some bleeding from his ear lobe and left a red welt on his neck.
"It's tough to eat," he said. "Sipping Slim-Fast [for meals] is not very fun."
Then he cracked, "I'm trying to gain weight so I can move to a corner outfield spot."
Little rest for Swisher: The need for a first baseman, Macha said, stemmed from the need to get Nick Swisher some rest. The A's tried to give him the day off Sunday, but he was forced into action when designated hitter Frank Thomas left the game with dizziness and a racing pulse.
He was forced back into action Wednesday when Macha moved Kotsay to the outfield an inning after his errors.
"I knew I'd be in there at some point," Swisher said.
Swisher, who is in an 8-for-63 slump over his past 18 games, has lost about 10 pounds since contracting mononucleosis two weeks ago, and Macha has repeatedly said he thinks Swisher's energy is low.
"It's kind of tough watching him play," Macha said. "I asked the trainer when he's going to get better, and he said, 'When he gets better.' ... This'll get him two days off in a row. We'll see how he is in Detroit."
Swisher, who disputes Macha's opinion of his energy level, said the steamy weather the A's have encountered in Boston and Baltimore hasn't helped.
"It isn't easy putting weight back on when you work in a sauna," Swisher said.
Dribblers: Catcher Jason Kendall, who started the first six games of the road trip, also is getting a two-day break. Melhuse started behind the plate Wednesday, and the A's have Thursday off. ... Through Wednesday, the Angels had won 13 of their past 14 games to pull themselves from seven back in the American League West to less than a game behind the A's, who had held at least a share of first place for 33 consecutive days. Macha attributed the surge to the Halos' pitching staff, calling it best in baseball. ... Dan Johnson, sent down to Triple-A Sacramento last Thursday, continues to tear it up for the River Cats. In a doubleheader Wednesday, he went 2-for-4 with a homer in the opener and 2-for-3 in the nightcap. He's 7-for-12 with two homers since being demoted. ... Righty Jared Lansford, the son of former A's third baseman Carney Lansford and a 2005 Oakland draftee, picked up his ninth win of the season for Class A Kane County on Wednesday with six shutout innings of four-hit work. He's 9-5 with a 3.19 ERA for the Cougars.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Zito picks up 10th victory of year

2006-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- The A's picked up what should have been a feel-good win Wednesday, downing the Orioles, 5-1, behind a homer and three RBIs from Frank Thomas, Eric Chavez's first homer in more than a month, and seven brilliant innings from Barry Zito.
The clubhouse vibe afterward, though, was considerably more subdued than you'd expect from a team that's opened a tough East Coast road trip with five wins in seven games. An acrimonious afternoon for Milton Bradley and a less-than-pleased Mark Kotsay, one of the team's most respected veterans, left the room strangely quiet as everyone packed up for Detroit.
Kotsay, who got his first start at first base since 2000, was openly upset by having been moved from first to center field after making two errors on the same play in the seventh inning.
"I was having fun until I got put back in the outfield after booting a ball," Kotsay said. "That was kind of embarrassing."
Bradley, who was carried off the field after a stumble on the bases in the top of the sixth but returned to his post in right field for the bottom of the frame and played the rest of the game, wasn't talking at all, leaving others to discuss his confrontations with fans in the eighth and ninth.
"He said they were getting personal with him," said firs- base umpire Rick Reed. "He said we should have more security. ... They escorted some people away. I don't know if they were removed or escorted to their seats. ... Milton mentioned to me in the ninth inning that it had been going on all three games."
Kotsay defended Bradley, who also got into a shouting match with fans in Boston on Saturday.
"I think people buy tickets just to [yell at Bradley], to see what kind of fire they can light," Kotsay said. "He's definitely a target, in my opinion."
Kotsay said the comments he's heard hurled Bradley's way are "as antagonizing" as he's ever heard, "mainly about incidents from his past; just comment after comment after comment."
Asked if he planned to have a chat with Bradley, who came to Oakland with a history of altercations with fans, teammates and coaches, A's manager Ken Macha said, "I think we've already had a talk about that."
Asked if he thought Bradley was becoming a potential distraction, he said, "I was focused on the game."
Oh yeah, the game. A fine win it was for the A's, who maintained their slim lead in the American League West by winning their second consecutive road series.
"To take three of four in Boston and two of three here, we've got some nice momentum going into Detroit," said Zito, who scattered five hits and a walk. "We're pretty happy to be where we are right now."
"We're in a dogfight every day," added Thomas, whose 20th homer of the year capped Oakland's scoring. "We've got the Angels and Rangers right on our tail, so every win's a big one."
Chavez, who has been battling tendinitis in both forearms and entered the game batting .133 (12-for-90) over his past 25 games, gave Oakland a 4-0 lead when he took Orioles starter Kris Benson (9-9) deep to right field with one out in the sixth inning.
It was Chavez's first long ball since June 16, but his mood mirrored that of the clubhouse in general.
"If you go up there enough, eventually you're going to run into something," he said of the drought-busting homer. "It didn't make me feel any better."
Thomas, who had given the A's a 2-0 lead with a two-run single with two out in the first, hit his 20th homer of the year two pitches after Chavez's blast, sending a Benson fastball 410 feet into the left-field bleachers. Oakland's third run came when Bradley, who led the A's with three hits, homered to right with one out in the third.
"The offense was great today," Zito said. "Getting that lead early was huge for me."
Zito (10-6), who idolized Benson in his late teens, was brilliant in their first head-to-head matchup; Oakland's ace faced three batters over the minimum in the first six innings while Benson was giving up five runs on nine hits and a walk.
"I don't see it as outperforming him," Zito said. "I see it more as holding the opposition down. ... I wish I could have watched him pitch more, but I have to stay kind of focused when I'm pitching."
"He's a good pitcher," Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada said of Zito. "He throws the ball where he wants to, and we swung at a lot of bad pitches, too. ... That's why he's good, because he throws a lot of strikes."
The O's finally broke through in the seventh, when Kevin Millar doubled and scored on a bloop single by Ramon Hernandez. Kotsay was then charged with two errors after mishandling Corey Patterson's grounder and flipping past Zito at the bag to put runners at the corners with one out, but Zito got out of the jam by getting Chris Gomez to hit into an inning-ending double play.
"That was a tough play for Kots," said Zito, who improved to 79-5 in his career when getting at least four runs of support. "And we got the double play, so it didn't cost us a run or anything."
That's why Kotsay was miffed at being moved to center field the next inning. Macha suggested that the move was made in part because Bobby Kielty, who started in left field, had hurt his side on a swing in the top of the sixth.
Said Kotsay, "Kielty's not hurt."
Kielty confirmed as much, saying, "I'm fine."
Bradley's day took a turn for the worse when he stumbled after rounding first base on a line drive to left in the sixth. He appeared to be injured, never making an effort to get back to the bag, and was tagged out after left fielder Luis Terrero got the ball back into the infield.
"He sprained his ankle," said assistant athletic trainer Steve Sayles, who treated Bradley after the incident. "It was already taped; we just reinforced it a little bit."
Bradley just missed catching Millar's double in the seventh with a tumbling dive, and in the bottom of the eighth got into it with some fans in the right-field arcade area. In the ninth, he got into it with fans down the right-field line, prompting three members of the umpiring crew to intervene.
"He's going to have more attention, and the more attention that gets drawn to him, some people see that as a weakness and go for it," Reed said. "I hope it doesn't get to be a problem."
Kotsay said he didn't think Bradley was becoming a distraction, adding that he likes "the fire he brings to this ballclub." Kotsay then suggested reporters talk to Thomas, who has played with "fiery guys" such as Carl Everett and Tony Phillips in the past.
"You've just got to leave them alone and let them be who they are," Thomas said. "All the fiery guys I've played with, they play better when they're like that."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

A's featured on "This Week in Baseball"

2006-07-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

07/20/2006
The A's are known for making big trades during July, and this week they will be the team featured on "This Week in Baseball."
Oakland's ace, Barry Zito, has been surrounded by trade rumors all season, and the weekly series will feature the A's on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT on FOX.
After three well-known player transactions -- Frank Thomas, Milton Bradley and Esteban Loaiza -- in the offseason, the A's could possibly be making another move before the July 31 trading deadline.
General manager Billy Beane has a reputation for making "A" trades, and the Athletics could be looking to add another bat to the offense, which is ranked last in the Major Leagues in batting average, slugging percentage, total bases and doubles.
Oakland has also received a lot of press recently for being in a tight race in the American League West.
The A's lead the West by 1 1/2 games, and the episode will feature an interview with manager Ken Macha about the 2006 season so far.
The A's have used the disabled list 11 times this season, yet despite the setbacks, the team has enjoyed another good run in June after a lousy May.
The A's have the best post-All Star break record from 2000-2005 (284-160), and could be primed for another run if they stay healthy.
"This Week in Baseball" mic'd sluggers Eric Chavez and Nick Swisher during batting practice and also conducted interviews with several A's players.
The show will also feature hitters Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and David Eckstein for the Pepsi Pitch, Hit and Run.
Pat Monahan and Jimmy Stafford form the alternative band Train will also be featured in "This Week in Baseball."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Bradley ahead of the game

2006-03-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

03/01/2006
PHOENIX -- New A's outfielder Milton Bradley had quite a welcome-to-me moment Wednesday, bashing the only pitch he saw in Oakland's intrasquad game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a three-run homer to left-center field.
A switch-hitter batting from the left side, Bradley smoked a changeup off righty Kiko Calero, quickly rounded the bases and crossed home plate with a big smile on his face.
"I didn't even think about it [being his first at-bat with the A's]," Bradley said. "I was just looking for a ball out over the plate."
He also suggested that coach Rene Lachemann's presence as the home plate umpire might have prompted him to be aggressive early in the count.
"You know he's gonna call pretty much anything [a strike]," Bradley offered. "So you have to be ready."
Calero, who is leaving the team Thursday to join Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic team, didn't pitch as poorly as his line -- one inning, three hits, three earned runs -- might indicate. Jason Kendall led off and blooped a single to center, Mark Kotsay followed with a broken-bat single to left, and after breaking Eric Chavez's bat on a flyout to left before Bradley's homer, Calero caught Dan Johnson and Bobby Kielty looking at called third strikes.
"Kiko was fine," said pitching coach Curt Young. "They got a couple bleeders there off him."
Bradley's blast was anything but a bleeder, landing about 410 feet away from home plate. That it came from the left side of the plate was encouraging to manager Ken Macha, who earlier in the week said it looked like Bradley's right-handed swing was ahead of his left-handed stroke.
"Shows you what I know," cracked Macha.
Other highlights of the 2 1/2-inning game included a double by Nick Swisher off non-roster righty Jason Karnuth, followed immediately by an RBI single from Adam Melhuse. The other run of the game came when Oakland's top pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Clifton Pennington, tripled off Chris Mabeus and scored on a fielder's-choice grounder by Mike Rouse.
"It was a good workout," Macha said. "I just wanted to get everyone one at-bat, and only one guy didn't get one."
That one guy was outfield prospect Javier Herrera, who was stranded in the on-deck circle when the game was called.
The best of Lach: As usual, Lachemann's running commentary during the game was a riot. His introductions as players stepped into the batter's box drew a steady stream of laughter from his targets, both in the dugouts and the stands, which were sprinkled with 25 or so fans.
Of Chavez, Lachemann said, "He's a 16-time Gold Glove winner from Mexico, and the only Mexican who doesn't speak Spanish."
Of Bobby Crosby, who spent two long stints on the disabled list last season, he urged fans to look into the discounted Bobby Crosby Ticket Plan: "It's a special price because you'll only see him in about 20 games."
Of Melhuse, who got only 97 official at-bats in 2005: "He caught the two games last year that Jason Kendall didn't."
Of Keith Ginter, who went largely unused while on the Oakland roster last season: "He set a Major League record last year by going 155 days in a row without an appearance in a big-league game."
And of Swisher, who is trying hard this spring to shake the reputation he earned as a high-volume rookie: "Everybody's favorite hot dog, Nick Swisher!"
"The season-ticket one with Crosby was a good one," said Macha.
Crosby's at-bat, against righty Matt Roney, ended with a called third strike.
"I thought the pitch to Crosby was low," Macha said. "So not only was [Lachemann] ragging him, but rung him up. So it was a double whammy."
Star search: Oakland's Cactus League opener is against the Cubs in Mesa on Thursday, and in a break from previous years, in which he trotted out a projected starting lineup for the spring opener, Macha is playing only a handful of regulars.
Bradley, Kendall and Kotsay won't even travel to Mesa.
"I think if we were at home, maybe those guys would play the first day," Macha said. "But it's on the road, and they're veteran guys, so they'll probably get just as much work in by staying here."
Righty Dan Haren will start for the A's, and is expected to work the first two innings. If he doesn't reach his 30-pitch limit in the game, he'll finish up in the bullpen.
Dribblers: Non-roster outfielder Hiram Bocachica, whose huge spring with the A's last year ended with a broken right wrist, hurt the same wrist while swinging a bat Tuesday, and didn't play in the intrasquad game. ... Johnson, who made the Topps All-Rookie team last year while wearing No. 11, has changed to No. 29. "I believe it was Nolan Ryan who said, 'Superstitions are for the mentally weak," Johnson said, adding that he's worn 29 most of his life. ... Santiago Casilla, the prospect formerly known as Jairo Garcia, has sorted out his visa problems in the Dominican Republic, and is expected in Arizona by Thursday night. ... Crosby, nursing a sore right shoulder, is playing catch at up to 150 feet, and said his strength is improving daily, but he probably won't be cleared for defensive action in games until March 10. In the meantime, he'll DH whenever possible. A new rule this spring allows visiting teams to use a DH in National League parks as long as they have the home team's consent. ... Righty Rich Harden was sent home with the stomach flu. ... Kendall, who hasn't homered since the Pleistocene Era, went deep on back-to-back pitches during batting practice. Kendall's next home run in a regular-season game will be his first since July 27, 2004.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Touted prospect Herrera turning heads

2006-03-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

03/01/2006
PHOENIX -- More than a few times, A's outfield prospect Javier Herrera has been told that he looks like Mets star Carlos Beltran. He's also heard that he resembles Braves star Andruw Jones.
According to Oakland super-sub Marco Scutaro, Herrera plays a little like the aforementioned All-Stars, too.
"He's got some big-time tools," says Scutaro, who played winter ball with Herrera in their native Venezuela and has become something of a mentor to the 20-year-old center fielder. "He's going to be a great player."
Like Beltran and Jones, Herrera is a center fielder and a five-tool player. His powerful right arm is the tool that wows everyone, but Herrera, now in his first big-league camp, has the whole package. When Andre Ethier was traded to the Dodgers in the offseason, Herrera essentially inherited Ethier's unofficial status as Oakland's top Minor League outfielder.
"He has an absolute cannon," says A's outfield coach Brad Fischer. "I've only seen him in drills, but he's pretty polished for a guy his age."
"He can do a lot of different things," says Keith Lieppman, Oakland's director of player development. "And he does them all pretty well."
Signed as a 16-year-old out of his hometown of Caracas in 2002, Herrera, who bats right-handed, posted pedestrian numbers in his first two years as a pro, but everything started to come together for him in 2004. He was named the Northwest League Most Valuable Player after batting .331 with 12 homers, 47 RBIs, a .392 on-base percentage, a .555 slugging percentage, and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts over 65 games with Class A Vancouver.
His 2005 season got off to an ugly start when he was suspended for 15 games for testing positive for steroids (he blames a tainted medication), but he still made quite an impression. Playing the bulk of his 99 games at Class A Kane County, Herrera batted .280 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs, and he led the A's organization with 27 stolen bases in 32 tries. As an emergency callup to Triple-A Sacramento in May, he went 5-for-12 with a homer and three RBIs in five games.
"I haven't seen much of him, but I've heard he's a great prospect," A's manager Ken Macha says. "He's impressed a lot of people, I know that."
The person least impressed with Herrera, it seems, is Herrera himself.
"I was happy with my year, but you can never be too happy," he says. "I was excited to go back to Venezuela and work on my game."
Intent on improving his plate discipline, Herrera got plenty of help from Scutaro, who had the same agenda when he went back home after the 2004 season.
"It was great for me to play in Venezuela, because guys like Scutaro and [fellow Venezuelans] Alex Gonzalez and Henry Blanco, guys who have been in the big leagues, they talked to me a lot," Herrera says. "They showed me everything and gave me a lot of advice, and that's something that's going to help me a lot."
Herrera more than held his own in winter ball, batting .265 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 53 games, and he helped Venezuela to the Caribbean World Series crown.
"It's a big jump [competitively] from Class A to Venezuela," Herrera says. "The experience was really good for me."
Says Scutaro: "He's only 20, and to play in the Caribbean World Series, that's pretty good. For a 20-year-old, he's a really mature guy."
Herrera, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, expects to start the season back at Kane County, but he's hoping to quickly earn a promotion to Double-A Midland. Asked if he has a timeline for reaching the Majors, he smiles and recites one of the many lessons passed on by Scutaro.
"I have to be patient," Herrera says. "With everything."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: New outlook for A's Haren

2006-03-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

03/02/2006
MESA, Ariz. -- Dan Haren had a couple of very ugly outings last spring, and his outing Thursday against the Cubs was pretty ugly, too.
The difference is that this year, Haren isn't trying to impress anyone. Last year was his first with the A's after being part of the trade that sent Mark Mulder to St. Louis, and he went to Spring Training looking for results.
What he got was a team-worst 5.59 ERA in seven Cactus League starts, but after struggling for the first six weeks of the regular season, Haren established himself as one of the most promising young starters in the American League.
"It does make a difference, feeling like you belong," Haren said.
Thus, Thursday's ugliness in Oakland's Cactus League opener at HoHoKam Park isn't something over which Haren will obsess. After a fairly smooth first inning, he couldn't get through the second and finished with a line of five runs on seven hits and a walk over 1 2/3 innings.
"You'd be lying if you said you went out and did what I did and didn't care about it," he said. "But the bottom line is you're preparing for the season. ... I'm not going to beat myself up over it."
Haren said he struggled with his splitter in the second inning, and paid for leaving a handful of pitches up in the strike zone. A's manager Ken Macha mentioned during the team's morning workout at Phoenix Municipal Stadium that he'd like to see Haren further develop the changeup he started toying with late last season, but Haren didn't throw any on Thursday.
"It's something I'll fool around with in the bullpen, and hopefully get it to the point where I'm working it in during games more," Haren said. "I need to get a better feel for it."
Heavy hitters: The two high-profile players imported to give Oakland's offense a jolt didn't make the trip to Mesa, but three holdovers from the 2005 club did exactly what the A's are hoping Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas can frequently do.
Trailing 5-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, the A's exploded for seven runs on the strength of home runs by Bobby Kielty, Mark Ellis and Bobby Crosby. Kielty got it going with a solo homer from the left side of the plate, Ellis connected for a grand slam, and Crosby closed the show with a two-run shot.
All of the damage was done against righty Bryan Corey, a non-roster invitee to Cubs camp.
"It felt good to get the head of the bat on the ball," Ellis said. "That whole inning was good."
Crosby, who is nursing a sore shoulder and hasn't been cleared to play defense in games, was in the lineup because the Cubs agreed to let the A's use a designated hitter.
Sloppy: Macha was pleased with several efforts Thursday, particularly those of lefty Joe Kennedy and righties Kirk Saarloos and Chad Gaudin. He was less than pleased with the handful of miscues committed by A's prospects late in the game.
"We did some things that were inexcusable," he said. "We missed two signs and had a baserunning mistake. I know they're young guys, but you can't make those kinds of mistakes, because they're mental."
Dribblers: The A's announced that they've agreed to terms on one-year contracts for 2006 with righties Saarloos, Gaudin, Justin Duchscherer, Joe Blanton and Huston Street; outfielders Nick Swisher, Javier Herrera and Charles Thomas; and infielders Marco Scutaro and Antonio Perez. ... Duchscherer has what he called a "very minor" groin pull, and isn't sure when he'll make his Cactus League debut. ... Last year, Macha made Swisher go on every road trip of the spring. He said Thursday that he's picked two players to make every trip, but wouldn't give up their names -- nor would he deny that one of them was Swisher. ... Frank Thomas hasn't yet been cleared to take batting practice on the field, but that didn't stop him from hanging around the cage Thursday morning. He even helped gather the loose balls after a couple of rounds, prompting a teammate to yell, "Look at Big Frank doing the dirty work! How bad does he miss this?"

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

A's thunder not enough to top Cubs

2006-03-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

03/02/2006
Athletics at the plate: Mark Ellis hit a grand slam, Bobby Crosby hit a two-run homer and Bobby Kielty added a solo shot, all in the fifth inning. Kielty finished with three hits -- a single, double and home run.
Cubs at the plate: Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of RBI singles in the game. Ronny Cedeno, Derrek Lee and Jerry Hairston each drove in a run in a four-run second. New center fielder Juan Pierre was thrown out in his first at-bat and bunt attempt, but was successful in the second with a bunt single.
Athletics on the mound: Starter Dan Haren gave up five runs on seven hits and one walk over 1 2/3 innings. Huston Street gave up one hit and struck out one in one inning.
Cubs on the mound: Carlos Zambrano tuned up for the World Baseball Classic by giving up one hit and one walk and striking out two over three innings. Closer Ryan Dempster threw a perfect 1-2-3 inning. Bryan Corey gave up seven runs on six hits and one walk, and did not retire a batter.
Cactus League records: Athletics 0-1; Cubs 1-0.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Harden on the path to greatness

2006-03-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

03/02/2006
PHOENIX -- From the time he broke into the big leagues, Rich Harden has been labeled a future Cy Young winner.
Harden prefers a far less cumbersome tag: "pitcher." As opposed to "thrower," which is what Oakland's ultra-talented ace righty says he was for the first few years of his career.
"There was a time when I just wanted to throw the ball by everyone, and in the Minors you can kind of get away with that," Harden says. "In the big leagues, though, you can't just throw. You have to be smart. You have to pitch."
The education of Harden, whose fastball routinely registers triple digits on the radar gun, began in earnest in 2003.
After lighting up the Minor Leagues with 13 consecutive perfect innings to open the season, he was called up to the A's and went 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA over his first four starts. The media hype machine went into overdrive, lumping him in with Oakland's "Big Three" of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito, but Harden knew even then that he still had much to learn.
"Just watching those guys, I could tell they were at a totally different level as far as executing," he says.
That notion was reinforced when Harden, then 21 years old, struggled after his white-hot introduction to the league. After that brilliant four-start stretch, he went 2-4 with a 6.23 ERA over his final 11 games.
"What happened to Rich happens to a lot of really talented young pitchers," says A's manager Ken Macha. "You come in, nobody's seen you, and you kill everyone. But once you start killing people, see, they start paying attention. They send scouts, they study videotape, and they adjust to what you're doing."
The job of the young pitcher, then, is to adjust right back.
"And the thing is, after you adjust, they'll adjust, so you have to adjust again," Harden says. "And it keeps going like that, over and over."
One of the more significant adjustments Harden has made is adding a changeup. He used it only sparingly while going 11-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 31 starts in 2004, but in 2005, he made it a staple.
"Last year was when I finally got totally comfortable with it," he says. "I had better command of it, more confidence in it, and I used it a lot."
Says catcher Jason Kendall: "It might have been his best pitch. First of all, he throws it 88, 89 miles an hour. That's a decent fastball for some guys, but for Rich, it's like 10 to 12 miles an hour slower than his best fastball."
The rest of Harden's repertoire is just as impressive. He throws a slider that occasionally tops 90 mph, and his splitter, which knuckles on the way to the plate, is one of a kind. Backup catcher Adam Melhuse calls it a "spluckle," and Mariners slugger Richie Sexson last year called it a "ghost pitch."
"He's a no-hitter waiting to happen," Kendall says. "There are times when he makes people look absolutely ridiculous. And what's a joke is that he's only 24 still. He's going to get so much better."
Harden credits Kendall, who was acquired during the 2004-05 offseason, for having steepened his learning curve.
"He's just so smart back there," Harden says. "He knows the hitters, he knows what they want to do, and he probably knows our pitchers better than we know ourselves. There'd be times when I'd be just going along with what he's calling, but the whole time I'm thinking about why he's calling it and going, 'Damn, this guy is awesome.'"
A lot of people say the same thing about Harden, who might have been a Cy Young frontrunner in 2005 if he'd been healthy all year. Two stints on the disabled list limited him to 19 starts, but he still went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA.
"Winning a Cy Young is something every pitcher wants to do, so yeah, I'd love to get one at some point," he says. "But at the same time, it's not really a goal of mine because there's so many outside factors that go into winning it -- run support, what the bullpen does, what the defense does -- and you can't control all of them.
"All I can control is what the ball does between my hand and home plate."
Harden is being brought along slowly this spring as he recovers from offseason surgery on his left shoulder, but he has no doubt that he'll be ready for the regular season.
Nor does he doubt that it'll be the most enjoyable year of his career.
"Every year, my command gets better, and that allows me to do a little more as far as using all of my pitches," he says. "And that makes it a lot more fun for me. Throwing the ball past someone is cool, but when you're really pitching and beating people with a plan, that's even better."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Blanton roughed up in debut

2006-03-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

03/03/2006
PHOENIX -- For the second day in a row, one of Oakland's promising young starters was pounded in his second inning of work. Friday it was Joe Blanton, whose feelings about his outing were nearly identical to those of Dan Haren on Thursday.
"Better now than in April," said Blanton.
After cruising through the first inning on eight pitches, all strikes, Blanton retired the first batter of the second before giving up a huge home run to Milwaukee's Corey Koskie. Next came three consecutive singles, followed by Mike Rivera's three-run homer.
"I just tried to go out and throw a lot of strikes," Blanton said. "... and I felt I did that."
And despite having seen many of his pitches struck with authority, Blanton seemed happy to be in the us-versus-them stage of Spring Training. He needs to pound the ball inside to have success, and throwing batting practice at Papago Park doesn't provide him with a chance to work on that part of his game.
"It's kind of hard ... you don't want to smoke your own teammate," Blanton said.
Back on track -- sort of: Righty Rich Harden, slowed by food poisoning the previous two days, was back to his smiley self on Friday, but he wasn't pleased about having lost weight while sidelined.
"I lost eight pounds in two days," he said. "It [stinks], because I worked my [tail] off putting weight on during the offseason, and I had finally got myself up to 196 [pounds] before this happened. Now I'm back to 188 and have to start building myself up all over again."
Harden, who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder, held up well during a bullpen session on Friday and will throw in a simulated game within the next few days. If that goes well, Harden likely will make his Cactus League debut sometime next week.
"I can't wait to get out there," Harden said. "I'm running out of things to do to kill time."
Laugh tracks: Oakland's marketing department gave reporters a sneak preview of their "A's in '06" TV spots, and they are hilarious as usual.
In one, Nick Swisher is shown running hard to first base on the most routine of groundballs. When the camera pans wide, the viewer sees why Swisher is hustling; manager Ken Macha is standing near the batting cage with two menacing dogs ready to chase any lollygaggers.
Another classic features Blanton drawing uncomfortable looks from his teammates as he works out with a thigh master on the weight room floor.
Only seven of the planned 13 spots have been produced. Vice president of sales and marketing David Alioto said the rest will be "in the moment" spots featuring prominent plays that come throughout the season. He used Jason Kendall's diving tag in Texas last year as an example of the kind of moment they'll be using.
Each spot features an authoritative voiceover that Alioto said was originally slated for longtime A's public-address announcer Roy Steele to handle, but Steele has had some health issues that prevented him from taking part, so the gig went to a veteran "voice actor." Each spot ends with an audio clip of the late Bill King's signature "Holy Toledo!" call.
Dribblers: Non-roster outfielder Hiram Bocachica, who broke his right wrist late last spring, is officially Hard-Luck Hiram. He heard something pop in the same wrist earlier this week, and athletic trainer Larry Davis said on Friday that Bocachica has a condition called carpal boss -- "It's basically a bony growth," he said -- that will require surgery next Tuesday in Phoenix. He'll miss at least two months. ... Righty Santiago Casilla, the reliever formerly known as Jairo Garcia, finally made it to camp after having visa problems in the Dominican Republic. Casilla, who will make his Cactus League debut on Saturday, shed a little light on his identity issue: The real Jario Garcia is a friend of his, he blew the whistle on himself because he felt guilty about it, he's relieved that everything's out in the open now, and he doesn't mind if people still want to call him Jairo. ... Righty reliever Justin Duchscherer (groin) threw on the side on Thursday and felt good on Friday, but it's not clear when he'll pitch in a game. ... Bobby Crosby, who homered for the second time in two days on Friday, will be among the very few projected regulars who'll play in Oakland's split-squad game against the South African World Baseball Classic team on Saturday. Rene Lachemann will manage the A's in the contest. ... Frank Thomas (foot/ankle) should be cleared to take batting practice on the field within a few days. Davis said Thomas is currently on a walking program and "progressing quite well."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Crosby goes deep again in A's loss

2006-03-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

03/03/2006
A's at the plate: All six of Oakland's hits went for extra bases. Eric Chavez, Mark Ellis, Jay Payton and Mark Kotsay each doubled, and Bobby Crosby homered for the second time in two games.
Brewers at the plate: Third baseman Corey Koskie opened the scoring with a homer to left in the second inning, and catcher Mike Rivera crushed a three-run homer later in the frame. Second baseman Brent Abernathy had three hits and outfielder Nelson Cruz tallied two.
A's on the mound: Starter Joe Blanton breezed through the first inning but gave up five runs on five consecutive hits in the second. He struck out two in two innings. Righty Mac Suzuki gave up two hits and struck out two over two shutout innings.
Brewers on the mound: Starter Rick Helling gave up a hit and a walk in two shutout innings, and former Athletic Justin Lehr followed with two innings of two-hit work. Closer Derrick Turnbow looked sharp in his lone inning of work.
Cactus League records: A's 0-2; Brewers 1-1.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Kotsay earns A's respect on the field

2006-03-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

03/03/2006
PHOENIX -- Mark Kotsay is Oakland's Mr. Intangibles, but even he concedes that defining "intangibles" is difficult. Hence the name.
"I think it's just being fundamentally sound at this level," says the A's 30-year-old center fielder. "A lot of guys are more talented and have better skills, so my way of making up for that is doing the little things."
Then Kotsay pauses, cocks his head and offers this: "Little things are big things to me."
Everything Kotsay does is big for the A's. He leads by example for the most part, combining Gold Glove-caliber defense, a well-rounded offensive package and the hustle of a rookie trying to make the team. But he's also willing to speak up and lead.
He is, without question, one of the most respected men in the Athletics clubhouse.
"He's got all the qualities you like in a player," says A's manager Ken Macha. "He plays hard all the time, he's intense, he's not afraid to speak his mind when things aren't being done right, he's extremely open to helping the young guys, and he makes excellent decisions in the outfield, at the plate and on the bases.
"A lot of what he does isn't going to show up in the box score, but it's the kind of stuff that helps you win games."
That's not to say that Kotsay can't fill up a box score with the best of them. He virtually carried the Oakland offense early last year, batting .323 in April, and despite being hampered by recurring back problems throughout the season, he batted .280 with 15 homers and a career-high 82 RBIs on the year.
"He's one of the best all-around players I've ever seen," says second baseman Mark Ellis. "He can impact the game in a lot of ways."
One of the tangible ways in which Kotsay contributes is by keeping opposing base runners honest. Since 1998, he's racked up a big-league best 99 assists -- four more than bazooka-armed Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels and 13 more than the Braves' All-Star center fielder, Andruw Jones.
"He's amazing out there, and not just because he throws guys out," Ellis says. "Before he got here, there were a lot of fly balls that, when they went over my head, I'd think they should be caught and they weren't. That doesn't happen anymore. Mark gets to everything."
"If you want to show someone how to play outfield," says left fielder Nick Swisher, "you should just say, 'Go watch Mark Kotsay and do what he does.' He's everything a veteran leader is supposed to be."
This will be Kotsay's third season with the A's, and he signed a three-year extension last season. But while teammates in all corners of the clubhouse refer to him as one of the team's leaders, he mildly disputes the notion.
"I don't know that a team like this needs a quote-unquote leader," he says. "There's not a lot of egos on this team, and the teams that need a leader are teams that don't have everyone playing the game the right way. Our leadership comes from 25 guys, because everyone in here plays the game the right way."
"Having been here a little while, I do have the ability to speak my mind, but I don't try to influence guys unless they approach me. When a guy makes a mistake, I'm not gonna go talk to him right away, because the coaches are gonna do that anyway. But if someone wants to talk, of course I'll do whatever I can."
Relayed those comments, Macha smiles.
"That's typical Kotsay," he says. "He doesn't want to be singled out. But believe me, he's a leader in there."
"He's added a whole new dimension to this team," Ellis said. "He's brought an aggressiveness and an attitude that we needed, and now he's like the model Oakland Athletic.
"He's a perfect fit for us, and that's why [the A's] wanted to keep him around."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: New start for healthy Meyer

2006-03-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

03/04/2006
PHOENIX -- It mattered not to A's lefty Dan Meyer that his two shutout innings Saturday came against a team of young, inexperienced and overmatched South Africans.
All that mattered to Meyer, who injured his throwing shoulder last spring and struggled at Triple-A Sacramento for much of 2005, is that he threw free, easy and hard.
Standing at his locker in the clubhouse at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, his shoulder wrapped in ice, Meyer was a picture of relief after his first Cactus League appearance of the spring.
"It was refreshing," he said with a smile. "I felt great. That's the best I've felt in about a year now."
Last spring, Meyer was determined to make a strong first impression with the A's, having been acquired from the Braves as part of the Tim Hudson deal and given a chance to win a spot in the starting rotation. So after hurting the shoulder while lifting weights, he decided not to tell the medical staff and tried to pitch through the pain.
The results were awful. Meyer's velocity dipped from the low 90s to the low- to mid-80s, and he gave up 17 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings for a Spring Training ERA of 7.78. He was sent to Sacramento and was never quite right, spending two stints on the disabled list and going 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA.
Now healthy, Meyer, 24, looked and felt strong Saturday.
"I didn't hold back anything -- to the point I was overthrowing," he said. "Mainly, I just focused on how the arm felt and my velocity, and I thought both were great today."
Worthy foes: Bobby Crosby, one of two projected regulars in the lineup against South Africa's World Baseball Classic entry, admitted that it was a tad tense in the dugout when the A's were trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the third inning.
"There was a little of this going on," he said, holding both hands out, palms down, and shaking them.
Crosby erased the deficit with a two-out, two-run double in the third, and that opened the floodgates for Oakland's 13-1 victory. But Nick Swisher, the other regular in the lineup, said the final score was irrelevant.
"I know there's doubts about how they'll do [in the Classic], but that's not the point," said Swisher, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning. "They're here representing their country. It's gonna be a thrill for them, that's the biggest thing. They're gonna go home and have great stories to tell for the rest of their lives."
Said Meyer: "They've gotta be excited. I'd be excited, too. I mean, we've got Eric Chavez and Jason Kendall and Jay Payton sitting in our dugout. I'm in awe, too, and I'm sitting next to them."
A's coach Rene Lachemann, who managed the team that stayed home while the other half of the team faced the Brewers in nearby Maryvale, said the most important result of the day was that nobody got hurt.
"They're out there trying," Lachemann said of South Africa, "but there's no way they can go out there and compete with a Major League team."
Maybe not for a whole game. But as South Africa manager Rick Magnante pointed out, "We won the first two innings."
Waiting around: Crosby looked pretty comfortable as Oakland's designated hitter Thursday and Friday, launching nearly identical home runs down the left-field line against the Cubs and Brewers. But he's dying to ditch the DH role that he again filled against South Africa on Saturday, although his double gave him a team-high five RBIs through three games.
"Being a DH is frustrating and boring," he said. "I've never really done it before, so it's weird trying to figure out what to do with that down time between at-bats. You don't feel like you're in the flow of anything at all. The two home runs were very unexpected."
Crosby, who has a sore right shoulder and won't be cleared for defensive duty at shortstop until Friday, March 10, said he's not worried about making up for lost time once he gets back on the field.
"The good thing is that I'm still able to take all my ground balls, so once they let me throw, it'll only take a few games to feel like I'm ready defensively," he said. "It'd be a lot different if we're talking about not being able to swing the bat until March 10, because hitting is such a timing thing. That part of the game really does take a lot of time before you feel right.
"Playing shortstop, as long as I'm healthy, give me a week and I'm good."
Dribblers: Kendall, Payton and Chavez were designated Lachemann's assistant coaches for the game against South Africa, but Lachemann said, "I don't know where they were, though." Said Chavez: "I went in and took a nap." ... While signing autographs for about 10 minutes after the game, Swisher looked up at a young boy wearing a Giants cap, rolled his eyes, shook his head and smiled before saying, "Come on, man. I can't sign for you with that hat on. At least turn it backward for me." The hat came off and the kid got his souvenir. ... Rich Harden's simulated game is set for Monday. He'll throw a total of 40 pitches, breaking twice for a few minutes of rest to mirror game conditions. He'll throw about 50 pitches four days later in his Cactus League debut. ... The clubhouse was closed for nearly an hour before the morning workout for the annual MLB security meeting, at which Mike Franzese, a former member of the Colombo crime family, spoke about the dangers of gambling.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

A's fall short against the Brewers

2006-03-12T08:53:00.001-08:00

03/04/2006
Athletics at the plate: The A's owned the hit column, 14-9, and scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning to make it interesting before losing their second game to the Brewers in as many days. Second baseman Mark Ellis and center fielder Mark Kotsay each scored in the first inning, as Oakland built a short-lived lead, and were among four different A's players with two hits apiece.
Brewers at the plate: Rickie Weeks, Nelson Cruz and Lou Palmisano homered and the Brewers held on for their third straight win. Leadoff man Brady Clark reached base in all three plate appearances and scored two runs, and right fielder Geoff Jenkins had three RBIs including a two-run double.
Athletics on the mound: A pair of A's errors contributed to rocky outings for starter Barry Zito and reliever Jay Witasick (0-1). Zito surrendered a first-inning, two-run home run to Weeks after an error by shortstop Mike Rouse, and Witasick was charged with three of Milwaukee's four runs in a third-inning rally aided by two fly balls lost in the sun by left fielder Bobby Kielty.
Brewers on the mound: In his first game since suffering a season-ending back injury last August, Ben Sheets surrendered four Oakland hits and two runs in two innings. Lefty newcomer Zach Jackson (1-0) was sharp in his Brewers debut, tossing two scoreless innings and striking out two, and Minor Leaguer Kevin Roberts recorded the game's final out for his first save.
Cactus League records: A's 0-3; Brewers 3-1
Up next: The A's are scheduled to host the Angels at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Sunday, with Kirk Saarloos scheduled to start against Kevin Gregg. For Milwaukee, left-hander Doug Davis is the scheduled starter as the Brewers travel to Surprise, Ariz., for a game against the Texas Rangers.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

A's win exhibition over South Africa

2006-03-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

03/04/2006
A's at the plate: Bobby Crosby's two-run double in the third inning erased South Africa's 1-0 lead. Freddie Bynum had an infield single and a two-run triple; Andrew Beattie, Javier Herrera, Daric Barton and Matt Watson each had two hits; and Nick Swisher, who had three RBIs, hit a two-run homer in the sixth.
South Africa at the plate: Leadoff man Paul Bell doubled to open the game and scored on a groundout by Willem Kemp. Bell and third baseman Jon Phillips each had two hits.
A's on the mound: Starter Shane Komine gave up a run on one hit over two innings and was replaced by Dan Meyer, who worked two shutout innings.
South Africa on the mound: Starter Barry Armitage, a Double-A prospect in the Royals' organization, gave up a hit and a walk in his scoreless inning of work. Reliever Tyrone Lamont didn't allow a hit over 1 2/3 innings.
Cactus League records: A's 1-3; South Africa 0-1.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Crash course for A's pitching prospects

2006-03-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
PHOENIX -- Oakland's Minor League pitchers and catchers report to camp on Thursday, and they'll be greeted with what A's director of player development Keith Lieppman calls an "intense" version of Baseball 101.
"Right now, we've got a pretty good-sized gap between Triple-A and the rest of the system pitching-wise," Lieppman explains. "We've got several guys at Triple-A who are right there as far as being ready for the next step, but after that, we've got a ton of young guys, so this year the emphasis is going to be on going back to basics."
The youngsters will be inundated with information about the A's general pitching philosophy as the coaching and development staff takes them through lectures, classwork and video tape in addition to field drills.
"It's a little of everything," Lieppman says. "Things like talking about and understanding the sequence of pitches we like to use, holding runners on, care and maintenance of your arm, what we're trying to do in our side sessions. And of course, conditioning.
"What it is, basically, is an introduction to all areas of pitching as it related to being in this organization."
On the move: With shortstop Bobby Crosby (shoulder) unable to play defense and super-sub Marco Scutaro off playing in the World Baseball Classic, Oakland's middle-infield prospects are getting a longer look in big-league camp, and Freddie Bynum and Andrew Beattie have been making the most of their opportunity.
"Freddie has been in big-league camp before, but he was never much of a factor," Lieppman says of Bynum, who is out of Minor League options. "But you have some guys who are late bloomers, and he's one of them. His name seems to pop up every day, whether it's about a play he made out on the field, or how he looked during batting practice."
Lieppman also has been getting good reports on the work of Beattie, who batted .296 in 113 games last season at Triple-A Sacramento.
"He's had some good at-bats and caught some eyes," Lieppman says. "Come June, if someone [on the big-league team] gets hurt, you never know. Maybe a guy like Andrew gets remembered then and gets a shot."
On the mend: Landon Powell, Oakland's top pick in 2004, missed all of the 2005 season after having knee surgery, but has been working out daily at the A's Minor League complex. Lieppman says there's still a little tenderness in Powell's knee, but he should be ready to play by the start of the season.
Names in the game: Juan Navarrete, who managed the A's short-season Class A team in Vancouver last season, is to Oakland's Minor League infielders what Ron Washington is to the big-league infielders. Lieppman calls Navarrete, who is in the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, the organization's "defensive coordinator."
"He's our Mexican version of Wash," Lieppman says. "He's a tireless worker who has the respect of all the guys, and he's got a very important job. Most of the Minor League kids just want to come in and swing the bat, and Juan has to teach them why defense is such a big part of our success."
They're No. 1: Powell is slated to start the season at Class A Stockton, and he'll likely be joined there by righty Brad Sullivan, a first-rounder from 2003 who was limited last season by hand and shoulder injuries. Richie Robnett, a 2004 first-rounder, will start at Stockton or Double-A Midland, and he'll be asked to cut down on his strikeouts; Robnett batted .243 with 20 homers and 74 RBIs at Stockton last year, but he struck out 151 times in 457 at-bats.
Class of '05: Shortstop Cliff Pennington, the top pick last June, is another one of the prospects benefiting from the extra playing time for middle infielders in the big-league camp. ... Outfielder Travis Buck, looking to hit for more power this season, gained 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and will probably open the year in Stockton. He hit three homers in 159 at-bats at Vancouver and Class A Kane County. ... Right-handers Craig Italiano, Jared Lansford and Vince Mazzaro, all drafted out of high school, will open the year as part of what might be an eight-man rotation at Kane County. To protect their young arms, they'll be limited to 120 innings for the season.
What they're saying: "He's intense. Maybe a little too intense at times. He needs to slow the game down a little. But I like the kid. He plays the game very hard." --A's manager Ken Macha on Pennington

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Crosby stays hot as A's win first

2006-03-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
A's at the plate: Bobby Crosby singled in a run in the first inning for his team-high sixth RBI of the spring and later added a single and a walk; he's hit in all four games he's played thus far. Mike Rouse snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-out single in the second, and Eric Chavez's sacrifice fly made it 3-1 in the fifth. Non-roster infielder Scott McClain launched a two-run homer to give the A's a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth, and Freddie Bynum, who had two hits, added a two-run shot of his own later in the inning.
Angels at the plate: Chone Figgins opened the game with an opposite-field triple to left-center field and scored on a single by Maicer Izturis, then doubled in the third. Casey Kotchman's first homer of the spring, a three-run shot to left off Jason Karnuth in the top of the sixth, gave the Angels a 4-3 lead.
A's on the mound: Righty starter Kirk Saarloos gave up a run on four hits over three innings, and lefty Joe Kennedy followed with two quick shutout innings.
Angels on the mound: Righty starter Kevin Gregg gave up one earned run on five hits over two innings. Lefty Joe Saunders pitched two hitless innings in relief.
Cactus League records: A's 1-3; Angels 2-1.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Bullpen a new frontier for Kirk

2006-03-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
PHOENIX -- A's righty Kirk Saarloos wasn't thrilled about getting himself into a couple of messy spots on Sunday, but he was pretty happy about being able to get out of them.
Cleaning up messes is going to be a big part of Saarloos' job this season as he transitions from the starting rotation to the bullpen.
Saarloos, one of the best No. 5 starters in the American League last season, essentially lost that job when the A's signed right-hander Esteban Loaiza in the offseason. Now Saarloos is returning to his roots; he was a top closer at Cal-State Fullerton, and he worked in relief a lot while with the Astros early in his career.
"It's fun to go out and try to get out of someone else's jam," Saarloos said. "I like that mentality."
In part because Loaiza is playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and in part because righty Rich Harden is recovering from surgery, Saarloos -- who pitched a perfect inning in relief Thursday against the Cubs -- started Sunday against the Angels. He gave up a run on three hits in the first inning, and stranded a runner at second in the third.
"I got myself into those jams, which isn't great, but those are situations where I'm probably going to be used a lot this year, so that was good," he said. "I need that experience."
The A's haven't said how they'll use Saarloos this season, but he'll probably be the kind of do-everything Swiss Army knife that Justin Duchscherer was a few years ago.
"He's like a one-man pitching staff," said A's manager Ken Macha. "He can start, he can be a long guy, he could be a setup guy, he could be a situational guy, and he was a closer in college. He's an extremely valuable member of this team."
Bitter-batter face: This is Gerald Perry's first year as Oakland's hitting coach, and already he's made a strong impression.
"I like his intensity level, the way he demands that guys to things right," Macha said. "He's not afraid to get in someone's face. Ask [Mark] Kotsay about what Gerald told him the other day."
Kotsay was happy to oblige: "I was hitting in the cage, talking to someone outside the cage, and all of a sudden Gerald says, 'Hey, Kotsay, save your conversations for when you're not hitting.'"
Perry was hired in the offseason to replace Dave Hudgens.
"Gerald is more hands-on," Kotsay said. "He'll come up to you right after an at-bat and talk about whatever adjustment you need to make for your next at-bats. Hudge kind of left you alone during the game, probably because he didn't want guys thinking too much about making changes on the fly. Hudge liked to work from game to game, and Gerald is more at-bat to at-bat."
Kotsay, while playing catch with owner Lew Wolff before the morning workout, also shed some light on how Perry got the nickname "Bitter."
"It originally was Kendall's nickname," Kotsay said. "I guess when Jason and Gerald were both in Pittsburgh, Gerald started calling Kendall 'Bitter' one day because he was walking around with a scowl or something. But that same day, Gerald got thrown out of the game, so Jason said, 'Who's bitter now?'"
Zito on Zito: Lefty Barry Zito, who struggled with his command Saturday in his Cactus League debut against the Brewers in Maryvale, said Sunday that a simple mechanical adjustment should enable him to get back on track for his Thursday start at Phoenix Muni.
"I was falling off [to the right side of the mound] a little bit, which means I'm standing up a little bit too straight," he explained. "So next time out, I'll just drop down a little more and be fine."
Zito, who gave up one earned run on three hits over two innings Saturday, isn't working on anything specific just yet. Building arm strength and endurance are the primary goals.
"First time out, it's always a little weird being back on the mound, so you're just trying to get comfortable," he said. "The main thing is, how does your arm feel? Mine feels great."
Dribblers: Five of the runs the Angels scored Sunday were unearned. Macha was particularly impressed with the quick work of lefty Joe Kennedy, who faced the minimum six batters in his two shutout innings. Kennedy retired all four batters he faced in his spring debut on Thursday against the Cubs. ... Bobby Crosby, who has hit safely in all four of the games he's played and has a team-high six RBIs, will get the next couple of days off from game action. He might play defense for the first time Thursday. ... Nick Swisher was particularly pleased with his opposite-field homer Saturday, because it came shortly after a conversation he'd had in the dugout with Eric Chavez about going the other way. "We're both kind of working on that right now, and to go from that little chat to actually doing it is a good sign for me," Swisher said. "It reinforces that you're getting something done." ... Duchscherer (sore groin) threw on the side Sunday, and might make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday, when the A's travel to Tucson to face the White Sox. ... Macha said he hasn't yet decided which players he'll force to join him on every road trip this spring, but outfielder Bobby Kielty and first baseman Dan Johnson are among the candidates. "They're fun to have around," Macha said. ... Righty reliever Juan Cruz had some stiffness in his back, outfielder Charles Thomas has some neck spasms, and first baseman Daric Barton has experienced some soreness in his elbow. Their ailments are minor, and aren't expected to keep them out of action.
Coming up: The A's host the Cubs at 1:05 p.m. local time (12:05 p.m. PT) on Monday. Right-hander Dan Haren, who gave up five earned runs over two innings last Thursday against the Cubs, will start for Oakland opposite Angel Guzman.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Pitching stumbles in loss to Cubs

2006-03-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

03/06/2006
Cubs at the plate: Brian Dopriak belted a three-run blast, his second of the spring, to left field. Todd Walker went deep in his first at-bat, hitting a two-run shot. In the seventh inning, Angel Pagan added a solo homer.
A's at the plate: Non-roster invitee Scott McClain hit his second home run of the spring, a two-run shot to left field.
Cubs on the mound: Starter Angel Guzman threw two innings of one-hit, shutout ball, with one strikeout and one walk.
A's on the mound: Starter Dan Haren gave up four runs on four hits in three innings, while striking out two and giving up a first-inning homer.
Cactus League records: A's 1-4; Cubs 4-1.
Up next: The Cubs host the Rangers on Tuesday at 2:05 p.m. CT at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz. Chicago right-hander Greg Maddux will take the mound for the Cubs against Texas righty Josh Rupe.
The A's travel to Tucson, Ariz., to take on the White Sox on Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. PT at Tucson Electric Park. Oakland righty Joe Blanton will be opposed by Chicago southpaw Mark Buehrle.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Haren no fan of Cubs

2006-03-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

03/06/2006
PHOENIX -- It doesn't matter where Dan Haren plays, the Chicago Cubs follow him.
For the second time in as many appearances during Spring Training, Haren looked at those navy blue jersey's from just over 60 feet away. But Monday's 12-3 loss to the Cubs wasn't as bad as his first start.
In his three innings of action, Haren gave up four runs on four hits, including a two-run homer to Todd Walker in the second at-bat of the game. Compared to Thursday's start against the Cubs when he lasted 1 2/3 inning, allowing five runs on seven hits, Monday was better.
"They've always hit me around, especially [Aramis] Ramirez. He's always got me," Haren said. "I'm definitely tired of them. Tired of seeing them, Jacque Jones. You know, [Juan]Pierre is ... he's pesky, and always bunting and running. I think I figured out my schedule and I don't have to face them [again]."
A's manager Ken Macha said Haren looked "better this time through," but added the A's defense didn't help the pitcher.
Working on three days' rest, Haren said he was "pretty sore" after his first Cubs game, and that soreness relented just in time for Monday's game. Although he added his arm isn't at 100 percent yet his command Monday was better, with his fastball moving how he wanted it.
A light wait: Finally, the future looks clear of obstructions for Rich Harden. For now at least.
Before Monday's game against the Cubs, Harden pitched three innings of a simulated game after coming off a bout with food poisoning that sidelined him this past week and caused him to drop about nine pounds in the process.
"Felt pretty good overall," he said after. "Got to build up arm strength. I got tired pretty quick, but the first two innings I felt pretty good."
Coming off of shoulder surgery and now the illness, Harden said his changeup was his best pitch Monday and his fastball was close behind. The only pitch of his arsenal he didn't throw was his split.
A's pitching coach Curt Young said Harden threw 48 pitches, and had nothing but high marks for the third-year pitcher.
"Outstanding," Young said. "Even though he's still feeling a little bit under the weather from the food poison, he threw the baseball very well. He'll be good to go on Friday."
That's when Harden will be part of the A's split squad that will travel to Surprise, Ariz., to take on the Kansas City Royals.
Despite not having pitched in a while, Harden was still hard on himself during the simulated game, getting frustrated when his pitches didn't hit where he wanted them to.
For now, he's on pace to start the second game of the regular season April 4 against the Yankees. To stay on that pace, he'll have to work on the A's off-day March 15, Young said. If Harden can't pitch in a Minor League game, Young said another simulated game will be put together.
Thomas back at it: Frank Thomas took batting practice for the first time before Monday's game against the Cubs.
Even though he didn't still hasn't seen any game action, Thomas has been making steady improvements since he first hit off a tee and from soft toss just over a week ago.
Macha said there's something good to take out of every day at Spring Training and today Thomas was one of them.
Dribblers: Milton Bradley got his first hit of the spring Monday. He's now 1-for-9 during Spring Training in four games. ... Bobby Kielty's two-game hitting streak was snapped, as he went 0-for-2 against the Cubs, a few days after lighting them up on Thursday with three hits including a home run. ... With his one hit on Monday, Mark Kotsay has not hit safely in all four games he's played in this spring. ... For the first time in three games, Nick Swisher got a hit. ... The A's gave up four home runs and hit one themselves. ... They also left 15 runners on base.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Herrera turning heads

2006-03-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

03/06/2006
PHOENIX -- The mailbag is stuffed, so while Marco Scutaro fights the urge to believe that he really does have a job locked up this spring, let's try to lighten the load a little.
Have any of the youngsters in camp caught your eye?-- Jerry T., Pittsburg, Calif.
Yes. His name is Javier Herrera, and he's the kind of guy you have a hard time taking your eyes off of. This kid has one of the best outfield arms I've seen in a long time, so whenever the A's are doing defensive work, I make sure to grab a seat and watch him throw bullets all over the diamond. He hasn't gotten a lot of at-bats in big-league camp and probably won't with the current glut of outfielders, but he's a legitimate five-tool player, and the organization thinks very highly of him.
I know it's early, but the A's starting pitchers haven't looked very good so far. Any cause for concern?-- Thomas L., Redlands, Calif.
None whatsoever. The first couple of outings are meaningless for these guys. They're not executing any sort of a game plan, for one thing, and they're all working on different things. As long as their arms feel good, nothing else matters. And so far, so good on the health front.
I was so happy to see Dan Meyer have a good outing [Saturday]. Will he be considered for a job in the bullpen if the A's decide to go with two lefties? -- Saul D., Vancouver
Nope. Meyer is a starter, and he'll probably remain a starter as long as he's in the organization. He's in a nice situation right now, because nobody's talking much about him, so there's zero pressure on him. But if he shines this spring and does well early in the year at Triple-A Sacramento, he could get a look if one of Oakland's starters goes down. And with Barry Zito unlikely to return next season, Meyer is in the mix for a spot in the big-league rotation for 2007.
Is there something going on with Frank Thomas we don't know about? I know the A's have said all along that they're going to be cautious with him, but it seems as if he's not doing enough to be ready for Opening Day.-- Bill H., San Ramon, Calif.
I think it's a little too early to hit the panic button on this one. I think the A's have been very straightforward about what's going on with Thomas; they're not hiding anything. That said, I'm not certain that he'll be ready for Opening Night, and I don't think anyone else is, either. But Thomas has been around a long, long time, and once he's cleared to do everything, I think he'll be able to get himself game-ready a lot faster than a young player might.
I've heard that Nick Swisher is trying to "tone it down" a little this spring. What does that mean, and why is he doing it?-- Hank G., Oakland
Nick has definitely turned the volume down a little, but rest assured that he hasn't changed much personally. I think he just got tired of being referred to as being loud and cocky, and he might be trying to show the veterans on the team that he's matured. But he's still the same outgoing, fun-loving character that he was last season.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

A's battle back but fall to Sox

2006-03-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

03/07/2006
A's at the plate: Keith Ginter doubled home two runs, and Scott McClain singled home a run off Mark Buehrle in the fourth. Nick Swisher added two hits.
White Sox at the plate: Led by a pair of home runs from catcher Chris Widger, the White Sox knocked out five long balls. Paul Konerko and Darren Blakely launched their first home runs of the spring, with Ryan Sweeney adding his second. Konerko also drove in four runs. Jim Thome reached base three times, with a single to center and two walks.
A's on the mound: Chad Gaudin gave up one run in each of his three innings of work, including two home runs and Konerko's RBI double. Gaudin struck out three and walked one.
White Sox on the mound: Buehrle was perfect through the first three innings, with four strikeouts, but might have stayed an inning too long. The left-hander allowed four runs to Oakland in the fourth on four hits. Because of a Tadahito Iguchi error, three of the four runs were unearned
Cactus League records: White Sox 2-6; A's 1-5.
Up next: The White Sox make their first Cactus League trip outside of Tucson, traveling to Tempe on Wednesday to take on the Angels. Dustin Hermanson gets the start, followed by Minor Leaguer Ray Liotta. Oakland travels to Surprise to face Texas, with Joe Blanton on the mound for the A's.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Notes: Gaudin in too much of a hurry

2006-03-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

03/07/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Chad Gaudin pitched as if his job depended on it Tuesday afternoon, bringing a heightened sense of intensity and a rush of adrenaline out to the mound with him.
He had thrown a pair of shutout innings in relief last Thursday, but Gaudin gave up a run in each of his three innings pitched against the White Sox on Tuesday, including a pair of solo shots from Chris Widger and Darren Blakely.
"If a guy is coming in trying to fight for a job, his numbers are [more important]," Gaudin said after suffering the 8-5 loss. "But you also need to get your work in. You need to get prepared for the season no matter where you're at."
Given the fact that he is not fighting for a job on the club, since, according to manager Ken Macha, there is not a job to be had for another right-hander on the staff, Gaudin might have been better off heeding the advice of Macha and pitching coach Curt Young as they tried their best to get him to simply slow down.
"We like his arm," Macha said. "Curt's trying to get him to slow his delivery down a little bit, particularly with his fastball. That's probably the major problem -- fastball location. When he gives you a nice one, low out on the corner, it's almost unhittable. [When] he falls behind, he throws balls over the middle of the plate, it becomes a problem. But we like his arm a lot. Curt's trying to slow down his delivery so he can have better location."
If nothing else, all three agree that location was at the heart of his problems Tuesday. When he was good, he was very good, besting Paul Konerko, Tad Iguchi, and Angel Gonzalez with a trio of strikeouts. But when he missed, he paid dearly.
"I had a couple bad-located fastballs and got behind some counts," said Gaudin. "The first home run was a fastball middle-up. It wasn't a good pitch. It was a mistake, and he hit it. As far as the other home run, it was a sinker that didn't sink, it tailed. Just a bad located pitch and he got it up."
Gaudin got the start as a result of Esteban Loaiza's absence during the World Baseball Classic, where he is competing for his native Mexico.
"Those guys competing in the [Classic], that's going to open a lot of innings for guys that are trying to make the team," Gaudin said. "All you can do is take what you do out there and learn from it and get better."
When the adrenaline isn't pumping, Gaudin is focusing on the fundamentals of finding his groove on the mound.
"Just mainly the basics," he said. "Getting in a good rhythm, finding my arm slot at all times, being able to throw all three pitches for strikes."
All good things: Mark Ellis saw his four-game hitting streak come to an end Tuesday, going 0-for-3 against the White Sox as his average dropped from .455 to .308.
Javier Herrera ended a two-game hitting streak, going 0-for-1, and Dan Johnson ended a two-game multihit game streak with his 0-for-3 day in Tucson.
It was 20 years ago today: The A's Cactus League record fell to 1-5, matching their worst spring start since 1986. That season marked the fifth consecutive sub-.500 regular season for the A's, but after two midseason managerial changes, Tony La Russa began a streak of six consecutive seasons at .500 or better.
Classic idle: Marco Scutaro, Huston Street, and Loaiza were in uniform Tuesday afternoon as their national teams, Venezuela, USA, and Mexico, respectively, opened play with their first games in the World Baseball Classic.
None of them saw any action, however, as Venezuela lost, 11-5, to the Dominican Republic and did not make a single substitution of a position player. Team USA shut out Mexico, with the victors getting three innings from starter Jake Peavy followed by an inning each from a succession of six relievers, none of them named Street. Loaiza is scheduled to start for Mexico in Thursday's game against Team Canada.
Kiko Calero's Puerto Rico team began play Tuesday night, and Calero pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, protecting Puerto Rico's 2-1 lead over Panama.
Coming up: The A's head to Surprise on Wednesday for their first of two spring meetings with the Rangers. Joe Blanton takes the mound in his second Cactus League start of the year, hoping to improve on his 5-1 loss to the Brewers last Friday.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Unlike seasons past, all's quiet in camp

2006-03-12T08:35:00.001-08:00

03/07/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- It's not so much that manager Ken Macha has all the answers for the A's this spring. More to the point, he hasn't been faced with the flood of questions that have characterized Oakland's recent Spring Training camps.
"It's a dramatic contrast from last year when we had rookies going to be in the field and rookies in our rotation, and we were trying to find a fifth starter. That was a big battle going on in Spring Training," Macha said of this year's relatively quiet camp. "We've had some guys last year establish themselves. It's a little different. The focus is to get out of camp healthy and have everybody ready to go and healthy."
A dramatic contrast, yes. But where is the drama?
The rotation is set, with Barry Zito, Joe Blanton, Esteban Loaiza, Rich Harden and Dan Haren.
There are six spots spoken for in the bullpen, with Huston Street closing behind Kiko Calero, Jay Witasick, Joe Kennedy, Kirk Saarloos, and Justin Duchscherer.
The positions in the field are locked up and the batting order is fairly clear, with Mark Ellis claiming the leadoff spot, Mark Kotsay following in the two-hole, and Bobby Crosby, Eric Chavez, Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley fitting into the middle of the order. Save a spot for Nick Swisher and Dan Johnson, and relish the depth with Jay Payton and Bobby Kielty rotating in off the bench.
"We're trying to see if we can get Frank Thomas healthy," Macha said, acknowledging the only significant looming question a week into March. "Yesterday he took BP for the first time and did not have any discomfort in his foot. That's very encouraging."
Related to Thomas' health is the question of how many spots there are on the roster for pitchers, with 11 spots sewn up amid lingering uncertainty about whether or not the roster will have room for a 12th pitcher.
"Ideally, I would like to have two left-handers in the bullpen," Macha said. "Joe Kennedy has thrown the ball very well so far this spring, so we have a couple candidates for [a second left-hander]."
Among those pushing for the dozen-pitcher option are southpaws John Rheinecker, Ron Flores and Randy Keisler, but even if each put together a monster spring, it might not be enough to change the way the numbers fall.
With so little on the line this spring, Macha should be in the enviable position of focusing his resources on strengthening what he's got. He came to Arizona eager to hone and polish some of his younger players, helping them diversify the tools in their belt as they mature.
"In Street's case -- and Calero's also -- we were hoping to get a changeup as part of their repertoire to help them out a little bit with left-handed hitters," Macha pointed out.
But even the best-laid plans had to take a detour when the two pitchers joined their national teams, participating in the World Baseball Classic for Teams USA and Puerto Rico, respectively.
"I got a report on Street," Macha said, referring to his closer's appearance in a Team USA exhibition game against the Giants on Sunday, "He threw 17 pitches in an inning's work the other day. He threw 13 fastballs and four sliders. He didn't throw any changeups.
"I don't want to wish ill will on anybody, but if they all get eliminated, I'm all right with that," Macha added, laughing. "In the development of a young pitcher, to go out there and throw a pitch with less than maximum effort is a hurdle to get over. You'd like to have him in non-meaningful games in Spring Training to throw some of those pitches."
Haren is a good example of an established young pitcher taking advantage of Spring Training to add another weapon to his arsenal, namely the changeup.
"Yesterday he threw six in a game, four for strikes, got one out, got no hits off the other ones," Macha said. "It was a successful day for him as far as the changeup is concerned."
The A's pride themselves on their strength in developing young players, having produced back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners with Crosby and Street in '04 and '05, and Macha hopes to use the spring to add seasoning to some of his prospects.
"We've had success with bringing young kids up," Macha pointed out. "I'm not afraid to throw young guys in there. We've got an outfielder, [Javier] Herrera, and he started our first exhibition game. He'll probably start off in Double-A. Maybe start off in A ball, then go to Double-A. But he's a tremendous talent, I think he's 19 years old. A Venezuelan kid.
"What has happened in the other years I've been here, we've gotten Nick Swisher in early, and then the next year he played," Macha continued. "We had Bobby Crosby in here earlier, the next he played and was the Rookie of the Year. That's another idea that you use in Spring Training. Get some of you young guys out there. Joe Blanton, Rich Harden, they all went the same route. We got them in there, we started them in games down here, see how they reacted, get used to the atmosphere and the players around them, and it turned out profitable for us as an organization."
So when the only tension in camp surrounds whether or not Macha will call Team USA pitching coach Marcel Lachemann and ask him to remind Street about that off-speed pitch, you have to wonder if Macha misses the drama and energy the old internal competition brought to A's camps of the past.
"I enjoy baseball period," Macha concluded. "I create my own energy when I come to the ballpark. Either way's fine."

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/

Chavez homers, but A's fall to Rangers

2006-03-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

03/08/2006
Athletics at the plate: Eric Chavez hit his first home run of Spring Training, a two-run shot to right in the seventh. Bobby Crosby's infield single in the first was the lone Oakland hit in the first six innings.
Rangers at the plate: Kevin Mench drove in three runs with a two-run homer and triple and leads the Cactus League with nine RBIs. David Dellucci contributed a triple and single.
Athletics on the mound: Joe Kennedy struck out the side in the fourth and worked 1 1/3 hitless innings. Starter Joe Blanton allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out three.
Rangers on the mound: Rookie right-hander Edison Volquez threw three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out two and walking one. Left-hander Kevin Walker struck out four in two flawless innings.
Cactus League records: Athletics 1-5; Rangers 4-2-1.
Up next: The Athletics will start left-hander Barry Zito against the Brewers at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 12:05 p.m. PT on Thursday. The Rangers have a day-night doubleheader at Surprise Stadium. They will start right-hander Adam Eaton in a 2:05 p.m. CT game against the Royals. They will play Japan at 6:05 p.m. CT.

Source: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/