Athletics: 1  Royals: 0

The only run the A’s scored today was an RBI single from Josh Donaldson in the second, but it was all they needed to win the game.  Tommy Milone was efficient tonight, throwing 8 shutout innings, he only allowed 3 hits (all three were doubles) while walking 3 and only needed 97 pitches to get through the 8 innings.

The defense was stellar tonight behind Milone, they had no errors and there were three great plays that stood out to me, made by Josh Reddick, Daric Barton and Josh Donaldson.

Lines of the Day: 

• Tom Milone: 8 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 SO.  Yes you’re reading that correctly, he threw 8 shutout innings and did not even strike 1 batter out.  After speaking about his control all spring, he ended up walking 3 tonight, which I don’t imagine will be a common occurrence for him.
• Kurt Suzuki: 3 AB, 3 H, 1 BB.  The A’s only had 7 hits tonight and Kurt was responsible for 3 of them, here’s hoping that tonight’s performance is a sign of good things to come.

Ugly lines of the Day:

• Josh Reddick: 4 AB, 0 H.  Outside of Suzuki, no one really hit tonight, but Josh Reddick was the only player in the starting lineup to not reach base by getting a hit or taking a walk.

A’s Extras:

• By now you know that Daric Barton was called up to Oakland earlier today (Brandon Allen was designated for assignment to make room for him), he went 0-3, grounded into a double play and took a walk today.
• Grant Balfour recorded his 2nd save of the season, he issued 1 walk and stuck out 1.
• There’s bad news for the A’s bullpen, Joey Devine is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow on his right elbow again, very little details have been released, but we should know more after the procedure.

To see the Royals game recap please visit Drinking the Royals Blue-Aid.

Hanshin Tigers: 12   Athletics: 6

The pitching was not nearly as sharp as it was in their first exhibition game, in fact they gave up 12 more hits, 12 more runs and 4 more walks than their first game.  This was the final exhibition game before their series against the Mariners, so maybe they were just getting it out of their system…?

Lines of the Day: 

• Evan Scribner: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB.  Scribner was the only pitcher (besides Schlichting who recorded the last out in the eighth) to not allow a run.
• Kurt Suzuki: 2 AB, 1 H, 1 R, 3 RBI.  Kurt Suzuki hit his second home run of the day, at least in our time zone and his 3 RBI lifted his daily total to 5.

Ugly Lines of Day:

• Tyson Ross: 4 IP, 10 H, 8 R (6 earned), 1 BB, 1 strikeout.   Tyson Ross did the exact opposite of what Tom Milone did in his start and I am pretty sure that he’s happy that these games don’t mean anything.
• Andrew Carignan: .2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 earned), 2 BB.  After retiring the first two batters, Carignan allowed a single, a walk, a single, a walk and a single, which led to three runs and him needing to be relieved by Travis Schlichting.

A’s Extras: 

• There were 3 errors in this game, Kila Ka’aihue committed 2 and Cliff Pennington committed 1.
• Bob Melvin says he is leaning towards starting Brandon Allen at first base on opening night, but Susan Slusser tweets that Melvin is considering using two different first basemen in the series.
• The A’s also announced that Wes Timmons, Evan Scribner and Travis Schlichting will not be on the roster for the series.

The A’s get an off day before their Opening Night series against the Mariners, the game will begin on Wednesday at 3:10 AM (PST).  The probable pitchers for the game are (RHP) Brandon McCarthy and (RHP) Felix Hernandez.

Brandon Allen is one of the three players fighting for the first baseman job.

Spring Training doesn’t mean a whole lot for a team whether they lose or win, but it does mean a lot on individual performances, especially for those who are trying to make the team.  The A’s have quite a few players vying for spots on the opening day roster, so over the next few “off days” I will be taking a look at who did what this Spring, and who I think should make the team.

I’ll start off with the players we know already have their jobs locked up:

Jemile Weeks: second base: Weeks played in 13 games this Spring, he ended up with a .364 AVG, 7 R, 3 HR, and 7 RBI.  He also had 3 doubles and 2 stolen bases.  Defensively, he committed 3 errors this Spring.

Cliff Pennington: shortstop: Pennington also played in 13 games this Spring, he hit .364 and had 7 R, 0 HR, 3 RBI and 6 BB.  Defensively, Pennington committed 6 errors this Spring (ouch), more than any player on the team.

Kurt Suzuki: catcher: Suzuki played in 12 games this Spring, he had a .300, 6 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 2B and  3 BB.

• Anthony Recker: catcher: Anthony Recker is assumed to be the backup catcher this season, he also played in 12 games, he hit .310 with 4 R, 1 HR and 3 RBI.

First Baseman Battle: 

Brandon Allen: Allen had a .303/.359/.576 slash line this Spring, he also had 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI and 2 BB over 13 games.

Daric Barton: Barton played in 7 games this Spring, he hit .176 (3-17), he had 4 R, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5 BB and 4 SO.

Kila Ka’aihue: Ka’aihue played in 14 games this Spring, in 33 at-bats he hit .242 with 5 R, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB and 9 SO.

I said before that I believe Daric Barton should have a second chance at first base, but for now I would give the job to Brandon Allen.  I still stand by my original choice of giving Daric Barton the job, however, I think he still needs time down in Sacramento to get in more at bats and continue his recovery from shoulder surgery.

With Ka’aihue out of options he will probably make the opening day roster as a bench player, but I am guessing that the team will agree that Allen gets to start for now.

Third Baseman Battle: 

Josh Donaldson: Donaldson played in 17 games this Spring, he had 12 hits in 52 at-bats (.231 AVG) with 3 R, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB and 14 SO.

Wes Timmons: Timmons had 36 at-bats in 18 games this Spring, he had 10 H (.278 AVG), 6 R, 10 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 4 SO and 5 BB.

Eric Sogard: Sogard played in 18 games this Spring he had 44 at-bats, 15 hits (.341 AVG), 13 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB and 4 SO.

Adam Rosales: Rosales played in 12 games, he had 18 at-bats and 3 hits (.167 AVG), 3 R, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB and 4 SO.

I honestly am not comfortable with any of these four players being our every day third baseman.  All four players would be very good backup infielders, but I would prefer that the A’s look outside the organization for third baseman help.

Today, (RHP) Graham Godfrey takes the mound against the Royals, in which will be the A’s last Spring Training game of the year.

Today’s lineup: Jemile Weeks 2B, Cliff Pennington SS, Coco Crisp LF, Seth Smith RF, Jonny Gomes DH, Brandon Allen 1B, Collin Cowgill CF, Eric Sogard 3B and Anthony Recker C.

Today (RHP) Brandon McCarthy faces the Cubs.

Today’s lineup: Jemile Weeks 2B, Coco Crisp LF, Seth Smith DH, Yoenis Cespedes CF, Josh Reddick RF, Kurt Suzuki C, Daric Barton 1B, Josh Donaldson 3B and Cliff Pennington SS.

Today’s game can be heard on MLB.com

In case you missed it: I briefly mentioned yesterday that the A’s had optioned Jarrod Parker to Triple-A Sacramento after his shaky start, but here is some information about the send down.

Melvin hints that Parker still has a chance of making the rotation as a fifth starter, but just needs to work on some things.

Josh Reddick was one of three A's players to hit a home run today (Photo: aaronstrout/Flickr)

Athletics: 6  Diamondbacks: 5

The A’s tried to blow it in the ninth, but were unsuccessful, which eventually lead to them racking up another Spring Training win.

Lines of the Day:

• Collin Cowgill: 3 AB, 2 H, 2 R, HBP.  Cowgill is now hitting .436 this Spring in 39 at-bats.

Ugly Lines of the Day:

• Jarrod Parker: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 earned), 7 BB.  I think it’s safe to say that those 7 walks probably decided Jarrod Parker’s fate, and it’s probably very unlikely that he will be part of the starting rotation on opening day.  The good news is, he only allowed 1 hit and was able to control the damage to only 2 runs (1 in the 3rd inning and one in the 4th). While I was writing this it was announced that Jarrod Parker has been sent down.

A’s Extras:

• 5 of the 6 A’s runs all came from home runs with Josh Reddick, Manny Ramirez and Brandon Allen all hitting their second of the Spring.
• Jordan Norberto threw 1.1 innings today, allowing no hits, runs or walks while striking out one.
• Brian Fuentes also threw one clean inning allowing no hits and striking out two.
• With no errors today, the A’s have now tied their Spring Training high errorless streak to two games.

Tomorrow the A’s take on the Chicago Cubs, in which will be their final Spring Training game at Phoenix Muni.  Probable pitchers are (RHP) Brandon McCarthy and (RHP) Rodrigo Lopez, the game starts at 1:05 PST.

(RHP) Jarrod Parker will face the Diamondbacks today.

Today’s lineup: Collin Cowgill LF, Eric Sogard SS, Yoenis Cespedes CF, Manny Ramirez DH, Josh Reddick RF, Kurt Suzuki C, Brandon Allen 1B, Josh Donaldson 3B and Wes Timmons 2B.

In case you missed it:

More moves have been made the past day, yesterday the A’s optioned  pitcher Neil Wagner, infielder Chris Carter and outfielder Michael Taylor to Triple-A Sacramento.

Today, catcher Derek Norris was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, while non-roster invitees outfielders Brandon Moss and Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Ryan Ortiz have been reassigned.

The A’s also announced that Yoenis Cespedes will start in center field on opening day in Japan, which moves Coco Crisp to left.

Third baseman turned pitcher, Travis Schlichting. (Photo: mwlguide/Flickr)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  It’s A’s day so don’t forget to wear your green (and gold)!

Today (RHP) Travis Schlichting takes the mound at Phoenix Muni.

Today’s lineup against the Cubs: Jemile Weeks 2B, Cliff Pennington SS, Yoenis Cespedes CF, Manny Ramirez DH, Jonny Gomes LF, Seth Smith RF, Anthony Recker C, Brandon Allen 1B and Adam Rosales 3B.

Today’s game can be heard on 95.7 The Game.

Over at Scottsdale Stadium Tom Milone will face the Giants.

Today’s lineup against the Giants: Collin Cowgill LF, Eric Sogard SS, Coco Crisp CF, Josh Reddick RF, Kila Ka’aihue DH, Josh Donaldson 3B, Daric Barton 1B, Derek Norris C and Wes Timmons 2B.

This game can be heard on MLB.com

Adam Rosales is not catching for the A's today. Hopefully.

(RHP) Graham Godfrey takes the mound for the A’s tonight against the Mariners.

Tonight’s lineup: Coco Crisp CF, Eric Sogard 2B, Josh Reddick RF, Manny Ramirez DH, Brandon Allen 1B, Kurt Suzuki C, Collin Cowgill LF, Josh Donaldson 3B and Adam Rosales SS*.

*The A’s lineup card actually has Adam Rosales catching with Kurt, but I am going to assume that’s a mistake and he’s actually playing short tonight.  

Tonight’s game can be heard on 95.7 The Game.

(RHP) Jarrod Parker takes the mound for the A’s today against the Brewers.

Today’s lineup:  Cliff Pennington SS, Seth Smith LF, Yoenis Cespedes CF, Manny Ramirez DH, Josh Reddick RF, Kurt Suzuki C, Brandon Allen 1B, Josh Donaldson 3B and Wes Timmons 2B.

You can hear today’s game on MLB.com.

In case you missed it:  The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that there are two suitors interested in purchasing the A’s.  However, it might be kind of hard to buy the team when the owner doesn’t want to sell.

“No one has contacted me,” Wolff said in a phone interview with the Mercury News. “It’s not for sale, but no one has contacted me. Someone made that story up, I think.”