(Photo: Keith Allison/Flickr)

In a surprising move today, the A’s traded catcher Max Stassi, “first baseman” Chris Carter and pitcher Brad Peacock to the Houston Astros for shortstop Jed Lowrie and RHP Fernando Rodriguez. It’s not really THAT surprising though, is it? It’s been another busy offseason for Billy Beane, but this time he’s in win-now mode as opposed to rebuilding mode. Anyway, stats first and opinions at the end.

Jed Lowrie played in 97 games for the Astros last season and over 387 at-bats he had a .244/.331/.438 slash line with a .336 wOBA and a 111 wRC+ which was good for a 2.5 fWAR. He also hit 16 home runs and stole 2 bases (in case you were wondering). Lowrie is a switch-hitter, but his numbers were much better when he hit from the left side of the plate last year; hitting .265/.345/.474 over 253 plate appearances with a .355 wOBA and 124 wRC+. He made 100 plate appearances as a righty last season and hit .184/.290/.333 with a .282 wOBA and 75 wRC+.

Over his five year career he has a .250/.326/.417 slash line with a .743 OPS. Lowrie will be under control for two more seasons.

Fernando Rodriguez pitched for 71 games for the Astros last season and over 70.1 innings he had a 5.37 ERA, a 4.22 FIP and .312 BABIP. He had an “impressive” 4.35 BB/9, a 9.98 SO/9 and 1.28 HR/9 rate.

I actually really like this trade, mainly because I have liked Jed Lowrie since he’s days in Boston and if he stays healthy he’s a great addition to the team. With that being said, Lowrie has not played in more than 100 games over his five year career. The closest his came was last season playing in 97, but was sidelined for almost two months after injuring his knee and ankle in July.

I was however, a bit surprised on the return of Lowrie, mostly because they gave up Brad Peacock after recently trading AJ Cole to the Nationals. The A’s have always been a pitching heavy team and this move (sort of) depletes their pitching depth in the minors, not that I think Brad Peacock was “ace” potential.

Billy Beane stated that Hiro Nakajima will still be starting at shortstop and Lowrie will play “all over”, by all over I assume all over the infield. So my thoughts, which obviously mean nothing, is that this leaves Adam Rosales as the odd-man out. I would think the team would have interest in getting Lowrie as many at-bats as possible so he will spend most of his time at third platooning with Josh Donaldson. Platoons for everyone!

As far as their losses, Chris Carter would be the biggest one at this point in time. The would-have-been back up/platoon of him and Moss is no longer and as of right now we can probably expect to be seeing more of Daric Barton this season. While losing Chris Carter kind of stings, adding Jed Lowrie is not a bad thing. The A’s now have a proven infielder if Nakajima doesn’t pan out, or if Donaldson goes back to being Donaldson or to play second if Sizemore and Weeks under-perform.

This trade means more than just adding depth to the infield, it also means Billy Beane is serious about winning now. With the season less than two months away now I believe that us fans have a lot to be excited about; it’s been a long time since we entered the season knowing we have a competitive team and perhaps this is finally Oakland’s year.

This season I was lucky enough to represent Aerys Sports at A’s Blog Day.  Myself and 10 (or so) other A’s bloggers got to sit down with with Bob Melvin, Farhan Zaidi, A.J. Griffin and Brett Anderson in a “blogger” press conference.

The interviews began around 4:00 when Bob Melvin entered the room for the first interview of the day. Bob Melvin was my favorite of the three, he was very professional and treated each question as if we were the media.  I, unfortunately, did not get in my question for him, but there were plenty of other great questions for Melvin.  (I actually didn’t get any questions in that day). Ultimately, I found the question answered regarding Jemile Weeks to be the most interesting from Melvin:

“As far as Jemile, you know I think it’s not unlike, you talk about Sophmore slumps and so forth and you know he’s a tough kid who can be hard on himself, but I think he just got into a little bit of a slump where he couldn’t quite get out of it.  You know you look up there and you have some pride and you look at your average after hitting .300 for basically a full season and then not being able to repeat that, you try a little bit too hard some times as opposed to trying a little easier and letting your ability take over and I think it was just a little bit of change of scenery he went down there and instantly hit and I don’t think this is going to affect where his career is going forward.”

And regarding any adjustments Weeks needs to make:

“I think maybe just keep the ball out of the air a little bit.  I mean this year he probably… I think he hit a couple of home runs early on and he will tell you that that has nothing to do with, you know, swinging a little bigger.  I think he just felt more comfortable with his swing and that he can drive some balls and last year he just wasn’t trying to do too much, he was just putting it in play, putting it in play on the ground and so it’s a matter of finding a happy medium for him and he will do that.”

The question I had for Melvin was regarding the difference between working with veterans and rookies and Frank from The Bay Area Sports Report asked him a similar question in which Melvin had this to say:

“Well I think, you know,  based where we are in the season we try to keep the distractions to a minimum and just, I know it’s very cliche, but keep it to all our efforts and focus on a particular day.  I think we are playing some match ups in the second half, you know whether it’s a Moss/Carter type of thing. And I think keeping them aware of when they’re playing is important so they know and can visualize and do some homework on some potential pitchers that they’re going to face.  You know, whether it’s Kottaras and Norris and we’ve run a little platoon Pennington/Rosales at second, so I think they benefit by knowing which and what days they’re playing.  And then I think with younger players you try to be consistent in giving them good feedback. Because you know one thing about being a younger player coming to the big league level that you always have to get over is that ‘awe factor’ and ‘do I belong here in the big leagues?’.  And we’ve not only as an organization put a lot of stock in our younger players and getting them to the big leagues, we put them in prominent roles and I think we have done that across the board this year, whether it’s the pitching end of it, whether it’s position player end of it and we’ve been rewarded with good performances.”

» Continue reading “Oakland A’s 2012 Blog Day: Part 1″

Yankees:  10   Athletics:  9

I never enjoy when the A’s lose, in fact if it were up to me I would have them win every game of the season, but today has had to be the biggest heartbreaking loss of the season.  This is a game the A’s should have won.  There were many missed opportunities for the team today, three costly errors, a bad call by the second plate umpire and a four run lead that could not be held onto.

It started off good for the A’s, the lead off the game with back-to-back-to-back doubles, immediately putting themselves up 2-0.  Then with Cespedes on third and only one out, Chris Carter struck out swinging and Josh Reddick flew out to end the inning.  Travis Blackley, who was in to replace Brett Anderson, struggled in the bottom of the inning, after getting Derek Jeter to fly out he allowed a solo home run to Ichiro Suzuki and then walked Alex Rodriguez.  With Robinson Cano batting he was able to pick off Rodriguez at first, but the umpire called the pick off a balk (which it wasn’t) and Rodriguez moved over to second.  Cano then hit a double, scoring Rodriguez and the game was tied 2-2.  Nick Swisher then walked, Casey McGehee struck out and a routine ground ball to Josh Donaldson, which would have been the third out of the game, turned into an error and the bases were loaded.  With the bases loaded Andruw Jones walked and the Yankees took the 3-2 lead.  Blackley was able to collect the final out of the inning by getting Chris Stewart to ground out.

The Yankees scored another run in the second inning, an unearned run, this time coming off of an error by Cliff Pennington.  It was the last inning Blackley saw, only lasting two innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), walking 3 and striking out only 1.  Blackley needed 59 pitches to get through the first 2 innings of the game and only threw 30 strikes.  The A’s scored two runs, one in the third and one in the fourth, tying the game up to 4-4.  The Yankees retook the lead in the fifth off of a solo home run by Raul Ibanez and the A’s tied it up again in the seventh off of a sacrifice fly from Chris Carter.

» Continue reading “A’s Blow 4-Run Lead in 13th Inning, Lose In 14″

Athletics:  5  Orioles:  2

Tonight’s game can be described in one word and that’s “unbelievable”.  I know I have said it one-hundred times (or maybe more), but this team continues to surprise me every day.  Today’s win secures a series win for the A’s and they go into tomorrow looking to sweep their wildcard rivals.

The Orioles were the first to score again tonight.  Adam Jones lead off the second inning with a single and two batters later Mark Reynolds hit a double, scoring Jones.  The Orioles scored again in the third off of a solo home run by Nate McLouth.

The A’s fought back in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs total.  Stephen Drew lead off the inning with a home run.  Then with one out Coco Crisp walked, Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch and Josh Reddick singled and Crisp scored.  Yoenis Cespedes singled, scoring Gomes. Chris Carter then doubled scoring both Reddick and Cespedes.  Josh Donaldson then walked, but the inning ended after a fly out by Derek Norris and a strike out by Stephen Drew.

Most of the offense came in the third for the A’s.  They had a total of five hits tonight, four of those coming in the third.  Their last hit was a double in the seventh by Josh Reddick.  They had more walks than hits tonight, taking 7 and went 3-9 with runners in scoring position.

Jarrod Parker allowed 7 hits through 7 innings, also allowing 2 runs and 1 walk while striking out 5.  The A’s defense helped Parker out tonight, with the biggest out coming from a relay throw from Cespedes and Donaldson to gun Adam Jones out at home.

Sean Doolittle pitched a clean eighth, he did not allow a baserunner and stuck out 1.  Grant Balfour made it interesting in the ninth inning, allowing a one out single to Chris Davis and then walking Mark Reynolds.  With two runners on and one out he got Manny Machado to fly out and Endy Chavez to ground out to end the inning.

Tom Milone forgot he was pitching in Oakland today.

Angels: 8  Athletics:  3

Well, the A’s winning streak has ended at nine.  Today was not pretty, but if you’re going to lose, might as well lose big.

Tom Milone was not good today.  He allowed 10 hits, 2 of which were home runs, and 5 runs over 3 plus innings.  He threw 67 pitches today, and if you’re looking for any positives in this performance, he did not walk a batter.

The bullpen did most of the work today, Pat Neshek relieved Milone and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings while only allowing a double and striking out 1.  Pedro Figeroa pitched 2/3 innings and allowed 1 hit, 2 walks and 3 runs (2 earned).  Most impressively was Tyson Ross, who was called up today, he pitched 2.2 innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 3. Evan Scribner pitched a clean ninth, allowed a hit and struck out 1.

The A’s scored their first run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Josh Reddick, they scored again in the fifth when Josh Donaldson lead off the inning with a solo home run and their final run came from a solo home run by Chris Carter in the eighth.

The A’s combined for only 8 hits and 3 walks and were 1-5 with runners in scoring position today.  Josh Donaldson was the stand out today, going 2-4 with a home run and a double.  Jonny Gomes also had a multi-hit day, going 2-3 with a walk and a double.

Sadly, one month from today the regular season will be coming to an end.  The last time I checked in with the A’s we had just reached the All-Star break and the A’s were at .500 and were 9 games back from Texas.  My prediction was far off stating:

At this point in the season the A’s are expected to be sellers rather than buyers and if this is true, I don’t see the A’s being able to maintain a .500 record let alone a winning one.

Looks like I was wrong again.

Where They Are Right Now:

The A’s have a 33-15 record since returning from the All-Star break.  They are back in second place and 3 games behind the Texas Rangers,  5 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and 12 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners.

Rather than sell the A’s added to the team, acquiring RHP Pat Neshek, C George Kottaras and SS Stephen Drew.

They are currently the lone holders of the first wild card spot, 2 games ahead of Baltimore and 3 1/2 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays.  For the first time since 2006 the Oakland Athletics are playing meaningful baseball in the month of September.

» Continue reading “Checking In With The A’s: One Month Left”

Thanks for everything, Inge!

Athletics:  7  Red Sox:  1

The A’s began September exactly the same way the ended August; with a win.

It was a bitter sweet night for A’s fans, we began by celebrating the Bernie and ended by saying good-bye to the man who brought the Bernie to the Oakland Coliseum.

To begin with the good news, the A’s looked good again tonight at the plate.  They combined for 11 hits, 7 runs, 3 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 walks.  Coco Crisp had a huge night for the team, going 3-4 with a walk, a double and a home run (his 10th of the season).  Chris Carter, who went 1-4 tonight, hit his 13th home run of the season and Derek Norris went 2-4 tonight with 2 RBI.

The pitching was just as impressive as the offense, A.J. Griffin, who made his first start for Oakland since August 4, lasted 7 innings tonight and only allowed 3 hits, 1 run, walked none and struck out 5.  Pat Neshek pitched a clean eighth and the ninth and allowed only one hit while striking out 2.

Unfortunately, Brandon Inge, who returned from the DL today, had to leave the game in the fourth inning after he re-injured his shoulder.  Inge is expected to have surgery next week to repair his shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the season.  Before leaving the game today Inge went 1-2 with a 2 run double in the third.  It’s sad to see Brandon Inge’s time end in Oakland, he played a big part in this run and he will definitely be missed by the A’s players and the fans.

A’s Extras:

• The A’s recalled OF Collin Cowgill and INF Brandon Hicks from Sacramento today.  Hicks was in the lineup tonight and played at shortstop, he was 0-3 with a walk and 2 strikeouts.
• Cliff Pennington replaced Brandon Inge tonight in the lineup and went 2-2 with a run.

Athletics:  12  Indians:  7

For the second time in two weeks, the A’s have swept the Cleveland Indians.  Today’s win also marks their eighth straight win against them.

The Indians scored in the first inning when Jason Kipnis lead off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run.  The A’s would tie it up in the third when Coco Crisp hit a solo home run himself, his ninth of he season.  The A’s would score five more in the following inning after a 3-run double by George Kottaras and a 2-run home run by Cliff Pennington.

The Indians scored a run in the bottom half of the same inning, when Jack Hannahan singled and Ezequiel Carrera scored.  Josh Reddick would get that run back (and one more), by hitting a 2-run home run in the very next inning, putting the A’s up 8-2.  The Indians scored again in the fifth off of an RBI ground out by Shin-Shoo Choo.

The A’s scored two more in the sixth. George Kottaras lead off the inning with a fly out, but Cliff Pennington singled and Coco Crisp doubled.  With runners on second and third Stephen Drew hit a sacrifice fly to score Pennington.  Josh Reddick then singled and Crisp scored.

Again, the Indians answered back, but this time with three runs.  After Jarrod Parker allowed a single and a double to lead off the bottom of the sixth, he was pulled and replaced by Evan Scribner.  Scribner then walked Jack Hannahan to load the bases, he got Lou Marson to pop up to record the first out of the inning, but then walked Jason Kipnis which scored Casey Kotchman.  He recorded the second out of the inning by getting Asdrubal Cabrera to pop up and then gave up a 2-run single to Shin-Soo Choo.  Jerry Blevins came in to replace Scribner and got Michael Brantley to ground out to end the inning.

» Continue reading “Sweep! A’s Outslug Indians In Final Game Of Series”

Athletics:  8  Indians:  4

Well, it wasn’t a shutout, but it was another win.

Cleveland struck first tonight, ending their 30 inning scoreless streak against the A’s.  Jason Donald lead off the third with a home run and the following batter, Ezequiel Carrera, tripled and scored on an RBI ground out.  Those would be the only two runs allowed by Travis Blackley.

The A’s immediately took the lead in the fourth, when Josh Donaldson hit a 3-run home run scoring Yoenis Cespedes, Chris Carter and himself.  They scored again in the sixth inning on an RBI ground out by Derek Norris.  They scored two more in the seventh, after Coco Crisp lead off the inning with a double, Stephen Drew and Yoenis Cespedes both struck out swinging, but Seth Smith came through with a double, which scored Crisp.  Chris Carter would follow up with a single, scoring Smith and Josh Donaldson struck out to end the inning.

The Indians would scored two more runs of their own against Sean Doolittle, both unearned, in the eighth.  Doolittle walked Shin-Soo Choo to lead off the inning, then allowed a single to Lou Marson and a fielding error by Josh Donaldson would load the bases.  Brent Lillibridge hit a sacrifice fly to score Choo and Jerry Blevins came in to replace Doolittle.  Blevins got Casey Kotchman to ground out, but Marson scored on the play.  Ryan Cook then came in to replace Blevins and got Jason Donald to ground out to end the inning.

The A’s scored two more in the ninth inning after Stephen Drew lead off the inning with a double and Yoenis Cespedes singled him in.  After Seth Smith grounded out and Chris Carter hit a pop up, Josh Reddick doubled and scored Cespedes.  The inning ended with Josh Donaldson striking out.

Ryan Cook would finish the game and record his 13th save of the season, he allowed a lead off double to Ezequiel Carrera and then struck out Jason Kipnis and Jack Hannahan and got Shin-Soo Choo to ground out to end the game.

Lines of the Day:

• Josh Donaldson: 5 AB, 2 H, 3 RBI.  Donaldson had the biggest hit tonight for the A’s, giving the A’s the lead in the fourth.  He has been quite the productive hitter since his return to Oakland hitting .351/.403/.561 since his call up.
• Josh Reddick: 5 AB, 3 H, 1 RBI, 1 2B.  Reddick was back in the six spot tonight and although it’s a small sample size, he seems to be comfortable hitting in this spot.

A’s Extras:

• Yoenis Cespedes also had a good night, going 3-5 with a double and 1 RBI.
• Travis Blackley pitched 5.2 innings tonight, he allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, walked 2 and struck out 5.  This will most likely be his last start for now as AJ Griffin and Dan Straily will both be available to pitch for Oakland on Monday.
• The A’s combined for fifteen hits today and the only player to not collect a hit was Cliff Pennington, who went 0-4 with a strikeout.
• Graham Godfrey cleared waivers earlier today and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.

Athletics:  7  Indians:  0

For the second day in a row the A’s have shut out the Indians.  This is also their third consecutive shutout against Cleveland, going back to August 19, when they also defeated them 7-0.

The A’s got on the board early, again, when they strung together three singles to lead off the second inning.  It was Seth Smith who lead the single parade, followed by Chris Carter and Brandon Moss who singled in Smith.  Josh Donaldson then flew out and Derek Norris struck out, but Adam Rosales then singled and Chris Carter scored.

The A’s scored again in the 3rd off of a 2-run homer by Brandon Moss.  They scored run number five in the fifth inning when Chris Carter lead off with a home run, it was his 12th of the season.  The A’s scored their final two runs in the ninth by taking advantage of a fielding error by Shin-Shoo Choo.

Tom Milone wasn’t sharp, but he was good enough to shut out the Indians for six innings tonight.  He allowed 7 hits, walked only 1 and struck out 5.  Jerry Blevins, Pat Neshek and Evan Scribner finished off the game only allowing 1 hit between the three of them, walking none and striking out 1.

Lines of the Day:

• Chris Carter: 5 AB, 3 H, 2 R, 2 RBI.  Chris Carter collected a single, a double and a home run in tonight’s game.  Since his call up in June, Carter has a .270/.378/.572 slash line with a .950 OPS.
• Brandon Moss: 5 AB, 2 H, 3 RBI.  Brandon Moss had a productive day, hitting his his 14th home run of the season and collecting 3 RBI.

A’s Extras:

• Coco Crisp was not in the lineup tonight after being hit by a pitch in the foot yesterday.  Stephen Drew took over the lead off spot today and went 0-3 with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.