Posts Tagged ‘Mark Ellis’

Buyers and Sellers Posted by Jason Farmer in Oakland Athletics July 20th, 2008

Well, it is officially that time of year. With the trade deadline just around the corner, teams are either going to start their pushes for the playoffs or prep for next season. While some teams are always in the same selling mode, there are always a few surprising teams out to buy.

This year’s the surprise buying team is the Tampa Bay Rays. They have seem to come out of nowhere and are contending. They started the second half the season one half game out of first place (behind the Boston Red Sox).

The Oakland Athletics however, look to be in a sellers market. This is a different feeling for the A’s fan. For the past few years the A’s have contended each year.

With all the injuries last year, the A’s were not contenders but they didn’t sell out their player’s mid-season either. But that changed during the off-season.

During the previous off-season, the A’s became sellers. The team was involved in four trades that affected the team this year right away. Read more

Crash Davis Returns!? Posted by Jason Farmer in Oakland Athletics July 9th, 2008

Last year the Oakland A’s picked up a minor leaguer from the San Diego Padres for virtually nothing. When the trade was made, it wasn’t a big deal and was only found in the other notes section. A’s general manager Billy Beane has once again plucked a gem and given up nothing in return.

With all the injuries the A’s players had last season, that minor leaguer got a chance to show what he could do. Who was that minor leaguer and what did he do with the opportunity?

Does he really invoke memories of baseball movie (Bull Durham) legend Crash Davis (the minor league career homerun champion)? When I look at A’s outfielder/DH Jack Cust play today, I think of Crash Davis

Cust has had a few cups of coffee in the majors with a four different teams (Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, and the Padres). In fact, Cust even played in AAA for the A’s back in 2005, yet never got a call to the show.

While some player get called up and just can’t perform, others go on to show they can. They make people think about why they had to wait so long.

While some players do great things in the minors, it doesn’t always translate to success in the major. The A’s once had a player, Adam Piatt, win the Triple Crown while playing in AA. That achievement had not been accomplished in over 70 years.

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First Series Win Posted by Jason Farmer in Oakland Athletics April 7th, 2008

Two series into the 2008 season and the A’s (3-4) are off to what I would call a decent start. After splitting the Japan series and dropping both games in Oakland to the Red Sox, the A’s came back to win two of three against the Cleveland Indians (3-3).

After taking the first two, the A’s were hoping for the sweep. Unfortunately, things were not to be. After scoring six runs in each of the first two games, the A’s were only able to manage one in the series finale.

After another outstanding performance from Blanton, the A’s failed to give him any run support for the third game. This is the second straight game that Blanton has lost by a score of 2-1. If things continue on this path, Blanton could be this year’s hard luck starter.

In the past that has been reserved for players such as Time Hudson and Danny Haren. However, since both were traded away, a new pitcher has to step up and acquire that role…unfortunately.

On Friday, Justin Duchscherer started the first game of the series, but left with a strained bicep in his pitching arm. He did however pick up his first win of the season. He collected six strikeouts in five innings in his first start in five years.

On Saturday, Dana Eveland notched his first win as well. He went seven innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just one run in a match-up against Cleveland ace CC Sabathia. Second basemen Mark Ellis hit his team leading second homerun of the season in the victory

Next up for the A’s are the red hot Blue Jays (4-1). Toronto is coming off a three game sweep of the defending champion Red Sox. The A’s probable starters are Rich Harden (1-0), Justin Duchscherer (1-0), and Dana Eveland (1-0).

While in Toronto, the A’s will get a chance to play against several former A’s. Frank Thomas, Matt Stairs, Marcos Scutaro, and Shannon Stewart are among those now playing for the Jays.