Новости за 08.04.2019

3 Bright spots as Oakland A’s are swept on road by Astros

That was a rough series in Houston. The Oakland A’s got swept in three games, and it showed. The once-hot rotation teamed up to allow 13 runs in 11⅔ innings, the lineup managed just two runs in the first two games combined, Lou Trivino allowed a crucial homer to a No. 9 hitter, and Blake Treinen blew a save in the finale and then walked in the walk-off run. Even though two of the losses were by only one run, it still felt like the A’s were thoroughly beaten. Читать дальше...

The recent, and somewhat surprising, acquisition of Kendrys Morales for Jesus Lopez and $1 million in international bonus money offers a convenient segue into looking at Oakland’s international spending during the 2018/2019 signing period. This period runs from July 2, 2018 through mid-June, 2019; during which time teams are allowed to sign any number of international prospects so long as the combined total of their signing bonuses does not exceed the MLB decreed team hard caps. Oakland was given... Читать дальше...

Well, whenever ESPN gets around to updating their rankings, I'll update what I have here. Many of the rankings below came out during the week and do not reflect the Astros series.

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: Houston sweeps A’s when Blake Treinen falters in ninth...
• McWilliams: Minute Maid Park is where it began for Ramón Laureano and also where he learned to survive... ($)
• Slusser: Switch-hitting Robbie Grossman working to get going...
• Gallegos: A’s give Jurickson Profar day off as he seeks to end bad slump...
• Simon: Rodney closing in on ... Cy Young?
• Athletics Farm: A’s release righty Parker Bridwell...

Best of AN:

• Baker-Gillman... Читать дальше...

The Orioles were doing well there, for a while. The team went from zeroes to heroes unexpectedly the same year the A’s did, in 2012, and were continual threats to make the postseason for years. Unlike the A’s, the Orioles actually managed to make it passed the Division Series, advancing to the Championship Series in 2014 before getting swept by the Royals, who wound up going to their first of two consecutive World Series that year. The team was built on offense and a good bullpen, and for a while the Orioles’ success seemed indefinite... Читать дальше...

Fans still love the team’s long-time skipper.

Welcome to SB Nation FanPulse, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send 30 polls to plugged in fans from each team. A’s fans, click HERE to learn more and join FanPulse.

A’s fans were asked last week if they approve of the job manager Bob Melvin is doing in Oakland, and the result was a resounding yes!

Fans were asked the same question about Melvin ahead of Opening Day as well, and the results then were a unanimous yes. Читать дальше...

Link to Game Thread 1

Link to Game Thread 2

“He was never without misery, and never without hope.” - Catch 22

This was quintessentially the most interesting, exciting, and harrowing game of the A’s season so far. The first two innings took nearly an hour and a half to complete, with twists and turns coming at every nook and cranny, literally. The Astros recorded seven walks and five infield singles. The strike zone, to put it lightly, was “quirky.” By the time the final out was recorded... Читать дальше...