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OAKLAND ( KAZMIR )
KANSAS CITY ( DUFFY ) |
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| 973 | OAKLAND | -105 | Ov 8,-115 | -115 | Ov 8,+110 | | 974 | KANSAS CITY | -105 | Un 8,-105 | +105 | Un 8,-130 |
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| All Games | 6-6 | -1.6 | 8-4 | 5.4 | 0.281 | 0.331 | 0.440 | 0.771 | 3.2 | 0.217 | 0.265 | 0.345 | 0.610 | | Road Games | 3-2 | +1 | 2-3 | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.287 | 0.441 | 0.728 | 2.6 | 0.265 | 0.320 | 0.401 | 0.721 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 1-1 | -0.4 | 2-0 | 7.0 | 0.321 | 0.368 | 0.420 | 0.788 | 2.5 | 0.181 | 0.234 | 0.292 | 0.525 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.4 | 4-3 | 4.7 | 0.273 | 0.313 | 0.435 | 0.748 | 3.7 | 0.249 | 0.304 | 0.398 | 0.702 | | Grass Games | 6-6 | -1.6 | 8-4 | 5.4 | 0.281 | 0.331 | 0.440 | 0.771 | 3.2 | 0.217 | 0.265 | 0.345 | 0.610 | | Day Games | 0-3 | -4 | 3-0 | 4.0 | 0.281 | 0.339 | 0.368 | 0.707 | 7.7 | 0.248 | 0.296 | 0.479 | 0.775 |
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| All Games | 5.4 | 0.281 | 0.331 | 12 | 430 | 121 | 28 | 5 | 10 | 0.440 | 61 | 32 | 77 | 4 | 81 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 3 | | Road Games | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.287 | 5 | 170 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 0.441 | 22 | 8 | 34 | 4 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 | | Lefty Starters | 7.0 | 0.321 | 0.368 | 2 | 81 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0.420 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
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| All Games | 2.92 | 1.135 | 37 | 13 | 12 | 33 | 7 | 9 | 39 | 0-3 | 1 | 1 | 50% | | Road Games | 2.35 | 1.239 | 15.3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
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| All Games | 8-3 | +4.9 | 7-4 | 5.8 | 0.317 | 0.361 | 0.476 | 0.837 | 3.5 | 0.226 | 0.262 | 0.386 | 0.647 | | Home Games | 4-1 | +2.8 | 3-2 | 5.4 | 0.335 | 0.379 | 0.506 | 0.885 | 3.2 | 0.220 | 0.253 | 0.390 | 0.643 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 4-1 | +3.1 | 3-2 | 5.8 | 0.304 | 0.344 | 0.497 | 0.841 | 3.6 | 0.244 | 0.279 | 0.396 | 0.675 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.7 | 5-2 | 5.6 | 0.315 | 0.356 | 0.449 | 0.804 | 4.1 | 0.236 | 0.274 | 0.409 | 0.683 | | Grass Games | 8-3 | +4.9 | 7-4 | 5.8 | 0.317 | 0.361 | 0.476 | 0.837 | 3.5 | 0.226 | 0.262 | 0.386 | 0.647 | | Day Games | 4-1 | +2.9 | 4-1 | 8.0 | 0.320 | 0.376 | 0.536 | 0.912 | 3.0 | 0.224 | 0.267 | 0.372 | 0.638 |
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| All Games | 5.8 | 0.317 | 0.361 | 11 | 391 | 124 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 0.476 | 61 | 27 | 57 | 9 | 91 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 2 | | Home Games | 5.4 | 0.335 | 0.379 | 5 | 170 | 57 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 0.506 | 26 | 12 | 21 | 7 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 2 | | Lefty Starters | 5.8 | 0.304 | 0.344 | 5 | 181 | 55 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 0.497 | 29 | 11 | 25 | 5 | 45 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
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| All Games | 0.82 | 0.667 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 2-0 | 5 | 1 | 83.3% | | Home Games | 0.00 | 0.660 | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 2-0 | 3 | 1 | 75% |
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| 4/6/2015 | GRAY(R) | TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 8-0 | W | -155 | 7 ov | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | 4/7/2015 | HAHN(R) | TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 1-3 | L | -160 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | | 4/8/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | TEXAS | DETWILER(L) | 10-0 | W | -155 | 7 un | O | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | 4/9/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 1-10 | L | -155 | 7.5 ev | O | 6 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 0 | | 4/10/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 12-0 | W | -105 | 7 un | O | 16 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 4/11/2015 | GRAY(R) | SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 4-5 | L | -140 | 7 ov | O | 12 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | HAHN(R) | SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 7-8 | L | +125 | 6.5 ov | O | 14 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 8-1 | W | -115 | 8.5 ev | O | 12 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | | 4/14/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ HOUSTON | PEACOCK(R) | 4-0 | W | 100 | 9 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | 1-6 | L | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 4-6 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 5-0 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 4/20/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | @ LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | | | 4/21/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | | | 4/22/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | | | 4/23/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | | | 4/24/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | | | 4/25/2015 | | HOUSTON | | | | 4/26/2015 | | HOUSTON | | |
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| 4/6/2015 | VENTURA(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 10-1 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 4/8/2015 | DUFFY(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | 7-5 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | | 4/9/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 4-1 | W | -135 | 8.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 4/10/2015 | VARGAS(L) | @ LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 4-2 | W | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 2 | | 4/11/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 6-4 | W | 120 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 9-2 | W | 105 | 7 un | O | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 12-3 | W | -130 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | | 4/15/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 1-3 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 4/16/2015 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 5-8 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 2 | | 4/17/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 6-4 | W | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 15 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | VENTURA(R) | OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 0-5 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | DUFFY(L) | OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | | | 4/20/2015 | VOLQUEZ(R) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 4/21/2015 | VARGAS(L) | MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | | | 4/22/2015 | GUTHRIE(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | | | 4/23/2015 | VENTURA(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | | | 4/24/2015 | DUFFY(L) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | | | 4/25/2015 | | @ CHI WHITE SOX | | | | 4/26/2015 | | @ CHI WHITE SOX | | |
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| |  | OAKLAND: OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics topped even their most trade-happy of days by making nine swaps involving 27 players in a wild offseason for Billy Beane and his front-office mates.
As far as Beane is concerned, the A's wouldn't have even had a chance to close the gap on the reigning AL West champion Los Angeles Angels without a major offseason overhaul.
Even if that meant shipping out a trio of All-Stars in third baseman Josh Donaldson, first baseman Brandon Moss and catcher Derek Norris.
''Our expectations don't change, not with the guys we brought in,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ''You look at it early on and you're thinking, `What are we doing here?' Then we see the last few moves ... and it all came together at the end as far as what this team would look like going into spring. ... We feel real good about this group.''
There were so many changes that Melvin had to search for names on the backs of jerseys during February's FanFest.
Billy Butler is the new designated hitter, and two-time All-Star infielder Ben Zobrist can play just about anywhere for Melvin, who is always one to mix and match his lineups based on matchups and who's playing well. Ike Davis came in a November trade from the Pirates to play first base, while third baseman Brett Lawrie came from the Blue Jays in the swap that sent Donaldson to Toronto.
''It's unique. I don't think many teams have taken turnover like this,'' reliever Dan Otero said. ''Who are we to judge? Everybody's here for a reason, so it's going to be great.''
Still, all the change took some getting used to this spring for an Oakland clubhouse known for its easygoing nature.
You first must know your teammates' names.
''Team chemistry's a little funky. You have to spend time with people and get to know people for team chemistry to fully come,'' center fielder Coco Crisp said. ''You can't expect it just to happen. We'll be fine. We have a good group of core guys, guys that talk and mingle.''
Here are some things to know as the A's chase a fourth straight playoff berth:
BUTLER'S BIG MOVE: Butler makes the first move of his career and is coming off a down season with the Royals, who lost in a seven-game World Series to San Francisco. He batted .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBIs in 151 games last year, 108 of those as a DH. ''Everybody's awesome to be around,'' Butler said. ''I couldn't be happier to get ready for another year with them. There are a lot of talented major league guys in this room.''
FILLING THE VOIDS: Lawrie batted .247 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 70 games for Toronto last season and takes pride in his defense to back up a talented rotation led by Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. ''We have a lot of ability out there and that's a plus for the pitching staff,'' Lawrie said. ''All they have to do is take care of business.''
GRIFFIN AND PARKER: Both right-handers are recovering from elbow ligament reconstructive surgery that sidelined them all of 2014. Parker hopes to return shortly after the season begins, while June has long been the target goal for these two. ''There's no reason to start ripping the slider,'' Parker said. ''I'm going to focus on command.''
SPEEDY OUTFIELD: Despite the losses around the diamond, Melvin likes the look of his speedy outfield with Crisp, Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry. ''They can cover a lot of ground,'' Melvin said. ''In the case of Gentry and Fuld, they throw very well, too. Especially in our outfield at home, the field can play big and you need to cover a lot of ground out there. It's a comfort to have, and I know our pitchers feel good about it, too, that on a cold night in Oakland, you can stay. It's tough to go opposite field and know that when a ball's hit in the air and stays in the ballpark it's probably going to get caught.''
ZITO'S COMEBACK: Back in his original uniform two years removed from the end of a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco, lefty Barry Zito looks to be a factor for the A's out of the bullpen - or even to start when needed. After a year off, Zito arrived in Arizona motivated to show he could still pitch at the highest level. | | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions? |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (OAKLAND-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Athletics-Royals Preview* ==========================
By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer
Oakland (5-6) at Kansas City (8-2), 2:10 p.m. EDT
The Oakland Athletics handed Kansas City its first home defeat, subduing the Royals' scorching offense.
Tempers might not be as easily suppressed in Sunday's finale, though, after the contentious events of the series' first two games.
Josh Reddick powered a five-run fourth with a three-run shot in Oakland's 5-0 win Saturday. Royals hurler Yordano Ventura plunked Brett Lawrie in the ensuing at-bat, spurring an ejection for Ventura and the emptying of benches, though no punches were thrown.
Ventura was apparently retaliating for Lawrie's hard slide into Alcides Escobar at second base Friday, which left Escobar with a sprained left knee. He was held out Saturday as a precaution.
"We knew it was coming," Reddick said of the bean ball. "It's bush league. There's no need for it."
Whether any bad blood spills over once more remains to be seen. The Royals (8-3) will try to bounce back after totaling a season-low seven hits in what was already the fifth shutout by Oakland (6-6). Kansas City had a season-best 15 hits in Friday's 6-4 victory.
Scheduled starter Scott Kazmir (2-0, 0.69) looks capable of posting more zeroes as the A's try to become the first team in major league history to notch six shutouts in the first 13 games of a season. He's off to an impressive start, striking out 18 in 13 innings while giving up four hits and one run, which came on a solo homer in an 8-1 victory at Houston on Monday.
Kazmir also won his first two starts in 2014 and 2009, but has never won his first three.
The left-hander will try to overcome a poor track record against the Royals, against whom he's 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA in 17 outings. He's lost each of the last four matchups, and while he also has dropped four straight matchups with the Los Angeles Angels, he's never lost five in a row to any opponent.
Kazmir's only win in Kansas City was a 7-2 victory on June 2, 2010, with the Angels.
For all his struggles versus the Royals, he has dominated Alex Gordon, who is 6 for 31 with 10 strikeouts.
Gordon is 5 for 11 in his last three games after a 1-for-16 start.
While Kazmir has had a tough time against Kansas City, Royals starter Danny Duffy (1-0, 6.35) won all three of his previous starts versus Oakland while posting a 2.45 ERA. He allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 12-3 victory at Minnesota on Monday.
Duffy will have to contend with the hot bat of former Royal Billy Butler, whose 12-game hitting streak is the longest by a player to begin their tenure with the Athletics.
Kansas City placed All-Star closer Greg Holland on the disabled list Saturday with a strained pectoral muscle. Though the Royals didn't encounter a save opportunity, manager Ned Yost said Wade Davis would serve as closer with Holland sidelined, while Kelvin Herrera is a potential backup option.
Holland, who had four saves, hadn't surrendered a hit over four shutout innings. Davis already has one save and hasn't allowed a run in five appearances, while Herrera has tossed four scoreless innings as well.
"We've got three guys on this club that can close for any team," Yost said. "We've got enough candidates in house to be able to handle it."
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 12:08:36 AM EST. |
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