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OAKLAND ( KAZMIR )
MINNESOTA ( GIBSON ) |
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| 921 | OAKLAND | -120 | Ov 8,+100 | -135 | Ov 8,+100 | | 922 | MINNESOTA | +110 | Un 8,-120 | +125 | Un 8,-120 |
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| All Games | 12-16 | -6.8 | 20-7 | 5.0 | 0.267 | 0.323 | 0.406 | 0.730 | 4.4 | 0.235 | 0.298 | 0.363 | 0.662 | | Road Games | 8-7 | +1 | 8-6 | 4.7 | 0.268 | 0.321 | 0.418 | 0.739 | 4.1 | 0.245 | 0.314 | 0.385 | 0.699 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 11-12 | -3.1 | 16-6 | 5.2 | 0.270 | 0.323 | 0.421 | 0.744 | 4.1 | 0.230 | 0.292 | 0.360 | 0.652 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.6 | 5-1 | 5.4 | 0.272 | 0.327 | 0.413 | 0.741 | 5.0 | 0.269 | 0.340 | 0.417 | 0.757 | | Grass Games | 12-16 | -6.8 | 20-7 | 5.0 | 0.267 | 0.323 | 0.406 | 0.730 | 4.4 | 0.235 | 0.298 | 0.363 | 0.662 | | Night Games | 11-8 | +2.2 | 14-5 | 5.5 | 0.274 | 0.321 | 0.433 | 0.754 | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.292 | 0.345 | 0.637 |
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| All Games | 5.0 | 0.267 | 0.323 | 28 | 989 | 264 | 49 | 7 | 25 | 0.406 | 133 | 82 | 175 | 15 | 188 | 29 | 24 | 23 | 15 | | Road Games | 4.7 | 0.268 | 0.321 | 15 | 526 | 141 | 23 | 1 | 18 | 0.418 | 67 | 41 | 99 | 13 | 101 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 7 | | Righty Starters | 5.2 | 0.270 | 0.323 | 23 | 807 | 218 | 41 | 6 | 23 | 0.421 | 113 | 63 | 142 | 13 | 148 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 13 |
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| All Games | 4.83 | 1.366 | 85.7 | 50 | 46 | 81 | 11 | 36 | 83 | 2-8 | 4 | 5 | 44.4% | | Road Games | 5.27 | 1.453 | 42.7 | 26 | 25 | 43 | 5 | 19 | 44 | 2-3 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% |
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| All Games | 14-13 | +3.6 | 12-13 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.308 | 0.364 | 0.672 | 4.3 | 0.269 | 0.321 | 0.420 | 0.741 | | Home Games | 10-5 | +6.4 | 7-7 | 5.3 | 0.291 | 0.330 | 0.434 | 0.764 | 4.0 | 0.272 | 0.317 | 0.394 | 0.711 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 7-5 | +3.2 | 8-3 | 5.6 | 0.283 | 0.332 | 0.403 | 0.735 | 4.3 | 0.272 | 0.327 | 0.424 | 0.751 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +3.3 | 4-3 | 6.7 | 0.324 | 0.357 | 0.476 | 0.833 | 3.9 | 0.299 | 0.328 | 0.418 | 0.747 | | Grass Games | 14-13 | +3.6 | 12-13 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.308 | 0.364 | 0.672 | 4.3 | 0.269 | 0.321 | 0.420 | 0.741 | | Night Games | 8-5 | +5.2 | 5-7 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.299 | 0.328 | 0.627 | 3.2 | 0.248 | 0.299 | 0.376 | 0.675 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.308 | 27 | 923 | 237 | 42 | 3 | 17 | 0.364 | 107 | 68 | 212 | 8 | 184 | 22 | 18 | 30 | 18 | | Home Games | 5.3 | 0.291 | 0.330 | 15 | 512 | 149 | 26 | 1 | 15 | 0.434 | 76 | 30 | 114 | 4 | 95 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 6 | | Lefty Starters | 5.6 | 0.283 | 0.332 | 12 | 427 | 121 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 0.403 | 64 | 31 | 84 | 2 | 85 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 10 |
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| All Games | 3.62 | 1.207 | 87 | 39 | 35 | 84 | 8 | 21 | 49 | 4-3 | 10 | 2 | 83.3% | | Home Games | 3.10 | 1.127 | 52.3 | 21 | 18 | 46 | 6 | 13 | 32 | 2-1 | 6 | 1 | 85.7% |
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| 4/22/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 9-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | O | 18 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ LA ANGELS | TROPEANO(R) | 0-2 | L | 105 | 8 un | U | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 4-5 | L | -130 | 7 un | O | 8 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | GRAVEMAN(R) | HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 3-9 | L | -110 | 8.5 un | O | 6 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | HOUSTON | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | 6-7 | L | -160 | 8 un | O | 7 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | GRAY(R) | LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 6-2 | W | -145 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | | 4/29/2015 | HAHN(R) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 3-6 | L | -110 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | | 4/30/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 5-6 | L | -125 | 7.5 ov | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 1 | | 5/1/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 7-5 | W | -145 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 5/2/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 7-8 | L | -125 | 8.5 ev | O | 12 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 2 | | 5/3/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 7-1 | W | -115 | 8 ov | P | 10 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 1 | | 5/4/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 7-8 | L | 100 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 0 | | 5/5/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 2-1 | W | -115 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | | 5/6/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 5/7/2015 | POMERANZ(L) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | | | 5/8/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | | | 5/9/2015 | HAHN(R) | @ SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | | | 5/10/2015 | CHAVEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 5/11/2015 | KAZMIR(L) | BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | | | 5/12/2015 | | BOSTON | | | | 5/13/2015 | | BOSTON | | |
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| 4/22/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 3-0 | W | 135 | 8.5 un | U | 10 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 4/24/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 0-2 | L | 185 | 6.5 ev | U | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 4/25/2015 | MAY(R) | @ SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | 8-5 | W | 140 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | | 4/26/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | 4-2 | W | 135 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 4/27/2015 | MILONE(L) | DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 4-5 | L | +145 | 7.5 ov | O | 9 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | PELFREY(R) | DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 3-2 | W | +125 | 9 un | U | 10 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | | 4/29/2015 | HUGHES(R) | DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 7-10 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 1 | | 4/30/2015 | MAY(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 12-2 | W | +135 | 7 ov | O | 13 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 2 | | 5/1/2015 | GIBSON(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | 1-0 | W | +100 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 5/2/2015 | NOLASCO(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | 5-3 | W | -115 | 9.5 ov | U | 11 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 0 | | 5/3/2015 | PELFREY(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 13-3 | W | -120 | 10 ev | O | 19 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 4 | | 5/4/2015 | HUGHES(R) | OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 8-7 | W | -110 | 8 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 1 | | 5/5/2015 | MAY(R) | OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | 1-2 | L | +105 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 5/6/2015 | GIBSON(R) | OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | | | 5/7/2015 | NOLASCO(R) | OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | | | 5/8/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | | | 5/9/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CLEVELAND | | | | 5/10/2015 | MAY(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | | 5/12/2015 | | @ DETROIT | | | | 5/13/2015 | | @ DETROIT | | |
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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. | | MINNESOTA: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Paul Molitor was hired as Minnesota's new manager, bringing Hall of Fame membership and renowned intelligence and intuition to a team seeking a fresh start.
The Twins brought back one of their most popular players ever, Torii Hunter, to help solidify an unsettled outfield, mentor a fledgling team and hit a few home runs. They have collected plenty of promising young hitters, either slated for the opening day lineup or waiting in the minor league wings.
None of that will matter much if the starting pitching continues to wobble the way it has the last four seasons.
Phil Hughes had by most measures a career year, his first away from the New York Yankees, but his ability to match that is low on the list of 2015 goals. Ricky Nolasco needs to rebound from a terrible first season with the Twins. Ervin Santana must show he's worth that $55 million, four-year contract. Kyle Gibson has to reduce the times (five of 31 starts in 2014) he goes three innings or less and gives up six runs or more. The fifth spot winner, Trevor May, Tommy Milone or Mike Pelfrey, needs to keep it.
''We'd put up a couple good starts and somebody would get hurt or we'd take a step backward,'' said Hughes, whose 2014 season has been one of the few true success stories of the rotation since it unraveled in 2011. ''Every good team I've been on, it seems like the rotation gets on a roll.''
New pitching coach Neil Allen will have more impact on the staff than Molitor, but after 13 years under manager Ron Gardenhire the clubhouse has been naturally buzzing with excitement about the new boss.
''He's one of the smartest baseball people I've ever been around,'' first baseman Joe Mauer said.
As for Hunter? His presence was desired for more energy and stronger camaraderie.
''If there's no tension between players and you're comfortable with everyone, you're going to play better,'' closer Glen Perkins said. ''So that's chemistry, I guess. I think we've held it together as much as we can, as much as we've struggled.''
Here are some key angles to know about the Twins in 2015:
MAUER IMPROVEMENT
Mauer, soon to turn 32, will make $23 million each of the next four years. Injuries have limited him to an average of 116 games from 2011-14. His batting average hit a career-low .277 last season, and he had a career-most 96 strikeouts despite time lost to an oblique muscle injury.
The Twins haven't lost faith in their franchise player, the homegrown guy who was the first overall draft pick in 2001. Playing for Molitor, whom he grew up admiring as an alumnus of the same St. Paul high school, ought to help.
''He's healthy. I think he's anxious to prove that last year was just an aberration,'' general manager Terry Ryan said.
LINEUP FLEXIBILITY
Molitor has been touting his options at the top and in the middle of the order, with a team that quietly scored the third-most runs in the majors after the All-Star break last year and added an accomplished hitter in Hunter.
One decision is whether to bat Mauer third, where he was most of his career until Gardenhire began to bat him second often over the last two seasons.
With Hunter, Kennys Vargas, Trevor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia, Molitor has power to play with in the heart of the order. The downsides are Arcia's inconsistency, leadoff man Danny Santana being the only player with a 2014 average above .290 and an unsettled situation in center field.
''It's a small sample, our track record from last year, but it's something you can use as a foundation to see potentially how your offense can work. We're going to have depth, I think, all the way down to the bottom,'' Molitor said.
BULLPEN SHUFFLE
The Twins could return as few as three relievers to their roles from last season: Perkins, Casey Fien and Brian Duensing. Blaine Boyer and Tim Stauffer, from San Diego, were signed. At least one of the losers in the fifth starter competition was headed for the seven-man bullpen. Rule 5 draft pick J.R. Graham, who must be returned to Atlanta if he's not on the 25-man roster, has been pushing for a spot, too.
Reliever use will be one area in which Molitor's strategy could differ from that of Gardenhire.
''I want to get them out of a one-inning mentality. Not that they all have it, or don't want to pitch more. But we've talked a lot about some of those guys, trying to get two innings out of them here, if we can,'' Molitor said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (OAKLAND-MINNESOTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Athletics-Twins Preview* =========================
By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer
Oakland (11-16) at Minnesota (14-12), 8:10 p.m. EDT
The Oakland Athletics cooled off the Minnesota Twins' surging offense behind a dominant pitching performance in the middle game of this four-game series.
Scott Kazmir looks capable of keeping the Twins in check, though his teammates will have to help end his hard luck in order for the Athletics to win back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks.
Kazmir takes the mound Wednesday night at Target Field, where the improved Kyle Gibson continues to shine.
The Athletics (12-16) had scored exactly seven runs in four straight games, losing Monday's series opener 8-7. Though their lineup was quiet Tuesday with Josh Reddick's hitting streak snapped at 12 games, Jesse Chavez limited the Twins to an unearned run over 7 1-3 innings as the A's won 2-1.
Minnesota (14-13) had hit .350 while averaging 7.8 runs during a five-game winning streak. The Twins moved the tying run to third base with one out in the eighth but Torii Hunter struck out before a Joe Mauer flyout. Kennys Vargas was 0 for 4 after four multihit efforts in five games.
"We had been rolling pretty good offensively. I don't know if he took it personally or what, but he went out there and threw a lot of fastballs," manager Paul Molitor said of Chavez. "Had good command, had it moving in both directions."
Kazmir (2-0, 1.62 ERA) continues to impress, though the offense hasn't shown up behind him recently. He's winless in his last three starts, getting two runs of support over 20 1-3 innings. Oakland didn't back him with any runs before he exited after allowing three runs in six innings of Friday's 7-5 victory at Texas.
The left-hander has received plenty of run support in the past against Minnesota, however. He's 7-1 with a 3.06 ERA in his last 10 meetings while being backed by an average of 6.13 runs. The A's supplied him with 14 runs over 12 2-3 innings in two victories last year.
Gibson (2-2, 3.56) owns a 2.03 ERA since giving up six runs in his first start at Detroit. After an erratic first two seasons with a 15-16 record and 4.92 ERA, the 2009 first-round pick might finally be proving his worth as a late bloomer.
The 27-year-old right-hander enjoyed one of the best outings of his career Friday, yielding four hits over eight innings in a 1-0 victory against the Chicago White Sox.
"There's times where when I execute I'm pretty confident," he said.
Gibson is 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA over his last four home starts dating to last season, though he's never faced the A's there. He dropped his only outing in Oakland on Aug. 8 after allowing six runs, five hits and five walks over five-plus innings.
Recent callup Billy Burns continued to be a spark at the top of the Oakland lineup, going 2 for 5 on Tuesday to improve to 7 for 19 in four games. He might be out of a roster spot Wednesday, though, with fellow center fielder Coco Crisp expected to make his season debut after undergoing elbow surgery last month. Crisp hit .246 and stole 19 bases in 126 games last year.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 9:15:31 PM EST. |
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