OOTP2006, trying to get a foothold, the Oakland A's

[BadluckinOOTP]

OOTP2006 is a big huge ****** of a game. I started out doing just historical stuff, so I could get a hang of it, using players that I've heard of. Now, though, I figured it was time to take it to the next level, a fictional league!

A fictional player league, to be more exact. See, it's hard enough for me to get 'involved' in a league with fake players, but its darn near impossible with fake teams.

So, the A's are my favorite team, and I'll start with them!

It's June 29th in the first season of my league, so when I write my 'starting reports' I have some sort of basis to write them off, and not just the expectations of my scouts.

This could be ugly until I get the hang of the game, but we shall see....we shall see.

[BadluckinOOTP]

On June 29th, the Oakland A's are currently 39-40, which puts them in 2nd place, and 5 games behind division leading Texas. We have the 3rd best team OPS in the league, .804, and we don't really have too much of a weak spot in the lineup.

Our pitching...which I'll detail on how bad it is at a later time, is 9th in the AL with a healthy 4.90 ERA. It's rough, and I'm surprised it is that low.

But enough about the team, let's talk about the players, the stars, the people that make you have to remember, there is no I in team.

The catchers!

Meh.

the first baseman!

Just kidding!

Back to the catchers.

Lorenzo Sequeda
24 years old
.237/.326/.379 4 homeruns 19 RBI's

Sequeda has been getting the bulk of the playing time. My scouts tell me he should be a Charles Johnsonesque player, both in the future, and now, since he's very close to maxing out his talents. He hasn't shown it thus far, but my offense is good enough that I can just stick him at the bottom of the order, and see what he's got.

Joe Ramirez
32 years old
.216/.275/.270

I got him off waivers from the Twins a week or so ago, since I needed a AAA catcher, and then soon discovered that he was out of minor league options. So I sent down my backup catcher who has been hitting the **** out of the ball, so he can get more playing time, and let Ramirez take over the backup spot. He has played a total of one game with the A's so far, coming in as a defensive substitute.

Julio Rivera
24 years old
.333/.395/.505 3HR 16RBI
7-16 in AAA

A lefty hitter, righty thrower, with no arm behind the plate, but can really hit...right handed pitchers. Against lefties he was 2-12 in the majors, small sample size, I know, but the AAA manager put him 3rd in AAA on the depth chart against the lefties.

He has power, and some good potential, which he'll probably reach faster in AAA playing full time, than playing twice a week in the majors. But if Ramirez can't hit a little bit, Rivera will go back up.

My other minor league catchers are nothing special.

The best of the bunch being 23-year old Holden Thinnes, who is hitting a combined .292 in A, AA, and AAA this year and 17 year old Utah native Wilbur Allison. Who after the starting catcher in Kane County, the A ball team went down with an injury has taken over to a .288 average, he doesn't have much pop but he could develop some, after all he is only 17.

Apparently, I have two hot catching prospects, that my scouts have with potentials in the low 70's, but their stats aren't showing it, and until they do, I won't talk about them much.

1st baseman's soon.

[BadluckinOOTP]

I finally get to show the good parts of my high powered offense.

Hernandez Garcia
24 years old
.288/.331/.525 13 homeruns 43 RBI's

What's the deal with the rash of 24 year olds on my team? Garcia is basically a cardboard cutout at 1st, he has no range whatsoever. But he gets whats hit to him, and that's good enough for me considering how he's hitting the ball, though he will get a lot of DH time.

Frank MacPhedran
24 years old
.290/.335/.465 7 HR 35RBI's

MacPhedran can hit some too, is a better fielder than Garcia, not by much though however. He literally never bats against lefthanded pitchers, but he hammers righties pretty well.

Roy Hamilton
23! years old
.253./.282/.374

An all around backup that can play every infield position, and starts against lefties at 1st. He's a tremendous defender, despite his nickname of "Boot", I'm a fan of being the GM, and letting the manager do what he wants with the lineup, but if Hamilton continues this, I'll be making some suggestions to the head man.

In the minors, the only guy with a chance of major legue playing time is AAA 1st baseman, 29 year old Cornell Gatling. Who's hitting .270 with little power for the Sacramento club, hopefully we don't have to use him.

I don't see much promise at the 1st base position on the farm, but the AA first baseman, Harry McKeane, a big hulking man at 6'4 has 15 homeruns, but his hitting .236, and never walks, and is already 25.

[BadluckinOOTP]

I have arguably my best all around hitter at the 2nd base position, and he's a good'n.

Erubiel Rivera
22 years old
.347/.441/.465 9 HR, 35 RBI

Yah! Only 22! He's a wizard at 2nd, and is a fantastic hitter. He's a carbon copy of Roberto Alomar, and despite him having below average speed, I force my manager to bat him leadoff. I don't know what else I can say about the guy, but in a couple of years, or whenever it is time for me to pay him a lot of money, I'm sure he'll want 1 billion dollars a year.

He's the only guy that plays mostly 2nd base on the A's, so we'll head down to the farm, and see what we have.

Cesar Damazo, my A ball 2nd baseman, is showing some decent potential with a .265 average, and a .361 on base percentage. He hasn't shown much power...well, any (zero homeruns), but that walk rate is at least something.

Pacorro Malono is in one lever lower A ball, and is hitting .279, and has stolen 17 bases, and only been caught once, he also has no power to speak of, and has yet to hit one homerun. But both he and Damzo are the same age or older than Rivera, so the best chance they have for awhile is to be a backup.

[BadluckinOOTP]

I let the CPU do the draft for me, and they did a fantastic job.

Leopoldo Alona
20 years old
.317/.357/.402
1HR 21RBI's

Yeah. 20 years old. He's my best defensive infielder, and is the perfect 2 hole hitter, well besides the fact that he can't bunt very well. But who the hell needs bunting out of your two hole hitter? He doesn't have much power, but could eventually develop into a 10 homer guy. But he should eventually hit .330 in the majors. He was out for 6 weeks of the season, so his numbers are a bit low.

Bill Applegate
24 years old
.250/.304/.446
8 Homeruns 32 RBI's

Has some pop, which is good for a backup/pinch hitter. Played quite a bit while Alona was out, and plays a lot of Shortstop as well, but is pretty lackluster defensively there, but is decent at 3rd.

Joe Depena
23 years old
2-4 in Oakland
.284/.339/.448 3homeruns in AAA

Was Alona's replacement on the roster when he was injured. He never got much of a chance. Can play all infield positions, and has a shot at being a backup in the future, which he also is in AAA. Well, more of a supersub you could say.

Down on the farm:

The team's best prospect is at 3rd. Farruco Rosas. He already has a killer name, but despite his killer potential, is sucking hard at AAA: .211/.243/.328. He's a good defender, and if he ever lives up to his potential, he could make Alona expandable for a pitcher or something. Rosas might be packing his bags to Double-A Midland before too long, though.

At Single-A Stockton 24-year old Vittorio Toler is off to a good start, .300/.422/.463. And shown a smidgen of power with 6 long balls. Probably won't put the A's jersey on, but just a head's up to all my...readers?

My first overall draft pick, back on June 1st, was third baseman Calvin Allison. The big (6'3) 18 year old, has only 9 at bats for the rookie league team, Phoenix, going 2 for his first 9, but the youngster has Matt Williams kind of potential. Their are rumors of playing him at a different position, either in the outfield or moving him over to shortstop.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Frank Heitman
26 years old
.287/.346/.421

He's the oldest guy in the infield at 26, so he's about ready to start collecting social security. I know I said Alona was my best defender inside of the diamond, but I lied, it's Heitman hands down. He's a tremendous Shorstop, and would be an even better 3rd baseman if it wasn't for Alona, in fact he's made only 4 errors in 255 (hope it doesn't roll over!) chances, for a .984 %, and a RF of 4.79.

He struggles against left handed pitchers, which is why I have the powerful Applegate platooning with him.

Down on the farm:

My shortstop futures, aint's exactly looking especially bright, right now the tops being single A Stockton shortstop, 25 year old Miguel Alaverz, who's at .336/.411/.467, which is real nice, but the guy is 25, he should be doing that stuff.

In the funny name category, I do have South African Yalew Mkufunzi playing short in Rookie ball, but he's hitting .167.

[Sagitta]

Wow. your team is young. Provided they don't all demand insane salaries come negotiation time (have fun with that) you could see the roots of a potential dynasty here.

[BadluckinOOTP]

I don't have any good idea's for the order to do these guys in. I could do positions, but you know, I'm part of the, an outfielder is an outfielder, group. If you can play left, you can play right.

Carl Rondeau
25 years old
.306/.358/.484
8 homeruns 44 RBI's 21 stolen bases

Has played mainly leftfield all season, and played well to boot. Bats 5th in the lineup usually, though has the speed to hit at the top of the lineup, but doesn't draw enough walks for my liking.

Doug Gage
24 years old
.279/.361/.617
25 Homeruns, 77 RBI's 11 stolen bases

In a bit of a slump, (.222 in June), but has kept his power up, and played good defense. The average will probably hover around the .270 range for the rest of his career, but he should be a perennial 40 homerun guy. He really carried the offense in April, when the team was struggling to get runs across.

Shannon Comerford
23 years old
.261/.306/.461
9 Homeruns 34 RBI's 12 stolen bases

A speedster that is showing power that my scouts don't think he has, the power numbers are even more impressive, considering he has just 180 at bats, he's another guy that struggles, and therfore doesn't play against lefties.

Antonio Salavona
25 years old
.197/.260/.273
2 Homeruns 15 RBI's

Started out the season playing a lot, before a promotion in the system, but is still valuable since he plays all defensive positions above average, and has good speed.

John O' Carrol
22 years old
.310/.370/.405 with the A's
.289/.373/.378 in AA Midland

Has taken over Salavona spot has primary outfield backup, and plays against lefties in right field. A singles hitter all the way, could stand to be a tad better in the field, but a .300+ average, doesn't have me complaining.

Down on the Farm:

A 22 year old, R.A. Borner is having a hell of a start in AAA Sacramento: .306/.375/.428. He has good speed, 14 stolen bases, and is a decent outfielder, and could see time should any injuries occur, another guy in the Sacramento outfielder is Dino Galceran, who saw 7 atbats with the big league club this year, and got one hit. Is hitting .298 with 14 steals with AAA, and is hitting leadoff. Patricio Avenado, a 33 year old I grabbed on waivers from the Royals, was having a great year in AAA Omaha, with a .296 average and 10 homeruns. But the moment he put on the Rivercats jersey, he's 2-21.

Chris Staten, a AA outfielder tore through single-A Kane County hitting .425/.535/.637 in 80 at bats, but the 23 year old hit a wall once he got to AA , hitting just .215 in about the same number of atbats.

A 24 year old, Walt Charlwood, is tearing up Rookie League pitching, .462 in 29 atbats, but that's hardly anything to write home about, at 24 years old, except for Mr. Charlwood.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Originally Posted by Sagitta

Wow. your team is young. Provided they don't all demand insane salaries come negotiation time (have fun with that) you could see the roots of a potential dynasty here.

Yeah, I'm in shock! I let the CPU do the draft, since I didn't want to do a 9,000,000 round initial draft.

[BadluckinOOTP]

In the rotation, we have one stud, and a bunch of lames.

Brad O'Mullany
23 years old, left handed
9-3 2.99 ERA 1.15 WHIP 2.89 K/BB

O'Mullany is an improved Jamie Moyer kind of guy, only strikes out a little less than 3 1/2 every 9 innings, but never walks people (1.20 BB/9). With the low K rate, he's probably getting lucky with hit rates so far, so that nice ERA will probably rise soon. But hey, maybe he's just one of those guys.

Cory Olsen
23 years old, right handed
4-1 4.87 ERA 1.55 WHIP 2.55 K/BB
6-4 3.72 ERA in AAA Sacramento

Started out 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA in his first 4 starts with the A's, but has struggled lately. But has been the 2nd best pitcher on the staff thus far.

Don Farleigh
23 years old, right handed
5-6 5.40 ERA 1.47 WHIP 2.9 K/BB

Also started 4-0 with an ERA of an even 3, but has only one on game since then. Is an extreme flyball pitcher (60% of his outs), and has struggled with the long ball lately.

Tim Riley
26 years old, right handed
6-8 4.98 ERA 1.38 WHIP 3.65 K/BB

Has struck out 73 in 108 innings, for the best rate of my starters. Has a homer problem as well, but as been great as of late, 2.35 ERA in June. Hopefully he's turning the corner.

Bob Hough
23 years old..(4 of 5), left handed
4-5 5.74 ERA 1.70 WHIP 1.70 K/BB

The best thing about the guy, is that he's from a town called, De Queen, Arkansas. Struggles with control, and shouldn't since he doesn't have that great of stuff to strike guys out.

Sean West
24 years old, right handed
2-8 7.19 ERA 1.67 WHIP 2.18 K/BB
4-1 2.77 ERA 1.27 WHIP 3.09 K/BB 0 HR in AAA Sacramento

He's been dominant in AAA ball, but going against major league hitters its another story. He's the guy that I sent down, and Olsen replaced. If Hough continues his struggles, West will be back up in no time.

Down on the Farm:

The best AAA starter I have, sans West is Jorge Lirkino, who was injured for some of April and all of May, he has an ERA of 4.21 in 36 innings and has struck out 33, for a good rate. He's just 25, so he has a chance of being a 4th or 5th starter, or being a long man out of the bullpen some day.

I seem to have made an oversight in my farm system, AA pitcher Dave von Knocke owner of a 2.11 in Double-A Midland, had an ERA of under 4 in 10 Triple-A starts, and the was for some reason sent down. Hmm...I'll have to fix that. von Knocke is nothing to get too excited about though, he's 25, and has horrible strikeout rates. But he's a groundball pitcher, and his number are impressive.

Also in Midland is 22 year old Sean Perkins, who is 10-3 for the Rockhounds. The lanky right hander has a bit of a control problem, but has kept it under control with an ERA of 3.27. He should see a promotion to the weak AAA staff soon.

Chris Parker in Single-A Stockton averages a strikeout per inning, and has 3.47 ERA, and has a nasty offspeed pitch.

Flint Gilliam, who is just 17, is currently in Short Season Vancouver, and is, by the scouts, considered the best pitching prospect. The starter is 2-0 in his first two starts of the season, and has an ERA of 3.38. Gilliam, who has the nickname of "Livewire" because of how it seems that he never gets tired in games, with his rubber left handed arm.

Those are the high points of the starting pitching...

[MikeSlugga]

jeez, if not for your pitching staff you'd have a great team.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Orlando Dimenez
26 years old, left handed
3-1 5.98 ERA 1.81 WHIP 1.04 K/BB

A spot starter (one start) and long reliever. A 6'7 lefty that is adept at keeping the ball in the park. Lefties are hitting .267 off of him, compared to .305 against right handed hitters, so maybe he'll find some sort of niche.

Sam Weatherall
21 years old, right handed
1-2 6.26 ERA 1.78 WHIP 1.17 K/BB

A soft tosser to the extreme. Has good endurance for a reliever. Hurt himself in Spring Training, and didn't join the team until Mid-May, and will probably be in AAA before too long.

Cristofor Candeleria
24 years old, left handed
1-2 4.44 ERA 1.32 WHIP 1.30 K/BB

Guys are hitting just .186 against him, but has had bad luck with other pitchers allowing his inherited runners. Another lefty, that has a good slider, and is a neutralizer against left handed hitters.

Joe Espat
27 years old, right handed
2-2 5.25 ERA 1 save, 30 games 1.60 WHIP 4.40 K/BB

The first guy one of my scouts found in another country, Cuba to be exact, was a top closer in Cuba, because of his good offspeed stuff. But has found that in the major league level, doesn't have the velocity on his fastball, to keep hitters honest. He has room to improve, however, so that is promising.

Ray Rigge
31 years old, left handed
1-1 2.25 ERA 1.20 WHIP 1.00 K/BB

Makes the other guys hit the ball, and usually gets them out when they do. My top setup man, that is actually having more success against righties at the moment.

Joshua Pierce
38 years old , right handed
0-1 1.02 ERA 18 saves 0.91 WHIP 3.75 K/BB

With all of my bad pitching, its nice to know that I have a guy that will close the door at the end of the game. Can still hit 93 on the gun, and has a filthy splitter, that falls of the table. His age is a concern, however, and hopefully he doesn't fall apart on me down the stretch.

Has been's:

Troy Blair
21 years old, left handed
1-0 8.22 ERA 1.70 WHIP 1.75 K/BB in Oakland
1-0 1.88 ERA 0.91 WHIP 2.00 K/BB in Sacramento (AAA)

Was just another lefty that was in the bullpen while Weatherall was on the DL, his numbers are inflated from a 1 inning 5 run performance against Cleveland. Besides that he's been decent.

On the farm:

Bill Waller in AAA Sacramento, is a righty that will probably find himself donning the A's jersey soon. With an even 3.00 ERA in 24 innings, and solid strikeout numbers, the 25 year old might be the shot in the arm that we need.

Reilly Bragg in Double-A Midland has been a workhorse, throwing 54 innings out of the pen already, his 2.83 ERA in them has been impressive as well. Not as impressive as Midland's Eric Johnston, closer of the Rockhounds. With 23 saves and an ERA of 1.16, it has A's fans not worrying as much about the soon to be coming retirement of Joshua Pierce. Johnston could find himself setting up for the A's before too long, he's just 22.

Max Proctor, the Kane County closer, is basically fastball, fastball, fastball, hitting 94 on the radar gunner consistently, his 5.31 ERA, and 6 losses is alarming, but his 10.18 K/9, is promising.

So there she is!

My hitting's fantastic.

My pitching's not.

We're only 5 games out, and we have the prospects to trade for some pitching help, will I do it? I'm not for sure yet.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Originally Posted by MikeSlugga

jeez, if not for your pitching staff you'd have a great team.

yeah, the pitching staff is pretty rough, and not much on the horizon in the ways of help, but I have a lot to trade for help.

[BadluckinOOTP]

June 30th vs Diamondbacks (Riley)-A's lose in extras 8-6 in ten innings. Candeleria takes the loss, letting up 3 runs in the top of the tenth, leaving him at 1-3 on the year.

July 1st vs Diamondbacks (Hough)-A's win 2-1, sparked from a great start by Bob Hough, and a 2-3 1 RBI day from Carl Rondeau

July 2nd vs Diamondbacks (Olsen)-A's lose 15-8. Cory Olsen continues to struggle, and mopup man Orlando Dimenez, allows six runs of his own.

July 3rd vs Detroit Tigers (O'Mullany)-A's win 8-3, despite Tigers outhitting A's 14-13.

July 4th vs Detroit Tigers (Farleigh)-A's win 8-6, are back at .500, Doug Gage hits 2 homeruns, his 27th and 28th of the year, Frank Heitman hit a walk off 2 run homerun in the 9th inning, his 6th of the year.

July 5th vs Detroit Tigers (Riley)-A's lose 5-3, allow 3 runs 8th to lose. Riley, for whateve throws a complete game, the Tiger pitcher Mark Deviarto is now 7-0 on the season.

July 6th vs LA Angels (Hough)-A's win 7-2, Hough has another good start. Frank MacPhedran hit his 2nd homerun in as many days, he now has 9 on the season.

July 7th vs LA Angels (Olsen)-A's win 14-3, Olsen seems to return to his early form, 8 innings, 3 runs. Frank MacPhedran went 5-5.

July 8th vs LA Angels (O'Mullany)-A's win 5-2. O'Mullany pitches 8 innings, of 2-hit ball. Pierce blows the save, allowing 2 runs to score in the bottom of the 9th. Backup catcher Joe Ramirez hits a walk off three run homerun to win the game.

A's go 6-3, record at 45-43.


A more indepth look at the week, tomorrow...or today technically.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Catchers:

Lorenzo Sequeda
Last 10 games: 7-28 4 doubles 7 RBI's
Stats through July 9th: .240/.328/.380

Joe Ramirez
Last 10 games: 6-17 3 Doubles 1 HR 3 RBI
Stats through July 9th: .259/.322/.407


Sequeda is showing the gap power that my stats think he has in him, and 7 RBI's is nice. Ramirez got a couple of starts, and really hit the ball well. Including the game winning homerun July 8th against the Angels.

First Basemen:


Hernandez Garcia:
Last 10 games: 12-45 7 RBI's
Stats through July 9th: .286/.336/.514 13 Homeruns

Frank MacPhedran
First 5 games: 0-8
Last 5 games: 12-19 2HR 5RBI's
Stats through July 9th: .311/.353/.502 9 Homeruns

Roy Hamilton
Last 10 games: 1-12
Stats through July 9th:.234/.261/.351

Garcia was average, but MacPhedran's little run at the end of the week, made up for it. And Hamilton was teh suk.

Second Baseman:

Erubiel Rivera
Last 10 games:16-47 1 HR 9RBI
Stats through July 9th: .346/.436/.479

Rivera won American League player of the month, hitting .386 with 6 homeruns. He's okay.

Third Basemen:

Leopoldo Alona
Last 10 games: 16-45 3 RBI's
Stats through July 9th:.315/.357/.389

Bill Applegate
Last 10 games: 5-18 1 RBI
Stats through July 9th: .249/.299/.436

Alona struggled a bit, but he should get back into the swing of things next week. Applegate didn't hit any homeruns, which if he doesn't do he's just about useless as a backup.

Shortstop

Frank Heitman
Last 10 games:12-34 2 HR 6RBI's
Stats through July 9th.291/.341/.447

Heitman showed some pop this week, including a gamewinning homerun. Anything above league average from Heitman is a bonus, and he's really hitting the ball so far.

Outfielders:

Carl Rondeau
Last 10 games:15-40 1 Homerun 7 RBI's
Stats through July 9th.317/.368/.490

Doug Gage
Last 10 games: 11-40 4 Homeruns 11 RBI's
Stats through July 9th: .283/.368/.628

Shannon Comerford
Last 10 games: 11-37 3 Homeruns 8 RBI's
Stats through July 9th: .267/.311/.495

Antonio Salanova
Last 10 games: 4-15
Stats through July 9th: .203/.262/.274

John O' Carrol
Last 10 games: 2-10
Stats through July 9th: .311/.374/.411

All three starting outfielders really hit the ball well, so well in fact that the poor weeks by the backups, O'Carroll and Salanova didn't really matter. Comerford stat's have been climbing steadily lately.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Brad O'Mullany
Last two starts: 2 starts, 1-0 1.76 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 10-3 2.87 ERA

Cory Olsen
Last two starts: 1-1 8.70 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 5-2 5.65

Don Farleigh
Last two starts: 1-0 4.11 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 5-6 5.55 ERA

Tim Riley
Last two starts: 0-1 5.17 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 6-9 5.05 ERA

Bob Hough
Last two starts: 2-0 1.97 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 6-5 5.15 ERA

Besides Olsen the pitching was pretty good. Hough was especially impressive. I'll still be looking to add a arm in the rotation before too long, because I don't think the last two starts Hough had are the real Hough.

Bullpen

Orlando Dimenez
Last 10 games: 4 games, 0-0 7.36 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 3-1 6.35 ERA

Sam Weatherall
Last 10 games: 3 games 0-1 1 save 7.20 ERA
Status up to July 9th: 1-2 5.60 ERA

Cristofor Candeleria
Last 10 games: 4 games 1-1 6.42 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 2-3 5.10

Joe Espat
Last 10 games: 5 games 0-0 2.09 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 2-2 5.01 ERA

Ray Rigge
Last 10 games: 2 games 0-0 0.1 IP 0 Runs
Stats up to July 9th: 1-1 2.21 ERA

Joshua Pierce
Last 10 games: 3 games 1-0 2 saves 6.00 ERA
Stats up to July 9th: 1-1 26 saves 1.83 ERA

The pen was rough. Espat pitched better than he had been, I need to find a way to let Rigge get in more games. Dimenez and probably Weatherall will be in AAA this time next week.

[MikeSlugga]

Originally Posted by BadluckinOOTP

Besides Olsen the pitching was pretty good. Hough was especially impressive. I'll still be looking to add a arm in the rotation before too long, because I don't think the last two starts Hough had are the real Hough.

Well thats a nice thing for a manager to say about one of his pitchers
who is playing well, way to boost his confidence.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Originally Posted by MikeSlugga

Well thats a nice thing for a manager to say about one of his pitchers
who is playing well, way to boost his confidence.

Well, he doesn't know I said that, so I'd appreciate it if YOU wouldn't tell him.

[BadluckinOOTP]

Triple-A Sacramento

Julio Rivera, catcher that was sent down by myself, so he could get regular playing time is continuing to really hit the ball, he's 16-40 a .400 batting average with 3 homeruns and 10 RBI's. Urbano Delpozo, after hitting 12 homeruns in Double-A Midland, is at .296/.387/.333 in his first 27 at bats in AAA. Top Prospect third baseman Farruco Rosas continues his struggles, and is hitting just .120 in July, and just punched his ticket to AA Midland.

Dave von Knocke returned to Sacramento, and the junkballer pitched 8 shutout innings in his lone start. He's due to be sent up to replace Oakland's long reliever Orlando Dimenez in the bullpen. While Sacramento starter Sean West's 2.60 ERA is more impressive, the A's only want to use him in the rotation, and the bullpen is not an option for him. Bill Waller, a right handed reliever for the Rivercats has his ERA down to an even 3.00, and might be a possible replacement for the struggling Weatherall.

Double-A Midland:

22 year old Right Fielder Tito Reza, after an impressive 50 games in Single-A Stockton, where he hit .294/.372/.513 with 8 homeruns, received a promotion to Midland and has started out on fire, .336/.397/.560 and 5 homeruns. Left handed outfielder Chris Staten after setting Single-A Kane County afire, with a .425 average in 80 at bats, has continued his struggles in Midland hitting just .218.

Twelve game winner Sean Perkins came on the losing side of a decision for the first time since May 17th. Perkins, just 22 has an ERA of 3.54, and will probably finish the season in Midland. Jose Centino, a 22 year old left handed reliever, struggled in Stockton has a swing man in the bullpen with an ERA of 5.72, in the need of an arm out of the bullpen, he was sent up to Midland, where he has dominated, as a LOOGY, in 19 innings he has 19 strikeouts, and just 2 walks. Centino relies on an electric slider, and when it is on, it is almost impossible for left handed hitters to pick up on. Closer Eric Johnston's ERA finally dropped to under 1, and is now at 0.99. He's perfect in 26 save opportunities, and is set to be promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento bullpen.

Single-A Stockton

Third Baseman, 24 years old, .305/.429/.468 with 6 homeruns is really hitting the Single-A pitching well, and could possibly see himself in Triple-A Sacramento, with prospect Farruco Rosas finding himself being demoted to Double-A Midland. Switch hitting speedster, centerfielder Zacarias Mirelez is Stockton's new leadoff hitter, after getting promoted from Kane County, after showing a great eye in Kane County with a .253/.385/.397 and 14 steals. Is hitting .289/.356/.513. The 21 year old is showing some promise.

Pat Marcaleno a 24 year old starter for Stockton has good strikeout numbers (104 in 123.1 innings) but has a homerun problem (13), and despite his 3.06 ERA doesn't see much hope for advancement. Stockton's best reliever lefty John Hill has taken on a heavy load lately for the Ports, throwing 47.1 innings for them, with an ERA of 2.64. The 25 year old will be sent up to Midland, and might be a late bloomer, and is also Rule V draft elgible this offseason.

Single-A Kane County

Pat Churchill, the Cougar 1st baseman is leading the team with 12 homeruns and 44 RBI's. The left handed Candadian, is a monster at 6'5, and is only 22. 21 year old outfielder Frank Rayborn is at .307 with 7 homeruns and 36 RBI's. The left hander isn't a very good outfielder, so his future could be as a pinch hitter/DH.

Kane County has a poor pitching staff, and the lone bright spot is reliever Mitch Gavin. The left hander has a 2.73 ERA in 33 innings, and left handed hitters are hitting just .186. He will be promoted to Stockton to take John Hill's spot in the Port bullpen.

Short-Season Vancouver

2nd baseman, 18 year old Mike Vining's first 42 at-bats he hit 4 homeruns. But at the moment Vining is a backup to Gary Nichols, who was a part time player in Kane County, was sent to Vancouver to play full time. and is hitting .333 thus far.

Top prospect Flint Gilliam suffered his first pro loss with a 5 runs in 2.2 inning performance, but he bounced back nicely his next start going 8 strong innings allowing only 2 runs.

Rookie League Phoenix

1st round draft pick 3rd baseman Calvin Allison has struggled initially hitting .206 through his first 34 at bats and has yet to have a extra base hit. 4th round draft pick catcher Aurelio Cadenas has taken over the starting job at catcher, and has not taken very well to the wooden bat, and has just a .138 average.

5th round draft pick Holland's Baltwin van de Haar's first proffesional start was a memorable one, he threw a complete game 5 hitter allowing just one run. van de Haar throws an unorthodox screwball, and has very good control, which should serve the 19 year old well in the low minors.

[BadluckinOOTP]

July 9th vs LA Angels (Farleigh)-A's lose 7-3, Farleigh falls apart in the 6th and 7th, and allows back-to-back homeruns in the 7th.

July 10th Offday

July 11th (Allstar game) NL beats AL 4-1. The A's have two representatives, Brad O'Mullany and Erubiel Rivera. Only Rivera plays, as the starting 2nd baseman, and goes 0-3.

July 12th Offday

July 13th @ Boston (39-50) (O'Mullany)-A's lose 6-1, we make 3 errors, and can't come up with any big hits.

July 14th @ Boston (40-50) (Olsen)-A's lose 7-5, Rigge and Weatherall allow 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th, to surrender the lead.

July 15th @ Boston (41-50) (Riley)-A's lose 4-3, A's comeback from 4 down, but can't finish the effort.

July 16th @ Boston (42-50) (Hough)-A's win 7-2, catcher Lorenzo Sequeda hits a 2-run homerun, to fuel the victory, and Bob Hough pitches another solid game.

July 17th @ Baltimore (42-53) (Farleigh)-A's win 12-2, Farleigh throws a complete game, Gage hits a homerun, (29), and Comerford goes 5-5.

July 18th @ Baltimore (42-54) (O'Mullany)-A's win 5-1, Doug Gage hits a 2-out grand slam in the 3rd, to put the A's up for good, and O'Mullany gets his 11th win.

July 19th @ Baltimore (42-55) (Olsen)-A's lose 9-4, Olsen lets up 3 homeruns, von Knocke allows 3 runs in 3.2 innings, in his major league debut, coming in in relief.

July 20th OFFDAY

July 21st @ Detroit Tigers (58-38) (Riley)-A's lose 7-6 in 12 innings. Candeleria allows the run, that gives the Tigers the win.

July 22nd @ Detroit (59-38) (Hough)-A's win 4-2, Hough wins yet another game, going 7 innings, allowing 1 earned run.

July 23rd @ Detroit (59-39) (O'Mullany)-A's win 3-0, O'Mullany pitches 8 innings of shutout baseball, Carl Rondeau hits a homerun.

July 24th vs Boston (44-55) (Olsen)-A's lose 19-15. Olsen allows 9 runs, in only one inning pitched, and the Red Soxs hit 4 homeruns on the day.

TRADE ALERT! Which I'll detail next post.