Athletics - 07/04/03
June 04, 2003
::FIC Local Spin::
Why exactly do the A’s hold the best record in the major leagues at 67-39 in inter-league play? Nobody can quite explain it. Most A’s players don’t even try. Some say it’s purely coincidental that the A’s start heating up during inter-league, and not that the A’s just dominate the National League. However, Jermaine Dye offers the explanation that the A’s are “a fastball-hitting team, and you see a lot more of them in the National League. That explains why the games are faster, that and the pitchers hit. I like the NL way more than the AL. It's more baseball, how it should be.”
Especially for American League fans, inter-league play is always intriguing because it means some of the best hitters in the game must take a seat to a bunt-dropping pitcher. Take for example, Edgar Martinez, who is forced to sit out inter-league games in National League parks. This bodes well for the A’s although the Mariners keep winning, because a lot of the Mariners’ offense seems centered around Edgar Martinez. But that doesn’t mean the pitcher is completely harmless at the plate. 1997 SEC Player of the Year and former-Auburn cleanup hitter Tim Hudson declared, “Yeah, I'm going to take. I'm going to take that bat and whip it through the zone a few times until I get a hit." And get a hit he did. With the bases loaded, Tim Hudson pulled his hands in and hit a run-scoring single for the first RBI by an A's pitcher since Kenny Rogers against San Francisco on June 6, 1999.
::Latest Team Info::
Aaron Harang has replaced John Halama as the A’s fifth starter.
Eric Byrnes' 22 game hit streak finally came to an end Tuesday in Florida. His last hit was the leadoff homer in Kansas City – he now has a hitless streak of 12 at bats. He looks like he’s a little too anxious at the plate, and can’t seem to pick up the low breaking ball in the dirt.
Eric Chavez looks like he’s heating back up. He’s had some real quality at-bats against left-handed pitchers on the A’s current road trip, beginning with a homerun in Kansas City. He finally is identifying and laying off the breaking ball on which he struck out frequently in the earlier weeks of the 2003 season.
::Rumor Mill::
Names tossed around in trade possibilities include Carlos Beltran and Shannon Stewart. For the A’s, Terrence Long, Eric Byrnes, and Adam Piatt. One report mentioned Bobby Crosby, but I highly doubt that will happen. Unless Miguel Tejada resigns with the A’s, which looks unlikely, Bobby Crosby is the A’s shortstop of the future.
::On the Farm::
Jason Grabowski, after being sent back down to triple-A, is once again lighting up the minors. He is hitting .363 through 32 games, with 124 at bats.
Jeremy Fikac is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.72 in 9 appearances. In 15.2 Innings of work, he's allowed 9 hits and 3 earned runs. He was sent down to work on control .. he's issued 5 walks and fanned 19. Opponents are hitting .167 against him.
Rich Harden is 5-2 with a 3.63 ERA. In 44.2 IP, he's given up 38 hits and 18 earned runs. He's walked 14 and struck out 44. Opponents are hitting .233 against Harden.
::Quick View::
Deal
~ Eric Byrnes .. if you need help in a non-outfield position, deal him right now. His stock couldn't be higher, as he is just coming off his 22 game hit streak. He's showing signs of falling into a mini-slump, so deal him now. If you can afford to suffer a mini-slump and a dip in numbers and playing time, keep him.
