A week in New York? Not bad a deal for the green and the gold. After kicking it around The Bronx for three games, a quick trip on the Metro brings them to Citi Field for another trio. This time against the Metropolitans who enter the series at 7-6.
Clay Holmes is the starting foe and he’s been on a roll. Two starts, two wins, and only two runs given up. His last start was a seven inning shutout against the Giants. Which I guess isn’t much of an accomplishment, given how poorly the Giants have swung
the bat through the first two weeks.
Not like the A’s been much better though, but there’s reasons to be optimistic. After all, they’re coming off their first series win in Yankee stadium in ten years and apparently the first 1-0 victory over the evil empire since 1979!
I hope JT Ginn spent some quality time with Jeffrey Springs today. He could benefit from wielding some of the same magic that led Jeffrey Springs to a one-hit shove piece yesterday afternoon. What a way to show for your squad! I mean, this bullpen has been TAXED over the fast five days or so. Really since the last time Jeffrey took the ball in West Sacramento last Friday.
That’s not to say there haven’t been some quality starting performances in that stretch. Aaron Civale held down the fort on Tuesday. Aside form Sevy’s first inning, he too tossed the rock with a little kick.
They just weren’t at the level in which Springs was operating. Because now, not only are the A’s coming in with limited travel, they’re also showing up with hot arms. And everyone knows that a mediocre arm is at its best when it’s hot.
Just ask Scott Barlow.
On the offensive side, we’re working with a Rooker-less starting nine. Just a couple of hour ago, the A’s announced they were moving B-Rook to the ten-day, in response to his to awkward swing that took him out of the game’s first inning yesterday. Called up in his place and immediately dropped on the bench is Zack Gelof. Gelof has been on an absolute tear to start the season down in AAA.
Look at this pimp job from April 3rd.
Don’t let the Las Vegas heat fool you into thinking he’ll be doing anything like that this weekend. I’d be shocked if he gets anything more than a pinch hit or defensive replacement. This is Jeff McNeil’s weekend. His first time playing against his former team, for who he was at one point the longest tenured player.
There’s got to be a little pep in McNeil’s step ahead of his first go around against the Mets. They did, in a way, sort’ve give up on their former batting champion. Shipping him away to A’s in exchange for computer generated reliever. It had been a terribly unproductive season so far McNeil, before his mild hit parade against the Yankees in game one and two.
Here’s how the rest of the lineup shapes up around McNeil’s homecoming…
Carlos Cortes slots into Brent Rooker’s usual spot as designated hitter. Nick Kurtz is also FINALLY not hitting leadoff against a right handed pitcher. Now I know I went into the season saying how I was into it, but it has just not been effective. He’s also striking out at an Adam Dunn-esque clip and who in their right mind puts their biggest strikeout hitter in the lead-off spot?
…Lawrence Butler is a guess a better option?
MARK KOTSAY PLEASE READ THE ATHLETICS NATION COMMENT SECTION FROM TIME TO TIME
WE REALLY JUST WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TEAM
JT Ginn’s first start this season happens to be against the team that drafted him. The team the A’s acquired him from for Chris Bassitt. I happen to love when it happens like this and I’m confident that Ginn is going to be pitching with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’ll need it against a Mets offense that has some generational hitters sprinkled throughout it.
Oh how I’ve missed Marcus Semien. Even though he’ll never be remembered as an Oakland A I will always say his name with pride. I remember the days where he was the worst defensive shortstop in baseball. Back in the day when he could only hit twenty home runs a season and literally nothing else. I hope he hasn’t forgotten about those days either. He should’ve been this generation’s Mark Ellis.
Not a member of the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers.
It’s a potent lineup the Mets possess if they can get all of the pieces moving at once. Let’s see if JT Ginn and the A’s have what it takes to come into New York and takes back to back series against the Yankees and Mets!
