Oakland Athletics: 2015 Season Almanac

Welcome to the 2015 Oakland Athletics Season Almanac. It is our hope that this section of our site will be a fun resource for you to keep up with game stats that aren’t reported everywhere (at least in one spot) and grab relevant links to our analysis and thoughts on the biggest moments of the season. This table of contents will be updated daily so can scan through all the games and see how the season is progressing. Click a link below to go directly to that game sheet.

Game 1 – April 6 vs Texas Rangers
Game 2 – April 7 vs Texas Rangers
Game 3 – April 8 vs Texas Rangers
Game 4 – April 9 vs Texas Rangers
Game 5 – April 10 vs Seattle Mariners
Game 6 – April 11 vs Seattle Mariners
Game 7 – April 12 vs Seattle Mariners
Game 8 – April 13 vs Houston Astros
Game 9 – April 14 vs Houston Astros
Game 10 – April 15 vs Houston Astros
Game 11 – April 17 vs Kansas City Royals
Game 12 – April 18 vs Kansas City Royals
Game 13 – April 19 vs Kansas City Royals
Game 14 – April 20 vs Los Angeles Angels
Game 15 – April 21 vs Los Angeles Angels
Game 16 – April 22 vs Los Angeles Angels
Game 17 – April 23 vs Los Angeles Angels
Game 18 – April 24 vs Houston Astros

Game 1 – Monday, April 6, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: 36,067
Season Attendance: 36,067
Lowest Attendance: 36,067
Game Time: 2:45
Season Time: 2:45

Win Record: 1-0
Win Record vs Rangers: 1-0
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 1st (Tie)
Magic Number: 162

Winning Pitcher: Sonny Gray (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Yovani Gallardo (0-1)

Pitchers/Pitch Count:
Sonny Gray/98
Evan Scribner/15

Total Pitches per game: 113
Total Pitches per season: 113

Game Home Runs: 2
Season Home Runs: 2
Game Runs: 8
Season Runs: 8
Runs Rank: 3rd (Tied with Boston)

Run Differential: 8
Differential Rank: 3rd (Tied with Boston)

Game RBI Leader: Vogt (3)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (3)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 3 (Game 1)

Game RISP: 4 for 13
Game LOB: 9
Season RISP: 4 for 13
Season LOB: 9

Game Batting Average: .294
Season Batting Average: .294

Total Players Used in Game: 11
Most Players Used in Game: 11 (Game 1)

Challenged Plays: 1 (safe call at second/overturned)
Total Challenged Plays: 1
Total Overturned Plays: 1

Special Notes:

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 season opener was the first season opening victory the Oakland Athletics have enjoyed in 10 seasons. Ben Zobrist, in his first at bat as an Athletic, hit a home run. Sonny Gray pitched 7 no-hit innings (there were two base runners due to an error and a HBP) until Ryan Rua opened the 8th inning with a base hit. Had Gray completed the no-hitter, he would have been the second pitcher to ever do so on an opening day game and the first in 75 years.

Today marked the debut of the new scoreboards and ribbon boards and a moment of silence was observed for former broadcaster Lon Simmons who passed away on Easter Sunday.

Relevant Links

A’s Opening Day Woes
A’s Opening Day Podcast
Notes & Reactions

Next: Game 2 vs Texas Rangers

Game 3 – Wednesday, April 8, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: 19,479
Season Attendance: 70,571
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:55
Season Time: 8:10

Win Record: 2-1
Win Record vs Rangers: 2-1
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 1st (Tied with Angels)
Magic Number: 160

Winning Pitcher: Scott Kazmir (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Ross Detwiler (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Kazmir/95, Otero/15, Alvarez/18
Total Pitches per game: 128
Total Pitches per season: 366

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 2
Game Runs: 10
Season Runs: 19
Runs Rank: 2nd
Run Differential: 16
Differential Rank: 1st

Game RBI Leader: Canha (4)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (4)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3)

Game RISP: 7 for 19
Game LOB: 9
Season RISP: 12 for 38
Season LOB: 23

Game Batting Average: .359
Lineup Batting Average: .283

Total Players Used in Game: 13
Most Players Used in Game: 13 (Tie Game 2 & 3)

Challenged Plays: 0 (There was an umpire review)
Total Challenged Plays: 1
Total Overturned Plays: 1

Special Notes:

Game 3 featured the MLB debut of Mark Canha and Tyler Ladendorf who both had excellent nights. Canha, in his first at bat, missed a grand slam by an inch which prompted an umpire review (not a challenge by the team). His hit was held as a bases clearing double. Later in the game he came a foot shy of a home run over the left field wall. Canha finished his day going 3 for 5 with 1 run and 4 RBI’s. He is the second Athletic since 1914 to have 4+ RBI’s in his major league debut.

Ladendorf did ok for himself, too, with a triple in his first at bat. He went 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 runs and 2 RBI’s. Because of the great outings from Ladendorf and Cahna, the Athletics are the first team since 1920 (when RBI’s began being counted) to have two players make MLB debuts and bring in 2 RBI’s each and Ladendorf is the first player to play second and left in his major league debut (since 1914).

Amid all the frenzy surrounding today’s rookie debuts, Scott Kazmir pitched 7 innings and gave up only one hit and one walk. The lone hit came off a bunt on the first pitch of the game that was oddly handled by Canha. Kazmir also struck out 10 and had pitches hitting 94 miles per hour.

Brett Lawrie, who completed the Golden Sombrero last night, went 3 for 5 tonight with 1 run. Ryan Rua, who broke Sonny Gray’s opening day no-hitter, grabbed the Golden Sombrero in tonight’s game.

Among teams with three games this week, the Athletics are tied with the Atlanta Braves for fewest runs allowed at 3.

Relevant Links

Next: Game 4 vs Texas Rangers

Game 4 – Thursday, April 9, 2015 @ 12:30 pm

Game Attendance: 16,045
Season Attendance: 86,616
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:32
Season Time: 10:42

Win Record: 2-2
Win Record vs Rangers: 2-2
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 2nd
Magic Number: 159

Winning Pitcher: Nick Martinez (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Kendall Graveman (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Graveman/57, Scribner/59, Alvarez/11, Clippard/16
Total Pitches per game: 143
Total Pitches per season: 509

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 2
Game Runs: 1
Season Runs: 20
Runs Rank: 3rd (Tied with Rockies)
Run Differential: 7
Differential Rank: 6th (Tied with Blue Jays)

Game RBI Leader: Semien (1)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (4)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3)

Game RISP: 0 for 5
Game LOB: 6
Season RISP: 12 for 43
Season LOB: 29

Game Batting Average: .194
Lineup Batting Average: .270

Total Players Used in Game: 16
Most Players Used in Game: 16 (Game 4)

Challenged Plays: 1 (Safe call at second/overturned)
Total Challenged Plays: 2
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Special Notes:

Apr 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Kendall Graveman (31) pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of their MLB baseball game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Kendall Graveman’s first outing as an Oakland Athletic would have been disappointing by any standard but coming off of such an incredible spring makes it an even harder pill to swallow. Graveman walked his first batter on five pitches, gave up a hit to his second, had an error on a pickoff attempt which sent the runners to second and third, had his third batter reach on a fielders choice which brought in a run due to a catching error by Vogt, gives up an RBI single to his fourth batter, loads the bases on his fifth batter, gives up a sac fly to his sixth batter and gets out of the inning with a double play awarded to the A’s after a replay.

It is easy to look at the box score and assume that Graveman had a horrible outing but there were also fielding errors by the Athletics mixed through this game.  For all the defensive woes we mocked the Rangers for in game 3, the Oakland Athletics were exhibiting those same woes in game 4. Graveman was given 3.1 innings on Thursday’s game and will enter his next start with an 18.90 ERA. He later told reporters that he felt like his command was off during warm ups and that he never found it during the game. When he does find it, expect to see a very different outcome.

Ike Davis struck out three times and walked once during the game and is still struggling to find a second hit with a .111 batting average after four games. He leads the Athletics in walks, however, at 4 and is sitting on a .385 OBP. The Oakland Athletics have split their first series with a 2-2 record against the Texas Rangers. The remainder of their home stand will be against the Seattle Mariners who are expected by many to be the best team in the AL West. The Mariners are going into the series with a 1-2 record and a team average of .219.

Relevant Links

A Team of Extremes Kendall Graveman Doesn’t Suck

Next: Game 5 vs. Seattle

Game 5 – Friday, April 10, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: 30,114
Season Attendance: 116,730
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:44
Season Time: 13:26

Win Record: 3-2
Win Record vs Mariners: 1-0
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 1st
Magic Number: 158

Winning Pitcher: Drew Pomeranz (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Taijuan Walker (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Pomeranz/92, Abad/14, Alvarez/18
Total Pitches per game: 124
Total Pitches per season: 633

Game Home Runs: 1
Season Home Runs: 3
Game Runs: 12
Season Runs: 32
Runs Rank: 1st
Run Differential: 19
Differential Rank: 2nd

Game RBI Leader: Davis (4)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (6)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 7 for 17
Game LOB: 8
Season RISP: 19 for 60
Season LOB: 37

Game Batting Average: .400
Lineup Batting Average: .299
Total Players Used in Game: 14
Most Players Used in Game: 16 (Game 4)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 2
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Special Notes:

Apr 10, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Mark Canha (20) and right fielder Ben Zobrist (18) smile after being batted in on an RBI doulbe by first baseman Ike Davis (not pictured) during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Mariners are predicted by many to be a shoe in for the division title in 2015. The Athletics, in their first meeting with Seattle, sent a message that they were not going to allow that to happen without a fight. For the third time in five days (and we all know how special three in five is) the Athletics pitching staff shut out their opponent behind an embarrassment of run support in a 12-0 victory over the Mariners. In the team’s three wins, so far, the Athletics have scored 30 runs, allowed none and only given up 7 hits.

Obviously it is not fair to assume we’ll get this type of performance out of our three returning pitchers every outing but what a way to open a season! Mark Canha finally got the big league home run he’s been inches away from all week with a two run long ball in the second inning. Sogard was the sole player to not reach base in this game and this was his first complete game with that distinction. Sam Fuld, Mark Canha, and Ike Davis were all good for three hits a piece and, collectively, drove in 7 of the A’s 12 runs. Davis, along with Ben Zobrist, both hit two doubles each in the game as well. It’s easy to get excited by the 2015 Oakland Athletics when you see a game like this every other day but, we must remember, winning every other game is only good for 81 games.

What the A’s need to do is string together two wins in a row and start establishing early that the team is capable of being a dominant force in the division. It also wouldn’t hurt to hold on to first place and create a gap early in the season because regardless of what they say in the press conferences post game, these games do count and could become huge factors at the end of the season.

Relevant Links

Are the 2015 A’s Better Than Last Year?

Next: The Game Where Replay Bit Our Butts

Game 6 – Saturday, April 11, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Game Attendance: 24,355
Season Attendance: 141,085
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 3:39
Season Time: 17:05

Win Record: 3-3
Win Record vs Mariners: 1-1
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 1st (Tied with Rangers)
Magic Number: 157

Winning Pitcher: Tyler Olson (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Fernando Abad (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Gray/96, O’Flaherty/7, Otero/6, Clippard/32, Abad/27, Chavez/6
Total Pitches per game: 174
Total Pitches per season: 807

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 3
Game Runs: 4
Season Runs: 36
Runs Rank: 2nd
Run Differential: 18
Differential Rank: 2nd (Tied with Royals)

Game RBI Leader: Zobrist (1), Lawrie (1), Phegley (1), Semien (1)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (6), Semien (6)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 5 for 11
Game LOB: 10
Season RISP: 24 for 71
Season LOB: 47

Game Batting Average: .286
Lineup Batting Average: .297
Total Players Used in Game: 19
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 1 (Not Overturned)
Total Challenged Plays: 3
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 1 (6)

Special Notes:

Sometimes it’s just one of those games. Game 6 had everything that an A’s fan could want in a dominant outing by Sonny Gray, an (almost) error-less  defense, and enough run support to win the game. Despite that, it seemed to have everything going Seattle’s way and Oakland, ultimately, couldn’t overcome the inertia.

Apr 11, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) tagged out by at the plate by Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Sucre (2) in the bottom of the tenth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The game featured two controversial umpire reviews which both went against the Oakland Athletics. The first challenge, initiated by Oakland, came in the 7th when Josh Phegley attempted a slide into home. The plate umpire initially called Phegley out, a call that would stand under review, but it seemed possible that Phegley beat the tag and probable that catcher Jesus Sucre was blocking the bag. Instead of adding a run, the A’s added an out and the inning ended on a Sam Fuld popup in the next at bat. The second, and possibly most enraging, call came in the 8th when the Mariners challenged a force play at second.

With one out on the board, the A’s attempted a double play but only managed to get the call at second base. The Mariners, however, challenged the “neighborhood play” which, to this point, everyone and their grandmother thought was ineligible for review. It was determined that Semien, in fact, did not have his foot on the bag when he threw to first (he missed by two inches at the most) and the lone out was turned into a safe call and the A’s single error on the day.You can read more about that on the link provided below but, suffice to say, it was a crap call. Now with two outs and two men on, the homer by Nelson Cruz packs a lead changing punch.

The A’s would answer with by evening the score in the bottom of the 8th but would end up losing the game in 11. The last controversy came from Oakland’s third base coach, Mike Gallego who, in the 10th with one out, he waved Zobrist home on a deep hit by Ike Davis. Zobrist was tagged out and missed by several feet. Fan think would dictate that, with only one out, holding Zobrist at third would have been the better alternative with only one out on the board. Fan think may have been different had Zobrist been abandoned on third, though, considering the A’s left 10 men on base and are 24 for 71 with RISP. The internet is split between fans who think Gallego was reckless and fans who applaud him for being an aggressive coach. Bob Melvin, at least publicly, supported Gallego and said, “I never second guess Gags.” That doesn’t mean he didn’t stuff his locker with biting lobsters this morning, though. This game marked the third loss in six games and continues the strange opening week of every-other day victories.

Relevant Links

Oakland Athletics Bit by Replay Calls

Next: The A's beat King Felix and Rodney but still lose

Game 7 – Sunday, April 12, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Game Attendance: 32,282
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 3:11
Season Time: 20:16

Win Record: 3-4
Win Record vs Mariners: 1-2
Streak: L2
AL West Standing: 3rd (Tied with Rangers)
Magic Number: 156

Winning Pitcher: Fernando Rodney (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tyler Clippard (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Hahn/87, O’Flaherty/24, Scribner/8, Alvarez/19, Clippard/9
Total Pitches per game: 147
Total Pitches per season: 954

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 3
Game Runs: 7
Season Runs: 43
Runs Rank: 2nd
Run Differential: 17
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Fuld(2)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (6), Semien (6)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 7 for 17
Game LOB: 8
Season RISP: 31 for 88
Season LOB: 55

Game Batting Average: .341
Lineup Batting Average: .304
Total Players Used in Game: 16
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 3
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Coming Soon

Relevant Links

Next: The long ball lives in Houston

Game 8 – Monday, April 13, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:51
Season Time: 23:07

Win Record: 4-4
Win Record vs Astros: 1-0
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 1st
Magic Number: 155

Winning Pitcher: Scott Kazmir (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Scott Feldman (0-2)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Kazmir/91, Abad/16, Otero/15, Chavez/16
Total Pitches per game: 138
Total Pitches per season: 1092

Game Home Runs: 3
Season Home Runs: 6
Game Runs: 8
Season Runs: 51
Runs Rank: 2nd (Tied with Tigers)
Run Differential: 24
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Butler (3)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (7), Semien (7)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 3 for 5
Game LOB: 4
Season RISP: 34 for 93
Season LOB: 59

Game Batting Average: .324
Lineup Batting Average: .306
Total Players Used in Game: 13
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 1
Total Challenged Plays: 4
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Coming Soon

Relevant Links

A’s welcome added power A’s/Houston series preview

Next: Can the A's start to streak?

Game 9 – Tuesday, April 14, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:58
Season Time: 26:05

Win Record: 5-4
Win Record vs Astros: 2-0
Streak: W2
AL West Standing: 1st
Magic Number: 153

Winning Pitcher: Kendall Graveman (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Brad Peacock (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Graveman/96, O’Flaherty/18, Otero/20, Abad/2, Clippard/9
Total Pitches per game: 145
Total Pitches per season: 1237

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 6
Game Runs: 4
Season Runs: 55
Runs Rank: 1st
Run Differential: 28
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Butler, Zobrist, Vogt, Reddick (1)
Season RBI Leader: Canha (7), Semien (7)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 2 for 8
Game LOB: 5
Season RISP: 36 for 101
Season LOB: 64

Game Batting Average: .226
Lineup Batting Average: .299
Total Players Used in Game: 15
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 4
Total Overturned Plays: 2

Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Apr 14, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Kendall Graveman (31) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

To say that this was an important game for Kendall Graveman is an understatement. The expectations for this young pitcher are very high after such a stellar spring training and his first appearance in the green and gold left fans less than thrilled with what they saw. Outing two, however, featured the Graveman seen in Arizona as he pitched 5.1 scoreless innings with three strike outs. It was far from a perfect outing, walking four and allowing four hits, but with a bit of run support and top notch defense to back him up, it was exactly what the Oakland Athletics needed to secure their first series win of 2015 and their first winning streak (2) of the season.

Speaking of defense, Josh Reddick was able to make two plays in deep right field that, at the very least, preserved the shut out but, at most, saved the game from coming apart at the seams. In the eighth, with one out on the board, Evan Gattis came a hair short of a home run and dropped a fly ball deep in the right field corner. Had Reddick not made a gold glover play, Gattis is easily at second base and, possibly, at third. Now with two outs on the board, two men get on base and the batter represents the tie run. With a sharp line drive to right, Reddick again gets where the ball is before the ball knows where it’s going and is able to snag out three without anyone scoring in the inning. Showing the depth of their lineup, again, RBI’s came from the 3, 4, 6, and 8 batters in the lineup.

Sam Fuld, making a strong case to keep him at the top of the everyday lineup, was good for two doubles, including one in his first at bat which would ultimately result in one of the most perfect “manufactured” runs we’ve seen all season when Canha sacrificed him to third and Zobrist sacrificed him home. There are still some legitimate concerns with the bullpen which has given up a number of hits and created some sticky situations but the offense is proving to be clutch and able to get the job done time and time again. This games marks the fourth shutout in 9 games and, in those shutouts, the A’s have managed to score 34 runs. Hopefully, with the eventual return of Sean Doolittle, the bullpen will fall into their roles and be a more consistent force for the team. It is understandable that they’ve had some struggles when you consider the wildly fluctuating run support their given from game to game. Game 10, in Houston, will give the A’s their first chance to sweep a series and go into Kansas City, who are 7-0 at the moment, with a little momentum.

Relevant Links

What is making the A’s so good?

Next: Are the A's getting their first sweep?

Game 10 – Wednesday, April 15, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:42
Season Time: 28:47

Win Record: 5-5
Win Record vs Astros: 2-1
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 1st
Magic Number: 152

Winning Pitcher: Collin McHugh (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Drew Pomeranz (1-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Pomeranz/81, Scribner/29, Alvarez/18,
Total Pitches per game: 128
Total Pitches per season: 1365

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 6
Game Runs: 1
Season Runs: 56
Runs Rank: 2nd (Tied)
Run Differential: 23
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Semien (1)
Season RBI Leader: Semien (8)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 2 for 8
Game LOB: 7
Season RISP: 38 for 109
Season LOB: 71

Game Batting Average: .229
Lineup Batting Average: .292

Total Players Used in Game: 12
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)
Challenged Plays: 0 Total Challenged Plays: 4
Total Overturned Plays: 2
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7) 

Special Notes:

Former Athletic Jed Lowrie haunted his former club with a three RBI night that included a home run, a walk, and two hits. The Athletics were also out pitched with 13 strike outs going against the team. Sam Fuld, in his constant bid to not be sent to the minors, hit his third triple of the season and is one away from matching his 2014 Oakland triples. Lawrie was one K away from his second golden sombrero and now leads the team in strike outs with 12. Although the grabbed their first series win of the season they missed their first sweep with this loss. The Oakland Athletics also remained in first place for the day and are heading to Kansas City who are currently on a two game losing streak.

Relevant Links

Next: Benches clear in Kansas City

Game 11 – Friday, April 17, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:33
Season Time: 31:20

Win Record: 5-6
Win Record vs Royals: 0-1
Streak: L2
AL West Standing: 2nd (.5 game behind Angels)
Elimination Number: 152

Winning Pitcher: Wade Davis (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Dan Otero (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Gray/102, O’Flaherty/11, Otero/23
Total Pitches per game: 136
Total Pitches per season: 1501

Game Home Runs: 3
Season Home Runs: 9
Game Runs: 4
Season Runs: 60
Runs Rank: Third
Run Differential: 21
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Vogt (2)
Season RBI Leader: Semien (8), Vogt (8)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 0 for 6
Game LOB: 5
Season RISP: 38 for 115
Season LOB: 76

Game Batting Average: .242
Lineup Batting Average: .288

Total Players Used in Game: 12
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 1
Total Challenged Plays: 5
Total Overturned Plays: 2
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Apr 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics third basemen Brett Lawrie (15) is lead off the field after a play at second base against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

This was supposed to be a fun night of baseball. Billy Butler was returning to his former club to get his AL Champion ring and the Oakland Athletics were going to face off with the team that eliminated them from the post season. It had moments of fun with a home run from Ike Davis, his first with the A’s, and two home runs from Stephen Vogt, his first multi-homer games in his career. It was a game reminiscent of that wild card game that CSN Bay Area insists on showing us on a daily basis. Both teams were exchanging runs, our ace wasn’t pitching bad but was hardly at his best, guys were stealing bases, and an Oakland Athletic was launching balls out of the park at each at-bat. Then came the seventh inning.

Top of the seventh. Vogt launches his second home run of the night. Pitching change. Brett Lawrie hits a single on the first pitch he sees. Reddick hits a ball that hits the pitcher. Pitcher throws to second for the out but Lawrie slides into second, in an attempt to break the double play, and shortstop Escobar comes tumbling to the ground. Lawrie is called out and the fans are livid. Lawrie, seemingly, apologizes to Escobar with a pat on the back as he stands up but that’s not sufficient for the rest of the team who begin to get into a spat with Lawrie. Umpires come out, Mike Gallego grabs Lawrie and the benches clear as Escobar is still down at second base. If the crowd was livid at the slide, they were close to a riot when Bob Melvin challenged the call at second, insisting that Lawrie beat the throw and kept a hand on the base when he overslid second. The call was upheld, the game continued and, like the wild card game, the Royals were able to take down Oakland’s bullpen for the win.

Twitter, as it does, exploded with Royals fans saying that Lawrie deliberately slid late with his cleats up to take down Escobar. A’s fans responded saying that it was a legal slide that clearly got away from him and that there was no harm intended. One super smart tweeter began trolling Lawrie and every person who responded to him with “why try to break up the double play with two outs” clearly unaware of the game at all since there were no outs at the time. John Hickey wrote a good piece speculating that the crowd had more to do with the challenge standing than the actual play at the plate.

The idea that the visiting team takes down a crucial member of your team and then gets the play overturned would not set will with the sold out crowd and would probably start a brawl on the field. Was it the right call? That’s debatable (I think he made it safe) but was it a justifiable call? Probably. With the next two games questionable due to weather, Lawrie may be able to get out of Kansas City without facing an angry pitcher this weekend but if either of the two games do manage to be played, we can be sure that the stadium will be tense and there will be a great deal of crowd boos.

Manager Bob Melvin, in his post game conference, stood behind Lawrie’s slide and insisted that it had no malicious intent. Former Royal Billy Butler played mediator with his former ball club and tried to smooth things over in anticipation of the next two games and Brett Lawrie opened himself up to a flood of Twitter vitriol by tweeting the following after the game:

Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and after a good night sleep and a review of the play everyone will come to their senses and move on. It was a sloppy slide but it clearly wasn’t dirty.

Relevant Links

John Hickey’s Piece on the Challenge
Susan Slusser Reports on the Controversy 

Next: Lawrie takes his hit like with class

Game 12 – Saturday, April 18, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:34
Season Time: 33:54

Win Record: 6-6
Win Record vs Royals: 1-1
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 1st
Magic Number: 151

Winning Pitcher: Jesse Hahn (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Yordano Ventura (2-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Hahn/65, Chavez/57
Total Pitches per game: 122
Total Pitches per season: 1623

Game Home Runs: 1
Season Home Runs: 10
Game Runs: 5
Season Runs: 65
Runs Rank: Second
Run Differential: 26
Differential Rank: 1st (Tied with Royals)

Game RBI Leader: Reddick (3)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (9)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 2 for 5
Game LOB: 5
Season RISP: 40 for 120
Season LOB: 81

Game Batting Average: .235
Lineup Batting Average: .284

Total Players Used in Game: 11
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 1
Total Challenged Plays: 6
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Apr 18, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics third basemen Brett Lawrie (15) gets hit with a pitch from Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics have now won five shut out games and each starter in the rotation has started one of those shut outs. Jesse Hahn was on point on Saturday afternoon throwing 5.1 innings of three hit, no run baseball, pitching out of an error induced jam and keeping his pitch count very economical. In fact, the only reason he was pulled from the game when he was was due to a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand.

Jesse Chavez held the shut out and earned the team’s first save of the season for pitching 3.2 innings of nearly flawless relief.

Josh Reddick hit his first home run of the season when he drove in three in the top of the fifth. Immediately following the blast, which brought the score to 5-0, Brett Lawrie faced the music and took a Ventura fast ball to the elbow and calmly took his base. As was to be expected, Ventura was ejected and benches were cleared (Reddick hadn’t even taken his batting gear off yet) but there was very little excitement on the field as Lawrie refused to elevate the situation.

Twitter, on the other hand, went bananas over the whole thing and A’s fans, and especially beat writers, have been taking on arguments and rude tweets all weekend. Again, the excitement of a well played game was over shadowed by “text gate” and beaned batters but we can all assume that things have calmed and everything is returning to normal for the rubber match of this game on Sunday.

The A’s have returned to first place in the AL West with a .500 record (remember when I said that division games were going to keep the wins lower than expected) and have a half game lead over the Angels who they face starting Monday. With a win against the Royals on Sunday and at least two against the Angels, this week could be the perfect opportunity for the A’s to take a healthy lead in the division for the first time in the two week old season.

Relevant Links

Text Gate: Lawrie is a Liar and Slusser is a Homer

Next: The Drama Continues

Game 13 – Saturday, April 19, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 3:08
Season Time: 37:02

Win Record: 6-7
Win Record vs Royals: 1-2
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 2nd
Magic Number: 150

Winning Pitcher: Franklin Morales (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Eric O’Flaherty (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Kazmir/103, O’Flaherty/21,
Total Pitches per game: 124
Total Pitches per season: 1747

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 10
Game Runs: 2
Season Runs: 67
Runs Rank: 6th
Run Differential: 24
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Zobrist (2)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (9)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 2 for 6
Game LOB: 8
Season RISP: 42 for 126
Season LOB: 89

Game Batting Average: .226
Lineup Batting Average: .280

Total Players Used in Game: 14
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 6
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Relevant Links

A’s Have No Fight

Game 14 – Monday, April 20, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:57
Season Time: 39:59

Win Record: 7-7
Win Record vs Angels: 1-0
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 2nd
Magic Number: 149

Winning Pitcher: Dan Otero (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Matt Shoemaker (2-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Graveman/73, Otero/42, Scribner/7, Clippard/21
Total Pitches per game: 143
Total Pitches per season: 1890

Game Home Runs: 2
Season Home Runs: 12
Game Runs: 6
Season Runs: 72
Runs Rank: 6th
Run Differential: 27
Differential Rank: 3rd

Game RBI Leader: Vogt (3)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (12)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 3 for 8
Game LOB: 5
Season RISP: 45 for 134
Season LOB: 94

Game Batting Average: .250
Lineup Batting Average: .278

Total Players Used in Game: 14
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 6
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Relevant Links

Next: We'd like to forget but we won't

Game 15 – Tuesday, April 21, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 3:15
Season Time: 43:14

Win Record: 7-8
Win Record vs Angels: 1-1
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 2nd
Elimination Number: 147

Winning Pitcher: Hector Santiago (2-1)
Losing Pitcher: Drew Pomeranz (1-2)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Pomeranz/100, Alvarez/48, Abad/19, Davis/9
Total Pitches per game: 176
Total Pitches per season: 2066

Game Home Runs: 1
Season Home Runs: 13
Game Runs: 1
Season Runs: 74
Runs Rank: 3rd
Run Differential: 14
Differential Rank: 7th

Game RBI Leader: Butler (1)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (12)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3 & 5)

Game RISP: 0 for 5
Game LOB: 8
Season RISP: 45 for 139
Season LOB: 102

Game Batting Average: .156
Lineup Batting Average: .270

Total Players Used in Game: 14
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 1
Total Challenged Plays: 7
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

April 21, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Ike Davis (17) pitches the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The word train wreck is used a lot in games like this. The offense dried up, the defense was sloppy (there were three errors for the night) and the pitching was a joke. For a team to have a 5 for 13 RISP and leave 6 men on base and still beat you by 13 points is a travesty to the greatest game ever.

The argument can be made that some things just didn’t go the right way for the A’s. There was the inning ending double play that was over turned and later resulted in a three run homer. Actually, that’s about the only argument that can be made. The rest was simply sloppy baseball.

The worst part of the whole evening was that it is not going to be a game we soon forget because Ike Davis pitched a perfect 1-2-3 eighth inning. No need to read that sentence again, you had it right the first time. Ike Davis, Oakland’s first baseman, pitched an inning of relief in order to not waste the bullpen on a 13 run blowout of a game and he did exactly what we’d like to see all of our bullpen pitchers do by getting out of the inning quickly, efficiently and stress free.

Billy Butler, who is quietly hitting .375 at the moment, had his second home run of the season and provided the only scoring for the Oakland Athletics. Butler has had at least one hit in 14 of his first 15 games and walked twice in the game that he didn’t hit in. Saying he’s on pace for around 21 homers is a little stupid this early in the season but it’s true at the moment.

Craig Gentry does not share a similar statistic, though. In 25 plate appearances, Gentry has yet to snag a hit and he’s only walked twice. 40% of his at bats have resulted in strike outs including the Golden Sombrero from tonight’s “game”. In 2014, his longest stretch without a hit was in May when he had a six game drought but that was only 9 plate appearances. Saying he’s on pace to bat .000 is a little stupid this early in the season but it’s true at the moment.

This game marked something of a milestone for the Oakland Athletics in that they passed the 100 runners left on base marker. With 102 players left on base and a 45 for 139 RISP, it is clear that this team needs to work on their clutch hitting. Had they been able to bring in half of the 8 men they left on base today and tightened up their defense to be error free, the tone of this recap could be very different. Saying they’re on pace to leave 1,101 runners on base is a little stupid this early in the season but it’s true at the moment.

Relevant Links

The A’s Need Consistency
Pitching Seems to be a Work in Progress

Next: Time to get that differential back a little

Game 16 – Wednesday, April 22, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:58
Season Time: 46:12

Win Record: 8-8
Win Record vs Angels: 2-1
Streak: W1
AL West Standing: 2nd (.5 games behind Astros)
Elimination Number: 147

Winning Pitcher: Sonny Gray (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Fernando Salas (0-1)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Gray/95, Scribner/10, Leon/19
Total Pitches per game: 124
Total Pitches per season: 2190

Game Home Runs: 1
Season Home Runs: 14
Game Runs: 9
Season Runs: 83
Runs Rank: 3rd (tied with Yankees)
Run Differential: 21
Differential Rank: 5th

Game RBI Leader: Butler (4)
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (14)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3, 5, 16)

Game RISP: 6 for 16
Game LOB: 9
Season RISP: 51 for 155
Season LOB: 111

Game Batting Average: .439
Lineup Batting Average: .283

Total Players Used in Game: 12
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 7
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

Billy Butler’s fire continues to burn white hot as he hits his third home run for the A’s (second in two days) and leads the team with 4 RBI’s. He has only gone hitless in one game this year, although he reached base on two walks, and in the last three games he’s earned a .538 OBP. For the sake of comparison, his first 16 games in 2014 had him hitting .193 with a .273 OBP and no home runs. It may not last all season but Billy Butler is lighting up this offense at the moment and may end up with his best opening month of his career.

But it’s not all about Billy Butler tonight. Sonny Gray, who had 14 consecutive outs to close his outing, proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with even when he’s not pitching at his best. Sam Fuld, who had two hits and a walk and crossed the plate three times, is proving that he’s a capable lead off hitter. Ike Davis and Josh Reddick are proving to be on base threats with several multiple hit games on their year so far including three from each today. Most importantly, however, is the fact that the A’s got through this game without an error. The A’s have 15 errors in 16 games with six of those coming off of Marcus Semien. Every game they play without an error is an important step towards a solid and consistent defense.

Relevant Links

Next: We can't possibly lose a one hitter, right?

Game 17 – Tuesday, April 23, 2015 @ 4:00 pm

Game Attendance: Away Game
Season Attendance: 173,367
Lowest Attendance: 15,025 (Game 2)
Game Time: 2:20
Season Time: 48:32

Win Record: 8-9
Win Record vs Angels: 2-2
Streak: L1
AL West Standing: 2nd (1 game behind Astros)
Elimination Number: 146

Winning Pitcher: Jesse Chavez (0-1)
Losing Pitcher: Nick Tropeano (1-0)
Pitchers/Pitch Count: Chavez/90, Otero/8, Clippard/10,
Total Pitches per game: 108
Total Pitches per season: 2298

Game Home Runs: 0
Season Home Runs: 14
Game Runs: 0
Season Runs: 83
Runs Rank: 5th
Run Differential: 19
Differential Rank: 7th (tied with Blue Jays)

Game RBI Leader: None
Season RBI Leader: Vogt (14)
Most RBI’s in Single Game: 4 (Game 3, 5, 16)

Game RISP: 0 for 8
Game LOB: 10
Season RISP: 51 for 163
Season LOB: 121

Game Batting Average: .229
Lineup Batting Average: .280

Total Players Used in Game: 13
Most Players Used in Game: 19 (Game 6)

Challenged Plays: 0
Total Challenged Plays: 7
Total Overturned Plays: 3
Games Won in Extra Innings: 0
Total Games Played in Extra Innings: 2 (6,7)

Special Notes:

The Oakland Athletics lost a one hitter…by two runs. That’s really all that needs to be said about this game other than the fact that the team left 10 runners on base on their way to a shutout loss. Jesse Chavez pitched 6 solid innings only giving up one hit and one earned run, a two run homer. How did they get two runs? Another error in the field, this time off of Lawrie, came back to haunt the team.

The A’s are still hunting for a three game winning streak as they continue their win one lose one quest for .500. Billy Butler only got one hit today, dropping his average down to an embarrassing .369. Expect to see him on the trading block by the end of the Houston series. Worthless.

There’s really not much to say on this game. These are the games that the team has to win every time. When dominant pitching can’t get a W from a one-hit game, there is a serious problem in run production, especially when you are leaving 10 men on. Today’s game tied game 6 for most men left on base and they lost that game by a run. There is a general inconsistency in this team that, over time, will iron itself out but it is frustrating to see the team steal four bags in a 9-2 victory but not steal a single base when they’re struggling to bring runners in.

The A’s are headed back home to face the Astros and the Angels again. Let’s hope for a three game winning streak to be born of this homestand.

Relevant Links