Just the facts - Joe (Boyle)

Joe Boyle, - the young flame thrower from Notre Dame - from the Sam Moll trade took the mound for your Athletics today. What did we learn?

Well, he is certainly a fan of the cutter (90-92mph) getting Fernando Tatís Jr looking at a perfect pitch on the outside black, SO #1 for his career (keep that ball). This was quickly followed by his first hit, 3-2 cutter to Juan Soto (21st Straight game reaching base safety), going opposite field. But got his first scoreless inning, touching 100mph.

The top of the 2nd he went back to the cutter for strikeout #2 to get Xander Bogaerts looking like he didn't study for a pop quiz. Right over the heart (3-2 count). Then issuing his first walk, on a 9 pitch AB to José Azócar. However, he was still scoreless through 2 frames.

Come the top of the 3rd we are still scoreless. He should have gotten his third strikeout on an 0-2 fastball touching the bottom of the strike zone but he shrugged it off with another nasty cutter. Getting Eguy Rosario trying to power a small New Hampshire town with the amount of whiff he generated. 2-2 count. Very next batter, Jurickson Profar, BB #2. Tatis studied a 0-2 98 mph fastball touching bottom black. Strikeout #4. Another blank frame - #3.

What is easy to see now is that seeing Joy Boyle is not easy. He is throwing a 97 mph fastball at the same release point as his 81 mph curve. His cutter action comes a little lower than those but at 6'7 (Boyle) your view from the batter is still somewhat "high".

His final line for the game - 3 scoreless IP - 1 hit - 2BB - 4 strikeouts. Two looking. And two of those against Tatis. One of the best pure hitters in the game. 58 pitches - 35 for strikes.

So what can we learn from this? Not much really accept that his height and arm release points might just cause a few more stares from MLB hitters. His roll as an "opener" should not last long given that he logged 117 innings in MiLB. He has shown since being drafted in '20 by the Red's he can stay healthy, unlike another young Oakland arm.

MLB teams have learned a secret; pitchers, no matter their skill level, can only pitch if they are healthy. Oakland will need starters next year who can fulfill the true role of any starter. Give me 6 good innings so we are not chewing through our bullpen 3rd of the way through the season.

Ken Waldichuck came on in the top of the 4th and promptly got himself into a jam. With runners on 1st-3rd, giving up a bloop single to Luis Campusano for the games first run. Wally then allowed a chopper up the 1st baseline to Rosario scoring the 2nd Padres run.

Next frame Oakland got runners on 1st and 2nd (Gelof-Rooker) with no outs but could not cash in. Come the top of the 6th, the Padres tacked two more runs to Waldichuk's outing. Waldichuk did not look himself today. He was not inducing ground ball outs as Padres hitters were getting underneath his change up and fastball. The patented "wally dip" change up stayed in the bullpen this afternoon.

Waldichuk then let a ball hang over the heart of the plate and surrendered a 2R homerun to Juan Soto in the top of the 7th. His last frame of the day.

Devin Sweet came on and did himself no favors. Issuing a walk to load the bases followed by striking out Tatis for the 2nd out but then giving up Juan Soto's first career grand slam, making the score 10-0 San Diego.

Brent Rooker hit his 26th homerun of the season to break up the shutout in the bottom of the 8th, 2 outs. But that was the final score. Padres win, 10-1.

News and Notes

*Lawrence Butler's (22) struggles have continued. With his BA plummeting to .220 and still only 3 walks holding hands with 24 K's in 88 PA. He went 1-4 with a reverse K. His swing continues to show he is trying to pull the ball - looking somewhat awkard when trying to push the ball. His stance has widened with 2 strikes, however. Meaning his head is where it should be even if his bat is not.

*Ryan Noda has hit what some might call a rough patch as we make the last turn of the '23 season. He still has not draw a walk in the month of September. He wore the Gold Sombrero with 4k's.
to add to the 147 - good for 12th in the AL among qualified batters.

Sean Newcomb was placed on the 15 day IL, joining Freddy Tarnok with a 60 day listing.