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A’s start second half against KC tonight
By Daniel Dullum July 15, 2010 |
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The Athletics return to their former hometown of Kansas City Friday to begin a three-game weekend series at Kauffman Stadium against the improving Royals. Oakland is 43-46, eight games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. How much does a managerial change help? It depends on the situation, and so far in Kansas City, bouncing Trey Hillman in favor of Ned Yost earlier this season has worked out. Since Yost took over, the Royals are 27-26. Oakland gets a tough draw in the series opener. Zach Greinke (5-8), last year’s Cy Young Award winner, goes against Gio Gonzalez. While Greinke has struggled most of the first half of the season – largely due to a lack of offensive support – Gonzalez (7-6) has been a pleasant addition to the A’s rotation. Greinke, by the way, has won his last four decisions and has shown his old form in each of those starts. On Saturday, All-Star selection Trevor Cahill (9-3) faces the Royals’ Bruce Chen (5-3); and on Sunday, Vic Mazzaro (4-2) vs. Brian Bannister (7-7). Bailey gets All-Star nod After Trevor Cahill was scratched from the American League roster for Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the National League, it turns out Oakland still had one player in uniform – closer Andrew Bailey. It was Bailey’s second straight All-Star selection. He got the nod when the Angels’ Jared Weaver, like Cahill, started on Sunday. These days, starting pitchers for either league who pitch two days before the All-Star Game are ineligible to play. Though AL Manager Joe Girardi was not required to select another Oakland player, he did so anyway, recognizing Bailey’s 17 saves and opposing batting average of .205. |
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