Emil Brown, incensed that the A's refuse to value more highly a hitter who can't OPS .700, get on base 30% of the time, run the bases competently or, you know, catch the ball in the outfield, returns to the place where he was duly appreciated...well actually, non-tendered after leading the Royals in RBI two years in a row. YOU'RE sorry the A's signed you? Puh-leese.
All I ask from the A's tonight is that they do not mess up and score six early runs, because with Gio Gonzalez on the mound that could be disastrous. Gio tries to rebound from a disappointing start in Anaheim when he was staked to a 6-0 lead and could not retire a man - or a woman or even a ferret - in the fourth inning. Gonzalez is opposed by über-talented right-hander Zack Greinke.
The latest additions to Oakland's expanded roster are lefty Josh Outman, obtained in the Joe Blanton trade, and "Good Sweeney," i.e., Mike Sweeney, who replaces Frank Thomas as the A's "old, formerly great hitter who can draw walks but can't actually walk."
Tonight's starting lineups, not featuring the tragically underappreciated Emil Brown:
Davis - CF
R. Sweeney - RF
Crosby - SS
Cust - DH
Suzuki - C
Barton - 1B
Hannahan - 3B
Cunningham - LF
Patterson - 2B
DeJesus - CF
Aviles - SS
Guillen - RF
Butler - DH
Shealy - 1B
Olivo - C
Teahen - 3B
Callaspo - 2B
German - LF
UPDATE: Rain Delay before first pitch. The game is scheduled to begin around 5:40pm PDT. This is the longest the A's have not trailed in a game since the 2006 season.
