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One month is in the books (ik, r?) and April couldn't have ended soon enough for our beleaguered A's. All things considered, 12-12 ain't half bad. That and they have spent all but the first two games of the season with at least a share of first place, a span of 24 days. I suppose that speaks more of the mediocrity of the division than it does the prowess of the Athletics.
One area the A's have been particularly meek is in the power department; their 15 homeruns are third-worst in the American League. By comparison, the Toronto Blue Jays have clubbed a league-high 35 long balls, including seven in the last two games alone.
Oakland looks to 24-year old Gio Gonzalez to contain the Jays and put an end to what is now a four-game losing streak. Good Gio was on the hill the last time out, an 11-0 blanking of Cleveland last Sunday (7IP, 5H, 2BB, 3K). Opposite Gonzalez is former-Athletic Dana Eveland. If Dana has ill will against his old team, he's not saying. Per Slusser:
Friendly ex: Dana Eveland, who spent parts of the past two seasons with the A's, pitches against them today; he said he hopes he and Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez both throw seven scoreless innings.
In fact, Eveland, who had a nightmarish outing in his last day of work (3IP, 8H, 7R, 3BB), blamed himself for his exodus from Oakland, though not at first:
"I got sent down. I was (ticked) off at myself and I was (ticked) off at the organization," Eveland said. "I had a lot going on in my head. It took me until after the season was over to realize, 'Why am I (ticked) off at them? I'm the one that was terrible.'"
He's now found new life north of the border:
"When I got designated, that's when reality sets in," Eveland said. "You think, 'I might be off the 40-man roster. I might have to go to minor league camp with somebody.' I was hoping somebody would take a chance on me. Fortunately, these guys did."
It's a baseball-y brunch, I'm your waiter, and today's special: A succulent victory dipped in beer batter. Your menu lineups:
