Good afternoon and welcome to Miami, Florida! We'll get a look at the ballpark in Miami, and its gorgeous decor, especially in center field, as the A's visit the ballpark for the first time. As much as I despise having pitchers hit in baseball; it's probably at the root of why I think the American League is so much better to watch, I do have to admit that I love seeing all of the parks.
Happy baseball to all of my A's friends who are watching live in Florida right now. I want to hear a "LET'S GO OAK-LAND" chant!
For us commoners, who have to watch the game on television, we're looking at a pitching duel between Jesse Chavez and Anthony DeSclafani, a struggling Marlins' pitcher slated to face the rollicking A's offense tonight.
The Marlins are hovering just around the .500 mark on the season, whereas your 2014 Oakland Athletics are the best team in baseball, and have nearly scored the most runs in the majors (one behind the Rockies), and have allowed the fewest. The Marlins are top ten in runs scored themselves; it's been the pitching for them this season.
Callaspo will bat in the second spot and play at second base; probably because the A's can ill-afford a pitcher in the lineup and Punto or Sogard, and Norris will take care of catching duties. Reddick will have another game in the outfield as he settles back into his starting role, and the Cespedes/Moss/Donaldson powerhouse combo will bat 3/4/5.
Here are the rest of the lineups:
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!