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Baseball!
So apparently yesterday was the real A’s opening day, and that other incredibly fun, well-played game was just a collective hallucination. The season is over, Billy Beane needs to be fired, and we’re all doomed.
Tonight's starting pitchers will be Scott Kazmir vs. Ross Detwiler, both making their season debuts. Kazmir looked really great this spring, to the tune of a 1.00 ERA, striking out 14 in 18 innings pitched, only walking 4. The veteran lefty will be looking to continue his miraculous comeback tour this year.
Ross Detwiler spent 2014 in the Nationals bullpen, and probably has no business starting on a team that isn’t as decimated by injuries as the Rangers. Yes, I am aware that that sentence will be bitterly ironic after he pitches 7 scoreless innings. He did have a decent spring, to the tune of a 3.72 ERA. But if Ross Detwiler is one of your best 5 starting pitchers, you’re in some trouble.
We'll be celebrating two different MLB debuts tonight: Tyler Ladendorf and Mark Canha. Ladendorf is, interestingly, the longest tenured player in the A’s organization on the roster — he’s been in the minor league system since 2009. He’s a utility guy that mashes lefties, and he’ll be playing second.
Rule 5 pick Mark Canha is starting at 1B. The power hitter had an intriguingly excellent spring, and is a popular choice for breakout candidate. The words "easy power" have been often found in his scouting reports, and his swing looks exactly like Josh Donaldson’s.
The vet Cody Ross, who flew in a few hours ago, will be making his A’s debut in the #2 spot in the lineup, for some reason. He mashes lefties, which is cool. He was an integral part of the 2010 Giants World Series run, which is much less cool. His signing signals the return of the Billy Beane Aging-Star-Turned-DH Program, joining such distinguished alumni as Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Mike Piazza and Adam Dunn.
Here are the lineups:
