Elephant Rumblings: JLo Explains Moneyball

A’s Coverage:

• Game #63: Paul Blackburn’s gem leads A’s to 4-1 victory...
• Hall: A’s Option Bruce Maxwell...
• Cut4: Hailey Dawson continued her inspirational first pitch tour with a visit to the Royals-A’s game in Oakland...
• Becker: Beer lovers will enjoy A’s turning back clock on alcohol sales...
• NYT: The Allegory of the Baseball Broadcast Booth: Donny Baarns has a story to tell...

MLB News:

• AP: Rangers, Jon Daniels agree to multiyear contract extension...
• Anderson: The Rays DFA Brad Miller to bring up a top prospect, and the timing comes right after an important salary deadline...
• Baer: Fernando Abad receives 80-game suspension after testing positive for Stanozolol...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Schoenfield: Chris Davis on way to worst season of all time...
• Baer: The Cubs’ $164 million commitment to the rotation this offseason is not off to a great start...
• Sullivan: Something Has Paused the Home-Run Spike...
• Kram: Cleveland Revolutionized the Bullpen—Now It Needs a New One...
• JLo explains Moneyball...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1909 - Clarence “Cack” Henley of the San Francisco Seals (Pacific Coast League) throws the longest complete game shutout in professional baseball history. Henley throws 24 scoreless innings against the Oakland Oaks before finally winning, 1 - 0.
• 1965 - Arizona State star sophomore Rick Monday, selected by the Kansas City Athletics, is the first player chosen in the initial major league free-agent draft of high school, college, and sandlot players. Picking second, the Mets take pitcher Les Rohr. In the 10th round, they finally take Nolan Ryan. Cincinnati picks Johnny Bench in the second round.

Best of Twitter:

• Hit ‘em at Chappie!

• All of a sudden, this is becoming a really strong follow-up campaign...