Elephant Rumblings: In midst of losing streak, A’s turn focus to MLB Draft

A’s Coverage:

• Hall: A’s losing streak reaches five games as Astros win in extras...
• Gallegos: A’s hit 4 HRs but can’t get past Astros...
• Tafur: A frustrating sweep by the Astros shows the A’s the team they want to grow up to be... ($)
• Kawahara: A’s looking for ‘impact player’ with late first-round draft pick...
• Gallegos: A’s need arms, but may surprise with picks...
• Simmons: A’s forced to shut down righty Jharel Cotton with hamstring injury...

Best of AN:

• CatfishBunter: Game #60 — Four Homers Fail to Foil Astros...
• Nico: Fate This One Up To Chalk...
• Hall: Fan confidence fully restored as Oakland A’s climb back into playoff position...
• grover: Oakland A’s 2019 Draft Profile — Blake Walston, New Hanover HS (NC)...
• grover: Oakland A’s 2019 Draft Profile — Michael Busch, UNC...
• Nico: Future Bright, Present A Bit Puzzling...

MLB News:

• Zolecki: Mariners trade outfielder Jay Bruce to Phillies for prospect Jake Scheiner...
• Mayo and Callis: Draft buzz — Rutschman not going No. 1?
• Passan: Mariners making “almost every veteran on their roster” available for trade...
• Feinsand: Royals, Tigers have hot trade chips...
• Rosenthal: An unexpected event might be spurring the Cubs’ interest in Craig Kimbrel... ($)
• Sullivan: Joey Gallo heads to IL with strained oblique...
• Mish: Nationals sign former A’s reliever Fernando Rodney to minor league deal...
• McCalvy: After an almost two-year absence due to shoulder injury, Brewers righty Jimmy Nelson to return to MLB for start Wednesday...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Lars Anderson: What the MLB Draft is like for a young player choosing between college and the pros... ($)
• Edwards: Finding Cody Bellinger’s Weakness...
• Clemens: Gregory Groundball vs. Marty McFly — Who Allows More Big Innings?
• Stark: 10 things we learned in May... ($)

Today in Baseball History:

• 1888 — The poem Casey at the Bat is first printed in the San Francisco Examiner under the pen name “Phin”. Its author will later be revealed to be Ernest Lawrence Thayer.
• 1995 — Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos pitches nine perfect innings against San Diego before giving up a leadoff double to Bip Roberts in the 10th inning of the Expos’ 1 - 0 win. Martinez becomes the second pitcher in history, after Harvey Haddix, to have a perfect game broken up in extra innings.

Best of Twitter:

• For a few minutes over the weekend, all was right in the universe...

• I’m not sure I agree with the Rangers’ latest fashion statement...

• I know Oakland has ties with Pixar, but this might be going a little too far...