Elephant Rumblings: Mason Miller impressive in Triple A debut

Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse. We could spend this morning discussing how the Oakland Athletics’ pitching staff issued a record 17 walks in a blowout loss to the Mets Friday night in the first game of their home stand. Or how the pitching staff as a whole now has an 8.34 ERA for the season while the rotation’s number climbed to 10.22 after James Kaprielian was tagged for six runs in just 3 2/3 innings.

However, I am going to instead focus on something more positive and hopefully better days ahead for the franchise. Mason Miller made his Triple A debut for Las Vegas Friday night and was dominant striking out 11 over five perfect innings. The only base runner he allowed in the game came on a dropped third strike. Miller showed off all of his tools in his performance cracking triple digits with his fastball 23 times during his outing. Perhaps even more relevant given the current state of Oakland’s pitching staff, only eight of those 23 fastballs missed the strike zone. He’s made two starts this season and has yet to walk a batter in 8 2/3 innings.

I don’t think anyone could have predicted that Oakland would struggle this bad, this early, but it is important to keep perspective. There is a lot of young talent in this minor league system and better days are ahead.

A’s Coverage

• A’s drop series opener to the Mets 17-6
• A’s pitching struggles continue in loss to Mets
• A’s add Tyler Wade, Hogan Harris, option Adam Oller and Nick Allen
• A’s implode, issue Oakland-record 17 walks in 17-6 loss to Mets
• Celebrating the Swinging A’s of 1973, when a dynasty almost sat out the World Series
• JP Sears among group of seven pitchers with improved fastballs this season

MLB News

• Jeffrey Springs expected to miss multiple months with arm injury
• Why Mets bench coach Eric Chavez sees himself as a future MLB manager
• The future of MLB TV blackouts: Is an all-30 team streaming service possible?
• White Sox claim Nick Solak, place Yoán Moncada on IL

Best of Twitter

Some video of Miller’s Triple A debut.

Mark Kotsay on the A’s pitching staff issuing 17 walks in Friday’s loss to the Mets.

Lost in the pitching staff’s struggles, Oakland’s offense actually out hit the Mets 13-11. Brent Rooker homered again and finished with two hits. He is on a nice run at the plate over his last three games.

Presented without comment.