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Happy Thursday, AN!
With the starting pitching struggling to make it deep into games so far in the season, the bullpen has been asked to pick up the slack. In only six games the bullpen has thrown 27.2 innings, fifth in the AL but three of the teams ahead of them have played a full extra game.
That’s why the A’s signed veteran journeyman reliever Spencer Patton to a minor-league deal yesterday. Patton, who just turned 35, gives the A’s another experienced candidate for their bullpen as he’s pitched 5 seasons in MLB and four years overseas in Japan.
Patton had little success in his first go-around in North American baseball for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers but improved once heading across the Pacific. In four seasons pitching in the Nippon league, he threw to a 3.68 ERA in 205 2⁄3 innings, all out of the bullpen.
He finally made his way back to the states in 2021 for another stint with the rival Rangers and had his first successful big-league season when he made 42 appearances and pitched to a 3.83 ERA. Not eye-popping numbers but a decent enough middle reliever. That kind of player has value in baseball.
The 2022 season wasn’t as kind to the right-hander. After making seven appearances he was placed in the injured list due to an oblique strain, a notoriously difficult injury to overcome. He did finally make it back into game action that year but only for Texas’ Triple-A squad. His final season stats don’t tell the whole picture of his 2022 season, either. He was mostly solid for them for a majority of the year but got absolutely destroyed in the final couple weeks of the season, raising his ERA from a respectable 3.42 to a ghastly 6.44.
For a bullpen light on experience and age, Patton brings both of those to the organization. He’s been assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas for now but he’s now only a phone call away from joining the A’s inexperienced bullpen. Don’t be shocked to see him brought up at some point this summer, or perhaps earlier if he gets back to his ‘21 level.
A’s Coverage:
- Rasmussen: A’s attendance already approaching record lows
- Carothers: A’s fans bristle over report that team is being outdrawn by most Triple-A teams
- Yamashita: Las Vegas loves the Aviators, but the A’s are tempting
- Hardin Sr.: Gaddis and Guardians top A’s 6-4
- Jaura: Who is Tony Kemp’s wife, Michelle Kemp? A glimpse into family life of A’s second baseman
MLB News & Interest:
- Denton: Air Jordan! Walker makes father’s day with first MLB home run
- Franco: White Sox’ Hendricks completes chemotherapy
- ESPN: O’Neil defends effort, but Marmol reiterates criticism
- Lee: Yankees’ Donaldson exits with hamstring tightness
- Franco: Brewers’ Aaron Ashby to undergo shoulder surgery
- McDonald: White Sox place Eloy Jimenez on IL with hamstring strain
- Jones: Olson’s outstanding day caps off Braves’ dominant sweep
- ESPN: Orioles’ top prospect Grayson Rodriguez K’s 5 in debut
- Today in Baseball History
Best of Twitter:
So he is human?
Shohei Ohtani: 1st Player ever to have a Pitch Clock Violation as a Pitcher AND Hitter.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 5, 2023
pic.twitter.com/dLlkz9Ff9u
Who else was wondering why Big Foot was at the Royals game?!
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) April 6, 2023
Love it:
There’s a kid dressed as a home plate ump here and he’s calling balls and strikes. This is awesome! pic.twitter.com/d5owodTlTF
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) April 5, 2023
Gotta love baseball:
the 12 pitches Aguilar saw in this PA were the most in a PA ending in a game-tying or go-ahead HR in the 8th or later, MLB-wide, since…
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 5, 2023
Jesús Aguilar, 13-pitch walk-off HR on 4/21/18
BASEBALL! https://t.co/1IPNgw7BD7
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