Athletics Nation - Athletics clinch Wild Card, return to postseason for third straight yearAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2014-09-30T16:13:52-07:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/66264542014-09-30T16:13:52-07:002014-09-30T16:13:52-07:002014 AL Wild Card: Batter vs. Pitcher matchups
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<img alt="Pictured: Josh Reddick hitting one of his three career home runs against James Shields, in Aug. 2014." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WNgJxFDGOFuDq4NK0vlifeUTndU=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40542962/453126608.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Pictured: Josh Reddick hitting one of his three career home runs against James Shields, in Aug. 2014. | Jason O. Watson</figcaption>
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<p>The game is almost here. Let's take a look at the career numbers of each lineup against their opposing starters.</p> <p>The big game is almost here. Baseballgirl will be here with your Game Thread shortly, but while we wait let's take a look at the career numbers of each team's hitters against the starters they will oppose on Tuesday. Do remember that all of these inherently come in tiny samples, some of them spread out over many years, and that they should be taken with a truck full of salt. I'm not usually a big believer in these kinds of stats for that reason, but at this point we'll look at any new takes we can get.</p>
<p>Both of these charts are taken straight from ESPN.com: <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/batvspitch/_/id/28474/james-shields">link to Shields</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/batvspitch/_/id/28487/jon-lester">link to Lester</a>.</p>
<p><img width="100%" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/5085334/wild_card_shields_vs_athletics.jpg" class="photo" alt="Wild_card_shields_vs_athletics_medium"></p>
<p>It's pretty clear to me that Josh Reddick is the key position player in this game for Oakland. He has dominated Shields during their careers (two of those homers came in the same game on Aug. 3, 2014), and Donaldson is the only other member of Tuesday's starting lineup who has ever gone deep off Big Game James. On top of that, I expect the Royals will try to take an extra base whenever possible, going first to third on singles (or second to home). Reddick's arm in right field is the only thing standing between them and success in that aggressive strategy, since Coco won't be throwing anyone out and guys don't challenge as often on left fielders (in this case, Fuld, who does have an arm as well). Adam Dunn's line is uninspiring (.200/.300/.286, 1 HR, 16 Ks in 40+ PAs), and that's got to be why he isn't in the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Let's break down the starting lineup into three groups:</p>
<p><b>Good against Shields in the past: </b></p>
<p>Reddick -- .318/.318/.864, 3 HR, triple, double, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>Bad against Shields in the past: </b></p>
<p>Coco -- .125/.160/.125, 5 strikeouts<br>Fuld -- .200/.333/.200<br>Moss -- .214/.214/.214, 5 strikeouts<br>Lowrie -- .188/.188/.188</p>
<p><b>Fewer than 10 at-bats against Shields:</b></p>
<p>Donaldson -- 2-for-9, HR<br>Vogt -- 2-for-6<br>Soto -- 1-for-9, 4 strikeouts<br>Sogard -- 0-for-5</p>
<p>That's not as encouraging as I'd hoped, which is why Reddick is my pick to make the difference. Do note that Nick Punto has success against Shields, and that Jonny Gomes has reached base twice in three tries against him. But these paltry stats underscore the importance of Lester's outing.</p>
<p><img width="100%" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/5085342/wild_card_lester_vs_royals.jpg" class="photo" alt="Wild_card_lester_vs_royals_medium"></p>
<p>Wait, let me check something ... okay, Jayson Nix is not in the starting lineup. That's a relief. He's basically been as good against Lester as Reddick has been against Shields, though you'd be excused if you don't buy into the sustainability of Nix's line. Still, can't argue that he's owned Lester so far. Let's break down the Royals' lineup into the same three groups:</p>
<p><b>Good against Lester in the past:</b></p>
<p>Escobar -- .294/.381/.412, 2 doubles, no strikeouts<br>Cain -- .313/.353/.500, 3 doubles, 6 strikeouts<br>Hosmer -- .308/.471/.538, HR</p>
<p><b>Bad against Lester in the past: </b></p>
<p>Butler -- .143/.273/.179, 1 double, 11 strikeouts<br>Gordon -- .160/.214/.240, 2 doubles, 10 strikeouts<br>Infante -- .133/.133/.133<br>Moustakas -- .250/.400/.250</p>
<p><b>Fewer than 10 ABs vs. Lester:</b></p>
<p>Aoki -- 4-for-9, 4 singles, 1 walk no strikeouts<br>Perez -- 3-for-6, 1 double, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p>Hosmer is the only one in the starting lineup who has hit a homer off of Lester. However, a few of the slashers have found success against him, so he'll need to make sure to prevent Kansas City from stringing together any long rallies. For all of the dominance that Lester has shown against the Royals over the years, there are some guys in this lineup who have succeeded against him.</p>
<p>I feel less good about things now that I've looked at these numbers. Good thing I added that disclaimer at the top about not believing in tiny samples. You should disregard this entire post and pretend that you didn't see it. Lester is awesome, and that's all you need to know.</p>
<p>Let's Go Oakland!</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/30/6875801/athletics-vs-royals-2014-wild-card-batter-pitcher-matchups-josh-reddickAlex Hall2014-09-30T14:18:50-07:002014-09-30T14:18:50-07:00Star-crossed Aces: Lester vs. Shields
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<figcaption>Jamie Squire</figcaption>
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<p>The first time Jon Lester and James Shields met head-to-head some stuff happened. Six years later, they're set to square off in MLB's first postseason game of 2014. Has fate aligned them to settle the score?</p> <p>
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<p>June 5, 2008 was a cloudy, overcast day in Boston, with a slight drizzle, too. The weather was fitting, as the air between the two teams playing that afternoon -- the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> -- was figuratively dense as well. The division rivals were at odds due to series of events that took place the night prior.</p>
<p>In the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game, Red Sox Center Fielder Coco Crisp stole second base after reaching first on an infield single off <span>Jason Hammel</span> -- yes, that Jason Hammel. As is his ritual, Crisp slid headfirst, but Rays shortstop <span>Jason Bartlett</span> put his knee down in front of the bag which resulted in Crisp jamming this thumb. He took the knee as an affront, and when he reached again in the eight inning, he aggressively slid into second baseman <span>Akinori Iwamura</span>, cleats up, to show his displeasure.</p>
<p>"You can do that, but that's shady ... If you going to hurt me, I'm gonna come back and hurt you," Crisp said of his actions.</p>
<p>Crisp was later engaged from the bench by Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was on his way to replace Hammel.</p>
<p><span>Jon Lester</span> took the ball that Thursday afternoon. It was his first start since throwing the first and only no-hitter of his career, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a>. It was his first full year in the majors, and he was yet to surpass <span>Josh Beckett</span> as the staff ace in Boston.</p>
<p>That afternoon, he was opposed by another young starter, <span>James Shields</span>.</p>
<p>Shields was a jewel of the Rays farm system, and was an emerging co-ace alongside All-Star Scott Kazmir. He had a rough first inning that afternoon, drilling <span>Dustin Pedroia</span> with one out, then allowing a double to JD Drew and then a three-run homer to cleanup man <span>Manny Ramirez</span>.</p>
<p>Crisp led off the second inning, and was unsurprisingly hit, in the right hip, on the first pitch of his first at-bat against Shields, an inside fastball. Crisp's first look was to first base, which was just enough to distract home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg and catcher <span>Dioner Navarro</span> so he could flip away his helmet and charge Shields.</p>
<p>Shields welcomed the melee, unloading a right haymaker towards Crisp's head, which he dexterously avoided and then let fly a weak swing of his own that barely made contact with the fuming pitcher. Crisp was tackled by Navarro and then dog-piled and socked in the head (and flank) by outfielders <span>Jonny Gomes</span> and <span>Carl Crawford</span> -- Crawford also allegedly tried to pull out one of Coco's corn rows. Shields and Crisp were ejected from the game, and all of the players involved were handed suspensions. Although not really involved, <span>Grant Balfour</span> could also be seen in the crowd.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i0n4ihd492Y" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>(Jon Lester, the winning pitcher that day, was suspended too for plunking Carl Crawford and Iwamura in the 6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> innings.)</p>
<p>The fracas is now among the better-known fights in baseball history.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>It means absolutely nothing statistically, but for narrative's sake here are the head-to-head numbers between Lester vs. Shields since 2008:</p>
<p>Lester -- 3-1, 25⅓ innings, 2.13 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 20 Ks, 4 BB</p>
<p>Shields -- 1-3, 23⅓ innings, 4.24 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 19 Ks, 7 BB</p>
<p>When they first met, neither pitcher had emerged as a staff anchor. They'd shown promise, but it wasn't until the intervening years that they would grow into players who would command power-hitters like <span>Wil Myers</span> or <span>Yoenis Cespedes</span> on the trade market.</p>
<p>This time, six years later, they meet under a new set of circumstances. They are each mercenary aces acquired at heavy costs by their respective teams to win a big game exactly like the one Tuesday. A lot of the same faces will be there, although they're in different uniforms -- and I'm sure their tempers have flared down by now.</p>
<p>I woke up this morning with part of the prologue from Romeo & Juliet bouncing through my head, which is odd, considering I haven't read the play since my sophomore year of high school.</p>
<p>It goes:</p>
<p><i>Two households, both alike in dignity,<br>In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,<br>From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,<br>Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.<br>From forth the fatal loins of these two foes<br>A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;<br>Whose misadventured piteous overthrows<br>Do with their death bury their parents' strife.</i></p>
<p>Maybe it's a stretch, but to me, James Shields and Jon Lester seem <i>star-crossed</i>, not in the doom-and-gloom sense of the ominous prologue, but because they were acquired for exactly the purpose they're going to be used Tuesday night -- and the history mentioned above, of course.</p>
<p>It couldn't be scripted any better. Shields is rejuvenated after <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/return-of-the-james-shields-changeup/">finding his change-up</a> during the season's second half, and Lester has rebounded from sub-par (by his lofty standards) 2012 and 2013 campaigns. In essence, these two are at the height of their powers, facing each other not knowing where they'll be tomorrow. Who knows what teams they'll be pitching for the next time they meet? Tonight it doesn't matter. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/return-of-the-james-shields-changeup/"> </a></p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/30/6874831/athhletics-royals-wild-card-jon-lester-james-shields-aces-2014-mlb-playoffsSpencer Silva2014-09-30T11:57:37-07:002014-09-30T11:57:37-07:00A's Wild Card Lineup: Adam Dunn notably absent
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Adam Dunn is not in Oakland's Wild Card lineup.</p> <p>San Francisco Chronicle A's beat writer Susan Slusser has an early scoop on Oakland's lineup today (she usually does), and apparently, <span>Adam Dunn</span> won't be in that lineup despite a right-handed opposing pitcher in <span>James Shields</span>.</p>
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<p>The lineup hasn't been posted yet but heard it was the same as the other day but with Fuld in and Dunn out. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a></p>
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/517010101195259904">September 30, 2014</a>
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<p><b>[Update: The lineups listed below are now official]</b></p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead>
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<th align="left">OAKLAND A'S</th> <th align="left">KANSAS CITY ROYALS</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Coco Crisp</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Alcides Escobar</span> - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Sam Fuld</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Norichika Aoki</span> - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Josh Donaldson</span> - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Lorenzo Cain</span> - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Brandon Moss</span> - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Eric Hosmer</span> - 1B</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Josh Reddick</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Billy Butler</span> - DH</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Jed Lowrie</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Alex Gordon</span> - LF</td>
</tr>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Stephen Vogt</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Salvador Perez</span> - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Geovany Soto</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Omar Infante</span> - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Eric Sogard</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Mike Moustakas</span> - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Jon Lester</span> - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">James Shields - RHP</td>
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<p>Dunn, notably, has never been to the playoffs throughout his nearly two-decade career. But holding him out of the lineup allows Sam Fuld to play left, pushing Stephen Vogt to first and allowing Moss to man the DH position, sore hip and all. With Fuld, Crisp, and Reddick across the outfield, the A's have their strongest possible defensive alignment.</p>
<p>Geovany Soto is catching, heeding AN's call from yesterday - Oakland will need him to stop Kansas City's impressive base-stealing tactics if and when Lester allows a baserunner.</p>
<p><span>Nick Punto</span> is available off the bench as a late-inning defensive replacement, and Dunn is available to pinch-hit at any point against a right-handed arm out of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> bullpen.</p>
<p>Not using Dunn is certainly an odd choice, but we don't know what Melvin knows. He might be hurt; he might be sick; the A's might have decided to value every speck of defensive ability more than they have for any other game; Melvin might simply want him available off the bench in the late innings of what he assumes will be a close game. Since Moss is DHing, Dunn will likely sub in for a position player against a right-handed reliever; he could replace Sogard or Soto, then return to the bench as Punto or <span>Derek Norris</span> enter the game.</p>
<p>Oh, and for his career, Dunn is 7 for 35 against Shields with only one home run. There you go.</p>
<p>First pitch is at 5:07pm Pacific.</p>
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https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/30/6874613/as-wild-card-lineup-adam-dunn-notably-absentLF942014-09-30T08:33:29-07:002014-09-30T08:33:29-07:00Athletics announce AL Wild Card roster
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<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who made the Oakland A's Wild Card roster?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> have announced their roster for the American League Wild Card game, with first pitch at 5:07 pm Pacific Time. Left-handed relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty has been left off the roster, according to the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Wild-card-roster-could-have-unique-look-5789273.php">San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser</a>, because he has been dealing with "discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow."</p>
<p>The Athletics are going with just one extra member of their regular starting rotation, <span>Jason Hammel</span>, and six other relievers including left-handed pitcher <span>Drew Pomeranz</span>. <span>Billy Burns</span> makes the roster, and because the A's selected just eight pitchers, there is room for <span>Andy Parrino</span> to make the postseason roster.</p>
<p>Should the Athletics advance, the A's will reset their roster for the American League Division Series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a>, starting Thursday. At that point, they will need to drop three players to add <span>Sonny Gray</span>, <span>Jeff Samardzija</span>, and <span>Scott Kazmir</span>.</p>
<p><span>Craig Gentry</span> may be available later in the postseason should the A's advance. He took batting practice on Monday, and will likely be sent to instructional league in Arizona to get at bats.</p>
<p>The complete Oakland Athletics American League Wild Card Game roster:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="464" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 464pt;">
<colgroup> <col width="92" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3925; width: 92pt;"> <col width="33" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1408; width: 33pt;"> <col width="16" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 682; width: 16pt;"> <col width="104" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4437; width: 104pt;"> <col width="33" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1408; width: 33pt;"> <col width="16" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 682; width: 16pt;"> <col width="106" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4522; width: 106pt;"> <col width="28" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1194; width: 28pt;"> <col width="36" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1536; width: 36pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" width="92" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 92pt;"><b>Catchers (2)</b></td>
<td width="33" style="text-align: center; width: 33pt;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td rowspan="24" width="16" style="text-align: center; width: 16pt;"><b></b></td>
<td width="104" style="text-align: center; width: 104pt;"><b>Starting Pitchers (2)</b></td>
<td width="33" style="text-align: center; width: 33pt;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td rowspan="24" width="16" style="text-align: center; width: 16pt;"><b></b></td>
<td width="106" style="text-align: center; width: 106pt;"><b>Not on Roster</b></td>
<td width="28" style="text-align: center; width: 28pt;"><b>Pos.</b></td>
<td width="36" style="text-align: center; width: 36pt;"><b>Injury</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Derek Norris</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Jason Hammel</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Kyle Blanks</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1B</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Geovany Soto</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jon Lester</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Bryan Anderson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="2" height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">John Jaso</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">C</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>First Baseman (4)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Relievers (6)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Craig Gentry</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Adam Dunn</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Fernando Abad</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Sonny Gray</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Nate Freiman</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Ryan Cook</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Scott Kazmir</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Brandon Moss</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Sean Doolittle</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Jeff Samardzija</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Stephen Vogt</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Luke Gregerson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Jesse Chavez</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="2" height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Dan Otero</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Eric O'Flaherty</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>Infielders (6)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Drew Pomeranz</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Fernando Rodriguez</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Alberto Callaspo</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><span>Evan Scribner</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RP</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Josh Donaldson</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Jed Lowrie</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Andy Parrino</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Nick Punto</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Eric Sogard</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="2" height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>Outfielders (5)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Hand</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Billy Burns</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><span>Coco Crisp</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Sam Fuld</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Jonny Gomes</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">RHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Josh Reddick</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">LHB</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Here is Kansas City's postseason roster. They are carrying nine pitchers total, the five relievers with ERAs under 2.00, James Shields, and three other starting pitchers:</p>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Kansas City's 25-man roster for tonight. Very hitter-heavy because teams can change rosters before ALDS. <a href="http://t.co/aHLOzexqpY">pic.twitter.com/aHLOzexqpY</a></p>
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/516977727446855680">September 30, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/30/6873057/athletics-announce-american-league-wild-card-roster-mlb-postseasonJeremy F. Koo2014-09-29T18:54:44-07:002014-09-29T18:54:44-07:00Abad To The Bone<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6626454">Abad To The&nbsp;Bone</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>That's how you celebrate a postseason berth. Notice that he has equal platoon splits drinking from either hand.</p></p></div>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/29/6870463/abad-to-the-boneAlex Hall2014-09-29T17:00:28-07:002014-09-29T17:00:28-07:00Coco vs. Shields ... Round 1, FIGHT!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i0n4ihd492Y" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>There is some history in this matchup. Shields has one swing and miss, and we'll give Coco a "foul tip" for kinda sorta connecting on his punch. Note Jonny Gomes coming in and whooping on Coco after the fact.</p></p></div>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/29/6869909/coco-vs-shields-round-1-fightAlex Hall2014-09-29T15:55:18-07:002014-09-29T15:55:18-07:005 reasons to be optimistic about A's vs. Royals
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<img alt=""You can't touch this." -- the KC Hammer (who regularly hammers KC)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d1VjFcaUvE5b7UPRMscUbgyo0rQ=/0x460:2983x2449/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40440732/20140829_ajw_al2_313.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"You can't touch this." -- the KC Hammer (who regularly hammers KC) | Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's been a long couple of months for Oakland Athletics fans, but the suspense is over and we now know the A's made the playoffs. Everything has been doom-and-gloom lately as the team did its best to fully collapse, but that's all behind us now because everything is reset. Every team is tied at 0-0, and the MLB lead in home runs is a tie between every player with zero. It's a clean slate, both for the players and the fans. Let's start <strike>October</strike> late-late September with a shot of optimism to restore the fAith of any among us who may have lost it over the last two months.</p>
<p>Here are five reasons to be optimistic about Oakland's one-game, winner-take-all playoff against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City:</p>
<h3><b>1. Jon Lester owns both the Royals and the postseason.</b></h3>
<p>Take your pick from these pitching lines:</p>
<p><b>Lester, 2014 overall:</b> 32 starts, 2.46 ERA, 219⅔ innings, 220 Ks, 48 BB, 16 HR<br><b>Lester, career vs. KC:</b> 13 starts, 1.84 ERA, 88 innings, 73 Ks, 33 BB, 1 HR<br><b>Lester, 2013-14 vs. KC:</b> 4 starts, 2.28 ERA, 27⅔ innings, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 0 HR<br><b>Lester, posteseason:</b> 11 starts, 1.98 ERA, 73 innings, 63 Ks, 20 BB, 7 HR*</p>
<p><font size="1"><i>* doesn't include two relief appearances from 2007 ALCS</i></font></p>
<p>This is why Beane traded Cespedes for Lester. This exact situation. Setting aside everything that happened before and everything that will happen after, and just looking strictly at Tuesday, I'd rather have Lester on the mound than Cespedes, or really any individual hitter, in the lineup. That's how perfect Lester is for this game.</p>
<p>It's not a surprise that Lester has had so much success against these Royals. He's good at limiting hits and walks, and your best chance against him is to pop a couple of quick homers and then hold serve. The Royals' offensive strategy requires them to make lots of contact and string together hits in long rallies, because they don't have a lot of power. Long rallies are difficult to come by against Lester.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Kansas City has a few key left-handed hitters in its lineup: Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer. Gordon has even splits this year and in his career, so facing a lefty doesn't neutralize him. But Moose and Hosmer are both better against righties. On the flip side, two of the scarier right-handed hitters, Billy Butler and Omar Infante, had major off-years in 2014. Josh Willingham is on the team, but we'll talk more about him later.</p>
<p>That leaves three guys to fear. The first is Salvador Perez, a right-hander who has some pop but posted a .289 OBP this season. Next is Lorenzo Cain, a speedy right-hander who came into his own this year and batted .301 overall. Finally, there is Nori Aoki, a lefty who has reverse splits and destroyed southpaws this year. But again, the latter two of those three guys are more likely to hit singles than homers.</p>
<p>So, with Lester on the mound, the thing to fear most is a pair of slashers who aspire to hit the gaps in a best-case scenario and a guy with a lower OBP than Alberto Callaspo. They're good, but there is no Trout/Pujols/Hamilton or Cabrera/Martinez/Hunter or Jones/Cruz/Davis to get through in Kansas City. That doesn't guarantee victory, but it should make you breathe a lot easier.</p>
<h3>2. Josh Willingham, aging hitter</h3>
<p>In that last section, I mentioned Willingham and then sort of ignored him. That might seem surprising to you, since he has ruined Athletics pitching since leaving as a free agent after 2011. In 21 career games against Oakland, he's launched eight home runs and tallied a .708 slugging percentage. Furthermore, he bats right-handed, seemingly making him the perfect foil for Lester.</p>
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<p>The thing is, I don't even know if he'll be starting on Tuesday. He didn't on Saturday in a crucial game against southpaw John Danks. He didn't on Thursday against southpaw Jose Quintana. In fact, he only had 33 plate appearances in all of September -- nine games, seven starts. He hasn't homered since Aug. 22, which sounds downright Mossian. Royals Review reports that he's been dealing with back and groin injuries lately, so clearly the problem is physical; he's already announced that he'll retire after the season.</p>
<p>Like Adam Dunn, this is Willingham's first trip to the postseason, and it comes right as he plans to hang up his cleats. On a personal level, it would be a bummer if he wasn't able to start, or even play, in the Wild Card game. Other than the fact that he always beats us, I think A's fans still have a special place in their hearts for the Compliant Pork. He's a good player and seems like a quality guy and it would be nice to see a reward for him at the end of the tunnel. But he's also like Dunn in that he arrived with a bang and then didn't do much after his first week with his new club. He was the thing I was most afraid of in the Royals' lineup, but the bittersweet reality is that he might not even play.</p>
<h3>3. Big (regular season) Game James Shields</h3>
<p>James Shields is a fantastic pitcher. He's a horse who is a good bet to go seven or eight innings in each game (6⅔ average per start this year), and he's capable of dominating on any given day. He has nine career shutouts, which ranks behind only Tim Hudson, Bartolo Colon, Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett among active pitchers (unless you count Johan Santana as active). Each of those guys has pitched several more seasons than Shields has, and Hudson leads the group with 13 blankings. Shields is as likely to throw a shutout as any pitcher in baseball other than Clayton Kershaw (who also has nine in his career, in two fewer seasons).</p>
<p>So yes, Shields has earned his nickname and his reputation as a big-game pitcher ... in the regular season. Here is his postseason career:</p>
<p><b>Shields, postseason:</b> 6 starts, 4.98 ERA, 34⅓ innings, 25 K, 8 BB, 4 HR</p>
<p>Of those six starts, two have been disasters and only two have been quality. The two disasters happen to be the two most recent ones, in 2010 and 2011. Only once has he finished the seventh inning, back in the 2008 ALCS. Only once has he had a scoreless outing, in his only World Series appearance -- and that was only 5⅔ innings, with nine baserunners allowed. None of this will matter if the A's offense keeps doing the jack-all nothing it's been doing for the last couple months, but the point is that their biggest obstacle on Tuesday may be overcoming themselves. And whenever the A's face Shields, I always look back to <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK201107270.shtml" target="_blank">this game</a>, for which I was watching from the stands, as a source of optimism. He can be beaten.</p>
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<p>Postseason stats are dangerous to rely on, because they inherently come in tiny sample sizes and they can be dashed to bits in one great or terrible series. But it's sure nice to know that the next time Shields has major success in the playoffs will be the first time, especially given Lester's consistent, unflappable October success. It's all about stacking the odds in your favor as much as possible to increase your chances of hitting the jackpot.</p>
<p>Oh, and Shields is a right-hander. Although the full-season stats don't suggest a huge split for Oakland's lineup against lefty or righty starters, they went 64-49 against righties and 24-25 against lefties and our collective eyeball test seems to agree that the club has struggled against southpaws lately. If I had to pick, I'd rather have the lineup featuring Dunn and Vogt and Sogard and best-case Moss rather than Gomes and Freiman and Punto and worst-case Moss.</p>
<p>Also, Josh Reddick, possibly Oakland's hottest hitter, has three homers, a triple, and a double in 22 career at-bats against Shields, for an 1.182 OPS. So there's that.</p>
<h3>4. Home-field advantage? Maybe not.</h3>
<p>Let me start by saying that this section is based on a junk stat. But I'm still going to cite it.</p>
<p>There have been four Wild Card play-in games since the system was established in 2012. In three of those four games, the visitor won. The only exception was the 2013 Pirates beating the Reds in Pittsburgh. The point isn't that the visitor has an advantage in this particular situation. Rather, the point is that home-field advantage is just not a big deal in this instance. In a single game, a small consideration like that comes second to which hitter manages to blast the three-run homer, or which pitcher happens to have the game of his life. Those things can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>The A's were 48-33 (+15) at home, and 40-41 (-1) on the road. The numbers in parentheses denote how far above or below .500 they were in each split. The Royals were 42-39 (+3) at home and 47-34 (+13) on the road. <i>The Royals were better on the road, by a significant margin.</i> Again, this doesn't mean that they're bad at home. It just means that playing better at home is not how they got to this point, like it may have been with a team like the Rockies (serious park effects) or the Yankees (serious home-crowd effects).</p>
<p>One perceived advantage for the Royals in this contest is the fact that they're playing in the familiar confines of Kauffman Stadium. But they played better on the road this year and they're now in a game historically dominated by road teams so far. Let's just call it a wash and remove that advantage from KC's ledger.</p>
<h3>5. Bob Melvin vs. Ned Yost</h3>
<p>I generally don't put too much stock into field managers. I believe that one would have to be far on the extreme of brilliant or idiotic in order to gain or cost his team more than a couple games in the standings over the course of a season. I just don't think it matters that much relative to the actual talent and health of your players.</p>
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<p>However, this might be a rare instance in which the managers make a difference. That's because they both lie on opposite extremes of the aforementioned competence spectrum, and because this is a single game without the benefit of 161 more of them to balance things out. A particularly smart or dumb move could actually make a big difference in this one.</p>
<p>On one side, you have Bob Melvin, two-time Manager of the Year, who is generally praised for turning a ragtag Oakland roster into a juggernaut over the last three seasons thanks to his ability to derive maximum value out of players with specific, limited skill sets. You may think that his magic ran a bit short the last two months, but you probably still agree that he's one of the best skippers in the game today.</p>
<p>On the other side, you have Ned Yost, who said this on Monday:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Ned Yost won't reveal his ALDS rotation yet. He expects to have most of his starters available in relief tomorrow.</p>
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/status/516624333863919616">September 29, 2014</a>
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<p>Umm. Kansas City's bullpen ranked 10th in MLB in ERA this year (3.30), and tied with the Mariners for the second-fewest blown saves (12). It features three phenoms (Holland, Davis, Herrera) with sub-1.50 ERAs who can handle the final three frames, and they will be coming on in relief of the starter who threw the fifth-most innings in all of baseball this season. The pen is almost certainly the biggest strength of this Royals team, and it's weird to me that Yost would consider doing anything drastically different with it in the most important game of the season, beyond carrying one extra starter for emergency reasons.</p>
<p>But perhaps Yordano Ventura or Danny Duffy really is the fourth-best relief option after those three late-inning studs and this particular decision makes sense. In that case, consider that Yost was once fired by a playoff team just two weeks before the end of the regular season, because going into the postseason with a brand-new interim manager seemed like a better option than keeping Yost around. That says a lot. Royals Review also <a href="http://www.royalsreview.com/2014/9/15/6150833/the-needful-end-of-ned-yost" target="_blank">says a lot</a> about "Nervous Ned." <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/9/15/6152687/ned-yost-royals-manager-playoffs">Grant Brisbee says even more</a> in his recent post on the issue. His recent Yost post.</p>
<p>The managers may not end up mattering. But if Melvin makes a smart pinch-hitting move and Yost calls on Jeremy Guthrie instead of Kelvin Herrera because of, I don't know, reasons, then this advantage could mean something for Oakland.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>So there are your five reasons for optimism. There are certainly others, but these seemed like a good start. I'll leave you with one more note, from a comment by user ORthey on Sunday:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Look, here's the truth</p>
<p>In the last 15 years, sending awesome teams to the playoffs hasn't yielding anything more than a single trip to the ALCS.</p>
<p>This year, we're sending a team limping, hobbling, and licking its wounds into a one-game playoff. It's as different as it gets, and for that reason, I'm feeling oddly optimistic.</p>
<p>Let's almost never forget: the 2006 Cardinals went 83-79 and won the World Series. You just have to get in to have a chance. The A's are in.</p>
<p>LET'S DO THIS THING BOYS</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Winning 103 games didn't do the trick. Boasting the original Big 3 didn't do it. Giambi/Tejada/Chavez couldn't win. The magical 2012 team ran out of tricks. The even stronger 2013 squad fell short. Heck, even the mighty Cespedes wasn't enough to take Oakland over the hump, twice. Division winners, red-hot rosters, none of them had an answer except for Frank Thomas in 2006, on a team that needed a 17-2 record against the Mariners just to make it to October at all. So why not a crippled roster of slumping players who backed into the postseason on a cold streak against the worst clubs in the league? Why can't that team win? We've tried everything else, may as well try this roundabout route. If the 2006 Cardinals and the 2010 Giants can do it, anyone can. And this time the A's don't have to sit around for a week getting rusty while they wait for the ALDS to begin.</p>
<p>It all starts over on Tuesday. Everyone is 0-0, and nothing that happened last week or last month will be factored into the final score. Only what happens on Tuesday, with a stud two-time champion pitcher going up against a lineup he owns and a starter who has never succeeded in the postseason in a park that lends no advantage to its host, all of it called by one great manager and one great fool.</p>
<p>Fear not, Athletics Nation. We've got this.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/29/6865531/athletics-royals-wild-card-2014-mlb-playoffs-jon-lester-james-shieldsAlex Hall2014-09-29T14:50:36-07:002014-09-29T14:50:36-07:00Geovany Soto must catch for Oakland on Tuesday
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If the A's have any shot at containing the Royals' impressive running game, Geovany Soto has to handle the catching duties.</p> <p><span>Derek Norris</span> is a good catcher and a quality young player. He's one of the young pieces Oakland has built its team around in recent years, and rightfully so. But Derek Norris will severely jeopardize his team's chances of advancing to the American League Division Series if he starts for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in tomorrow night's Wild Card Game against Kansas City.</p>
<p>Why? The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> are known to run wild on the basepaths, and Norris has consistently shown throughout the season — especially its final months — that he's not defensively capable of containing that running game.</p>
<p>Kansas City is averaging 0.94 swipes per game, head and shoulders above the rest of the league. Only one other club averages above 0.75 stolen bases, and it's the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. The A's, by comparison, average just 0.51.</p>
<p>Norris is 12 for 72 on the year throwing out attempted base stealers. That's ugly. In a much smaller sample size, Soto is overwhelmingly better — his 10-for-23 mark is stellar, and makes it hard to attribute the difference to the small sample. Besides, throwing out base stealers is vastly more black-and-white than offense when it comes to determining whether success is based on luck or legitimate ability; there's not much room for debating when comparing each catcher's ability to control the running game.</p>
<p><span>Besides, in his career, Soto is 150 for 554; he throws runners out at a rate of .27 caught stealing per attempt. Norris is 36 for 165, good for a rate of .218 that was much more comparable to Soto's before his dismal 2014. Norris has been playing hurt, and he'll probably have more success next season throwing runners out stealing. But in the present, there's no denying that Soto is much, much better equipped to curtail Kansas City's running game tomorrow evening.</span></p>
<p>Tuesday night's starting pitcher, <span>Jon Lester</span>, does present a major road block. Norris has caught <i>every single game</i> Lester has pitched for the Athletics, dating back to his debut on August 2 in Oakland. But Lester is a professional, and he's the one actually deciding what pitch to throw, when to throw it and where to locate it.</p>
<p>Offensive productivity against right-handed pitching would take a hit, too. Soto's career wRC+ against righties is 92. Norris' is 106 in 2014, but he's been scuffling lately and racked up most of that positive productivity in April and June. If <span>Geovany Soto's</span> presence in the lineup, in Norris' stead, means that the A's stand a small chance of racking up one fewer base hit, it's a sacrifice worth making if Soto throws out a runner and dissuades another pair from even attempting a steal.</p>
<p>Jon Lester is one of the American League's best pitchers, but he won't throw a perfect game tomorrow. His stats, as every pitcher's do, imply that he'll give up at least one run, and many baserunners. The A's are struggling to score as it is, and the difference between a runner on first or a runner on second with one out could easily make or break Oakland's season.</p>
<p>It's helpful that Lester is left-handed, and that he possesses a solid slide step. He'll do his job, but he needs to be able to depend on his backstop to do his fair share as well.</p>
<p>Norris will likely appear in the game regardless, as a late-inning pinch-hitter against a left-handed reliever. Leveraging his superior capabilities on offense is fine for a crucial at-bat if it means he plays an inning or two of defense. Maybe he'll even DH. Nine innings of Norris behind the plate, though, is a dangerous game to play with a team that will run him ragged.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/9/29/6862393/geovany-soto-must-catch-for-oakland-on-tuesdayLF94