Does Oakland have enough pitching this season?
The A’s won 97 games last year, but instead of thoughts of World Series contention, there was a precarious feeling around the team heading into this season.
After all, last year was a surprise – while some thought the A’s would be good, no one saw 97 wins coming.
Alas, they arrived – perhaps a year or two ahead of schedule – and now the 2019 A’s aren’t sneaking up on anyone.
But Oakland’s starting rotation doesn’t put a scare in anyone, either. And that’s a big problem, even in his era of bullpenning and openers.
The A’s can hit and field as well as any team in the game and their bullpen is elite, but those things won’t matter much if you can’t get solid, reliable starting pitching over the 162-games schedule.
That’s what makes the A’s being swept in Japan so concerning.
Yes, it was small-sample-size theater, with regular-season games being played amid the Spring Training schedule, 5,000 miles away from the West Coast. But those two losses counted the same as two losses in August. One percent of the A’s 162-game schedule is complete.
But in those first two games, the A’s worst fears came to pass.
Oakland hit well, played solid defense, and asked plenty of their strong bullpen, whose backend mostly delivered. Those three areas looked “real” regular-season ready. But the starting pitching did not. “Opening Day” starter Mike Fiers could barely get through the third inning in the season opener Wednesday, allowing five runs on 58 pitches. The A’s put seven runs on the board in that game, but still lost by two.
an early morning doubleheader on the opening day of the American Christian Tournament.
Christian Lyss, Drew Bradbury and Blake Steidlmayer accounted for the Redhawks only hits as they suffered a shutout loss to Arcata.
Lyss had a solid outing on the mound striking out five over four and a third innings but the Redhawks committed four errors which resulted in two unearned runs.
Colusa would bounce back in their second game, cruising through the first five innings but the Lions rallied for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it close.
Freshman Justin Lee doubled and drove in three while Lyss smashed a two run double of his own to lead the Redhawks.
Leo Guzman and Conner Saso each doubled while Bradbury ended 2 for 2 with an RBI.
On the mound Colusa got strong performances from Bradbury and Ethan Lay who both struck out three and allowed just one hit in a combined four innings of work.
Colusa (9-2) takes the field tomorrow against a yet to be determined opponent. Orland 12, Live Oak 9 In Live Oak – The Lions baseball team fell shy of a victory on Thursday night as Orland was able to defeat the home team by a three-run margin.
Despite the home loss, Live Oak saw stand out plays from Tony Vallejo who went 2-for-4 with two runs as well as Carlos Palma-grove who went 2-for-4 with a double.
Live Oak (1-4) will host Williams today. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Faith Christian 3, Western Sierra 2 In Yuba City – After Western Sierra’s gym lost power on Monday, the teams finished the match on Thursday at Faith Christian in what proved to be a lights out performance by the Lions. The teams also played the regular scheduled game afterwards and the home team came away victorious yet again.
In game one, set scores were 25-22, 26-24, 24-26, 12-25 and 15-4. In game two, set scores were 25-15, 23-25, 2515 and 25-19.
Leading the stats in both games were Ben George with 47 assists and Nikko Rodriguez with 58 digs.
“The guys were on fire, I’m really proud of the way they played. They came into the season with not a lot of volleyball experience, but they’ve taken it by storm and have really started to get comfortable with everything,” said Lions head coach Stephanie Helms.
Faith Christian boys volleyball (3-3) will play Cristo Rey on Tuesday.
GOLF River Valley 223, Woodcreek 230 At Peachtree – The Falcons golf team achieved a historic mark on Thursday as they secured their 110th straight leave match vs. Woodcreek.
Leading the flock was Karn Ghomon (39), Amrit Ghoman (40), Jack Thiara (44) and Ryan Jelavich (46).
River Valley golf (5-0) will play in at it’s league tournament on Monday in Woodland.
TENNIS River Valley 8, Antelope 1 In Antelope – The Falcons tennis team was able to came away with a solid victory on Thursday when they won by a seven-point margin.
Standout results came from Sameer Gupta 6-0, 6-1; Jarsinar Kullar 6-2, 6-0; Eddie Perez 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 and the doubles pairing of Hugh Pungh and Roman Federico 6-4, 2-6, 10-8.
River Valley tennis (5-6, 2-4) will play at home on Thursday vs. Yuba City.
Colusa 6, Live Oak 3 In Live Oak – Colusa traveled to Live Oak yesterday and claimed a league victory after winning six of the nine matches.
In singles, the Redhawks won the top four seeded matches in straight sets as Trent Giffin beat Amrit Pamma 6-2, 6-0; Cameron Telford defeated Eduardo Martinez 6-2, 6-4; Diego Avila won vs. Roy Morales 6-0, 6-1 and Adrien Perez bested Kevin Martinez 7-5, 6-1.
Live Oak’s two singles wins came in the No. 5 match when Chris Fregoso defeated Marcos Talamantes 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 and at No. 6 as Cishwar Toor beat Jose Garcia 6-2, 6-2.
On the doubles courts, Colusa’s Giffin/avila won vs. Pamma/ E. Martinez 8-6, Telford/perez defeated Morales/fregoso while the Lions’ duo of K. Martinez/ Toor bested Talamantes/ Garcia 8-5.
Live Oak (0-4) will play Sutter on Tuesday. Bill Milbourne - 226
Johnny Jenkins - 268 Tiffany Emerson - 223 Anita Tennis - 213 Cathy Moniz - 189
Jeff Brockman - 257 Rita Buttacavoli - 209
Shane Schilperoot - 278 Janis Grove - 138
Ray Howard - 256 Alex Lopez - 256 Tony Razaqpur - 241 Debbie Smith - 224 Max Root - 276 Susan Whitten - 222 Vicky White - 191 Alicia Mcguckin - 177
Dillon Hovda - 277 Paul Weber - 269
Stacey Sinegal - 234 Connie Shaft - 148
Shane Schilperoot - 278 Janis Grove - 383
John Mossett - 662 Tom Mossett - 642 Tony Razaqpur - 708 Debbie Smith - 576 Patrick Tyler - 733 Susan Whitten - 654 Vicky White - 561 Alicia Mcguckin - 514
Paul Weber - 781 Chris Weaver - 759
Stacey Sinegal - 459 Connie Shaft - 259