Not Even House Can Solve Oakland's Injury Problems. The A's announced that Brandon McCarthy would join the growing list of A's players on the DL. (Photo Credit: FOX/David Shore)

Well, the A’s may be out of luck. The team has been bit by the infamous injury bug that resides in the depths of the cavernous O.co Coliseum all season long and there’s no clear solution to Oakland’s injury woes in sight.

The A’s are now without starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who has been off to a strong start this year, due to a shoulder strain. The right-hander has been placed on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain and for a young team like Oakland, losing a veteran in McCarthy does not bode well for the rest of the rotation.

McCarthy had been on quite a tear this month, going 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three May starts. Losing McCarthy only adds yet another name on a growing list of Oakland players limping through the clubhouse; Coco Crisp, Yoenis Cespedes, and Brandon Inge are some of the other notable names currently riding the DL express train.

It is too bad that Dr. Gregory House does not exist, because the A’s could really use some of his medical remedies. Since we’re living in reality and not on the set of House, it is best to keep things in perspective. The A’s have had problems with keeping their players healthy and this season is no different. Losing players is never an easy thing to get over, but for the A’s, a team with relatively no well-known players, it is especially more painful to endure.

The team’s rotation came into the season without Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson, but with plenty of young talent, the A’s figured they could get by without Anderson or Braden. Losing McCarthy, though, does put quite the dent in Oakland’s starting rotation.

The A’s rotation, without McCarthy, includes Bartolo Colon, Tom Milone, Jarrod Parker, and Tyson Ross. Colon has gone 4-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 starts with Oakland this season. Milone, a nice addition this past offseason, has been solid as well, going 5-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 8 starts. Parker, a top pitching prospect, has gone 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in five starts. Finally, there’s Ross. Ross has gone 2-4 with a 5.73 ERA in 7 starts.

The A’s have plenty of other pitchers waiting down in the minor leagues, but the guy the team called up to take McCarthy’s spot on the rotation is right-handed reliever Jim Miller. Miller last pitched for the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. He was with the team for a brief stint in April before getting optioned back to Sacramento earlier this month.

If the team has any shot at remaining somewhat relevant in the AL West this year, they’ll need to find a way to stay healthy. Paging imaginary Doctor now.

______________________

Follow me on twitter @oaklandace75 and for more A’s related analysis, stories, and opinions, follow us on twitter @FS_SwinginAs or like us on Facebook.

Territorial rights have come up time and time again during the A’s bid for a new stadium, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has done very little in finding a solution for Oakland’s stadium woes. If you’re a fan of the Athletics’ organization, though, I’d recommend checking out some of its minor league affiliated stadiums, such as Raley Field. While the River Cats, Rock Hounds, or the Stockton Ports may not have major league stars on their respective rosters, they do, for the most part, offer great ballpark atmospheres for fans.

Ryan Norris, Regional Correspondent for StadiumJourney.com, seems to agree with the notion that O.co Coliseum fails at being a true “ballpark”. Raley Field, as Norris suggests, though, offers a much more suitable experience for baseball fans. Norris actually takes the time to review Raley Field, at extreme length, I might add, and gives the ballpark 4.3 stars out of 5.

The atmosphere, in comparison to the one provided by the A’s O.co Coliseum, is a very lively one. The ballpark actually fills up and offers a family-friendly experience for all its fans. It’s the type of atmosphere you’d come to expect from a big league ballpark:

Atmosphere         5

The overused assessment that “there isn’t a bad seat in the house” applies here. Whether you sit on the grass beyond the right field wall or have a seat in the upper deck, the sightlines are great.

My trip came during their playoff run against the Omaha Storm Chasers so I’d imagine the vibes were significantly different from a regular season game. The Cats’ fans were looking for their 5th PCL title.

There are plenty of activities to keep the little ones busy as well. A play area is available near the right field foul pole, fully equipped with a River Cats themed bounce house. During day games, face painting is also available.

If you plan on sitting in the general admission grass area, plan to get there early. During weekend summer games this area fills up fast, with nearly every square inch of lawn accounted for.

A note must be made for the kind Raley Field staff. Few venues can compare on this front from the parking lots to the beer carts. Class act.

–Ryan Norris, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Too bad the A’s, a major league club with a rich-history, fail to produce such a great atmosphere at the wonderful and cavernous O.co.

____________________

Follow me on twitter @oaklandace75 and for more A’s related analysis, stories, and opinions, follow us on twitter @FS_SwinginAs or like us on Facebook. And for more on Stadium Journey’s review of Raley Field, click here. Visit StadiumJourney.com for all the latest sports stadium news and reviews! 

No Coming Back: The A's will likely pass up on the opportunity to bring back David DeJesus next year (Photo Credit: Jose Sanchez/AP)

The A’s made a conscious effort last winter to upgrade their offense and adding veteran outfielder David DeJesus seemed like a nice way to upgrade the lineup. While GM Billy Beane’s moves looked great on paper, what Beane and the A’s got in return for all of their efforts was a mixed bag of inconsistencies.

Oakland sent over pitchers Vin Mazzaro and Justin Marks for Kansas City’s DeJesus this last winter with the hopes of improving their lineup. He was never going to add much power—Oakland’s biggest need entering the 2011 season—but the team did expect DeJesus to play exceptional defense and contribute as much as he could for the lineup.

Entering this season, DeJesus was a lifetime .289 hitter but had an injury shortened season the year before. He enjoyed success in his time with the Royals, though, and Oakland was hopeful that the veteran outfielder would add depth not only defensively but offensively.

The A’s invested two pitchers for DeJesus, but as most you probably already know, Oakland didn’t get much of a return for their investment. Beane and pretty much everyone else in Oakland was taken aback this year from DeJesus’s epic shortcomings.  (more…)