The A’s, now under the tutelage of Bob Melvin, were looking at Melvin’s former friend Bob Pryce to fill the team’s need for a pitching coach. Oakland, however, did not have a chance to speak with Pryce, who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds.

Oakland believes, however, that Young is a good fit as the team’s pitching coach. He’s had a great amount of success in that position before, leading the A’s pitching staff to 3.47 team ERA in 2010. This season, the A’s posted a 3.71 ERA under the guidance of clubhouse favorite Ron Romanick.  (more…)

Golden: Could Gio Gonzalez Represent the A's at this year's All-Star Game? (Photo Credit:abitabout.com)

Around this time of year, many fans are casting their votes for major league baseball’s All-Star game. Fans across the nation can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times, and can catch the rosters announcement during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS this Sunday.

For A’s fans, not too many starters from Oakland will likely be selected, let alone mentioned. The Athletics haven’t played to their potential this season, as a mixture of injuries and offensive struggles have the team sitting in last place in the American League West.

Last season, the A’s had closer Andrew Bailey represent the team in the 2010 All-Star game. Starter Trevor Cahill was also named to the team, but was inactive.

This season, there are few players on this year’s A’s team deserving of an All-Star nod. According to the most recent All-Star vote update on MLB.com, there is little love for the green-and-gold. As usual, however, the Yankees and Red Sox are dominating the polls.

One player deserving of an All-Star nod is Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez, 25, is 6-5 this season with a 2.59 ERA. His ERA ranks sixth-best for a starter in the American League, and he’s shown that he can strike batters out as well, as his K/9 rate ranks sixth in the AL (8.62). (more…)

On Friday, the Oakland A’s announced that the team was placing starters Brandon McCarthy and Tyson Ross on the 15-day DL. The A’s rotation has been the team’s number one strength early on this season, but losing your No.4 and No.5 guy on the same day is never a good thing.

The A’s lose McCarthy to what Jane Lee of MLB.com says is a “stress reaction in his right scapula,” while Ross is out due to a left oblique strain.

McCarthy was 1-4 with a 3.39 ERA in nine starts prior to landing on the DL. Ross, meanwhile, went 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA this season in nine appearances (6 starts). The A’s, given their recent battle with team injuries, will likely be extremely cautious with both players, and will not want to rush either of them back.

Oakland’s new “Big Three,” consisting of Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Gio Gonzalez, remains in tact, but if one of them goes down, the team could be in serious trouble. (more…)