That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s should sign Gio Gonzalez

Photo credit: @BrewCrewBall

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The New York Yankees released Gio Gonzalez from their minor league system and Gonzalez is looking for a new team. The perfect fit for Gonzalez is the Oakland Athletics. The way the weak A’s rotation is these days, Gonzalez would be a welcome addition back in Oakland, and he will probably be their #1 starter as of right now. Some of the injured pitchers will be returning starting with Sean Manea, who is the legitimate #1 starter for the team. But regardless if Manaea returns soon, Gonzalez would fit perfectly on the A’s rotation.

We all know that it all comes down to money, personality and politics of baseball. But Gio loved it in the Bay Area. Gonzalez was the most popular A’s on the A’s Amigos program, talking to young bilingual students as soon as they came to the Oakland Coliseum. There will be absolutely nothing wrong for the A’s to take a flyer and give Gonzalez a one-year deal in Oakland. He is a total asset to the A’s.

If the A’s do not pick him up, he will be picked up very soon by one of the other 29 teams in the majors. Gonzalez will likely be signed within the next 48 hours. I hope the A’s will be that team.

Beane Named Baseball Executive of the Year

Photo credit: oaklandathletics.com

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Oakland Athletics vice president and general manager Billy Beane has been named MLB Executive of the Year for 2013 by Baseball America. He won the Baseball America award in 2002 as well.

Beane engineered a major overhaul of the A’s roster after a 74-88 season in 2011.He traded away three All-Star pitchers (Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey) to stock his club with young talent who have played major roles in the club’s return to prominence.

Beane also made a major trade in 2013 with the Houston Astros that brought Jed Lowrie to Oakland in exchange for Chris Carter and Max Stassi. The veteran shortstop had a major impact on the A’s batting .290 with 175 hits, 45 doubles and 15 home runs. That acquisition helped the A’s finish with a 96-66 record and to win the Western Division Pennant.

Beane has been deemed the master of working a small payroll, incorporating Sabremetrics to select players and building strong clubs without utilizing long-term contracts. The Tampa Bay Rays are just one team that has emulated Beane’s philosophy to build a successful ball club.

Beane has been busy already this winter making three trades to shore up the relief pitching and adding a productive reserve outfielder.

Giants looking for a spark in D.C.

By Morris Phillips

August 12, 2013

According to Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy, the Giants’ bats are ice cold right now.

The temperature for first pitch at Nationals Park on Tuesday night in steamy Washington D.C. should be around 83 degrees.

Could this convergence of circumstances bring about a change of fortunes for the NL West’s last place club? Probably not.

After losing two of three to the Orioles at AT&T Park over the weekend, the Giants are 15 ½ games behind the first place Dodgers and thinking of next year. The lineups Bochy’s been running out with Roger Kieschnick getting a look and Jeff Franceour frequently featured aren’t fortune changers. Instead, they’re audition lineups as the veteran manager scours his 25-man roster for any signs of life.

A matchup of two teams that made the post-season in 2012 doesn’t offer the same snap that it did just a year ago. The Nationals are just three games under .500 but sit 14 games behind the first-place Braves in the NL East. Bryce Harper’s been terrific for the Nats, and Stephen Strasburg struggled to find his form, but the major theme out of Washington is that their offense is as bad as the Giants.

So on the surface Tuesday’s matchup between Madison Bumgarner and Gio Gonzalez might not allow the bats to break out. But if we watch, we’ll watch for that: any signs of life from the woeful Giants or the disappointing Nationals.

First pitch comes at 4:05pm.