Bay Space MLB groups cash in transferring up into rivalry
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Athletics players celebrate after winning the 10th inning against the Twins at the RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California on April 21, 2021. Photo by Daniel Shirey /.Getty Images
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Moneyball lives and kicks in the Bay Area these days.
Not just at Oakland Athletics, where Sabermetrics continues to be king when it comes to supporting the turnaround in the 2021 season.
But also with their neighbors on the other side of the bay, the San Francisco Giants.
In fact, both are simply money at the start of the Major League Baseball schedule, but in very different ways.
While the Giants were calm on a solid start, it was a wildly intoxicating ride for athletics.
“Talk about an entire shoot of the script,” A manager Bob Melvin told reporters from his club, who turned a 6-0 start into a 12-7 record that will be rolled out into action on Friday night. “We are not only beaten in the first six games, but also in the first six games. And now, to come back and put this kind of run together, it’s exactly what we’re talking about when it comes to this team’s fight – they never really went down.
“I’ve been saying all along if that (lose skid) was in the middle of the season it would have been a different story. The fact that it was in the beginning when we lost those games makes it more dramatic. But just as dramatic as these games is what is happening. “
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The latest drama came on Thursday night as successive mistakes by – who else? – The Minnesota Twins gave the A three unmatched runs in the bottom of the 10th innings for an unlikely rally in their 11th straight win.
According to STATS, it’s historic that the A’s were the first club in MLB annals to open 6-0 – 50:16 – before taking an 11-game win later in the season.
Along the way, they quickly moved from worst to first place in the American League West.
Yes, ‘Moneyball’ still plays a role in the A’s success as Matt Olson – with six homers and a 3.16 average by Thursday – Seth Brown, Jed Lowrie and Mark Canha really exposed the offensive while the pitching – much badly done to start the season – has found his rhythm.
“We’re doing some good things right now,” Melvin told reporters. “When you play the way we are – and we’re pretty opportunistic about whatever goes on in the course of a game – you feel pretty good about it.”
Across the bay in San Fran, it’s the pitching magic that puts them in second place – behind, of course, MLB-leading Los Angeles Dodgers – in the National League West.
Only six teams scored fewer runs than the 12-7 Giants on Friday night.
How unannounced are the Giants employees?
All you need to know is backup catcher Curt Casali, who has caught five shutouts in a row this year. It can reach today’s mark for six consecutive failures set by Ed Phelps of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903. The only clubs with better ERA stats than the Giants are those with elite starters – the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers.
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Meanwhile, the Giants’ first catcher Buster Posey appears to be back on track after injuries, and an opt-out for 2020 has slowed his career. He has four home runs this spring after knocking out a few balls in Tuesday’s 7-10 win over hosts Philadelphia Phillies.
“Tomorrow is a difficult decision between the best catcher in Giants history and the man who is sure to get a shutout,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler told reporters on Thursday. “I cut out my work for myself.”
Starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Aaron Sanchez are also experiencing a resurgence with 1.80 and 1.83 ERAs, respectively, through three and four starts as part of a no-name rotation that also included Anthony DeSclafani (2.14) and Kevin Gausman (2nd) , 45) are involved.
And closer Jake McGee has an MLB best seven saves.
ABOUT THE BASICS
What’s up Doc? Well, it’s a special kind of fan who sees the Giants’ success at Oracle Park in the form of a therapy rabbit named Alex. The 4-1 / 2 month old rabbit was in the stands helping his owner Kato relax and enjoy a Giants win against the Marlins on Thursday. A couple of Canadian MLB stars played a role in a triple play last Saturday. Josh Naylor of Mississauga hit the out-out-out when his line drive quickly found the glove of Toronto’s Joey Votto, who then stepped on first base and finally shot on third base to make the rarity for the Reds in 10th. Inning of record a 3-2 win over the Indians. According to baseball-almanac.com, it was the first triple play of the year and the 723rd MLB annal. Interestingly, Indian base runner Eddie Rosario had already crossed home plate by the time Votto tossed the ball over the diamond for the third time, meaning Votto could easily have run the ball to the third base bag to make the one-off blue turn. Moon without triple play support. Only 15 of these have been recorded in MLB history, the last coming in 2009 … Keep an Eye on Padres-Dodgers: Round 2. So far, Yu Darvish-Clayton Kershaw – again Round 2 – has not disappointed on Friday night.
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ADDITIONAL INNING
Brewing ace Corbin Burnes continues to shine with unprecedented success – he still has to walk through four starts and 24.1 innings against 40 strikeouts to open the season. His ERA? A nasty .37 who led the majors … Who but Ronald Acuna Jr. is blinding offensively? Despite missing two games this week, on Friday he was still top runner in MLB home runs (7), batting average (.419), OPS (1,373), slugging percentage (.887), extra base hits (14th) ), Total bases (55) and legs (21). Wowzer! … Matt Harvey took his first win in nearly two years by beating the Marlins 7-5 on Tuesday. “The biggest thing is that he appears to be healthy,” an AL manager told MLB.com. “It’s been a nice story so far – for him and for the Orioles.” The once starry pitcher, whose career has never been the same since surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2016, has an ERA north of 5.00 … And more good news in Baltimore, where Adrienne Roberson is the team’s new permanent announcer has become. This makes her the fourth wife of the majors – behind Renel Brooks-Moon in San Fran, Marysol Castro with the Mets and Amelia Schimmel in Oakland – to get this gig.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
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