Why Sonny Gray will Dominate the AL West and Beyond!

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Unless you watched the American League Division Series where the Oakland Athletics took on the Detroit Tigers, then you may not know the name Sonny Gray. At the age of 23 Gray was a, much anticipated by A’s fans, mid-season call-up in 2013. Drafted in 2011 in the first round by the Athletics, Gray had little professional experience yet a lot of expectations. He met those expectations and more.

Starting in ALDS game two he faced off and went pitch for pitch against the great Justin Verlander. Gray matched Verlander both throwing eight shutout innings and each amassing an impressive 11 strikeouts. Neither Verlander nor Gray won the game. The game ended in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single by A’s catcher Stephen Vogt. Not only did Gray face and match arugably one of the best pitchers in the league, he was chosen to face him again in game five over All-Star Bartolo Colon. Gray did not match Verlander perfectly in game five and the A’s lost. Gray’s effort, however, was stellar enough to win pretty much any other game if given at least some offense.  Gray lost the game to Verlander as the Tigers won 3-0. He only surrendered six hits in just over five innings.

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MLB Hot Stove: A's Busy In Week Leading Up To Winter Meetings

The Oakland Athletics were having a quiet Major League Baseball Hot Stove Season up until early last week. Last Monday they signed free-agent pitcher Scott Kazmir to a two year, $22 million deal thus ending their pursuit of veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon.

They also traded minor league infielder Jemile Weeks and a player to be named later, for the Orioles’ closer Jim Johnson who will replace free agent closer Grant Balfour. Balfour is in talks with a handful of teams, including the New York Yankees. After coming off a career year in 2013, Balfour will command more money than the Athletics would be willing to spend. Coming off an All Star year in 2012, Johnson, the American League saves leader, went 3-8 with a 2.95 ERA and 50 saves with Baltimore last season.

Finally it seemed like general manager Billy Beane and the A’s were making some big deals this off season, yet Oakland’s movement did not end with the signing of one key player and the trade for another; the organization made quite a few other changes and decisions as well.

The A’s decided to tender contracts to each of their nine arbitration eligible players: outfielders Josh Reddick and Seth Smith, infielders Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie, relievers Jesse Chavez, Jerry Blevins, and Fernando Rodriguez, catcher John Jaso, and to the surprise of many, their longest tendered player, backup first baseman, Daric Barton. The A’s then turned around and traded Smith to the San Diego Padres for set up man, Luke Greggerson.

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In keeping Barton the A’s kept with their strategy of recent years emphasizing a focus on team depth and player on base percentage. Barton will likely back up the A’s usual platoon duo Brandon Moss and Nate Freiman.

Read the rest of my article on Sports Unbiased, your website for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions! (and my articles! lol)

Just Want to Share a Couple Random Things Today! lol :)

What is a part of what makes O.Co Coliseum so special?? +Michael Morgan  and @Oakland_Vader put this together so they know! The CHARACTERS!  And coming soon: Sketchball: Drawings From Oakland's Cheap Seats!!

I am humbled and honored to have been considered for this comic and be included with some of the Coliseum's most iconic characters! Saw quite a few of us on Instagram this morning collected and put together by Oakland Vader and drawn by Michael Morgan and just felt it needed to be shared! WE WILL ROCK AND RAGE AT THE COLI ON THURSDAY AND THE A'S WILL PREVAIL over the tigers! Let's Go Oakland! And thanks for everything over the years my Oakland fAnily! :-)

Also, yesterday one of my tweets was featured in Casey Pratt's article! Which again I am honored by and basically just think its cool enough to talk about! LOL!

A's - Tigers Insane Game 4 Recapped through GIFs and your Tweets by Casey Pratt

Enjoy my friends! See you at the Coli tomorrow at 5pm! We Still Got This Oaktown!

Terrible Baseball Writing at its Finest!

Yup! I found one of the absolute WORST pieces of baseball writing I've ever seen in my last 8 years working in and around the media and my last 28 years of reading baseball books, articles, watching games and documentaries but I have never seen anything this appalling! He calls Balfour "classless" but knows nothing about the A's nor the Balfour Rage! 

This so called "author" Connor Muldowney obviously has no knowledge of the team he is writing about! Do some RESEARCH! I don't know everything about the Tigers but I do research and write about other teams fairly! Balfour swearing on the mound as most of us know is his way of firing himself up and Martinez also should have known that being that we are in the POSTSEASON - shouldn't you know everything about your enemy? So how do they not understand where we get the #BalfourRage and the music and everything? Is everyone blind? Apparently they are when it comes to #Oakland who despite having the league's 3rd lowest payroll contends year after year! But really, just try a little research before you unleash this kinda crap to the world. It's classless of the author not to give #Oaktown the time ... he's not even watching his obviously, by the complete bias, beloved Tigers because had he watched the game this article wouldn't exist ...

Terribly researched and written Balfour article on RantSports! READ IT HERE!

RAGE ON GRANT! YOU ROCK!  

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!

One of my fave pics of Grant Balfour, taken from my seat at the Coliseum during the 2013 ALDS Game 1 vs the Detroit Tigers! <3 10/4/13