ICYMI: Around MLB with Oakland A's Socks Girl

I'm starting up my daily posts with articles from the sites I write for, highlights from my blog and the day's scores! I'm calling it ICYMI: Around MLB with Oakland A's Socks Girl. Please check it out and remember my blog has moved to:

BBSTmlb.com

Please check out my new site! Full of new stories and features! My goal is to make Bullpen, Baseball & Sock Talk your favorite destination for all the day's news from around the league! So remember the NEW address to the blog is of course BBSTmlb.com! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it! xx ~ Jen

Hi there Strangers!! A few announcements & links to articles you may have missed! Let's play catch up shall we? :)

Hey there people who actually read my blog - first off let me say that I am very grateful for each and every one of you!! So thank you so much for coming back and reading the randomness that is me! Your support does not go unnoticed. 

So what's new! Well I got a paying gig (yes, you heard correctly - once I get paid I can call myself a legitimate baseball writer!! I am writing for the FanSided Network's flagship destination for ALL THINGS MLB: Call to the Pen ... did I mention that they hired me not as they usually  from already in-house staff writers but on my own merits as an Editor - so I contribute but I am also now learning new management and editorial skills. It feels like a big step up for me - I won't get paid a lot but money will be exchanged and I still get to write but am in a whole new role learning new things, expanding my horizons and advancing my career! It's all very exciting being that I hadn't written in approximately 7 years when I started this blog a little over a year ago - then moved to Sports Unbiased to being a contributior to an MLB Affiliate Pro-Blog to now being an editor at an established and very professional site  - all within the span of a year. I am grateful and humbled and SOOOOO EXCITED! Every move I have made has been a step forward and I hope to continue learning, expanding my horizons and advancing my career! 

I have one more quick announcement - my blog will be moving soon. I am hoping to get it launched by June but that's really soon and I have a busy week ahead of me but it will be through Word Press yet already has its own domain which is BBSTmlb.com - I will be expanding the blog and adding new features such as a weekly mother daughter take on events around the league or games or the A's. My mom is just as big of a baseball freak and expert as I am - not that I am an expert but ya know what I mean we study it a lot! Anywhoo - that's that! Here's a list of articles that if you haven't run across on social media you may just be interested in reading - mostly coming from Call to the Pen and a few from Outside Pitch MLB! Enjoy!!  

MY MOST RECENT ARTICLES:

Troy Tulowitzki responds to cheating allegations, he saw "The Sign"

Giants Cain, Casilla receive MRI results

A's defeat Rays, recording just one hit

Injury News: Votto to the DL, Sale to make return to Sox

Stephen Drew signs with Red Sox

Oakland A's have finally chosen a closer

CC Sabathia out six weeks according to Cashman

Athletics' history of strange games in Cleveland Continues

How far up the All-Time home run list can Albert Pujols Climb?

Jose Abreu lands on the DL with ankle injury

Rockies turn triple play and then walk-off

Gio Gonzalez headed to the disabled list

Rangers lose two more starting pitchers, both for the season

Derek Norris: All-Star??

Nationals Tanner Roark: The pitcher no one saw coming

** I know its an extremely long l,ist but I did say I've been busy so check it out! I have bolded some of my personal faves or the ones I think are the most interesting! lol**

Thanks again for reading and I hope you take the time to check out some of my articles! xx ~ Jen

Can a Careless Whisper Cure Reddicks' Batting Woes?

If you are an A's fan and let's face it you probably are because you are actually reading my blog then you're probably well aware of Josh Reddick's new theme song Careless Whisper by Wham ... it's quite the unusual walk up song but since premiering it on Monday in the first of a three game series against the Chicago White Sox Reddick has been hitting. He went 2-4 Monday night with a triple and 2-5 Tuesday night with a two-run home run. The fans in Oakland love it and so do the other players. Here's a longer version of video than just the Vine clip that has been circulating on Twitter.
The big question though is should we be believing that the 2012 Reddick has returned? I'm gonna say, "No," at least not yet. I know that every A's fan wants to believe it and with the song, it's really hard not to. Yet, let's not be too hasty! It's only two games so I am not ready to eat my words just yet. Back on April 6th I said that the A's should send Reddick down to Triple-A Sacramento. The guy couldn't hit, desperately needed to shorten his swing and was basically just fanning everything. His batting average in April? .241. Could have been worse but you'll see that even when we move on to May, it's only gotten worse.

However I did say that I would totally take it all back if he turned it around and no, I am not ready to do that .... YET. These last two games he's appeared to be the 2012 Josh Reddick who hit 32 bombs and batted .241. 

I'm certainly not questioning that his defense is still superior to almost every other right fielder out there. In 2013, while fighting a wrist injury that required off season surgery, he barley lost out on winning the Gold Glove to Boston's Shane Victorino. He made two insane "Spider-man" like grabs to rob San Francisco's Mike Morse of two home runs in the first game of spring training. So I have never questioned his defense but his offense has been pretty bad, really ugly even. As much as you want to believe he's back, I still need more proof.

In the month of May Reddick is batting .216 with eight strikeouts, only two walks and just three RBI. All three RBI came in the last two games against Chicago. So am I NOT ready to take back all of what I wrote about Reddick but I will take back the fact that I thought he should be sent down, for now. Here's what I said about Reddick after the first week of the season in my article on OPSN Five Changes the A's Need to Make Right Now:

"1. Send Reddick Down to Triple-A: Reddick is currently hitting .100 in 22 plate appearances with eight strikeouts. Now some question why I would single out Reddick when Josh Donaldson‘s batting average is similar to Reddick’s. I would answer that by looking at Reddick’s numbers in Boston and his numbers post 2012.  You would see that they are not that different meaning his so-called breakout year could very well have been a fluke. Donaldson’s breakout year was only last season so I would keep him and give him a chance to turn it around. Reddick has had his chances. Let’s be honest, Reddick slumped down the stretch in 2012 and started 2013 on a slow note. Granted he was injured in April slamming his wrist into a wall in a game in Houston. The wrist injury did not affect his defense as he was in the running for the AL Gold Glove in 2013 and his excuse that the injury hindered his swing is worth a grain of salt but he’s repeatedly said that he is 100 percent healthy this season so there is no excuse for batting .100 even in the first week of the season."

I had a chance to reread it and I still stand by the majority of my convictions but I will say that my wanting him sent down to Triple-A was, and still is, a bit rash. Can a simple Careless Whisper bring back the 2012 Reddick? I absolutely hope so and the past two nights have shown a marked improvement but two ballgames in the grand scheme of 162 means next to nothing. To believe he's back after two games is just naive.

I will say that I am pleased with his recent success and if he keeps it going then I will take back every negative thing I have said about him, however true it may have been at the time but that, my friends, is still a promise. I want to see our boys in the white cleats win as much as y'all do so ... I'd say let's have fun with the song for sure but don't see it as a sudden cure for Reddick's offensive woes at least not just yet. Let the numbers be your guide. Remember Reddick is still batting a measly .233 on the year with just two homers, so don't let his bravado fool you. In my opinion he still has something to prove at the plate.

Freeman Walks Off to end Epic Pitchers' Duel (video)

Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher, Johnny Cueto and Atlanta Braves’pitcher Julio Teheran fought in an epic pitchers duel Sunday at Turner Field. Both pitched a full eight innings, both gave up only three hits and both pitchers ended the game with a no decision.

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After the two stellar starters departed, the ninth inning came and went with little excitement ... to find out how the Braves completed their sweep of the Reds AND see the VIDEO of Freeman's walk-off hit ... CLICK HERE!!

Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC.

You can find us on Twitter @OakAsSocksGrl and @OPSN_MLB.

Anibal Sanchez goes on the 15-day DL

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The Detroit Tigers’ Anibal Sanchez is a very underrated starter as he has to pitch third behind the reigning Cy YoungAward winner Max Scherzer and the team’s ace Justin Verlander. Sanchez, however, is very good. In 2013 he led the American League in ERA just beating out the Oakland Athletics’ Bartolo Colon (2.65) with an ERA of 2.57. He also finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting last season.

So the Tigers losing their third starter, a would-be ace on any other team, might be an issue. Luckily for them Sanchez’s stint on the disabled list is only going to be 15 days due to a lacerated middle finger.

For more on this story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC.

Find us on Twitter @OakAsSocksGrl and @OPSN_MLB

Konerko Will Not Start His Final Opening Day

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The captain of the Chicago White Sox, Paul Konerko, will not be in the lineup Opening Day. This will be his final opening day as the veteran first baseman announced this past winter that the 2014 season, his 18th in the Major Leagues, will be his last. He played on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 and 1998 but has spent the last 15 season with the White Sox. He has started with Chicago every Opening Day until now. The White Sox manager Robin Ventura made the announcement Sunday.

For More on this Story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC

Find us on Twitter @OakAsSocksGrl and @OPSN_MLB.

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.

To Find Out More About Sonny Gray CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC

Find us on Twitter @OSPN_MLB and @OakAsSocksGrl

Teheran Name Braves' Opening Day Starter

Before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Braves’ manager, Fredi Gonzalez made the official announcement that Julio Teheran will be the Braves’ Opening Day starter according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves open the season on March 31st against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

This will be the 23-year old right-hander’s first Opening Day start. Granted the Braves rotation is depleted because of season ending injuries to Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, both of whom will be undergoing Tommy John surgery.  The Braves are going to utilize a four-man rotation until, the recently signed, Ervin Santana is ready to join the rotation in about a week. Gonzalez declined to say who the other three pitchers in the rotation will be. That announcement will come within a day or so.

For more on this story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC 

Follow us on Twitter @OPSN_MLB and @OakAsSocksGrl 

A's Will Have to Start Season Without Griffin, Parker!!

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty

Sorry don't have time to fill in the details at this moment, I may or may not come back to it but you can read my report on this bad news using the link below .... Baseball Gods Be With Us!! (Here's hoping Jesse Chavez and Tommy Milone can get their shit together!) 

Read the Story HERE!!! on MLBAM Affiliated MLB Pro-Blog Outside Pitch Sports 

Network LLC

And for other MLB News, Updates and Everything A's follow me on Twitter @OakAsSocksGrl

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty

Bold Prediction: Billy Burns Makes Oakland's Opening Day Roster

Lance Iversen, Reuters

It’s a bold prediction, what can I say? How can a 24-year old kid, whose never played above Double-A ball (only did for half a season), make the Opening Day roster of the back-to-back reigning American League Western Division Champions? It may take lightening speed, sadly maybe someone else’s injury, an incredible spring performance and a lot of luck but Oakland A’s outfield prospect Billy Burns may just be able to do it.

Burns was acquired by the Oakland Athletics in a trade with the Washington Nationals in December. The Nationals got fan favorite, lefty middle reliever Jerry Blevins for Burns, a small outfielder with insane speed. He is so fast that he already has seven stolen bases this spring which is more than some teams even have combined. He’s always on the move and his speed has been compared to not only the Reds’ speedy center fielder Billy Hamilton but some scouts have said he might be the fastest baseball player since the great Rickey Henderson.

 To Read the Rest of the Story on the MLBAM Affiliated Pro-Blog Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC ....  click here!!

Atlanta Braves Sign Ervin Santana

A source told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas that the Atlanta Braves have signed free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana, 31, to a one-year $14 million contract. The deal is pending a physical that will be conducted on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, FL at the Braves’ spring training facility.

Santana has been on the free-agent market since rejecting a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals last fall who will now receive a first round draft pick from the Braves in compensation for Santana.  Santana was originally seeking a long-term deal of at least four-years and $50 million. He was the last big name free-agent pitcher on the market and has been linked to several teams in the past few weeks. Most recently it was believed that Santana would sign with either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Baltimore Orioles for a similar price that he is reportedly going to get from the Braves. He also received a three-year offer from the Minnesota Twins, according to Rojas’ source.

To Read the Rest of the Story go to OutsidePitchMLB.com - a MLB Advanced Media Affiliated Pro-Blog

Smoak Named Seattle's Everyday First Baseman by McClendon

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Justin Smoak was unequivocally given the job of being the Seattle Mariners' number one first baseman by the team's manager, Llyod McClendon. It is the same type of job security he has given to his best hitter, Robinson Cano, who will be hitting third in the Mariners lineup and to his ace pitcher, Felix Hernandez.

For More on this Story go to OutsidePitchMLB.com - MLBAM Affiliate Pro-Blog and Sports Network

Arroyo Frustrated with Bulging Disk

So what are the odds that Arroyo would be diagnosed with a bulging disk in his back? Apparently, and unfortunately for the Arizona Diamondbacks, not as remote as you would have been expected. Last week Arroyo was diagnosed with a bulging disk in his back and missed the first start of his entire career. Even though it was just a spring training start, the missed start points to the fact that Arroyo may have to begin the 2014 season on the disabled list. The idea of this scenario, should be and, apparently is extremely disappointing for Arroyo and his ballclub....

For the rest of the story head over to Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC - A MLBAM Affiliated Pro-Blog

Breaking News: Santana to go to Jays or Orioles!

For the last big free agent left on the market and with MLB’s Opening Day fast approaching it’s looking like a soap opera of events are about to hit the fan. Sources say that Ervin Santana, who fired his agent last night, has narrowed the teams he may sign with down to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. It has also been said that Santana has set a self-imposed deadline to make a decision by 5:00 PM Eastern Time today.

Read More About this Breaking News on Sports Unbiased - Your Alternative Source For Sports

UPDATE: 5PM ET

Earlier Ervin Santana had a self-imposed deadline of 5pm ET to decide what was believed to be a contract with either the Orioles or Blue Jays. According to @JonMorosi and @MaxWildsteinMLB the deadline has been lifted (obviously by Santana LOL!) and the saga shall continue! My question is did he receive another offer??? hmmm .... 

Pioneer Surgeon Jobe dies at age 88

In 1974 surgeon Dr. Frank Jobe treated Los Angeles Dodgers' southpaw Tommy John and changed the face of the game of baseball forever. Jobe performed an experimental surgery on John. He transplanted a tendon to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in the pitcher's elbow. John's comeback, thought to never be possible, lasted a successful 14 years. Thus, on that day 40 years ago the then revolutionary and now commonly performed, "Tommy John Surgery" was born. Sadly, Dr. Jobe passed away on Thurday at the age of 88.

Read the rest of the story on  Dr. Jobe on OutsidePitchMLB.com - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a MLB Advanced Media Affiliate 

(*If you would like even more information on the Father of Tommy John Surgery click here.*)

Arroyo Sidelined with Back Injury

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ newly signed pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, has been sidelined by a bulging disk in his back. This could signal bad news for Arizona, who recently signed Arroyo, 37, to a two-year $23.5 million deal. The aging pitcher was considering retirement but decided to stay on the free-agent market, eventually signing with the DBacks. 

Arroyo’s trademark, besides having good numbers (138-127 with a 4.19 ERA) over his 14-year-career, is his durability. He’s averaged over 200 innings pitched a season throughout his career. His durability is certainly in question now.

For the rest of this story go to OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a Major League Baseball Advanced Media Afiliate

MLB News: Rick Ankiel Retires

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Rick Ankiel officially announced his retirement Wednesday via St. Louis broadcaster Dan McLaughlin who made the announcement during the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training Broadcast. This brings to an end the career of a very unique and intriguing ballplayer.

Drafted straight out of high school in 1997 by the Cardinals, Ankiel made his major league debut as a pitcher in 1999 at the age of 20. In 2000 he was rated at the number one overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America. After having a good regular season Ankiel faltered in the playoffs. He completely lost control of his pitches. He had two very poor starts, one in the NLCS against the Braves and the other in the NLCS against the Mets. He lasted no more than three innings in each start.

Ankiel continued to struggle in 2001 and was soon sent to the minors. Shortly after he had Tommy John surgery and besides on appearance pitching in relief for the Cardinals in 2004, it looked as though his career was at its end.

Read the rest of the story on OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a Major League Baseball Advanced Media Afiliate

The Return of Spiderman??

Is A's Reddick Already Having a Comeback Year??

It’s a Wednesday and the first game of the Cactus League between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants has just ended.  Oakland won the game 10-5 over their cross bay rivals. The high score and A’s 16 hits, however, aren’t the only topics of conversation.  Josh Reddick‘s name is on everyone’s lips.

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Reddick is the right fielder for the Oakland Athletics. He scaled a ten-foot wall, not once but twice, to rob the same Giants’ hitter,Michael Morse, of two home runs. Many in the media were already calling Reddick’s first home run robbing catch the “Catch of the Year” and the top web gems of the season after only the first day of spring training games. Regarding the catch fellow A’s outfielder Sam Fuld said,

“The first one he made was the best play I’ve ever seen, on the field or as a fan or anywhere. Best play I’ve ever seen live, and then it just got wacky with the second one. You’ll never see that ever again.”

He also went 1-3 on the day with a RBI. Not bad for a guy who had a very disappointing 2013 campaign.

To Finish this story head over to OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a MLB Advanced Media Affiliate  

AL West Recap: March 1st

Texas Rangers 2 at Oakland Athletics 2, in 9 innings

Ben Margot/AP

Phoenix, AZ - After a 34 min rain delay, Cactus League play between the Athletics and Mariners began Saturday. With Sonny Gray on the mound for Oakland and Martin Perez set to pitch for the Rangers the A's struck first against Perez. Perez gave up one run, one hit, two walks and had one strikeout in 2 innings of work.. The the A's only run, until the bottom of the 9th, came on a single by designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes. Gray, who also worked two innings, gave up two hits, two walks and struck out two.

The Rangers 2 runs were driven in by Jurickson Profar and Jared Hoying in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the 9th A's prospect outfielder Billy Burns, acquired this off-season in a trade with the Washington Nationals, scored on an infield error. Burns, who was a late substitute for Coco Crisp, had two hits, two stolen bases and two outfield assists.  He threw out Engel Beltre at third to stop a Texas rally in the first and threw out Hoying at the plate to keep the score from being 3-2.

The game, which could have gone ten innings, was ended in a tie due to the weather.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3 at Seattle Mariners 5

Houston Astros 1 at Detroit Tigers 5

For More AL West Game Details Check Out OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a MLB Avanced Media Afiliate

It's Sogard vs. Wright, East Coast vs. West Coast in Face of MLB Finals!

The final two contestants in MLB Network's (MLBN) Face of Major League Baseball competition were announced on the show, The Hot Stove, this morning. The final two will be Eric Sogard of the Oakland Athletics and David Wright of the New York Mets. It's a battle of East Coast versus West Coast and a battle of a big name player in Wright versus a virtually, until now, unknown player in Sogard. 

Sogard's fans have made his "Nerd Power" extremely hard to beat. Their tweets, along with his teammates tweets, have been hilarious and the internet "memes" have been as well. The Athletics and their fans are supporting Sogard in this way but they are not offering prizes or follows for votes. Sogard is a great face for the Athletics. He is an underdog, a status the A's themselves embrace. He is the epitome of small market teams and the adversities they face in the shadow of so many big market teams. 

To Read The Rest of this Article Check out the MLB Pro Blog OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network