The Red Sox lineup is indeed formidable. I really like how they stack up from the second to fifth in the lineup with Victorino, Pedroia, Big Poppy, and Napoli. Not only can those guys all swing it, they all pose a match up nightmare as those Big 4 alternate sides of the plate with their righty lefty right lefty look. If the lead off spot for the Red Sox gets on base, I see the offense rolling. Pitching may be the key for this bunch, and I envision them being very active before the deadline. We have seen over the last few days that Pedroia is one heak of a ball player, and their pen looks very good at the back end. I would say they are in the market for a starter and a right handed power arm. As a franchise full of legendary stories, the tale of reliever Daniel Bard is yet another. I was fortunate to see him pitch in Fenway a couple of summers, and his arm was indeed electric. I would rank him in the Rich Harden class. His tale from riches to rags is indeed an interesting one. Bard is currently laboring in Double A ball. Man oh man a 2011 version of Bard sure would look good right about now.
Well the A's smoke and mirrors lineup keeps on keeping on. Last night in the 3-0 over Boston, it was pitching and just enough hitting. This is the A's formula for success, they hit it well, enough, and when they are pitching, man they are very good. They are pretty deep, and Beane and Co., have done a creative job in building a roster. Adding Lowrie was a great move, as his consistent bat has really stabilized their lineup. Donaldson has been "All-Star Worth" stellar, and the rest seem to chime in with timely hitting. Coco has had a fine first half as well. It will be interesting to see if Cespedes and Reddick can regain some of last summer's majic. Cook and Doolittle have struggled a bit of late, but those two guys are still pretty good in the back end of the pen. I can envision the A's adding another reliever between now and the trading deadline. If they have a stumbling block, it might be their defense, as they do seem to kick the ball around the yard. It looks like another exciting fall in the O.Co.
Grant Balfour should somehow be at the All-Star game tomorrow. It would be a travesty for him and the A's if he is not somehow put on the team. The A's were thrown a bone with Cespedes being added to the home run hitting contest. They also have two minor leaguers in the Futures Game. Shortstop Addison Russell and pitcher Michael Ynoa will get a taste of action against other top minor leaguers. Even thought the A's got a pretty crappy deal--especially Donaldson--there will some excitement for A's fans during All-Star week.
From the Get Down Lounge:
*Timmy Time! Just when it looked like it he was down for the count, the Freak bounces back with the no no in San Diego. He put his name in the books man style by tossing 148 pitches. Now that was a very old school way to put his name in the record books. Now things get very interesting for the Freak and the Gigantes. With his free agency looming, and a no hitter recently behind him, do you sign him, or trade him?
*Red Sox nation does travel well, but when the Giants play in San Diego, it is like a home game for the Black and Orange!
*The A's have given rookies Sonny Gray and Grant Green a look here of late, but I have a feeling they will adding a player or two here soon! A healthy Bret Anderson could provide a real boost down the stretch, but I just have a feeling Beane is going to go for it with a splash in the next week or tw!
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