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After Loaiza went 12-10 for the Washington Nationals in 2005, despite laboring with some of the worst run support in the NL, Oakland landed him with a three-year deal (with a club option for the fourth year) that will pay him $6 million this season. |
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The Minnesota Twins must have left their good bats at home. After a discouraging start that stuck them with the AL's worst record, the Twins fed off the crowd's home-opener energy and began the season's second week in much better fashion. Tony Batista woke up the offense with a three-run homer, Brad Radke got some rare run support and Minnesota beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 Tuesday night. |
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Frank Thomas made a triumphrant return to the lineup Sunday, hitting a home run in his first game for the Oakland A's. |
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The A's have a knack for acquiring quality pitchers in under-the-radar trades late in spring training or early in the regular season. They landed Justin Duchscherer in 2002 and Kirk Saarloos in 2004. The latest could be netting lefty starter Brad Halsey for Juan Cruz. Halsey, 25, was drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2002 draft, out of the University of Texas. |
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Miguel Batista looked right at home as a starting pitcher again for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old right-hander, converted to a closer by Toronto last season, allowed one run on three hits and struck out six in five innings and the Diamondbacks beat the Oakland Athletics 8-2 on Monday. Chad Tracy and Johnny Estrada each hit home runs out of Tucson Electric Park off starter Esteban Loaiza. Tracy was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. |
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All winter, Frank Thomas worked out with the hope of being ready by opening day. He is fit and healthy now, and his swing isn't bad either. Oakland's new designated hitter drove in two runs on sacrifice flies in the Athletics' 8-3 win over Texas on Tuesday. He sharply lined the ball to left in a four-run third against starter Juan Dominguez, then added a fly to center in the fifth. Thomas played in just his second Cactus League game. |
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The A's pretty much knew what their 25-man roster would be when they arrived in Arizona and very little has changed. They are as healthy as can be expected and primed to hit the ground running when the season begins. No news is good news as far as the team is concerned. ROTATION: 1. LHP Barry Zito 2. RHP Rich Harden 3. RHP Dan Haren 4. RHP Esteban Loaiza 5. |
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--RHP Esteban Loaiza is no doubt sick of facing Arizona. He faced the Diamondbacks for Team Mexico in an exhibition game, then pitched against them in both of his outings since rejoining the A's. He gave up seven runs on 10 hits, including two home runs, in four innings Monday in Tucson, Ariz. --INF Antonio Perez is still being held out of the lineup as precaution after a ball he fouled off the plate hit him between the eyes Thursday against the Angels. |