MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

What does a nearly $210 million advantage in MLB spending look like?

It looks like a series between the Athletics and the New York Yankees.

The A’s held the Yankees’ powerhouse to seven hits, only one being for extra bases, over the first two games of the series.

With the A’s having the worst pitching staff in baseball, holding down New York, an entire series when they have over $200 million more to spend, is nearly impossible. The Yankees unloaded in the finale to take the series 2-1.

Athletics Batting:
A’s bats continue to struggle as they hit under .170 as a team at Yankee Stadium.

Even the front-runner for AL Rookie of the Year, A’s SS Jacob Wilson, is mired in a 5-for-31(.161) slump. He and Aaron Judge’s batting averages are slowly coming back to the rest of the American League, but Wilson remains 2nd in MLB in batting average at .338.

While the A’s continue to struggle on the road with extra-base hits, 1B Nick Kurtz continues to be the reincarnation of Mark McGwire, minus the Androstenedione.

In Kurtz’s current five-game hitting streak, he has hit home runs in four straight series, and six in his last 13 games.

Along with his home run, he collected three runs, two walks, and four RBIs to lead the team on offense. He has hit safely in 18 of his last 23 games to show rare consistency in a power-hitting rookie.

Designated hitter Brent Rooker also had a hit in every game and added three runs to give Kurtz someone to drive in.

Catchers Willie MacIver and Austin Wynns platooned their way to a .333 batting average to continue to adequately cover the position while Shea Langeliers remains on IL.

Athletics Pitching:
As I said, A’s fans can’t ask for much more versus the mighty Yankees bats, as pitching in the first two games went about as well as it gets. 

Former reliever Mitch Spence made his sixth start of the year and, together with Sean Newcomb, held New York to a mere four hits in the game. A’s bats only managed three hits themselves, and Spence took the loss.

Following that fine outing, starter JP Sears pitched 5 2/3 of two-hit, scoreless baseball, and latest rookie call-up reliever Jack Perkins added 3 1/3 of one-hit relief to shut out the Yankees 3-0.

Perkins has only two professional appearances, but has gone at least three scoreless innings in both.

Now, for the player with the biggest contract in A’s history, Luis Severino.

He has been quoted many times in the last couple of weeks, complaining about Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

He’s been horrible at home with a 0-7, 6.79 stat-line.

Severino has given up 14 runs in his last two starts, which were in New York and Detroit, and in only 8 2/3 innings.

In those two outings, he was absolutely shelled. He gave up three doubles, a triple, and four home runs while adding two hit batters and a wild pitch.

Bottom line, he needs to stop whining. He is (2-9) as a #1 starter and has to start earning his contract instead of throwing batting practice.

*NOTE: A’s pitching allowed 18 walks vs. NY and lead the league in walks given up (325).

Upcoming Series:
The Athletics head to Florida for the final stop on their three city road trip and take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays(47-37), second in the AL East, welcome the A’s (34-52) for a three-game series as leaders in hitting, stolen bases, and among AL team leaders in most pitching categories.