Calm Mortensen pitching for his 2010 fate
SEATTLE — The past few months have been a head-spinning experience for A’s right-hander Clayton Mortensen, but you’d never know it from observing his clubhouse interactions.
A 24-year-old rookie, he is to hyper what former A’s outfielder Eric Byrnes is to calm. There’s an economy of movement about Mortensen, who was acquired in the four-player trade that sent Matt Holliday to St. Louis in July.
“Pretty mellow dude,” A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki said of Mortensen, who’ll make his final start of the season Wednesday in the middle game of a three-game series against the host Mariners at Safeco Field. “All of our young guys are pretty mellow.”
Maybe not all. Lefty Gio Gonzalez is the first to admit there’s a little spaz in him. But Mortensen, who was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Sept. 4 for his second stint with the A’s, fits right in with fellow even-keel rookies Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson.
Whether he’ll fit in among them in the 2010 starting rotation is an issue that won’t be resolved until next spring at the earliest, but he’s been solid since the most recent recall, going 2-2 with a 3.97 ERA.
“Like a number of young guys this year, he’s getting a nice opportunity to show what he can do at this level,” Oakland manager Bob Geren said. “We’ve seen him pitch very well, we’ve seen him struggle a little bit, and that’s what you typically see with rookie pitchers. What’s important is that the talent is there. That’s obvious. The fact that we traded for him tells you what we think of him.
“What’s going to happen next year? Who knows? But every time you take the mound in a Major League game is a chance to put yourself into the picture.”
Click here to read the full article – By Mychael Urban of Mlb.com
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Suzuki receives Catfish Hunter Award
During his time as an ace right-hander for the A’s, Jim “Catfish” Hunter was known as someone who carried more than his share of the load.
Current A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki can certainly identify with that, and so Wednesday’s announcement that Suzuki was selected by his teammates and coaches as the recipient of the 2009 Jim “Catfish” Hunter Award seemed fitting.
Suzuki, who likely will lead American League catchers in games started for the second consecutive season, and Hunter, who twice threw more than 300 innings and eclipsed the 250-frame mark in six other seasons, would have made quite the battery.
Click here to read the full article – By Mychael Urban of MLB.com
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A’s bullpen promises bright future
The A’s will have plenty of question marks heading into Spring Training 2010, but there won’t be much uncertainty surrounding the constitution of their bullpen.
Heading into this week’s series against the Rangers — the second of three games is scheduled for Tuesday — Oakland’s relievers were sporting an American League-best 3.57 ERA, and every key member of the unit is expected back next season.
Even better for the cost-conscious club: They’ll return on the cheap.
All-Star closer Andrew Bailey, right-hander Brad Ziegler and left-hander Craig Breslow aren’t yet eligible for arbitration, and top setup man Michael Wuertz is a year from free agency.
Click here to read the full article – By Mychael Urban of MLB.com
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After day off, Suzuki to continue grinding
A’s manager Bob Geren gave starting catcher Kurt Suzuki the day off on Sunday in order to keep him fresh for the upcoming series against the White Sox in Chicago.
Suzuki has played in 124 games this season, and caught in 115 of those. With reserve catcher Landon Powell showing some power at the plate, Geren has had the flexibility to give Suzuki an occasional day off.
According to Geren, Suzuki will be back behind the plate on Tuesday. Suzuki, who caught 141 games last season after only catching 68 in 2007, said the grind of catching over 130 games can catch up with player.
Click here to read the full article – By Jayson Addcox of MLB.com
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Hairston’s slam lifts A’s to win in finale
Starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez did something on Sunday that he hadn’t done all season. And he was glowing after the game.
The A’s 5-2 victory over the Mariners was great and the dramatic fashion in which the A’s took the lead was even better, but for Gonzalez, seven innings of work was awesome. In 12 starts this season, Gonzalez has been one out from completing seven innings twice, but both times he was unable to do it.
On Sunday the lefty shined, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three to earn his fifth win of the season. Gonzalez used a steady diet of curveballs and fastballs to go with a new four-seam changeup that he recently added to his repertoire.
Click here to read the full article – By Jayson Addcox of MLB.com
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