Trevor Cahill and Booby Crosby were the MVP’s tonight as they helped the Athletics take game one of the East Bay, Bay Area rivalry 5-1.

Trevor Cahill was on his game tonight after allowing an early solo home run to Giant first baseman Travis Ishikawa. Cahill (5-5) went seven innings allowing only one earned run on four hits, striking out four and walking one, this all without topping the 100-pitch plateau.

Crosby drove in three of the five A’s runs with a two-run double in the sixth and an RBI ground out in the eighth. Other notables were the two hits apiece from Orlando Cabrera, who also drove in one, and ex-Giant Rajai Davis.

The task gets much tougher tomorrow as the Giants deal Tim “the freak” Lincecum. The A’s will try to counteract “the freak” with Vin Mazzaro.

Free Tickets still available, for more info on how to get them, check previous posts. Go A’s!

Another nail-biter led to an A’s win as the insurance run in the sixth proved to be the difference. The A’s beat the Dodgers in the second game of the three-game series 5-4.

Rookie pitcher Trevor Cahill was doing his job until the Oakland defense began to meltdown with costly errors leading to two runs. Cahill (4-5) allowed two runs (zero earned) on four hits in 51/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

The offense was led by home runs by Jack Cust and least likely Rajai Davis. Davis’ home run was a solo shot to left and Jack Cust, a two-run shot to left center. The A’s had a 4-0 lead until the fifth, sixth and seventh inning led to four runs for the Dodgers. If not for the insurance run in the sixth this game might have ended up as a defensive loss.

Orlando Cabrera continues to pile up the errors making him the worst defensive shortstop in the Big’s. He sure hasn’t materialized. Bobby Crosby is beginning to look better and better to me.

The game ended with Andrew Bailey shutting the door for his sixth save.

Now to the free tickets…

The game is for july first, versus the Detroit Tigers, four tickets and here’s what we want to see from you A’s fans.

The commenter who brings the most traffic via message boards, blogs, face book, my space whatever will win the tickets. Make sure that anyone who comments on Athleticshomeplate.com references you by name so we can keep a count, and that’s it good luck and go A’s!

The contest ends on June 25th!

The A’s came back form a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth, then in the bottom of the ninth, runners on second and third and one out, Rajia Davis takes the first pitch for a game-winning single. Game over!

Orlando Cabrera brought in Jack Hannahan with an RBI single in the eighth to narrow the margin to 3-1. Then with a Cabrera on base Adam Kennedy tied things up with a home run to right.

Trevor Cahill was going to be the losing pitcher after pitching another more-than quality start until the offense saved him. Cahill gave up all three runs in the fourth on a three-run home run by Joe Crede. Cahill went seven innings surrendering seven hits, two walks and struck out two.

Nicely salvaged game I must say. Go A’s!

That’s five straight and a series win versus the Orioles.

The game was looking like another blowout, something similar to last night’s 9-1 victory, that was until Bob Geren decided to manage again. With a nine-run cushion heading into the seventh inning and Trevor Cahill (tonight’s starter) at a comfortable 91 pitch mark, Geren chose to make a move to the bullpen because there were men on first and third nobody out. The move back-fired (once again) and Cahill was stuck with two earned runs. Two more scored and the 9-0 lead was now 9-4. What more can be said about Bob Geren. Has this guy ever heard of playing through adversity?

Aside from what I’m calling sabotage, things went well for the A’s tonight. Cahill pitched like a veteran and the offense continued to get runs on the board. However; If I could give out an error to someone tonight it would obviously be Geren, he would inherit three of the four runs scored for his misuse of the bullpen (your welcome Ziegler and Breslow, Bailey your still the man).

Cahill’s night was awesome, two runs (one earned because of manager) on six hits in six-plus innings of work. Cahill (3-5) struck out five and walked none.

The A’s offense pounded out 13 hits tying an Oakland-record with 8 doubles. Jason Giambi drove in three with a two-out bases clearing double down the right-field line. Adam Kennedy and Orlando Cabrera each drove in two apiece, Cabrera had a three-hit night. Kennedy, Matt Holliday and Rajai Davis each had two-hit nights.

Five straight and they’re playing the Orioles again tomorrow boys, only 7 1/2 back of Texas and rolling.

Green and Gold and doubles galore!

Offense check, Pitching check.

That’s what we all expected coming into this season, three-run homers, and good pitching. The A’s took the first game of the series versus the Baltimore Orioles 9-1, backed by a solid pitching performance by Dallas Braden.

Braden was the lucky recipient of a bunch of runs, all nine in the first five innings and Braden didn’t look back. Braden evened his record on the year (5-5) and struck out a career high seven in seven innings of work. He gave up one run on just five hits, a solo shot to right off the bat of Baltimore outfielder Luke Scott, who is extremely hot right now. Has anyone noticed Braden’s tattooed-right index finger? Rollie Fingers esk. and he uses it extremely well I might add.

Braden was a little unhappy when Bob Geren removed him after the seventh inning with only 102 pitches. Braden began showing up Geren by doing pull-ups in the dug-out. Gotta love it!

The offensive onslaught began with six first-inning runs. Jack Cust hit a three-run home run to center (must of been the new haircut), Aaron Cunningham drove in two with a single up the middle, scoring Suzuki and Giambi. The final run of the inning came from the least likely Athletic, Rajai Davis, his first of the season on a line-drive-single to right. The final blow came in the fifth, a enormous three-run home run to center. To trade or not to trade, that is the question.

Geren must be loving these wins, heck, he probably thinks he has a lot to do with it. Four straight is nice, but Geren, it wasn’t you man, in fact your still very much on the hot-seat.

Go Green and Gold!

As the Athletics continue to put up runs inconsistently, their minor league affiliates, especially Midland (AA), continue to swing the hot bat collectively. You could make an easy argument that the AA team offensively, is pound for pound better than AAA. The most notable right now who is on the verge of being a career minor leauger, is 26-year-old right-handed-hitting first baseman (sometimes third baseman) Tommy Everidge. His line looks like this through 45 games:

.306 7HR, 43RBI, BB/K ratio 18-25.

Everidge isn’t slowing down and he won’t, the questions is, will the A’s or even the RIvercats give him a look? He’s not getting any younger.

Adrian Cardenas shortstop, is another Double A Midland player who since being demoted from triple A has been on fire. His AAA-AA combined stats are (through 43 games):

.307 5HR, 38RBI, BB/K ratio 23-27.

He probably deserves a spot on the Rivercats but there’s no room. Billy Beane better get busy.

Triple A Sacramento:

Outfielder Aaron Cunningham, who was given a sip of the show this year before being domoted. Why he’s spending his time in Sacramento while Rajai Davis is in Oakland is beyond me. Cunninghams line is the follwing:

.315 3HR, 11RBI, BB/K ratio 3-15 (not great) but the key here to me is he hits left-handers at a .412 clip! Rajai Davis, also a right hander, .160. That’s .160 folks…HORRIBLE.

The farm system looks interesting, maybe some hitters, of course some pitchers but only time will tell.

Who needs a promotion?

Trevor Cahill vs. Erik Bedard round two, fight!

It was a great fight today boys, but somebody had to win and it went to the team who doesn’t retain the anemic, non-existent force, who is Rajai Davis and the recently looney Russ Springer.

Mariners 6, Athletics 1

The offense was limited to five hits, one home run and the rest singles..Yes singles. Bobby Crosby hit the home run of all people. The 7-8-9 lineup should never look like this: Crosby, Rajai Davis, Jack Hannahan. Why can’t the A’s have Travis Buck or Aaron Cunningham in the lineup instead of Rajai Davis, who might as well of been a lefty facing another lefty today.

More ranting I know but it needs to be said.

Russ Springer, or “old-man Springer” which I like to call him, for some reason can barely get outs. Today he came into the ninth with a 4-1 Mariner lead and gave up three straight single, one that led to two runs, an out, another single, before getting out of the inning with a doulbel play. Something must me going on with Springer, family related or injury related I don’t know, but something needs to be done. Maybe a DL stint.

It’s a shame the A’s can’t back up a solid rookie performance from Cahill. Cahill (2-5) today went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out five and walking one.

Aaron Cunningham has been recalled from Sacramento and might be starting tonight at Detroit. Also Santiago Casilla is back with the team after his rehabilitation went as planned.

Anyone excited about Cunninghams promotion? Doesn’t anyone think it’s time Rajai Davis takes a hike, he’s been so ineffective at the plate, and not good on defense.

Does anyone think the A’s should promote Double-A first/third-baseman Tommy Everigde? He’s a right-hande power hiiter, that has been stuck in Double-A becacuse of a “log-jam at the position”. Just to put out there, he led the league last year in RBI’s with 115 and had 22 home runs to go along with a .279 batting average. This year he has four home runs and 32 RBI’s in 32 games, and a batting average of .309, plus he has been steller with his walk-to-k ratio (15/18).

Would it hurt to give this guy a chance instead of Rajai Davis?

The A’s (9-14)  lost the first of a three-game series versus AL West “rival” Anaheim Angels (11-13) 5-2.

Brett Anderson struggled early and was pulled after 42/3innings (only 72 pitches) after allowing five earned runs on nine hits, no walks, and zero strike outs. His last start was cut short becasue of a blister and it seemed to bother him some today, as you could see him picking at it between at-bats. Sean Gallagher-recalled from Sacramento today-came in a pitched 32/3 scoreless innings of relief, but the A’s never had a chance, as their inept offense continued.

Kurt Suzuki-the lone bright spot-stayed hot even after a change in the batter order (leadoff), however, Matt Holliday continued to look out of it as he had two chances with runners in scoring position and both times popped out foul to first base, he went 0-4 on the day as did Jack Cust, Travis Buck, Gregorio Petit and Rajai davis would have too if he had a fourth at-bat.

Who thinks it’s time Rajai Davis packs his bags? He’s more of a liability in the outfield than an asset at the plate or on the bases. When he comes up to the plate you know the end result before he takes his first swing.

The A’s lost game one of a weather-shortened two game series to the Yankees 5-3.

Athletics record stands at 5-8, their worst record to start a season since 2001.

The tying run came up to the plate in the ninth, in Orlando Cabrera with one on and two out, and he chose to bunt, and popped out to the pitcher for the last out. Nice call there. Cant even bunt.

Dana Eveland gave up four runs (all earned) in the second inning, all while lasting a whole four innings, walking four, striking out three and giving up nine hits. I’m going to say it now, if this guy doesn’t get on track soon, he’ll be back in triple A in an exchange for someone who can go six innings.

The A’s offense failed-once again- to take advantage of what early reports suggested, a home-run friendly park, with a bunch of singles. So exciting! Three long balls all season folks, that’s all.

Kurt Suzuki had four of the A’s 12 hits.

The offense looks pretty terrible and adjustments are going to have to be made. Holliday for example looks awful, swinging at pitches in the dirt on a consistent basis, and Chavez is another story for another day, can I buy a hit, (3-28) this year guys.

Another thing, Rajai Davis! Please do not start this guy anymore. He really looks like a pitcher when he’s up to bat, no faith in him at all. Am I wrong about that? He’s only useful as a defensive replacement, or on-base replacement in need of a situational steal.

The Athletic’s have really failed to take advantage of a temporarily weak AL West.

Woosahhhh people, Woosahhhh.