Oakland sputtering into second half of season

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics are in dire straights right now, having lost nine of their last 10 games. The A's are a pathetic 1-6 since the All-Star break and now trail the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by 11 1/2 games in the American League West. With a 45-50 record on the season, Oakland needs an immediate turnaround in order to become a serious contender for a postseason birth in the American League.

Oakland's demise began right before the All-Star break, when the club dropped three of four games to the Seattle Mariners. The A's continued their losing after the break, dropping five straight games to the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. Things will not get easier for Oakland over the next three weeks, as they play 20 straight games without a day off. The results of those next 20 days could in fact decide the A's season.

Oakland' series loss to the last-place Rangers was the worst showing of the 10-game stretch. Despite a solid effort from starter Dallas Braden, Monday's opener ended in a 4-1 Oakland loss.

Braden allowed four runs on eight hits through six innings, while striking out seven. The A's did little to support their hurler, however, collecting just six hits in defeat.

Tuesday's game ended in another embarrassing loss, as the A's fell by an 11-4 margin. Starting pitcher Chad Gaudin was knocked around, surrendering five runs on eight hits through six innings. However, it was the play of the Oakland bullpen that sealed the deal, as the A's relievers surrendered five runs over the final three innings.

The A's finally got things going in Wednesday's finale, capturing a 6-0 win to snap their nine-game losing streak. Starter Lenny DiNardo carried the A's to victory by allowing just three hits through seven shutout innings. Oakland only managed six hits in the win, but received a 2-for-3 performance from second baseman Mark Ellis.

Following the game, manager Bob Geren spoke about the importance of Wednesday's victory.

"It was a much-needed win for the team," Geren said. "I couldn't be happier with the entire performance, it was a real nice win."

A'S SEND STRUGGLING KENDALL TO CUBS

The A's dealt catcher Jason Kendall to the Chicago Cubs on Monday. In return Oakland received catcher Rob Bowen and minor league pitcher Jerry Blevins. The trade was not a total shock, as general manager Billy Beane has been known for making deals at the trade deadline and the team having fallen almost completely out of the playoff picture.

Kendall became expendable after failing to break out of a season-long slump that saw him bat just .226 with 26 RBI through the first half of the season.

The veteran catcher was in his third season with the A's and was coming off an impressive 2006 campaign in which he batted .295. However, Oakland's recent struggles have forced the team to make some decisions that will either lead them into the postseason, or clear some salary for the offseason market. Kendall falls into the latter, as he was scheduled to make $13.5 million this season.

Outfielder Mark Kotsay, who is a close friend of Kendall's, is optimistic he will be able to turn things around in Chicago.

"He's one of the most professional guys I've ever come across," said Kotsay. "He's just the epitome of what a big league player and teammate should be. But this is probably a good thing for Jason. He's had a lot of success in the NL Central. He had the best years of his career in that division, and I'm sure he'll be able to give (the Cubs) a big boost in what they're trying to do."

As for Bowen, he will be playing for his third team this season. The catcher played 30 games for the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Cubs on June 20. He struggled with Chicago, batting just .065 in 10 games, and is hitting .212 with two home runs and 13 RBI over 40 contests this year.

Bowen will back up rookie catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was named the starter following the trade. Suzuki has shown promise behind the plate but is struggling worse than Kendall with the stick. The rookie is batting just .200 with 10 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances this season.

Kendall's trade may signify Oakland's surrender, as the team has fallen 11 1/2 games back in the AL West. The pitching staff has been thwarted with injuries and the latest losing streak may have been enough to put the Athletics out of the race for good. However, Beane was quick to announce that the Kendall trade had no bearing on the team's immediate future.

"Certainly with the injuries we've had, we're not in a place we'd like to be sitting right now. It's quite an uphill battle. ... But this doesn't necessarily mean anything team-wise beyond [trading Kendall]."

PIAZZA ON THE MEND

Designated hitter Mike Piazza may be able to return from the disabled list, following a productive rehab stint in Triple-A Sacramento. Piazza, who has missed more than two months with a shoulder sprain, is batting .400 with a home run and two RBI during his minor league assignment. That success at the plate may prompt the A's to recall the catcher for this weekend's series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Prior to the All-Star break there was some talk about moving Piazza into a backup catcher role. However, that idea died quickly when Piazza told the A's front office that his arm would not be strong enough to catch on a regular basis. Either way, the A's need Piazza's bat back in their ailing lineup. The veteran DH was batting .282 with eight RBI in just 26 games before his injury.

Geren is excited about Piazza's return, but does not want to rush the veteran and risk further injury.

"He's gonna be ready to DH, but I can't predict how many games he'll play right away," Geren said. "But anybody that's a major hitter of his stature is going to help our lineup."

INJURY NEWS

The A's were forced to place right-hander Rich Harden back on the DL with a strained right shoulder. Harden had already missed most of the season with the same injury, but returned to the A's bullpen on June 21. He pitched well in a relief role, holding opponents scoreless over three separate appearances. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was placed back in the rotation on July 7.

Harden was forced to leave that game against Seattle after just 2 2/3 innings. He complained of stiffness upon entering the dugout and was eventually placed back on the DL for the second time this season.

Beane was not discouraged upon hearing about Harden's diagnosis, however.

"It's obviously a blow for the club, but we've managed to do a pretty good job of staying afloat without him for most of the first half," Beane said.

WHO'S HOT

Rookie Travis Buck has come on over the past month, hitting safely in seven of his last 10 games. The outfielder is batting .273 with six home runs and 23 RBI this season.

WHO'S NOT

Kotsay continues to struggle, as he has gone just 5-for-34 at the plate over his last 10 games. The center fielder is batting just .186 in the month of July and has watched his average slip to .219 on the season.

ON DECK

The A's will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town for a three-game set from McAfee Coliseum beginning Friday. Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.36) will take on Orioles ace Eric Bedard (8-4, 3.22) in Friday's opener. Saturday's game will feature Dan Haren (10-3, 2.33) and Baltimore's Steve Trachsel (5-6, 4.95) before Braden (1-4, 6.07) and Jeremy Guthrie (5-3, 3.06) close out Sunday's finale.