Game of the Week: September 27: OAK @ SEA

[Commissioner Erick]

Oakland Athletics (81-75) @ Seattle Mariners (108-48)


OAK: Danny Medina (13-11, 3.89)
SEA: Luis Mendoza (18-7, 2.33)


The Oakland Athletics had a wonderful opportunity to put themselves in a great position to capture the second Wild Card. They had taken two of the first three games against Seattle and were tied in the 9th inning at home on Thursday with a home series against the lowly Astros to follow.

Ivan Johnson boomed a run-scoring double in the top of the ninth, the team went down meekly in the bottom of the ninth, then the A’s inexplicably dropped two of three to Houston. Now the club is three games out of the Wild Card and needs a flawless week—nearly impossible when on the road against 108-win juggernaut Seattle. Elias Ramirez has 42 homers and is battling Angelo Santiago and Tony Sierra for the AL MVP crown—a huge game today would go a long way in that quest and Oakland’s postseason aspirations.

The one thing Oakland has going for them is that Seattle has virtually nothing to play for—only home field against St. Louis in a possible World Series is somewhat up for grabs. The team may elect to give guys rest to preserve them for the playoffs. The AL WAR lead is still in play, with Ramirez, Santiago and Sierra all within 0.2 WAR of one another, so Seattle may make sure those guys are in the lineup in the quest for some hardware and notoriety.


Questions for the GMs:


For Garrett White, some of your position players are a little fatigued. Will we see your normal lineup in action today?

What have you made of Kent Guttman in an Oakland uniform?

Why have you made the call to go with Jake Sanfilippo over Adam Haseley or Gavin Lux down the stretch?

For Jay Bigs, your team has little to play for. Will we see some backups in action today?

Mitch Wilson has looked really strong for you, taking over for Raimfer Salinas. Do you feel there’s room for him to start in the postseason?

Chris Brewster has played in 12 games for you now. What are your thoughts on the youngster?


TRIVIA: Two Mariners have won MVP. Who are they?

[Jay Bigs]

For Jay Bigs,

1. Your team has little to play for. Will we see some backups in action today?
We might rest a few over the final 6 games if they need it but we won't risk losing momentum.

2.Mitch Wilson has looked really strong for you, taking over for Raimfer Salinas. Do you feel there’s room for him to start in the postseason?
He's done well moving into the majors and for sure has room to be part of the post season roster as he has a strong glove, can run and hits for average which the team has lacked a little of during this year.

3.Chris Brewster has played in 12 games for you now. What are your thoughts on the youngster?
He came up for cover when needed and September callups just for extra rest days for the outfield. Hopefully preventing any more injuries after losing Salinas.

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia: Ben correctly guessed Tomoya Mori and Zigmo correctly guessed Ivan Johnson

[oaklandgm]

For Garrett White, some of your position players are a little fatigued. Will we see your normal lineup in action today?

We're in the final stretch, and realistically we need to probably take at least five of our last six to even have a shot at making it to October. Everyone is probably playing the rest of the way.

What have you made of Kent Guttman in an Oakland uniform?

We've really been encouraged by how he's looked so far. We definitely hope that Sean [Mendoza] will be back with us next year, but Kent should be able to fill in that spot at shortstop if we need to, and if Sean's back, we really like his elite defense all over the infield.

Why have you made the call to go with Jake Sanfilippo over Adam Haseley or Gavin Lux down the stretch?

Jake originally came in here as a platoon bat - we planned on him coming off the bench against lefties - but it's hard to deny how good of a middle of the order presence he's been for us this year. We don't have a ton of pop and so he's really played an integral part in the offense. 

Adam and Gavin have seen some playing time wind down as we look at some guys for next year but it's hard to take Jake's bat out of the lineup.

[Commissioner Erick]

Mariners 5 - Athletics 4


WP: L. Mendoza (19-7)
LP: D. Medina (13-12)
SV: I. Soto (14)


The Seattle Mariners overcame a good performance by Oakland third baseman Kent Guttman to knock off Oakland, 5-4, at Amazon Prime Park. Guttman was 3-3 with a double, 2 singles, and a walk. He scored 2 runs. Ignacio Soto converted his 14th save in 20 tries. The winning streak has now reached 5 games for the Mariners.

In the bottom of the second, Seattle right fielder Angelo Santiago had a productive at-bat. With the bases loaded and one out, Santiago stroked a 2-run single to center. It made the score 3-0, Seattle. For the game, he was 2-4 with 2 singles, while adding 2 RBI.

"There were things that we could've improved upon," said Mariners manager Jay Bigs, "but all in all, I'm satisfied with our performance."


Questions for the GMs:


For Garrett White, did you agree with the decision to pinch hit David Witter for Jake Sanfilippo?

Did you agree with the decision to pinch hit Adam Haseley for Milt Pool?

Zuleide Rum went 0-4 with a strikeout and was eventually pinch hit for. Do you feel you made a mistake playing him today and giving him so many at bats this year?

For Jay Bigs, it was announced after the game that Raimfer Salinas had a setback and may not be ready for the ALDS. Charlie Wilson went 1-5 with 2 RBIs. Will he be leading off for you in the postseason?

You've lost a lot of bullpen talent the last few years, but Farris and Soto combined for 3.2 innings of one-run ball. How were you able to rebuild such a good bullpen?

Gleyber Torres had the day off. Will he be starting in the playoffs?



TRIVIA: Oscar Arroyo is 13-0 this year, and is already 18th in career Wins by a Mexican pitcher. Who has the most PBA wins among Mexican nationals?

[Jay Bigs]

1. It was announced after the game that Raimfer Salinas had a setback and may not be ready for the ALDS. Charlie Wilson went 1-5 with 2 RBIs. Will he be leading off for you in the postseason?
Not sure who Charlie Wilson is but Mitch certainly has shown some real talent since being called up and with Salinas return date being unknown we are going to head into the ALDS with Wilson as our lead off, though we do hope to progress past that stage and get Salinas back into the lineup as he has been brilliant since coming over from Colorado.

2. You've lost a lot of bullpen talent the last few years, but Farris and Soto combined for 3.2 innings of one-run ball. How were you able to rebuild such a good bullpen?
Unfortunately as you say we lost alot of veteren talent in the pen during the offseason due to budget constraints and our focus on improving the batting lineup but we had some really good young talent available in AAA acquired over the past couple of season that have made the step up this year. Soto has been a stand out since coming over from the Mets where he was struggling as a starter but we saw elite stopper potential and glad that he has proven to be just that. Farris has always had good talent and while struggled a little last year and with a couple of injuries hes back to his best in recent months this year, couple this with some solid groundballers and flamethrowers I am glad the faith in the young arms has paid off for us and hope it can continue into the playoffs where it counts.

3. Gleyber Torres had the day off. Will he be starting in the playoffs??
Due to the nature of Torres' vesting option we had to keep him from getting too many plate appearances during September. Unfortunately with our financial projections and with Gleyber never really backing up his talent we cant afford to keep that $19,000,000 on the books going forward. That being said he will get opportunities during the playoffs to audition for any future teams looking for a guy with his skillset.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Ben correctly guessed Juan Carrizales