RealGM

Game 1: Tuesday, April 5 7:07 ET
Game 2: Wednesday, April 6 7:07 ET
Game 1: Thursday, April 7 12:37 ET

Probable Starters:
Game 1: Dallas Braden (0-0) vs. Jo-Jo Reyes (0-0)


Scouting Report: Dallas Braden (LHP)
High 80's Fastball
Low 70's Change-up
High 70's - Low 80's Slider
Mid 70's Curve

-Hits good spots on the fastball
-Out-pitch is the change-up
-Threw a perfect game last year
-Hates A-Rod
------------------------------

Scouting Report: Jo-Jo Reyes (LHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 70's Curveball
Low 80's Change-up
Low 80's Slider

-Out-pitch is the slider
-Have always done well at Spring Training in previous years, need to translate ST success into the regular season
----------------------------

Game 2: Brandon McCarthy (0-0) vs. Jesse Litsch (0-0)


Scouting Report: Brandon McCarthy (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
High 70's Change-up
Mid 70's Curveball
Low 80's Slider

-Did not play in the majors in 2010 due to injury.
-Previously a highly touted Texas Rangers pitching prospect.
-Beat out A's pitching prospect Tyson Ross for the fifth spot
-1.33 HR / 9 innnings ratio plays right into the Jays strength. Look for him to be out of the game by the 4th.
------------------------------


Scouting Report: Jesse Litsch (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 80's Slider
Mid 79's Change-up
Low 80's Curve

-Out for most of 2010 due to injury
-Not an over-powering presence in the mound
-Above average control
-------------------------------

Game 3: Trevor Cahill (1 GS, 0-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Ricky Romero (1 GS, 1-0, 1.85 ERA)


Scouting Report: Trevor Cahill (RHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Low 80's Change-up
Low 80's Curveball

-Great movement on the fastball
-Great movement on the change-up
-The ace of the young and talented A's pitching staff.
-Struggled with his command on his last start, only lasting 4.2 innings.
-------------------------------


Scouting Report: Ricky Romero (LHP)
Low 90's Fastball
Mid 80's Change-up
Mid 70's Curveball

-Currently has one of the best change-ups in the game, today
-Great K/9 (7.5)
-Can struggle with control at times
-Needs to learn to be more efficient with his pitches if he truly wants to be the ace of this club.
----------------------------------

Projected Starting Line-ups

Oakland Athletics
CF Coco Crisp
1B Daric Barton
RF David DeJesus
LF Josh Willingham
DH Hideki Matsui
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Mark Ellis
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
SS Cliff Pennington

Last Series Against the Mariners (1-2)
-The line-up had problems scoring runs averaging just over 3 runs / game, however they did face King Felix in Game 1.
-For an AL team, they do not show a lot of power and tend to play a lot of small ball.

Who's Hot:
Coco Crisp (.417 Avg, .462 OBP, .667 Slugging)
-Getting on base for nothing.

Who's Not:
David DeJesus (.083 Avg, .154 OBP, .083 Slugging)
-Just can't cash in the runs.

-----------------------------------------------------
Toronto Blue Jays
CF Rajai Davis
SS Yunel Escobar
RF Jose Bautista
1B Adam Lind
2B Aaron Hill
3B Edwin Encarnacion
LF Travis Snider
DH Juan Rivera
C J.P. Arencibia

-A very explosive line-up showing a lot of speed and power
-Need to show more patience at the plate in key situations

Who's Hot:
Jose Bautista (.455 Avg, .600 OBP, 1.000 Slugging)
-Best batflip in the league hands down.

Who's Not:
Edwin Encarnacion (.167 Avg, .154 OBP, .167 Slugging)
-Don't be surprised if he DH's for the series, with Nix playing third

Should be able to take 2 out of this series.

For all the talk of great young pitching staffs - OAK league-wide and TOR at least 'round these parts - those two match-ups sure don't do too much for me.

Not a fan of Reyes or Litsch hopefully we could win 1 of those games..

Hopefully these will be almost as interesting as the Minnesota games.

I'm not too worried about the A's at this point. Whatever we lack in pitching this series we will probably make up for with the bats.

Litsch needs a photo like Brandon McCarthy.

Was there any talk of skipping a starter, or is that not happening this season?

J-Roc wrote:Litsch needs a photo like Brandon McCarthy.

Was there any talk of skipping a starter, or is that not happening this season?

I don't think any starters will be skipped since Morrow will be back in less than a week and one of Litsch/Reyes will be booted off the rotation.

Sweep.

dam - i had no idea Matsui was on the A's..

go jays

Nice Series-Thread!

I think the starts in which we have "power pitching" (Reyes and Romero--relative to Oakland's lack of pop) we should win, and could definitely beat McCarhty if we get to him early. I think Litsch will have trouble with the Oakland slash attack (taking what he gives them).

The key game, as usual, is the first. I remember Braden giving us fits and we don't like the changeup much in general.

I'm hoping Rajai is back..

Ugh.... Litsch and Reyes in the same series. Can't wait till morow is back.

A day off after only 1 series...... argh! I'm already having withdrawl....

I actually think Gio Gonzalez has a legit claim as ace of the As rotation

It would be nice to see a fair sized crowd tomorrow (more than 20000).

Jo jo on the mound tonight. I'm both excited and a bit nervous. Really hoping he can put it together for the jays, and there's reason for optimism as we've seen what they did with Morrow, and now how much better Drabek looks. Not to mention what we've seen froom Jo jo, especially against the Yanks, in spring training. I just love his arm. Hopefully he gets out and has a good first inning, settles in and gains some confidence and away he goes from there.

Gonna be interesting to see what Reyes can do, looked great in ST but don't know what to expect now. Can't wait till Morrow is back though, I'd rather see Litsch coming out of the bullpen for now.