Pods grounds one to the pitcher and Uribe gets hung up between 2nd and 3rd. Uribe delays the pitcher long enough for Pods to get into 2nd base. Uribe tagged out. Pods at 2nd base. 1 out.
Ozzie is impressed and happy with the way his guys played this spring. He feels great about the starters and alot better about Contreras after yesterday's start. Politte has thrown the ball alot better in his last few appearances. Compares his current bullpen with having Koch and Mike Jackson from last season. He will use Politte in the 5th and 6th and Vizcaino in the 7th and 8th. Ozuna has been playing his ass off. He needed another right-handed bat so he kept Widger. Ozzie even admits that he now has the team he wants so we will get to see what kind of manager he is this year.
Inning over. Garland is having a good start so far...
Pierzynski nubs one to the 3rd baseman. Rowand thrown out at 2nd base. A.J. safe at 1st base on the double play attempt after the 1st baseman drops the ball. Crede up...
Garland gets his first two batters to pop out. He gives up a single to Geoff Jenkins and then he gets Carlos Lee to ground out to Iguchi. Inning over. End of the 1st. No score.
Neither Ellis nor Ginter are world beaters and even though Swisher is a top OF prospect it's still his rookie year. The A's biggest question mark is their young rotation. Dan Meyer pitched poorly this spring and won't even make the rotation. They already sent him to the minors. Their bullpen should be really good though.
So no closer who throws in the high 80's can have success?