MLB news roundup
Happy Thursday everyone!
The hits just keep coming. Longtime radio play-by-play announcer Vince Cotroneo announced on Twitter yesterday that he won’t be back next year calling Athletics games:
— Vince Cotroneo (@CotroneoVince) July 10, 2024
And so ends the Cotroneo era after 19 years. Many young A’s fans don’t know any other radio announcer than Cotroneo so they’ll need to get used to another new voice for the team. While he doesn’t give a reason for his departure, it’s not hard to speculate he didn’t want to go to Sacramento. Furthermore he made it clear that he is not retiring, so it might not be long before we hear his voice calling games for other teams. It’s been fun listening to him calling A’s games on the commute and we’ll all miss him calling games for our guys.
Cotroneo’s departure comes just over a year since TV play-by-play announcer Glen Kuiper departed the organization. The club decided to break barriers then and replace him with a woman, current broadcaster Jenny Cavnar. Would the club dip into the female pool of radio candidates? The team will have plenty of time to search for a new voice to replace Cotroneo.
On the field though, the team got some good news in the injury department:
Ross Stripling, Paul Blackburn and Esteury Ruiz came away feeling healthy from their rehab games with Single-A Stockton last night. Original plan was for them to join Triple-A Las Vegas in Sugar Land this week, but due to the hurricane they will remain rehabbing with Stockton.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 10, 2024
Not the hurricane part. Getting any or all of them back in action would be a boost to an Oakland team that’s been in need of a boost of energy. Ruiz would definitely bring that but getting Blackburn and Stripling back might be even more important.
Stripling hasn’t been what the A’s had hoped for when they signed him but the team will need to soak up innings somehow. And Blackburn should provide a bit more quality and stability, if he can remain healthy. Joey Estes looked amazing just one previous start ago but he’ll need to do more to keep his spot when these guys return.
We finish up this series with the Red Sox today before heading out to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies. Let’s head out on a positive note with a series win! Have a great Thursday folks!
All foreseeable:
The Oakland A’s planned move to Sacramento has MLB’s schedule makers wrangling with several issues, including a shared field, valley heat and a turf surface.https://t.co/RZvUVp6SJO
— Sporting Green (@SportingGreenSF) July 11, 2024
Butler went off for his birthday yesterday:
Lawrence Butler has himself a day at the plate to celebrate his birthday and an @Athletics win. pic.twitter.com/eyCEahjg7t
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2024
Interesting company to join:
With this home run, Zack Gelof became just the third player in A’s history to begin their Major League career with at least 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in their first two seasons.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 10, 2024
The other two:
Mitchell Page (1977-78)
Ed Charles (1962-63)
pic.twitter.com/Lv5JGwyke6
Probably first to get squeezed out when Blackburn returns:
Joey Estes’ troubles on the road continued last night in Boston. https://t.co/hzZlQczPLF
— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) July 10, 2024
