MLB news roundup
Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!
The Divisional round of the MLB postseason is well underway. Both NLDS series are tied up at a game apiece and headed to San Diego and NYC to resume tomorrow. The lower seeds both won away games over the weekend to capture home field advantage, for what that is actually worth.
There was a break in ALDS action yesterday, so the series in New York and Cleveland continue today as the Yankees and Guardians both look to position themselves for series sweeps.
Meanwhile, a few offseason developments involving the A’s made the news. On Friday, general manager David Forst announced that Brent Rooker underwent shoulder surgery last week and revealed that the star slugger played through the 2024 season with a forearm extensor injury that locked him in the DH role all year.
Rooker is expected to be ready to play again when Spring Training 2025 rolls around. If he can sustain his elite batting performance and provide value in left field next year, he might be a legitimate MVP candidate.
Forst also told reporters that the A’s expect payroll to increase and to be “active in free agency” in 2025. The A’s seemed to have difficulty attracting free agents to the Coliseum, and next year’s move to Sutter Health Park certainly won’t bring a facility upgrade, so it’s hard to see the team making deals with much better talent than the likes of Ross Stripling and Alex Wood, but we’ll see what Forst is really getting at in the weeks and months ahead.
Have a terrific week, AN.
Bill King would be 97.
Remembering Bill King. Born on this day in 1927. #Athletics #Raiders #Warriors pic.twitter.com/Cx1WOrgiv3
— Joe Salvatore (@radiojoee) October 6, 2024
Geddy Lee, a credit to the game (and bass guitar).
“I can’t say that I was a big Rush fan before… But I’m a Rush fan now!”
— Jim Koenigsberger (@Jimfrombaseball) October 6, 2024
Bob Kendrick
President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum,`08,
Geddy Lee donated over 600 baseballs autographed by black stars, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Josh Gibson. Donated to the Negro League… pic.twitter.com/01tfA66kGL
Lovely.
— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) October 6, 2024
Profar pranks an excessively hostile Dodgers crowd.
Jurickson Profar:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 7, 2024
1. Robbed a home run
2. Trolled the Dodger fans.
3. Threw off the announcers and the graphics team.
Good to be efficient.pic.twitter.com/Ls2eQuLnHM