It’s too bad he was a year late, but at least Tyson Ross was born on April 22 like Marshawn. For those who don’t know, eBm is proud to sponsor both of their stat-reference pages.
T-Ross was on his game (7 1P, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) Wednesday night in Anaheim, getting the no-decision in the 10-inning 3-2 win.
In today’s notebook, we discuss why T-Ross might end up being the second-best pitcher in his family, Tye Waller’s acrobatic skills, and the Understocked.com Coliseum.
Watch out for the kid brother
There’s never been a doubt about T-Ross’ stuff. That breaking ball was absolutely disgusting last night and he has the most explosive fastball in the A’s rotation. Obviously, limiting the walks are key for him, but he’s also gone through stretches where his pitches get too much of the plate and he’s easy to hit. Not last night.
It will be interesting to see how many starts he gets while Braden heals up.
The A’s drafted T-Ross 58th overall in the 2008 and he’s still the lone second-round pick from that year to have made it to the big leagues. Thirteen selections from the first and supplemental rounds have made it up to the show, including Buster Posey and Ike Davis. Oakland picked Jemile Weeks 12th overall that year.
Looking at some 2011 MLB Draft prognostication station, it looks like Tyson’s brother, Joe, has a good chance to be picked earlier than Tyson was. Joe is a senior at Bishop O’ Dowd HS in Oakland and supposedly he is also a boss.
Joe and Tyson Ross could be like these guys
ESPN.com said Joe, a righty listed at 6-3 190, is the top prep pitcher in California. According to MaxPreps, he is 3-3 with two saves and a 1.03 ERA in nine appearances (six starts) this year. He has a K/BB ratio of 54/11 in 40 2/3 innings.
“Joe is doing very well and committed to UCLA last fall,” wrote Dr. Willie Ross, father of Joe and Tyson, in an e-mail to eBm on April 18. “He is having a great high school season and has garnered lots of mlb interest. His fastball has topped out at 96.”
Last summer, A’s director of scouting Eric Kubota told me the A’s had already scouted Joe, which is not a surprise. Oakland picks 18th overall this year while conceding its second round pick (No. 75) to Tampa Bay for signing Grant Balfour. The A’s don’t pick again until No. 105.
Tye the guy
Good thing the A’s switched up the first-base coach this season. I doubt Todd Steverson would have been able to pull off the athletic maneuver Tye Waller did in Wednesday’s game.
In the third inning, Koooooooooooouuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzzz hit a rocket to first base and it bounced off Howie Kendrick’s glove toward second. Kendrick picked up the ball and tried to nab the Kouz at first but his throw sailed.
Waller dropped to the ground, belly up, to avoid the throw and initially it worked. But then the ball bounced off the dugout fence right back at him and it looked like he was in the danger zone. Being the smooth operator he is, though, Waller laid down in the perfect spot, as the ball jumped over his helmet mere inches from his face. Pretty hilarious scene.
O.co Coliseum sounds turrible
The A’s finally found a suitor for the Coliseum, but people are better off just calling it the Coliseum. Overstock.com has bought the naming rights for our sacred piece of land on 66th, which is pretty much on par with past sponsors like Network Associates and McAfee. By par I mean turrible.
According to the Oakland Trib, Overstock.com is re-branding itself to O.co because five syllables is way too many. It seems abreev has taken over the nation and O.co has fell victim.
Long live the Coliseum with orange seats.
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guess i coulda saved some $ and just draped a giant tarp from the lights.