http://www.athleticsminors.net Oakland Athletics Minor League Baseball Commentary and Analysis Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:32:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In a very interesting piece at Baseball America, columnist Chris Kline caught up with a National League scout to talk about Athletics first round draft pick James Simmons.  Simmons put up solid numbers as a reliever for the Rockhounds and he's had a solid campaign for the Desert Dogs in ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/a-scouts-view-of-james-simmons/ Lou Merloni and Brant Colamarino combined to drive in all seven runs for the River Cats as they dispatched the PCL champion Richmond Braves to win the Bricktown Showdown.  Merloni went two for five with a homerun and four RBIs while Colamarino went three for five with a homerun and ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-blow-out-richmond-in-bricktown-showdown/ The River Cats won their sixth straight playoff game to capture their third PCL championship in five years in a 4-3 win over the Zephyrs.  Brad Knox was cruising along until he gave up a three run homer in the eighth inning that made it close but the River Cats ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-hold-off-late-inning-surge-to-sweep-zephyrs/ The River Cats scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn a one run deficit into a one run win as they came one win closer to winning the Pacific Coast League championship.  Jorge Piedra belted a solo homerun to tie the game up and then ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-take-commanding-2-0-lead-in-pcl-championship/ The River Cats took game one in their quest of the PCL title with a 5-3 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs.  Shane Komine was the winning pitcher and was solid in his six inning start.  He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Nicholas ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-win-fourth-straight-playoff-game-with-game-one-win-over-zephyrs/ The River Cats came back from a 2-0 deficit in their series with Salt Lake but they won their last three games to pull off a dramatic come behind series win to move on to the PCL championship.  Daric Barton had the big hit of the game with a huge ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/daric-barton-powers-river-cats-to-pcl-championship/ The River Cats lived to fight another day as they took care of Salt Lake to force a winner take all gave all five in a ten inning, 7-4 win.  Salt Lake jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third but the River Cats answered and tied the game ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-force-game-five-with-ten-inning-win/ The River Cats needed a win and that's what they got although they still have a tough road to climb.  Brad Knox got it done on the mound and he gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  Julio Manon struck ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-avoid-elimination-in-must-win-game-three/ The River Cats led their game against Salt Lake all the until the ninth inning in a tough 11-10 loss that now puts them two games down in a five game series.  The River Cats had leads of 5-0, 7-4 and 10-6 but Salt Lake scored three in the bottom ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-lose-in-ninth-now-one-game-away-from-elimination/ Talk about a tough loss.  The River Cats came back from a 6-2 deficit to tie the game and send it into extra frames.  Then, they take a two run lead in the tenth inning only to have Jeffrey Gray give up three runs in the bottom of the tenth to seal ... http://www.athleticsminors.net/river-cats-lose-to-salt-lake-in-ten-innings/