Elephant Rumblings: Kotsay named to All-Star coaching staff

MLB news roundup

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Hey now!

Mark Kotsay never made the All-Star team as a player, though he probably deserved to once or twice. In 2004 he joined the A’s as their center fielder and slashed .314/.370/.459, posted 4.6 WAR, and finished fourteenth in AL MVP voting. Those are solid numbers, but they weren’t enough to get Kotsay to that season’s Midsummer Classic in Houston, where future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki started in center field.

However, thanks to four-time World Series winer Bruce Bochy, Kotsay is finally headed to his first All-Star Game as part of the AL coaching staff. Bochy, who won his fourth World Series trophy last year, personally invited Kotsay to work with him and his Rangers coaching staff at the game, which will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas—the Rangers’ home turf.

AN congratulates Mark Kotsay on punching his ticket to the 2024 All-Star Game! Angela Martin at NBC Sports Bay Area has details on the sentiments Kotsay shared with reporters after his honors were announced.

Meanwhile, with last night’s loss to the Angels, the A’s have upped their current road skid to ten games. This does not bode well for getting out of the AL West cellar, nor for the enjoyment of us beleaguered fans. The A’s badly need to win today behind Joey Estes to stem the bleeding and prevent yet another sweep. Let’s go, Oakland!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s drop another to the Angels 7-5
• A’s roster moves: Brooks DFA’d, O’Loughlin recalled
• Kotsay honored by Bochy’s invite to join All-Star Game coaching staff
• Oakland would cut police, fire services if critical $105 million Coliseum deal falls through ($)
• From one closer to another: Miller catches Fingers
• MLB trade deadline watch: White Sox scout contenders, Mason Miller’s value and more ($)
• The Secret to Hogan Harris’ Recent Success

MLB News & Interest:

• MLB Power Rankings: Phillies, Yankees fight for first, Blue Jays wilt; Who’s your team’s MDP? ($)
• Edwin Diaz Given 10-Game Suspension For Foreign Substance Check
• Missing Bats: How culture and tech converged to spread baseball’s strikeout gospel ($)
• Soto: Plan To Address Contract “In The Offseason”
• Mets Place Starling Marte On Injured List, Select Ben Gamel
• Brewers Acquire Dallas Keuchel From Mariners
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Statistically significant.

A two-bagger, no less!

All the best, J.D.

Good news.

Groshans arrives in Midland.