Elephant Rumblings: Laureano helps A’s snap skid; MLB draft continues

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: A’s top Angels to snap five-game losing streak...
• Tafur: Frankie Montas, Ramón Laureano heating up on the mound, at the plate to help the A’s hit .500... ($)
• Lockard: A’s go for a mix of upside and more proven college talent on Day 2 of the draft... ($)
• Slusser: A’s draft, day two, includes two catchers and former 49er Milt McColl’s son...
• Marshall: Pembroke Hill’s baseball standout (and A’s third round pick) Marcus Smith getting attention from MLB scouts...
• Lockard: Despite picking late in the first and second rounds, the A’s come away happy with their first-day haul... ($)
• Slusser: A’s pitching plans — maybe an opener, probably Paul Blackburn...

Best of AN:

• Schmidt: Game #61 — Ramon Blows The Lid Off Canning...
• Hall: MLB Draft 2019 — Oakland A’s make picks in Rounds 3 through 10...
• Iversen: Quick Look — Who should be the Oakland A’s primary left fielder?
• Fatrolf’s Tuesday Sketches: This Is Where We Draw The Line...
• Baker-Gillman: Series #21 — Athletics at Angels: Escaping a Rut...

MLB News:

• Gelb: Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen has torn ACL, out for season...
• Feinsand: Yankees look like favorites to sign free agent lefty Dallas Keuchel...
• Woodbery: Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera dealing with chronic knee issue...
• Van Schouwen: White Sox OF Nicky Delmonico out for season with torn labrum in left shoulder...
• Foley: Yankees release infielder Cliff Pennington from minor league contract...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Longenhagen and McDaniel: Day 1 Draft Review...
• Gammons: When it comes to much-needed bullpen help, the draft is a piece of the puzzle, but no quick fix... ($)
• Baccellieri: How Major League Baseball Adopted the Save — and Changed the Game Forever...
• Sarris: The unique brilliance of Hyun-Jin Ryu... ($)
• Szymborski: Welcome to the Cold A/C League...
• Sarris: This year’s unluckiest team so far... ($)
• Clemens: Pitchers Plan, and Mike Trout Laughs...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1974 — Oakland’s Reggie Jackson and Billy North engage in a clubhouse fight at Detroit. Jackson injures his shoulder, and Ray Fosse, attempting to separate the combatants, suffers a crushed disk in his neck. Fosse will spend 12 weeks on the disabled list, virtually ending his season.
• 2015 — Pat Venditte becomes the first ambidextrous pitcher of the 21st century when he makes his debut for the Athletics against the Red Sox. In the 7th inning, he pitches lefthanded to get Brock Holt to ground out for the first out, then switches to the right hand to allow a single to Hanley Ramirez and force Mike Napoli to ground into a double play to end the inning, then follows with a perfect 8th inning. However, the Sox’s 4 - 2 win is marred when a female fan is hit by Brett Lawrie’s broken bat in the 2nd inning and has to be wheeled away from Fenway Park on a stretcher with what are described by police as life-threatening injuries.

Best of Twitter:

• Rob Manfred with some positive words on Oakland’s stadium efforts...

• How is this man still employed...

• Interested to hear thoughts on this...