WEST SACRAMENTO — Angels manager Kurt Suzuki has a long history with A’s manager Mark Kotsay that goes back to when they were both in the A’s organization. They also attended the same college, Cal State Fullerton, which deepened their initial bond.
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“Zuk coming to (the A’s) was exciting. To have a young player that went to CSFU, that in itself creates a bond. It started in ‘06 and continues to today,” Kotsay said before Saturday’s game. “I look at Zuk like a younger brother. I love his growth, and where he’s at today in the game, given the opportunity to manage a ballclub. I’ve always said he sees the game in a way that can lead, and that’s right where he’s at.”
Suzuki feels similarly about the A’s skipper, who said that Kotsay always looked after him when he was coming up through the team’s farm system, and then when he made it to Oakland. He credits Kotsay for teaching him how to act the right way in the big leagues.
“Now it’s coming full circle,” Suzuki said this weekend. “I’m a manager, and he’s been the manager for five years now. He’s kind of giving me tips and stuff. It’s so funny, cause I’m like, ‘man, you’re always there to help me out.’”
Suzuki said on Friday that the biggest tip he’d gotten from Kotsay was patience. An hour later Kotsay was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.
Even as a player, Suzuki could tell Kotsay was wired for it — the way he carried himself, the respect he commanded in the clubhouse.
The Angels manager also heaped praise on his friend when asked what makes Kotsay special.
“Just the personality that he has. He can be hard on you — which I know firsthand — but you also realize that it’s coming from a good place. A place of love, of care. You can’t teach that.”
DETMERS DAY
The last time Reid Detmers faced the A’s, he gave up eight runs on eight hits across 5 ⅔ innings, striking out six and walking two.
Since that outing, he has allowed one or fewer runs in four of his five starts, racking up a 1.36 ERA — the fourth-best in MLB in that span.
“It’s more consistency,” Suzuki said when asked what’s working for Detmers. “Obviously, execution. Earlier in the year there was a lot of foul balls, and I think now he’s executing better.”
He also pointed to his ability to get first-pitch strikes more often. In his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he recorded 19-of-24 first-pitch strikes for a rate of 79%.
Detmers isn’t letting the outing against the A’s dictate what he’s looking to do either.
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“It was one bad game. It is what it is,” Detmers said earlier this weekend.
Kotsay didn’t want to give too much away for how they’re game-planning for the tough left-hander, but he mentioned that they’d be looking into anything Detmers is doing differently since they last saw him.
“Any ball flight stuff that’s changed, in terms of spin rates. Horizontal, vertical stuff to his pitches,” Kotsay said of the A’s approach to facing a pitcher on a hot streak. “He’s throwing the ball well right now. The nature of the game is guys get going and they get into a rhythm and build confidence, and I think Detmers is one of those guys that has that right now.”
Detmers will take the mound for the Angels looking to earn a series split for his team in an up- and-down series.
NOTES
Getting Christian Moore up to speed in the outfield is going to take reps, according to Suzuki.
“He’s such an athletic guy,” Suzuki said before Sunday’s game. “I’ve seen Alex Gordon switch from third base to left field with Kansas City and start off as not a very good outfielder. Then he became one of the best outfielders I’ve ever seen and played against.”
The athleticism that Moore has showcased is getting him looks at different positions. So far in the big leagues he’s played left field and second base these past two seasons, while he’s also added some time at third base in the minors in that span.
“We don’t know where he’s gonna be long term,” Suzuki said Sunday. “He’s still an infielder too. He plays all over. I think the work that he puts in, he’s going to get better and better.” …
Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder inflammation) is playing catch, according to Suzuki, though he’s not sure how far along. …
Travis d’Arnaud (plantar fasciitis) is still getting back to putting pressure on his foot.
“I know he was walking around with no boot,” Suzuki said. “I think he was doing stand-still hitting stuff, just not really moving, but standing up and kind of just using his hands.”
The Angels manager added that he’d know more when the team returns home from the road trip, but that he’s not expecting the catcher’s return to be “super quick,” due to the position that he plays.
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