Mark Kotsay provides Nick Kurtz injury update after star leaves Athletics' loss
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay speaks to reporters after his team's 4-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday at Sutter Health Park.
Mark Kotsay provides Nick Kurtz injury update after star leaves Athletics' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
A lot happened in that game.
I'll start with, Jacob Lopez.
Another pretty good outing for him tonight.
Overall, what'd you see from- Yeah, I thought Jacob did a, a good job tonight.
Obviously, you know, he, he took us into the sixth inning again, which is a good sign for these young starters, just continuing to, to give us these efforts, getting, getting deep into a game.
You know, eight strikeouts tonight, which, might be a season high for him and, and I think, you know, that just shows the improvement.
You know, coming off the mound and I think he only gave up one earned run, so, you know, continuing to build and, and move forward, which is what we need to see from, from Jacob and, and the rest of the young staff.
We saw Butler come off the bench, hit that big double yesterday, to respond again today, you know, almost ends the game there.
Just what'd you think of overall his day at the plate?
Yeah, I thought he had a great day at the plate.
You know, this, you know, Lawrence the last couple days has really stepped up and, you know, helped this club, in, in more ways than just, on the field.
I think he's starting to realize that, that he can be a leader in that clubhouse and, you know, that's, that's a good sign for, for, for Lawrence and, and for our club.
You know, the game tonight that he had is an example of him just getting that opportunity against a, a, you know, a tough lefty and taking some good quality at-bats.
I know we s- heard it was a contusion for Kurtz.
Is there anything more to that at this point?
Yeah, we're gonna have an MRI done in the morning, so we'll have a better idea of, of, of what exactly is going on.
The X-ray's kind of unclear right now.
So we're hoping for the best.
Yes, the f- the series was tied 1-1, were very, two very close games, then another close game tonight.
What it says about the way the A's are playing, they are capable to play this kind of baseball against that very tough team?
Yeah, I, I think we're playing the type baseball, you know, we, we played the beginning of the year.
You know, our pitching staff is keeping us in games, giving us the opportunity offensively to score runs.
You know, we had a chance to win the game tonight in the ninth inning off one of the best closers in the game.
And, and that at-bat, Jacob, you know, kind of I mean, obviously he's, he's trying.
He wants to be the guy to, to, to win the game for us.
You know, he doesn't strike out very often, but chased some pitches, you know, trying, trying to get that run in.
So, you know, it's good to be competitive, but we also, you know, need to win those games, too.
You thought that ball hit by Butler was gone?
Yeah, I mean, I thought, I thought he hit it well enough, you know, off the barrel.
Obviously, you know, didn't hit it, didn't hit it over the fence.
But, again, you know, the at-bat against Chapman, I think he got the big hit last year against Chapman.
So, you know, for some reason he likes hitting against Chapman.
And could you talk about the development of, Basso, at the point that you could use him in these tight situations?
Yeah, no, I mean, you saw the guys that were available tonight, you know, all the way through.
And, Bas stepping up in that situation, getting the big out on Duran in the eighth, t- to help Alvarado out.
And, you know, the, the job he did in the ninth inning navigating, you know, the, the top of the order and, and getting through that inning, give us a chance to win a game, says a lot about, you know, the progress that Basso's made.
Even though it wasn't the result you guys wanted tonight, there were a lot of great things defensively, one being Butler's strong throw from right preventing a run from scoring, another being the huge inning-ending double play from Williams, Wilson, and McNeil.
Can you talk a little bit about that defense keeping you guys in games?
Yeah, I mean, the defense is obviously important.
We talked a lot about it early in the year how well we played.
You know, we had a period of time where we hadn't played, you know, good defensively.
I think the effort was better tonight.
Obviously, the execution was better, and that, that's probably the strongest throw we've seen Lawrence make, all season.
Jonah had three hits tonight, and then his 500th career hit was that homer in, in the second.
What, what'd you see from him tonight, and what has he, what has he been doing tonight?
Yeah, no, Jonah, Jonah swung the bat well.
You know, you know, getting Tommy up there in the three hole today was, obviously he's been swinging the bat extremely well.
Getting him an extra at-bat against a left-handed pitcher tonight was, you know, kind of the thought process.
You know, having Jonah behind Tyler also protects him a little bit, so, but, overall, you know, Jonah's been a big contributor.
You know, he's obviously swinging the bat well against lefties with the, the power that, that he's produced.
So again, we talk a lot about Jonah just being here and, and being able to, provide some stability at that catching position with Lang out.
In the top of the fourth there, the Red Sox had the bases loaded, but Jacob Lop- yeah, Lopez got the, the double play there.
Double play.
And usually at that point in games earlier in the season where he was right about 66 pitches or so, you would see him kind of falter, and that game would fall apart.
Just what have you seen from him since he's rejoined the rotation here?
Yeah, I mean, and normally that's the third time through the lineup, right?
So I thought tonight was a big step forward for him in executing pitches once he got, deeper into games, and that's really what the key is.
You know, he's got to use his mixes, especially when he gets deep into the game, and the third time through the lineup when, you know, he's gotta, he's gotta kinda change his plan and, and throw, throw, a different mix.
So, for him to get out of that inning was big.
Like you said, it was a big momentum out.
And then he went back out in, in the fifth inning and, and had a nice inning.
So, a lot of, like you said, a lot of big pitches were made by Jacob tonight and, that's, that's great for him.
And you mentioned before the game that, Barnett would be the, getting the bulk roll tomorrow.
Is he gonna be starting or is he gonna be- Yeah, Barnett will start tomorrow.
Yep.
What was your impression of, Elvis there?
Obviously that walk, but, kind of bared down and got two strikeouts there.
Yeah, I mean, Elvis, obviously the command has been a little bit of an issue lately.
The walks have kind of added up on him.
You know, the hit by pitch, to, to lead off the inning, but then two big punch-outs, was a good recovery for Elvis.
So we're gonna continue to just focus on, you know, getting the command, aligned with, with the stuff, 'cause he's got the stuff to pitch on the back end of the games.
But, you know, building confidence and getting him, you know, some good outings I think is important for Elvis.
