Neither club is what they were three or four years ago, both struggling to keep pace with new powers within their division.
Barry, Boof Bonser. Boof Bonser, Barry. Nobody knows who Boof Bonser is, unless they've been curious about the name. Everyone knows who Barry Zito is. The master of the slow arcing curve. Cy Young award winner in 2002 at age 24. Leader of Billy Beane's sabermetrically constructed teams of the Oakland playoff run.
While Bonser began to make a name for himself in the month of May, Zito got his groove back by mowing down his competition. Both pitchers attempt to take their successes of the past month into what will be a telling month for both teams.
Month of May
Player GS IP H ER K BB ERA
Barry Zito 6 41.0 31 6 28 20 1.32
Boof Bonser 2 11.0 13 5 13 4 4.09
The game kicks off in about 15 minutes. BOOF BOOF BOOF BOOF...
Lineups
Minnesota Twins
Name POS AVG HR OBP
Ford LF .234 2 .307
Castillo 2B .309 2 .372
Mauer C .359 4 .420
Hunter CF .269 9 .330
Cuddyer RF .295 7 .367
Morneau 1B .244 10 .307
White DH .195 0 .211
Batista 3B .250 5 .308
Castro SS .238 1 .265
Oakland Athletics
Name POS AVG HR OBP
Kotsay CF .271 4 .330
Swisher LF .305 16 .407
Chavez 3B .276 12 .370
Thomas DH .227 11 .354
Crosby SS .254 8 .294
Payton RF .256 2 .276
Johnson 1B .196 2 .288
Kendall C .264 1 .367
Scutaro 2B .141 0 .274
Pitchers
Name ERA
Bonser 4.09
Zito 3.16