After giving away Game 4 yesterday (with a little help from the umpires) the A’s come back home for a pivotal Game 5. The most intriguing decision A’s Manager has to make is who will start the game. He could go with either Bartolo Colon or Sonny Gray.

Amongst the fans I’ve polled everyone wants Gray to take the hump basically because he’s already mowed down the Tigers lineup. However, no one thinks about HOW he was able to shut down the Tigers. Gray is basically a two-pitch pitcher; he throws a fastball and curveball. He was able to do extremely well because the Tigers hitters never saw him before and had to adjust on the fly. If they see Gray again the results of Game 2 are not likely to repeat. Now, you could say Colon is a one-pitch pitcher and I wouldn’t disagree with you. I would pick Colon not because he is a veteran and a former Cy Young winner (if you can’t tell those arguments are rubbish), but because he has not worked out of the bullpen in years while Gray is two months removed from coming out of the bullpen. It is possible Colon has a special routine that would be difficult for him to get loose in a timely fashion. If Colon struggles then bring in Gray from the bullpen. With the current state of the A’s bullpen, they’re going to have to use Gray regardless if they want to win.

The A’s bullpen is basically Dan Otero, Grant Balfour (BTW, why wasn’t he pitching in the ninth inning last night?) and Sean Doolittle. Ryan Cook has to be hurt because Game 4 was the first time he was used and he looked awful; couldn’t find the broad side of barn. I hope Melvin allows Allberto Callaspo to start at second base instead of Eric Sogard. I love Sogard’s defense, but with Justin Verlander pitching the A’s are going to need offense more than defense.