OAKLAND — Monday’s off-day was stricken with grief. The bad news — that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs had died , cause pending an autopsy — hit the A’s group text chat that afternoon.
Marcus Semien checked his phone and couldn’t believe the news was real. Skaggs’ last career start came last Saturday in Anaheim against the A’s.
“I saw the last pitch he ever threw,” Semien said, recalling the first pitch fastball he knocked for an RBI double. “Like we just played against him.”
Many members of this A’s team had the privilege to step in the batters’ box against Skaggs — he was, more than anything, a peer.