WHAT COULD ANDRUS BRING TO THE TABLE?
He has a better glove, but Semien the keener eye at the plate
PHOENIX, ARIZ. >> Not only will Elvis Andrus wear a different uniform for the first time in his 12year career but a different number, too.
Switching from the No. 1 the Texas Rangers issued a spry Andrus in his rookie year to No. 17, his father’s favorite number, signifies a turning point for the 32-year-old shortstop. For the first time, the Texas mainstay will need to learn the ins and outs of a new club — and he’s welcoming the challenge.
“No. 1, I can turn the page from that number and use the number I always wanted to, which is 17,” Andrus said.
Andrus’ arrival signals a shift for the A’s, too. For the first time since 2015, Marcus Semien won’t be their shortstop. For whatever a mainstay amounts to in the A’s system, Semien had firmly cemented himself as one of them. A leader, a hometown hero, a player who fans got to watch rise from defensive liability to MVP finalist in 2019.
What do the A’s gain with Andrus and lose with Semien’s free agency departure to Toronto? Are the A’s better now with Andrus replacing Semien? Let’s break it down.
Offense: Advantage Semien
Discipline at the plate is the common thread that ties Semien and Andrus offensively. Taking
out of consideration an injury-plagued 2020 season, Andrus has maintained low strikeout rates and whiff rates since 2015 (when Statcast started recording this data).
A back injury sidelined Andrus for most of the shortened 2020 season, but the A’s would be happy with his 2019 numbers — they wouldn’t be nearly as consistent as Semien’s 2019, but helpful enough if he can get his walk rate and OBP up a bit. He batted .275 with a .313 OBP and .707 OPS and 31 stolen bases and four triples in 2019. In other words, he’s not gonna hit for much power, he doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but he’s a force on the base paths once he makes contact.
He’s already counseling Ramón Laureano and Matt Chapman on how they can steal a few more bases this year.
“It’s not that hard,” Andrus said. “Stealing bases isn’t rocket science.”
Because he’s a perpetual threat to steal a base — something the A’s shy away from, anyway, Andrus is certainly in the conversation to take over Semien’s leadoff spot, too.
He might not be an offensive upgrade to Semien — at least, Semien at his very best — but he’s a threat and disciplined hitter.
Defense: Advantage Andrus
Andrus’ priority upon entering A’s camp was to get to know Matt Chapman — his new partner on the left side of the infield. Andrus spent most of his career next to Adrian Beltre in Texas, a defensive wiz and leader. Andrus has had his fair share of at-bats seeing Chapman crouched in the corner of his eye — he reminds Andrus a bit of young Beltre, he said moments after his trade.
“They both have a nice work ethic. Chappy is nonstop. That kid works. I get to the ballpark he’s sweating. I’m leaving the ballpark, he’s sweating. I’m like, you can chill out, Chap. They’re similar, really passionate and super talented, but humble enough to know they still need to work hard.”
Andrus had to learn how to hit around Chapman, now he’ll have to learn how to play with him.
“I used to hate him so much because nothing goes through him,” Andrus said. “Now playing alongside him I need to know how much ground he covers so I can figure it out. And start thinking how he’s going to be and build that relationship this season.”
Substituting Andrus for Semien next to Chapman has the potential to make the already-strong infield defense even better. Statistically, Andrus is a stronger shortstop with better range laterally toward third base with five outs above average in 2019, which ranks in the top 88th percentile leaguewide. Semien doesn’t have strong lateral range toward third base, according to Statcast — which Chapman could more than gloss over with his exceptional range in any direction — and had negative-four outs above average in 2019.
Semien was no slouch at shortstop, but the Blue Jays signed him on as a second baseman for a reason. Andrus isn’t necessarily a Gold Glove shortstop, but he has a nifty glove that could be amplified next to Chapman. He seems to know this, too.
Leadership: A wash
The A’s aren’t short on clubhouse leadership. Yusmeiro Petit, Chapman and Chad Pinder are among the players that others have mentioned as clubhouse leaders — all leading in different ways. Semien was a team captain over the last few years — a calming presence and union representative. More than anything, he was a friend.
Andrus is new and unfamiliar, but he’s no stranger to leading a clubhouse. He was the man in Texas.
This spring training, just a few weeks in, players are already flocking to Andrus for advice. Tony Kemp has said he’s already getting tips of the trade for stealing bases. Laureano, ever curious, was one of the first players to approach Andrus.