Patience key with young 1st basemen
Each time Ryder Jones walked to the plate Wednesday afternoon, the scoreboard spoke the cold truth. His numbers were shown in bright lights, and his batting average was not glorious.
“Obviously, it’s not fun to look up and see your average start with a 1,” Jones said.
That’s one of the beauties of a last-place team, being able to give long looks to young prospects and exercising the patience to allow them the opportunity to fail before succeeding.
Jones, who’s playing first base on a regular basis with the Giants, and Oakland’s Matt Olson are in a similar situation.
These 23-year-olds — they throw right-handed and bat left-handed and know each other casually from facing each other in the minors and spring training — have nice upside and nice swings, though you wouldn’t have known it based on how they broke into the big leagues.
Jones, who debuted June 24, was 0-for-17 and 3-for-36. Olson was 2for-21 last season and went hitless his first nine at-bats this season.
Both are trying to overcome their career-opening funks. Since his 3for-36, Jones is hitting .271 in 48 at-bats. Since his 2-for-30, Olson is hitting .267 in 86 at-bats.
Not outstanding but on the right path.
“I’m feeling more comfortable,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a process. I’m still learning. These pitchers are good. There’s a select few who come in here and produce right out of the gate. It takes a little bit of time, and I’m trying to get more comfortable every day.”
Thank goodness for second opportunities. And in Olson’s case, sixth opportunities.
This is Jones’ second 2017 stint in San Francisco, following time on the disabled list. It’s Olson’s sixth in Oakland. More than most teams, the A’s tend to take advantage of players’ options by sending them down and bringing them up multiple times in a season.
Olson, who has eight homers, appears secure this time.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to be here and get that shot at first base,” he said, “which I feel is my natural position.”
Before taking over first base, Olson played right field, Jones third base. When the A’s traded Yonder Alonso to Seattle on Aug. 6 and the Giants lost Brandon Belt to a fourth concussion a day earlier, first-base openings were created on both sides of the bay.
Olson had been deemed the A’s first baseman of the future. Jones is a third baseman by trade and got time in left field and right field this season at Triple-A Sacramento as the Giants try to figure out their future course.
While Jones has shown versatility and the ability to play four positions, Olson seems targeted to open next season at first. He hit 37 homers at A-ball in 2014 and 17 in each of his next two seasons at Double-A and Triple-A. This year, he had 23 at Triple-A Nashville.
A’s fans are curious about what Olson could do over a full big-league season, but he’s making no predictions.
“I don’t like to set numbers,” Olson said. “There’s no way you can say at the beginning of the year you want to hit 30 homers with 120 RBIs. Each year kind of progresses in different ways depending on how you’re feeling.
“If you do that, honestly, you’re number-chasing the entire year, and that’s not going to create a good environment either way. If you’re on pace to beat it, you might get a little relaxed. If you’re struggling, it might start stressing you more.”
While the A’s traditionally give young prospects long looks — the current list includes Matt Chapman, Chad Pinder, Bruce Maxwell, Boog Powell and various pitchers — it’s rare for the Giants.
Jones and Chris Stratton are the only ones for now (left fielder Jarrett Parker is 28), though Christian Arroyo, Austin Slater and perhaps Steven Duggar and Tyler Beede would have been given chances if not for injuries.
“This past year, I’ve moved around so much position-wise,” Jones said, “and I thought whichever position it is, it would be nice to get extended time, whether it was left, right, first, third. Wherever the need is. I’m grateful they’re giving it to me. Obviously, the more at-bats you can get, the more of a true sense you have and the more comfortable you get.”