Hope for A’s with Olson, Chapman

Matt Olson holds his bat as if he were opening an umbrella on a stormy day, extending his arms and pointing it away from his body so as to not poke himself. Better yet, he holds it like a Jedi wields a lightsaber, waiting to attack. Either way, the different approach is working.

Matt Chapman plays third base as if he invented the position. He starts low and, with catlike reflexes, springs to his left or right with uncanny quickness that’s easier seen in slow motion. His release is equally quick, and his arm is one of the strongest in the majors.

As the A’s stumble to the finish line, Matt the Bat and Matt the Cat — does that work, Mr. Kaval? — are giving fans hope that there is life beyond last place. Olson has the most raw power for an A’s left-handed hitter since Jason Giambi, and Chapman is their most gifted third baseman since Eric Chavez, albeit with a mightier arm.

In Monday’s 8-3 victory in Detroit, each left another lasting impression. Olson cranked a home run for the fourth straight game — he ran the streak to five games Tuesday, giving him 15 homers in his past 21 games and 23 in past 47 — and Chapman pulled off another of those race-to-foul-territory-for-an-amazing-off-balancethrow-to-first gems.

The corner-infield cornerstones will be must-see in 2018, showing their stuff in a full season for the first time. Olson is hitting .296 in 37 games since his last promotion from Triple-A and has been splendid defensively. The A’s would love for Chapman to boost his .231 average, though it’s satisfying to know he leads all rookies in doubles and extra-bases hits since the All-Star break.

The A’s need to promote these players with a line of Matt Attack gear and posters, at the risk of offending Matt Joyce. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has gotten gobs of pub, and deservedly so, but Olson took 190 at-bats to hit 22 homers. Judge needed 261. Did we mention Chapman is second among third basemen in defensive runs saved to his high school teammate, Colorado’s Nolan Arenado? In half the innings?

Two reasons to think 2018 might be OK.