What Puk’s progress means for the rotation
Olson makes good contact in loss to Rockies
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> The Oakland A’s let a seven-run lead slip into the Arizona breeze in Wednesday’s 10-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies took the lead off second-round pick Jeff Criswell, who walked two batters and gave up a pair of hits and the lead in a four-run outing.
Criswell, a University of Michigan product, had a few nerves swelling in his first professional outing, manager Bob Melvin said.
“You got to throw strikes, that’s what you take away from it,” Melvin said. “He’s in mini camp and pitching in the sixth inning of a game here, that’s not who he is. It’s too bad he got off to a tough start. You always want a good showing in your first start.”
That put an end to the A’s little win streak; instead they move to 2-2. But they get a full day off on Thursday. Here are the takeaways from the day. A.J. PUK’S PROGRESS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE ROTATION >> A.J. Puk is scheduled to throw to hitters for the first time on Friday, pitching coach Scott Emerson said over Zoom on Wednesday.
“We’re just trying to get A.J. going. He’s going to face hitters on Friday and we’ll evaluate how many days rest he needs in between,” he said.
All the A’s starters are starting slow this spring, and all the veterans and presumed members of the starting rotation haven’t participated in any games, instead they’re throwing to hitters in the backfields. Puk is six months off surgery on his left throwing shoulder. He had trouble ramping up to starter pitch counts last spring — often feeling off after his sessions — so his progress will be determined on how he recovers. Saturday will be a big day.
Puk’s progress in the final stages of his post-surgery rehabilitation will be crucial to determining the A’s pitching picture. It’s a little crowded — with six viable starters and a bullpen with more viable options pitching from both sides than space.
“As the season goes on, you need 10 starters or eight starters, there’s always room for starters and that means there’s always room for depth,” Emerson said.
And Puk sits in the gray area. He’s an option to slide into the rotation and bullpen when the season begins. Emerson didn’t rule out the possibility of carrying 14 pitchers into the regular season, though Melvin has said he’d prefer an extra guy on the bench.
“There’s always options,” Emerson said. “I can’t answer where he’s penciled in because we have to watch the guy pitch first, but the work he’s doing has been awesome. He’s very confident, which makes it even
better. We’ll go Friday and see where we’re at with him.”
MATT OLSON OFF TO A STRONG START >> In just a handful of at-bats, Olson looks to have climbed out of the rut he was nestled into in 2020.
The left-handed slugger made plenty of hard contact in Wednesday’s game, including a 105.1 mph tworun double and a 104.8 mph drive down the first base line that escaped the first baseman’s glove. He also hit a home run at 116 mph in Monday’s game.
Olson said before Cactus League began that he worked in the offseason to adjust his swing — which was far too horizontal during his dismal 2020 campaign.
It’s early, but this season is looking bright if Olson can keep up this kind of contact — and avoid swinging through hittable pitches — throughout the month and into the regular season. DOLE IRVIN MAKES A’S DECUT >> Irvin was “pissed off” after his 2020 season with the Philadelphia Phillies. With a 17.18 ERA in 3.2 innings, he had every right to be. Before all the splashy veteran signings days before spring training began, the A’s acquired him for cash considerations from the Phillies with little fanfare. He’s using the opportunity to prove that his performance last year was a fluke.
He dealt two scoreless innings against the Rockies on Wednesday with a strikeout. Trevor Story got a hit off of him. A former Oregon Duck, the 27-yearold pitcher said he felt confident in green and gold again.