A’s clearly shaking off some rust heading into season opener Friday
This short and semi-sweet summer is over, and the A’s are clearly shaking off rust heading into Friday night’s opener at home against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum
The A’s scored all of four runs in the two exhibition losses to the Giants on Monday and Tuesday.
Stephen Piscotty hit a home run on Monday, and Chad Pinder hit a two-run double off the bricks at Oracle Park on Tuesday that the naked eye tells us was actually a home run.
Manager Bob Melvin challenged it, but the call was upheld with very little explanation.
That the A’s faced 18 different pitchers in 18 innings probably didn’t help ignite the offensive momentum. But, rare high points and a handful of competitive at bats aside, the A’s put together some rough plate appearances in these exhibition games.
“We would have like to have better offense here the last couple games, just didn’t happen,” Melvin said. “We have a good offensive team, so it’s not concerning. Just didn’t do a whole lot.”
The A’s struck out eight times on Monday, 12 times on Tuesday. Through these two games, they’ve collected six hits and eight walks.
If the A’s want to avoid a slow star that’s plagued them in recent years, the sluggish offense they’ve displayed certainly isn’t promising.
WHO’S ON SECOND? >>For all the hullabaloo surrounding second base during Spring Training 1.0 — will it be Jorge Mateo? Tony Kemp? Franklin Barreto? Vimael Machin? Will there be a platoon? Will one player play the lion’s share? — there’s a chance Pinder could be the starting second baseman against Angels left-handed starter Andrew Heaney, Melvin said.
If not at second, expect Pinder somewhere in the lineup.
Pinder has been a standout at the plate during this camp, and he’s had success against left-handed pitching: slashing .252/.313/.436 with a .748 OPS against them.
If Pinder starts at second base, what does this mean for Barreto? He had one at-bat in Tuesday’s game, resulting in a strikeout. None on Monday.
Barreto also caught the team’s attention at camp, where he hit two quick home runs off Frankie Montas and Liam Hendriks.
Coaches have said that Barreto is in need of consistent at bats to show that his high ceiling he demonstrated in the minor leagues — power at the plate, speed on the bases — can translate to the big leagues. FIERS A LITTLE OFF >> Mike Fiers got the start at Oracle Park on Tuesday, allowing home runs to Mike Yastrzemski to lead off the first inning and Alex Dickerson in the second inning on 67 pitches in 3.1 innings.
The right-handed pitcher’s command was a tad off and he fumbled a few signs with catcher Austin Allen.
Allen, who was named to the 30-man roster as the backup catcher, is still adjusting to Fiers.
Fiers’ first meaningful start should come on Sunday, where he’ll go head-to-head with Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani. Fiers missed the first few days of camp taking extra precautions due to exposure to Jesús Luzardo, who tested positive for the coronavirus prior to report day.
CHRIS BASSITT LOOKS READY TO ROLL >> Bassitt looked rotation ready, dealing four innings with five strikeouts in Tuesday’s game. His fastball hit 95 mph, and he had command of his changeup and curveball.
He’ll pitch fourth out of the rotation, on Monday against the Angels.