Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 302 | Oakland Athletics | Profile & Projection

Episode Date: March 15, 2021

You guys ranked the Oakland A's the #11 team in MLB. Jomboy, Jake, & Plouffe are previewing their 2021! Presented by DraftKings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

let's talk about the Oakland Athletics. It's another team profile and projection from talking baseball, which is brought to you by Draft Kings. We got the Oakland A's. They won their division last year for the first time since 2013. They lost in the playoffs to the team that usually wins the division. Jake, did they get better? Did they get worse?

What did they do? John Bino, I think they got worse at the high end, but maybe some depth. They lost some. Guys, Marcus Simeon, who'd been that shortstop for a while for them, he's in Toronto. Liam Hendrix at the back of the bullpen. He goes to Chicago White Sox. Tommy Lestella got paid, paid.

Goes over across the bay to the Giants. Crush Davis is gone in that Ranger's trade. Alkeem, Soria, Mike, Minor, Jake Lamb, Robbie Grossman, Sheldon, like a lot of MLB names out. But a chunk of MLB names in, Trevor Rosenthal. They snuck him in. He should be the clothes. He got a nice big payday for one year. Mitch Morland, don't sleep on that signing.

Elvis Andrews came over. Grososos in the bullpen. Sergio Roman. Romo, Adam Kalerick, Kalerick. A couple other guys. Chad Lowry minor league deal would be Metzzi as a Getsy if he goes off for them. So, man, a lot of bodies out, a lot of bodies in.

I think net, net, still more going out than coming in. But Trev, what's the lineup look like nowadays? Base. Mine has been kind of all the same few additional pieces here. Sean Murphy taking over the catching job last year. He'll be behind the plate. First base, we know who's going to be there, that pretty boy with that pretty swing.

Matt Olson, tough year last year. We don't care. I'm giving everybody a pass on 2020. Second base, Tony Kemp, shortstop. They're bringing a division rival over Elvis Andrews. Who I have been on record as saying is a great addition for this team. Huge. third base you know who it is maybe my favorite player in the big leagues

Matthew Chapman Chappie my guy left field out of the park Mark Bart flipping season baby Mark Kana center field Ramonoreon I was going to call him the fighter but he didn't even make it to the fight he got tackled so he didn't actually fight anybody and right field Stephen Piscotti and DH they brought in a guy our guy Mitchie two bags Mitchie Morland so I like this lineup Jake

or excuse me Jimmy What's up with that starting rotation? Chris Bassett, Jesus, Lazzardo, Montes, Menea, Fires. And then Jake told you, the bullpen is what they really shored up. Rosenthal, Dekeman, Romo, Trevino, Petit.

So they got guys that you know. You know what this team is? This team is when your cousin or your cousin has like a new boyfriend and you get to meet him at like the family barbecue and he's like in shape and attractive so you think he's going to be funny and like you're like all right cool

another dude to hang out with and then he's kind of just like all right he's a dud this team has no sex appeal for me I think they're going to be very good I think they're going to win I have there's not a there's besides Chapman I'm out well

Ramon Ramon and Chapman those are my two dudes Matt Olson I'm basically kind of describing Olson. I don't know his personality. Stop it. Is Olson silly? I don't know where that no sex appeal came from.

Is Olson silly? Matt Olson's already dating my daughter. This team doesn't excite me. Maybe because I don't like the Oakland Athletics front office. I usually like the team. But they excite me because they're going to be good. But I don't know. It's kind of just like, yeah, they're we good.

Treve, you're Oakland. Yeah, that's, I don't know. Yeah. You're Oakland A's, Trev. You got the jersey on? You guys know I played for them? You guys know that? Heard that.

This is what I like about them. I do believe they're a sex appeal. I do believe there are guys that haven't even hit their peak yet. I'm talking about Matt Olson and Matt Chabman, they haven't had their best seasons. Their best seasons are still ahead of them, in my opinion. Their lineup is, it seems to me like Oakland always has like a long lineup. It's never really top heavy. It's never really full all the way.

they just kind of sprinkling guys so you can stretch it out and do a bunch of things with it. One of the guys who like, I think I was wrong in my first general assessment of him when I did play there is Mark Kana. I was wrong about him. I didn't think that he was going to be the kind of bat that he's turned into. And I remember Bob Melvin taking me aside. And there was kind of some rumblings there like, dude, Bob loves Mark because he went to cow. They're cow guys. He's always going to play. And I remember one day Bob's like, dude, he goes, Mark Kana, there's something. in that guy, like, he can carry a team with his bat. And I kind of looked at him funny, but when Mark is right, he really can. Didn't have as great of a year as he did in 2019,

2020, but he's a sneaky. This is the guy that makes the lineup longer. That's kind of what I'm talking about. Guys like that sprinkled out throughout the lineup. So I like this team. I'm always iffy on their starting pitching, and then they always prove me wrong. So I like the addition of Moreland a lot. Again, another one of those guys just lengthens the lineup. And then the bullpen, I thought they've added some pretty good guys. I cannot wait. I cannot wait to see Sergio Romo come out of that bullpen. Rosenthal, Dekeman, Romo, just a bunch of weird, strange guys throwing from all over the place.

I like what they're doing here. And to me, I mean, it's going to be a dog fight again between them and the Astros. Yeah. Jim, let me get you on the Matt Olson bus fully. He's per 162 games for his career. He averages 41 home runs. 129 OPS plus, and he's got two gold gloves in the bag. So what he's doing at first base, and like Trev says, like, there can be more in there.

I mean, he's going to be 27 as the season starts. Say that again? The home runs? He, per 162, he averages 40. Oh, turkey math, okay. Per 162 when he's out there. So he's got 100 plus. He's played one full season.

He's got triple digits in the bag. Yeah, I mean, you know, last year he got screwed. He played 127 in 2019, which is a full season nowadays, you know, the way we scale things. So he's essentially played. Twice he's played every single game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That doesn't happen anymore. We will allow you on the Matt Olson bus if you want it.

If you don't, that's fine. Come on. Trev, you're right. Mark Kana is an underrated MLB player. He might be leading off for them this year. He gets on base. He's sneaky, like a top 10 left fielder. I know that's a weird way to measure things, but the A's find a way.

They find a way to pitch. They get out, so they've got that big stadium. You know, it's interesting to think of what their high-end potential might be. You know, does Lazzardo turn the edge? People wanted him as a sneaky sigh young last year. You've got to prove it here. That's what we do in the show. Bassett was a stud for them last year.

But he's, you know, funky, age 32 season, and then Montes. He's got some stuff going on. Mania. has COVID right now. Yeah. Analytics don't love Mania, but he finds a way to get some outs. And Mike fires at the back of that rotation has gotten a lot of MLB out. So I don't know.

I like this Oakland team. It does stink the way they operate and don't sleep on Sean Murphy, man. Sean Murphy's a good season away. People think that he can be a top three catcher in the game. So Oakland finds a way, man. They'll be

good. They'll be... No, we didn't talk about one or two in the division. His match, he can be a playoffs last year. That's a huge loss for them. Yeah. Hip injury. So we got, we'll have to see how he looks, but he's at his peak. He good. This is how many guys, how much longer are they in the Matt Chapman window? Two more seasons after this? Okay, that's pretty good. Because this is a team that he won't play for them anymore. Matt Chapman probably has this year and then might get traded next offseason

will definitely get traded the offseason after that. So you kind of got this year and next year's your Matt Chapman window if you're an A's fan to win. And I don't think they're hitting that like World Series winning. I think I like the Astros better in the division, but maybe, but they also are a team that much like the twins, like, let's see it in the playoffs, then you don't ever see it in the playoffs. So I like the A's team, skill.

set-wise. But nothing jumps out of me, like, latch it onto a guy's personality. I feel like I don't know any of these guys, like who they are. Trev, let me know. Who's a guy that if he came on the show, we'd love chatting with him.

Tony Kemp. Yeah. Tony Kemp is great. I like Tony Kemp. He would be excellent to have on here. He's hilarious and he's kind of one of those weird dudes, but, like,

teetering the line between, okay, like, he's not too weird. Don't you love Moreland, Trev? I've tried to get more than come on the show before and he politely declined. So I do love him. Okay. There's a ton of personality on the show. Sergio Romo? Yeah, it's all new.

All those guys are rentals. They're not, they're going to be here for one season. The entire bullpen is rentals. That's why, that's why I just, I just feel bad for A's fans. That's what this is kind of what they do, though. I know, but it's more than ever. And now look, look at their bullpen. Rosenthal, Deekman, Petit, Romo. They're all going to be gone after this year if they survive this year. I just never You just have a really negative outlook on the A's.

Yes, I never want to get to know an A's team. I never want to get to know them because I live there and like you want to root for him and then they're gone. So it sounds like you're looking at the guy at the party and you're thinking there's a chance, but you don't let yourself leave there. He's leaving before fun starts. You're waiting for him to say one thing you don't like.

No, so you can be like, screw that guy. It's like I think we're going to have a lot of fun if we drink together, but he always leaves before the blues comes out. Oh, okay. Yeah. All right, buddy. You didn't even mention AJ Puck.

I mean, this guy is like a cross between a Chapman and a sale kind of guy. Like, he has the potential to be a frontline starter. So they have a lot of good things going for them. I've been on record to say that when Matt Chapman, when Matt Chapman has his best offensive year, he will win an MVP. You've been on that. There's real deal talent on this team. Like, if Matt Chapman was a free agent right now, like,

do you understand what kind of contract he would command? Like this This team Like you said, Jim We'll see it. We're not a lot of negative connotation It goes around with the A's, but it has nothing to do with the players.

Nothing to do with the players. Nothing to the players. I hate their front office. I think they're disrespectful to their fan base. Yeah. Yeah, I am a... All the young pitchers,

and this is just a me thing, like you say Pock and Chapman and whatever. Like he... Sorry. It's just because he's a tall left, the ethos hard. Yeah, yeah.

I'm very cynical about young pitchers, so I could have to see that. I think the one thing that is interesting to me, I said the high side of Sean, on Murphy. He should be good. Let's see what it is. If he does struggle for some reason, I mean, Elvis Andrews and Tony Kemp up the middle kind of feels like their weakness.

I do love Lasershow Ramon. And when he's healthy in centerfield, he's as fun of a watch as there is. But I don't know, man. I'll say this. If this season was to fall off, we mentioned this with the Chicago Cubs. Jim, for all the reasons you mentioned about Oakland and contract-wise, This is a team that everybody else is rooting to fall off this year so they sell those bullpen pieces so they can sell Mitch Morland so they can sell all those ancillary pieces that can help your run. That being said, I mean, they just got to be in. Who's that?

Half the front office of the Oakland A's. Yes. Yes, let's cash in. It's true. I don't know, man. The day they ring the bell and they say, we're selling, we're selling. No, no, no, no, no. I think this team can win 90 games.

Jimmy's down on their front. office. I like Oklahoma. Their skill is there. Like, they're good. I also am a little upset with them for just losing to the Astros in the postseason when they were like so fiery and mad at them last year and they were going to write their wrong and beat

the cheaters and all that. And then they just got stomped and it was kind of like, oh, you shouldn't even showed up to that fight. Yeah. It was big not having Matt Chapman. Okay. Very big. Yeah. Very big. I know, I think we did this at the end of last year.

too, but I think the other problem with this team is they're built for a regular season. Like, look at their rotation. Basset, Lazzardo, Montes, Mania, fires. You're going to get a show start that night. Like, those are MLB guys. But when it becomes the playoffs and you want your one and two starter to drop dick, is Passett going to be there? Does Baby Jesus take the leap?

Is, you know, is Manaya going to be that guy again? I don't know. It'll be interesting to see where they are come trade deadline in October, but you could say that for almost any team. They'll be playing for the division by the end of the year. I agree with that right there, Jake. When you look at this team,

during the regular season, that rotation is above average. Put them in a series where they got to have their top three dudes. They got step it up then. Yeah. I mean, they got Framberd. Didn't they get Frambered? Framber was really good against him

Everybody has Sexy That little tiny glove throws everybody off Lazzardo You'd like to see him Be that guy Step up a little bit

His peripherals And numbers on pitches aren't as good as you'd like For how fast he can throw And being a lefty and all that And final A final positive spin Before we start getting into some other stuff The guys that are supposed to be dudes on this team are in their prime.

Luriano's 26 and a half. That was weird, Jake. Matt Olson is turning 27 to start the season. Matt Chapman is 28. Sean Murphy is 26. Like this is the time I think if those guys have around their peak seasons, this team is easily a 90-win team. if those guys are struggling and we're wondering what's going on with Matt Olson,

another injury or something. Then this team enters a different territory of Ball Club. Trevor Plouffe has a question in the back. I'm going to make a comparison that you guys are not going to like. Huge. Okay. Matt Chapman, third baseman for the Oakland A's. Yep.

Trevor Plouf, former third baseman for the Oakland A's. Apparently love the comparison. Matt Chapman got engaged. I believe this offseason. When I got engaged, I was a horrible baseball player. I got engaged, something clicked.

I felt like I needed to go and I went. Matt Chapman, not in the same situation. He's already went, but can he take that next level? Now that he's engaged, got a little bit of, I don't want to call pressure,

but you know, there's a little bit of something you want to perform now. You think it's because your livelihoods are tied together now? You're playing for, you're playing for Olivia now? I 100% thought about that. Now, Matt Chapman is in a different, you know,

stratosphere. He's just a lot more talented than you were on a baseball field. Yes, yes, yes. But I like that. There's something in my mind that thinks when guys kind of settle down and they just focus on baseball now, don't have to worry about, hey, what's going on in my life further down the road? Boom.

This could be the year for Matt Chapman. He wants to come back after not being. in the playoffs, a little bit of a down year in 2020. MVP, dark horse candidate 100%. Who do you think is going to lead off for them? Simeon was their main leadoff guy. It's looking like Kana. They wanted to be Kana the past two years,

185 games. He's got an on-based percentage of 393. Nice. So Kana's found what works for him in Major League Baseball, which is, that's the great game, right? Brian Dozier figured out he wanted to be a power hitter, so he tossed the ball up and tried to hit it out of the park every morning. Mark Kana has been getting on base for these guys. So I think him, Luriano, he's obviously like the spark guy.

He's the energy. He's got a little more speed. He plays with a lot of emotion. But yeah, I think they do have to figure that out. And it's going to be a storyline until it's not because Simeon was that guy. Pencil him in. He's going to play. I'd be upset with myself if I didn't mention Chad Pinder.

one of the best depth pieces in Major League Baseball can play anywhere. Total stud, one of my guys. So I have to mention Chi as a guy that, you know, again, elongates the lineup and the roster. This team is very much a depth-based organization team lineup, all of that. So good for them. We're going to have another great year during the regular season.

Is there any chance? Chapman, Olson, Pinder, and Kana. like they go clean-shaven and put them in a lineup and you'd be like there's a white dude white guy I think Kenna's kind of a jinge kind of a little ginger I think a little flavor up there just a little bit I have a question and this is going to I don't know touch some different heartstrings is there a world where these guys are buyers at the deadline

and are looking at second base shortstop? Because I'm trying to go back in the history bank. I know that one year they did the whole Cespitas like Lester thing they were involved in, but that kind of backfired to a degree. I don't know. It's going to be interesting. You wonder what level they go to it with.

There's a bunch of short stops in the last year of their contract. What does Elvis Andrews look like? And then second base two, I'm trying to bring that up really quick. Would they trade for last year? Do you put Hobby Baez on the A's? Please. Please.

That would be my favorite trade of all time. I like that a lot, Trev. But the Cubs aren't going to be there. Who did they trade for last year, Lestella? Yeah, did he start the season there? Did they trade for him? I'm liking, I don't know. They trade, and he was on the A's.

Or, excuse me, Angels. He was on the Angels. He was on the Angels. They picked him up. And by the way, Tommy Lestella got to. the bag this off season. Yeah, man, it's something sneaky to watch out for. Second baseman that are coming up, Starlin Castro, does that do anything for you? Cesar Hernandez. Man, how about this? There's going to be a lot of A's articles about short stops

they can go get because we've been looking for the Trevor Story team. If the Cubs were to fall out, Migi Rojas on the Marlins and John Boy Media. What if the Blue Jays died and they trade for Marcus Simeon back? So I don't know. It's a dreamland in Oakland Until it actually happens But something to watch out Brandon Crawford last year of his deal In San Francisco

He wouldn't even have to move Come across the bay I don't know Oh Jim I was trying to find past Like deadline trades that they've made They got Fernando Rodney one year They got Mike fires

So tell us the secrets Tell us the secrets Mike Show us They also They also released me on my birthday. So whatever. Like I maybe hold a little bit of ill will towards them, the front office with you, Jim,

but I'm rooting for this team because I like all the guys. I really believe that they will go out and get somebody this year. They're going to be in the thick of the race. They know they're going to need somebody to get over that hump. Bias, probably not going to happen. But a guy like Miki Rojas, I can see that 100% happening if the fish are so inclined. If Elvis Andrus is listening to this,

can you give him a little warning a little advice for what to expect from the facilities and the day and day out life of life at the Coliseum in the summer? Yeah, you know, the spring training facility is nicer than your big league field. So go ahead and just get ready. It's small. It stinks. The hot tubs are in the shower. so it's just you're going to have to get used to it because I think Texas has a pretty big open

brand new field obviously I'm sure it's great you're going to the exact opposite of that so be ready to grind living Jimmy you can attest this living in the Bay Area is not easy especially when you get up there and you got to find a place to live the traffic is tough you have to take the Bart sometime just get ready to grind it a little bit Elvis

live in San Francisco and just take Bart to the stadium I live in Walnut Creek and I had to take the Bart on day game because it was just a nightmare if you didn't. I lived in Walnut Creek, and sometimes I would Bart to Yankees games by myself. I'll just bring a book, get on Bart, sit in the grandstand, read, watch Yankee game. All the way to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. My wife hates Walnut Creek. Absolutely hates Walnut Creek.

She tells me that once a month. Well, we had a tiny little apartment there. Very small little apartment. It's very hard to find housing there, Jim. We're getting off the rails here, but... Walnut Creek is nice, but it has no character. or flare or anything about it. It's just kind of like a generic

white people town where there's like big like a... It's very expensive. Very expensive for like no real reason. Yes. There's outlets to shops, but not ones that you care about. Stadium pub, do you ever go there and get hot dogs?

Nope. Their hot dogs are pretty good there. So there you go. Dalton Jeffries, another name to watch. Max's Fun Stat, Jake Deekman. 15% of Jake Deekman's pitches in 2020-induced week content. Contact. There's bad content, man.

Damn, that's in there. 12.3% more than is 2.7% mark in 2019. Both season improvement marks are all-time records in the stat-cast era. Short season, Max, thank you. I think we're going to start calling these Max's deep cuts instead of fun stats, because I don't know if that's a fun stat right there. That's just a deep, deep dive. But it's nerdy fun.

Love you, Max. What's the over under 87.5? Fraff kings over under is 87.5. Trevor Pluth, you're on the clock. Hold on. This is one where I could see going either way. I really could. That's a really good line. So the A's, the Astros was 86 and a half.

So the A's are the favorite. And the A's were 87.5. So Draft Kings agrees with our fan base. And I think that was pre-Framber too. when we got those numbers. So wow. I'm going to go under. You're going to under?

I'm going to go under. I mean, they need a lot to go right to be a 90-win team in baseball's tough sport. So I'm going to sneak under. If I could, if this was one where I could circle 87 and 88 and have that bet, I would do it. How many games do you think they won in 2019, 2018? A lot. 90s. 97 both times

They were good The division was a lot worse too So This is why I'm thinking under Because they are playing the NL West In Interleague Yep So you got some games against the Dodgers

Against the Padres Then you go Oh fuck This is a tough one It's tough one for me I would literally circle 87 and 88 If I could But I'm going under

I was going I was like Oh Jim People were going to say Jimmy's being so mean to the A's because I said they didn't have any sex appeal. And then I was like, but I'm going to choose the over because I still think the team is really skilled and quality. But that's higher than I think I want.

But maybe they can, I'll go over just because I want to be nice. I'm also going to go over. I'm going to root for my boys. And I think like if they get off to a hot start, there's enough, there's enough bad teams that they could beat up on. I think they're going to have to battle with, because there's some high end talent out in the West. The Astros in their division and then in the NL West.

I guess they don't play them that much. I'm taking the over. I can see them winning right in 90 games. That's what I said. So if they win 90 games, Jake has to eat a bug. Sure. They find ways to win, man. They do.

Locked. Jake's a bug eater. Every time you want to count them out. See tomorrow. Another episode of Talking Baseball.