The Athletics spent their Monday morning discussing the coronavirus outbreak within the Miami Marlins, leading to two games being postponed and raising awareness within the clubhouse of the dangers of playing baseball in a pandemic.
They were able to get rid of those serious problems and focus on baseball during the first competition after unwanted news was received and they were executed almost flawlessly in a 3-0 win over Los Angeles at the Oakland Coliseum.
Starter Chris Bassitt pitched four shutout innings and the bullpen backed him up. The A’s defense was excellent and the position players flexed some serious muscles at the plate.
Ramon Laureano, Matt Chapman and Mark Canha participated in this race, which ensured a major series victory with the Colorado Rockies arriving in town starting Tuesday.
Getting three wins on four tries is not a good start, but it shows that the Athletics emerged from a short training camp with high expectations in a positive direction.
Here are three conclusions from Monday’s win over the Angels.
Just win (series), baby
Each game is magnified in a short 60 game baseball season. It weighs 2.7 times more than usual, creating what players believe to be an intensified atmosphere trying to achieve the desired results.
Deep down, though, a basic baseball adage rings true over 60 or 162: win enough series and you’ll fight. The Athletics won three of four against the Angels, a great start to the 2020 season. They don’t have to win every game and they have to push to do it. Getting a series win is always valuable and will help ensure that the Athletics sit in the playoff position at the top of the American League West Division or second.
The Athletics have been notoriously slow starters, and this initial series win could give them the confidence to start hot and move on.
The best part of the first four games: Athletics get contributions from everywhere. Its stars play like stars. A deep bullpen has been excellent and the defense (more on that later) has been as stellar as might be expected.
Muzzle velocity shows Chapman locked up
Elite A third baseman Matt Chapman only had one hit and one walk in the first 13 plate appearances this season, good for a .083 batting average as he entered Monday’s game against the Angels. While you’re right to say it’s a super-small sample size not worth worrying about, everything is magnified during a shortened 60-game season.
Despite just three games without much offense, manager Bob Melvin was asked before the game about Chapman’s offense. The All-Star answered those questions about a slow start without saying a word, looking absolutely locked in at the end of the series.
Chapman received hits in his first three plate appearances, including a RBI double in the third inning that left his bat at 104 mph and threw himself over Mike Trout’s head in center field. His single in the first inning had a 103 scale, and his base hit in the fifth inning hit the field at 93.
Muzzle velocity shows Chapman was getting good wood in baseball, a positive sign for an A team that will need Chapman to work at the MVP level this season to realize the championship aspirations.
Chapman finished day 3 for 4 at the plate, which raised his batting average to the sky earlier in the season. You can wear a team if it gets hot, so spreading a great performance from one game to the next will be key for the A’s to establish themselves at first.
A’s defense saves the day (again)
While Matt Olson’s high playoff, the extra home run will be the lasting memory of the Athletics’ Opening Day victory, the defensive play that first baseman made in the previous half inning was equally important.
Excellent defense is the ingredient that often forgets the A’s winning formula, leaving behind its penchant for scoring group runs.
[[[[REXALTED: Matt Olson wears masks playing first vs. Angels]Matt Chapman and Mark Canha were offensive stars of the day, but what happened in the bottom of the room was vital to Monday’s victory. Starter Chris Bassitt got out of big trouble with the assistance of his infielders. Chapman got the first out at home, where he threw Justin Upton. Bassitt then, working with loaded bases and out, started a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.
This game could have been different if the A’s had not performed well on defense, proving that the defense wins series (and possibly championships).
