Takeaways from the As loss to the Giants: Why is the offense cold? Who is the Opening Day second baseman? – Chico Enterprise-Record
The Oakland As traveled across the Bay Bridge to play the second of a two-game exhibition series against the San Francisco Giants, losing 4-2.
This short and semi-sweet summer is over, and the As are clearly shaking off some rust heading into Opening Day at home against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum.
Here are some takeaways from the last exhibition game of 2020.
As offense goes cold
The As scored all of four runs in these two losses. Stephen Piscotty hit a home run on Monday, and Chad Pinder hit a two-run double off the deep centerfield bricks at Oracle Park on Tuesday that the naked eye tells us was actually a home run.
Manager Bob Melvin challenged it, and the base hit call was upheld with very little explanation.
That the As faced 18 different pitchers in 18 innings probably didnt help ignite the offensive momentum. But, rare high points and a handful of competitive at bats aside, the As put together some rough plate appearances in these exhibition games.
We would have like to have better offense here the last couple games, just didnt happen, manager Bob Melvin said. We have a good offensive team, so its not concerning. Just didnt do a whole lot.
The As struck out eight times on Monday, 12 times on Tuesday. Through these two games, theyve collected six hits and eight walks.
If the As want to avoid a slow star thats plagued them in recent years, the sluggish offense theyve displayed certainly isnt promising.
Whos 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 lions share? theres 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 hes had success against left-handed pitching: slashing .252/.313/.436 with a .748 OPS and 112 wRC+ against them.
If Pinder starts at second base, what does this mean for Barreto? He had one at bat in Tuesdays game, resulting in a strikeout. None on Monday.
Barreto also caught the teams 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.
Having too much talent at one position is a good problem to have. But, somehow the second base picture got a little more fuzzy. Maybe thats OK.
Fiers got the start at Oracle Park on Tuesday, allowing two 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. He walked Pablo Sandoval before his exit in the fourth, and Sandoval scored on a sac fly off of Joakim Soria for Fiers third earned run.
The right-handed pitchers 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 unpredictability and backwards pitching style.
I made it tough on myself, Fiers said after his start. I was just wild. Wasnt throwing the ball exactly where I wanted to. Just a little erratic.
Got another five days before games actually start, for me at least.
Fiers first meaningful start should come on Sunday, where hell go head-to-head with Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani. Fiers missed the first few days of camp taking extra precautions due to exposure to Jess Luzardo, who tested positive for the coronavirus prior to report day.
Because Fiers threw bullpens during the hiatus, he wasnt too far behind his fellow rotation mates. Even if this start left a sour taste in his mouth, Fiers curveball looked season ready.
Remember, Fiers curveball had one of the best vertical drops in baseball in 2019. His 70.7 vertical drop is 7.7 inches over the league average which ranks eighth in all of baseball.
Chris Bassitt looks ready to roll
Bassitt was a step behind the rest of the starters heading into camp. He hadnt faced live hitting during the hiatus like the others had.
He caught up quickly, and looked rotation ready dealing four innings with five strikeouts in Tuesdays game. His fastball hit 95 mph and he had command of his changeup and curveball.
Hell pitch fourth out of the rotation, on Monday against the Angels.
A.J. Puk and Jess Luzardo update
Puk traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday and received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections in his strained left shoulder, As manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday.
Puk is likely to be sidelined for two weeks, at least, and is resting for the next 48 hours.
The left-handed pitcher was slotted to start the season in the fifth spot of Oaklands rotation, but was placed on the 10-day IL. Right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden will fill in for him in the rotation until Puks return from injury.
Jess Luzardo is slated to pitch in either the first or second game of the regular season, Melvin announced. Luzardo, who missed the first two weeks of camp after testing positive for coronavirus, is expected to come out of the bullpen and build his arm up to pitching three innings until he can be slotted into the rotation.
Luzardo pitched to Ramn Laureano in live batting practice prior to Mondays game against the San Francisco Giants.
Other notes
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Takeaways from the As loss to the Giants: Why is the offense cold? Who is the Opening Day second baseman? - Chico Enterprise-Record