The Oakland A’s stormed back from their slow start in Tokyo to beat both the Los Angeles Angels and the Boston Red Sox in a four-game home series opener.
Oakland’s starting pitching was the talk of the town coming into the 2019 season. The starting rotation was questionable with left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea on the injured list due to shoulder surgery.
However, the A’s shut out their opponents in three out of the first eight games, which is especially impressive since the Red Sox won the world series last year.
Center fielder Ramon Laureano has dazzled the measly number of fans that have showed up to these home games with his unbelievably strong and accurate arm.
Laureano threw out three Red Sox baserunners, and his most impressive throw came in a close game against Boston and after a ball was hit off the wall.
Laureano chased it down and threw a perfect ball all the way from center field to home plate to nail the runner trying desperately to tie the game.
“Things you don’t learn in school: how to do your taxes, how mortgages work and how NOT to run on Ramon,” said the Athletics head of media, Will Ragsdale.
Other standouts include fan favorite, Matt Chapman who has picked up right where he left off last year defensively. So far in 2019, Chapman has already made the highlight reel with his cat-like reflexes and rifle for an arm.
Athletics slugger Khris Davis jumped out to a searing season with five home runs in the first six games.
Davis was given a one-year extension with the A’s worth $16.5 million, but the A’s hope to lock the home run king down multiple years after the 2019 season.
“We got the one-year number done and thrilled that we did. Khris certainly earned that salary, he knows that conversation is continuing,” says A’s GM David Forst, according to The Mercury News.
First baseman Matt Olson continues his rehab after breaking the hamate in his right hand in spring training and is expected back sometime in May. Olson won a Gold Glove for his exceptional play at first base and smashed 29 homeruns in 2018 while also driving in 84 runs.
While A’s players and fans wait for this alleged new state of the art stadium in Howard Terminal, O.Co Coliseum has had some minor facelifts over the offseason. In the upper right field bleachers now is an area called “The Stomping Ground” which is a play on words since the A’s mascot is an elephant.
The Stomping Ground area is a fun and interactive place for fans and their kids to enjoy the game without having to sacrifice their view.