Throughout 2020, it feels like everything we know about the world has been flipped on its head. The MLB season only loosely resembled a normal campaign, U.S. politics have gone haywire, and daily life in America has been altered in unprecedented ways. Also, murder hornets. It’s been a weird year. Amid the added stress of […]
Practically from the moment Matt Chapman took the field for his MLB debut on June 15, 2017, the A’s became one of the top teams in baseball in terms of both offensive and defensive production at third base. With Chapman missing nearly 40 percent of the 2020 season, the A’s slipped in third-base production relative […]
One of the great things about watching the A’s and Rockies play, which they do tonight and tomorrow afternoon, is the chance to watch the third base matchup. Colorado’s Nolan Arenado has won seven Gold Gloves at third and is a five-time All-Star. Chapman has made one All-Star team, has won two Gold Gloves and […]
Players drafted in the first round don’t tend to be seen as underrated. Any prospect who winds up being taken that early in the draft becomes a household name among that fan base and eventually, among MLB. But if you asked a casual baseball fan outside of the Bay Area about Matt Olson, many likely […]
Each A’s infielder gets a sense of confidence knowing their primary target is two-time Gold Glove Award winner first baseman Matt Olson. Before he was scooping balls from Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien, however, Olson played more third base during his earlier years in the game. He detailed how that has improved his game in […]
By MARK SIMON The Athletics were one of the surprise teams in baseball last season, winning the second AL Wild Card and challenging the Astros for the AL West title. Chances are that you know the Athletics had the best defensive player in baseball last season in third baseman Matt Chapman. But they were also […]