MVS contributor Tim Byrnes fires his thoughts about the A’s and their locations…as well as the outfield situation.

By Tim Byrnes

Ah! What do we call this mix of youngsters?

Las Vegas A’s, because that is the final destination?

The Oakland A’s, because who knows with ownership?

Do we thank West Sacramento by giving them the A’s name, or does Sacramento Proper rip off the name while Sutter Health Park is in West Sac?

Whatever the name, the park is eleven exits from this writer’s house, and I intend to be there often.

While the Athletics are mostly a mix of young talent and journeymen, the talent level is easy to see, and there will be some hard decisions to make.

Right-fielder Lawrence Butler is off to a blistering spring, slashing .563-batting average/1.588 OPS, with two home runs and five RBIs. Lawrence is building on a solid last 2024.

Center-fielder J.J. Bleday is hitting at a respectable .333 clip—as of March 5th. Both Bleday and Butler seem to have secured their spots.

Left field has the ‘official whisper’ of being a Seth Brown and Miguel Andujar platoon.

Both played for the A’s last season. Brown took 70 more at-bats in 49 more games and batted .231 with 26 extra-base hits and 44 RBIs.
Andujar batted .285 with 19xbh/30Rbi.

WAR had Brown at 0.6 and Andujar at 0.4.

On paper, Andujar should start, or at least start 2/3rds of games, but Brown is slated to be the primary in left. 

Andujar is making it difficult, though. He is tearing up the preseason, batting .467 with a staggering 1.489 OPS, while Brown is struggling, going 2 for 17 for a .118 average.
Andujar bats .272 vs. RHP and .278 vs. LHP, which is far more production than his likely platoon buddy.

Athletics have a decision to make.