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A’s Plus

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Matt Kawahara hosts The San Francisco Chronicle's podcast on the Oakland A's, featuring interviews with past and present players, managers and executives of the trend-setting franchise. With contributions from national baseball writer John Shea.
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Episodes

Season in Review

John Shea, The Chronicle's national baseball writer, joins Matt to break down the A's season and highlight lingering questions heading into the offseason. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 07, 202141 min

Chris Bassitt’s Remarkable Return

The A’s starter explains to Matt Kawahara why it was important for him to return from a frightening injury to pitch again this season and gives his assessment of Oakland’s season. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 02, 202120 min

Josh Harrison High-Steps Through

Josh Harrison, one of the A's valuable midseason trade additions, talks with Matt playing with flair on the field and how he became a super-utility defender. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 202121 min

Kemp and Clemente

Tony Kemp, the A's nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, talks with Matt about his off-field causes as well as his strongest major-league season to date. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 202125 min

Baysball Stretch Run

Wrapping up the Bay Bridge Series at the Coliseum, Susan Slusser and Matt Kawahara chat about the concerns for the Giants and A's over the final weeks of the season on this combined episode of Giants Splash and A's Plus. Plus: Updates on Chris Bassitt’s health and the A’s stadium situation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 202127 min

Giants, A’s Buzz at Trade Deadline

Susan Slusser, Matt Kawahara and John Shea discuss the upcoming trade deadline and who’d be good fits for the Giants and A’s. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 28, 202127 min

Bay Bridge Series Wrap-Up

Susan and Matt talk about the just completed Bay Bridge Series, All Star possibilities and speculate on the trade deadline. And what about Sergio Romo and his unexpected moment during a spot check?! | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 28, 202130 min

Baseball, Bitker and the Bay

In a special Giants Splash-A’s Plus combo podcast, Steve Bitker, the retired long-time sports anchor at KCBS, shares Giants and A’s memories on the field and in the broadcast booth with John Shea. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 202131 min

Cole Irvin Talks Pitching

A’s left-hander Cole Irvin talks with Matt about his early pitching influences, advice for young pitchers and working on the Angel Stadium grounds crew. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 202143 min

Steve Vucinich: 54 Years of Memories

The A’s long-time clubhouse manager shares stories and memories with John Shea in advance of his retirement that’s coming after an amazing 54 years in the organization. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 202129 min

Seth Brown’s Road to Oakland

A’s outfielder Seth Brown walks Matt Kawahara through the steps on his journey to the majors that shaped him as a baseball player -- and the wait for his first home run. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 14, 202137 min

Minor-League Baseball Is Back!

Fran Riordan, manager of the A’s Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate, talks with Matt Kawahara about the return of minor-league ball after its 2020 hiatus -- and a cool screening of "The Natural." | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 05, 202125 min

Mark Kotsay on Shifts and Sends

The longtime A's coach talks with Matt Kawahara about the A’s infield shifting tendencies and his first few weeks in his new role as third-base coach. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 28, 202129 min

Giants and A's 2021 Season Preview

Susan Slusser, Matt Kawahara and John Shea look ahead as MLB returns — hopefully — to a 162-game schedule in this 2021 season preview for the Giants and A's. In a combined episode of Giants Splash and A's Plus, they break down pitching staffs and lineups and pit players from both sides of the bay against each other. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 202133 min

Ed Sprague on the State of the Farm

The A’s director of player development talks about the Oakland system, players who are trying to get back in the groove after a lost year, and which prospects have stood out in major-league camp. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 202127 min

Bob Melvin, Gabe Kapler on When the Games Stopped

On March 12, 2020, MLB halted spring training and delayed the season, as sports pressed pause amid the growing pandemic. A year later, the Giants and A’s managers recall that uncertain time. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 202127 min

Meet outfielder Buddy Reed

Non-roster invitee Buddy Reed, who shifted from hockey to baseball while at a boarding school, joins Matt to discuss his love for travel, finding himself as a hitter and his so-far successful spring. A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 06, 202127 min

Hot Topics for Bay Area Baseball

Giants beat writer Susan Slusser and A's beat writer Matt Kawahara break down the first few days of spring camp, the flurry of recent moves by both teams, big expectations -- and the return of fans. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 202138 min

Scott Emerson: ‘Armed’ and Ready

With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, Oakland’s pitching coach joins Matt Kawahara to discuss the storylines in camp, including bullpen issues, the A.J. Puk plan and intriguing prospects. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 16, 202136 min

Inside The Chronicle’s New Baseball Coverage

Giants beat writer Susan Slusser, A’s beat writer Matt Kawahara and national baseball writer John Shea discuss The Chronicle’s plans for covering the Giants and A’s and the teams’ outlooks in 2021. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 03, 202135 min

Bill Greason, Negro Leagues Veteran

A teammate of Willie Mays on the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, 96-year-old Greason talks with John Shea on this episode of the Giants Splash podcast that we're sharing with A's Plus listeners. Greason, who fought in Iwo Jima and was the St. Louis Cardinals' first Black pitcher, talks about his life and about MLB reclassifying the Negro Leagues as "major league." | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices....

Dec 23, 202019 min

Scott Emerson: Mounds of Information

Oakland's pitching coach breaks down the team’s rotation and bullpen. He talks about how they fared in 2020 and what the A's have to look forward to in 2021, including their recent Rule 5 additions. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 202034 min

Closer to Leaving

All-Star Liam closer Hendriks talks with Susan about his first foray into free agency, an uncertain market, and the A's season and the series with the Astros. He also muses about next year's bullpen. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 07, 202030 min

Agent Rachel Luba's Amazing Journey

Agent Rachel Luba, who is from Monterey, is making waves this off-season by representing two high profile clients, Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer and outfielder Yasiel Puig. She joins Susan to talk about being one of the few women in the industry, the obstacles she faced in becoming an agent, and trying to rein Bauer in on twitter. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 02, 202042 min

Jesús Luzardo Gives Thanks After Rookie Season

Left-hander Jesús Luzardo checks in with Matt Kawahara about his rookie season, his playoff experience and his offseason roommate. Plus, he shares a few family Thanksgiving traditions. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 25, 202026 min

Dan Straily's Season in Korea

Former A’s pitcher Dan Straily talks with beat writer Matt Kawahara about playing the 2020 season for the Lotte Giants of the KBO, how it restored his confidence on the mound, the experience of being overseas during a global pandemic -- what about that time he brought a gong to the Lotte dugout? | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 202034 min

Feldy Follies, Offseason Edition

Stats expert David Feldman talks World Series, the free agent market and what it might take for the A's to get Marcus Semien back, plus: Susan and David chat about their favorite baseball movies, including the one Feldy believes originally was his idea. | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 11, 202039 min

Instructional League Report from Ed Sprague

Director of player development Ed Sprague joins Matt Kawahara to discuss the A’s instructional league camp in Arizona. Who stood out? How will a year without minor-league games impact prospects? | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 04, 202031 min

The A's Future: Billy Beane, Free Agents and More

Susan Slusser and fellow beat writer Matt Kawahara talk World Series — the Snell decision, Justin Turner's positive test — and what Billy Beane's likely departure might mean for Oakland. And: What will the A's do with free agents such as Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks? | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 202038 min

It’s a Wrap: Changes Ahead

Stats expert David Feldman joins Susan to break down the A’s Division Series loss to the Astros and the many major offseason changes ahead: What happens with free agents Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks? And will Billy Beane and Bob Melvin be back next year? | A’s Plus Newsletter: sfchronicle.com/asnewsletter | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 202042 min
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