A’s Plus - podcast cover

A’s Plus

San Francisco Chroniclecms.megaphone.fm
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

Mike Fiers No-Hitter

It’s a no-no edition of the Feldy Follies as Susan Slusser and David Feldman break down Mike Fiers’ no-hitter against the Reds and discuss what it might mean for him and for a team that's been struggling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 08, 201925 min

Skye Bolt, Ray Fosse

Outfielder Skye Bolt on the emotions of his his callup, his confusing first big-league hit and, of course, his name. Then broadcaster Ray Fosse talks about Oakland’s rotten road trip and the recent big night by fellow catcher Josh Phegley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 06, 201931 min

Stephen Vogt on His Wild Giants Debut

In a special joint episode of Giants Splash and A's Plus, John Shea talks to the former Oakland fan favorite about his spectacular return to the big leagues with his childhood team, as well as a memorable encounter with Willie Mays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 06, 201916 min

Al Pedrique and David Feldman

Al Pedrique breaks down the defensive issues that Jurickson Profar has dealt with lately and tells us how lonely life can be for a first-base coach when the offense is quiet, and Susan and David Feldman look at the A's disastrous road trip, potential moves and how the start to this season compares to last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 02, 201930 min

Marcus Semien and Glen Kuiper

Shortstop Marcus Semien comes by to talk about the strong start to his season, how the team is playing lately and the possibility of signing a contract extension; then A's TV announcer Glen Kuiper gives us his thoughts on Jurickson Profar's start, expectations for Oakland the rest of the way - and just how fun it is to call Ramon Laureano's astonishing defensive feats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 201927 min

Team President Dave Kaval on the Stadium

The A's president discusses big recent developments, including a stadium vote and the Khris Davis contract. Plus: Assistant director of minor league development Ed Sprague provides updates on some high-profile prospects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 201927 min

Mark Kotsay on Turning It Around

The A’s coach talks about Oakland’s excellent crop of all-around outfielders and the difficulties of turning around an early slump with a new team. He did that himself with Oakland in 2004. Plus: Kotsay’s thoughts on Triple-A Las Vegas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 201919 min

The A’s Horrible Weekend

Susan Slusser and official scorer David Feldman discuss the weekend sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. What’s wrong with the rotation? With the offense? And why Kendrys Morales’ slump is showing more positive signs than Jurickson Profar’s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 201943 min

Sandy Alderson; David Feldman

Former A's GM Sandy Alderson is back with the team as a special assistant - does he have deja vu? what do his duties entail? plus his thoughts on Moneyball, pace of play and more. And David Feldman and Susan talk about the A's recent road trip, bullpen issues and the struggles Mike Fiers and Marco Estrada have had away from the Coliseum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 201936 min

Chad Pinder; Ann Killion

Utility man extraordinaire Chad Pinder discusses his hot start to the season and wows at longtime teammate Matt Chapman's play; columnist Ann Killion tells Susan why the A's should be picking up the Bay Area's casual baseball fans and also gives her thoughts on Khris Davis, John Fisher and the stadium situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 12, 201940 min

Red-hot reliever J.B. Wendelken

The Oakland right-hander discusses his breakout September, talks about what went wrong with his curveball this spring, and provides a look at the personalities in the A's bullpen. Plus: In the first domestic edition of Feldy's Follies this season, David Feldman and Susan Slusser break down the bad start to Oakland's road trip and Jurickson Profar's struggles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 09, 201937 min

Aaron Brooks on Rejoining the A's; Pete Abraham on Why the A's Have Boston's Number

A’s fifth starter Aaron Brooks discusses his strong first outing of the season and his reaction to rejoining the A’s last September, and Boston Globe Red Sox beat writer Pete Abraham discusses the World Series, and why the A’s seem to have the Red Sox’s number. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 04, 201926 min

Ramon Laureano on Last Season; Dallas Braden on the Pitching Staff

Center fielder Ramon Laureano drops in to talk about his sensational late-season run as a rookie, his slow start to 2019, and his personal chef - his mom. Then, Dallas Braden and Susan chat about the A's first week back in the U.S., what to make of the pitching staff, and the Bradens welcome a new family member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 01, 201934 min

Matt Olson on His Injury

Matt Olson talks about his broken hamate bone - diagnosed by Dee Gordon on the field in Japan - and the team's acquisition of Kendrys Morales. On the Shea Hey segment, Susan and John Shea discuss Franklin Barreto's demotion, the challenges the A's face early in the season and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 201929 min

Catcher Beau Taylor; the Feldy Follies

From Tokyo: Nonroster catcher Beau Taylor on the A’s trip to Japan, his insights into the team's top minor-league pitchers and a recounting of his hilarious first big-league hit. Then, David Feldman stops by for the first Feldy Follies of the year to talk about new issues for official scorers to consider, plus a look at Oakland’s roster to open the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 201951 min

Billy Beane, Ken Korach

Vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane joins Susan Slusser in Tokyo to talk about the A’s love for international travel, his love for Japanese baseball, and the A’s roster going into Opening Day. Plus: A’s broadcaster Ken Korach joins Susan to talk about their new book, “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories From the Oakland A’s Dugout, Locker Room, and Press Box.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 201932 min

Marco Estrada on Being a Veteran and Ken Rosenthal On New Rules

Marco Estrada talks about his struggles last season and his thoughts on his new team, plus how great it feels to make a hitter’s knees buckle with a great changeup. Fox Sports/The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal then drops in to give his thoughts on the AL West and on the potential rule changes MLB might embrace next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 201935 min

Assistant G.M. Billy Owens and Coco Crisp

Billy Owens, the A’s assistant G.M. and director of player personnel, talks to Susan Slusser about some of Oakland’s most pressing roster decisions, as well as his thoughts on Kyler Murray’s decision to enter the NFL draft. Plus: Longtime A’s favorite Coco Crisp, who’s back with the club as a broadcaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 201921 min

Closer Blake Treinen, team secretary Mickey Morabito

A's closer Blake Treinen tells Susan Slusser how tough it was to deal with his poor results in last year's wild-card game and how that will drive him this season. And team travel secretary Mickey Morabito goes through the ins-and-outs of getting more than 160 people to Japan for the season-opening series against the Seattle Mariners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 07, 201925 min

A's broadcaster Chris Townsend, Tyler Kepner of the New York Times

Chris Townsend, the A's pre/postgame radio guy, has a fascinating new gig with the team. He talks with Susan Slusser about the new broadcast deal plus a lot of baseball. Also: Tyler Kepner of the New York Times and Susan discuss Oakland's outlook this year and why the A’s are always such an interesting team to write about. Plus: Tyler's amazing catch in the Houston press box last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 05, 201946 min

Bob Melvin on the Game's Evolution

Bob Melvin is a three-time Manager of the Year who piloted the A’s to the playoffs last year. He discusses the game’s analytic evolution, Bruce Bochy’s decision to retire after the season and proposed rule changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 201919 min

Player Development with Keith Lieppman and Labor Issues with Jared Diamond

Keith Lieppman and Jared Diamond. Lieppman, the A's director of player development, discusses up-and-coming players such as Jesus Luzardo and Lazarito Armenteros and talks about his own disastrous first day as an A's player. Diamond, the Wall Street Journal's baseball writer, talks about the A's influence on baseball business, plus the uncertainty over the sport's current labor issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 201942 min

Pitcher Chris Bassitt, Yahoo's Tim Brown

Rotation hopeful Chris Bassitt details his challenging 2018 season, his high hopes for the team in 2019 and why he thinks the A's starters are underrated. Then, Yahoo.com's Tim Brown joins Susan Slusser to talk about how blindsided he was by last year's A's, Khris Davis' status as the most overlooked slugger in baseball, and what's going on in baseball's labor market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 201932 min

Dave Stewart on Kyler Murray

A’s great Dave Stewart analyzes the pitching staff and gives his opinion on using an opener and on the Kyler Murray decision; ex Giants catcher Nick Hundley discusses moving across the bay and the diet that has him feeling like he’s in his mid 20s again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 201930 min

First Spring Training Episode

A's pitching coach Scott Emerson talks to San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser about how the staff is shaping up, his thoughts on using an "opener" and the recent loss of both of his parents. Plus: ESPN's Howard Bryant on the A's hottest topics — including Kyler Murray — race in baseball, and Bryant's upcoming book project, which will interest A's fans a lot. (Hint: It's about Rickey Henderson.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 201932 min

Live! The Chronicle Talks Baseball

San Francisco Chronicle A's beat writer Susan Slusser and Giants beat writer Henry Schulman join sports editor Al Saracevic to talk baseball in front of a live audience of subscribers. They preview the season, tell war stories from the press box and clubhouse, and answer questions from the audience about openers, free agents and ballpark food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 08, 20191 hr 4 min

5 Questions Going Into Spring Training

What sport will Kyler Murray play? What will Oakland’s starting rotation look like? Will Madison Bumgarner be traded? Is this Bruce Bochy’s last year? In this combined episode of A’s Plus and Giants Double Play, San Francisco Chronicle baseball writers Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman tackle those and other questions as they prepare to head to Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 06, 201931 min

Kyler Murray’s Big Decision

Susan Slusser, John Shea and Matt Kawahara discuss the biggest current topic in MLB and the NFL — the future of the A’s top draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner. Did the A’s make a mistake choosing him? Which way might he be leaning? And what happens next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 201934 min

Winter Meetings wrap-up

Reporting from the the last day of the MLB Winter Meetings, San Francisco Chronicle Oakland A's beat writer Susan Slusser says one executive told her that recently released catcher Bruce Maxwell may not be signed by any team, not because of his play but because he kneeled for the national anthem. San Francisco Giants writer Henry Schulman says the Farhan Zaidi era is in full swing, as the club has made an unprecedented two picks in the Rule 5 draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

Dec 14, 201814 min

Winter Meetings, Day 3

A baseball beat writer says if he had to, he'd buy a ticket. To a baseball game? Heck no. To Scott Boras' scrum by the Christmas tree at the Winter Meetings. In their daily joint podcast from Las Vegas, Henry Schulman and Susan Slusser talk about the annual "State of the Scott Address." This year's talk included thoughts on Kyler Murray, the top A's draft pick, who also plays a little football. Plus: Buster Posey's health, the A's and Giants' second-base situations, and the future of Oakland slu...

Dec 13, 201824 min
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