The A’s turned a holiday week matchup into an early fireworks finale, steamrolling the Giants 11-1 behind a dominant outing from JP Sears, a home run of mythological proportions from Denzel Clarke, and a relentless offensive onslaught that sent Justin Verlander to the showers before he could finish his fourth inning. Sears, meanwhile, spun six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits, two walks, and striking out six. When he exited, the game wasn’t just in hand—it was in a headlock. Denzel C...
Jul 05, 2025•33 min•Ep. 334
Eighty-nine games into the 2025 season, it’s time to ask the uncomfortable question—are the A’s actually better than they were in 2024, or are we just fooling ourselves? In this episode of Locked On A’s, we put the two rosters under the microscope and go position by position, comparing starters, stats, bullpen usage, team records, vibes—everything. It’s not just about wins and losses (though those numbers are eye-opening); it’s about how the culture has shifted, who’s stepped up, and where this ...
Jul 04, 2025•33 min•Ep. 333
The A’s nearly pulled off one of their gutsiest wins of the year in Tampa, turning a 6-2 deficit into a full-blown ninth-inning rollercoaster. Max Muncy lit the fuse with a leadoff home run, Austin Wynns kept it burning with a double, and a flurry of clutch at-bats from Gio Urshela, Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom brought the A’s within one, with the bases loaded and one out. All the momentum was green and gold. Then Brent Rooker struck out. Nick Kurtz chased ball four. And just like that—...
Jul 03, 2025•33 min•Ep. 332
The 2025 MLB Draft is here, and on today’s show we’re all in on one name: Kyson Witherspoon. The right-hander from Oklahoma is exactly the kind of arm the A’s should be targeting with the 11th overall pick. Mid-90s heat, a nasty slider, Team USA pedigree, and bulldog mentality—Witherspoon checks every box. We’ll break down why he fits the A’s perfectly, not just for what he is now, but for what he could become in Vegas by 2028. He’s not just a pick, he’s a future fan favorite, and today we’ll te...
Jul 03, 2025•38 min•Ep. 331
The A’s walked into Tampa and walked out with another dramatic extra-inning win, taking down the Rays 4-3 in a game that had everything—power, grit, and a whole lot of guts. Shea Langeliers launched his second homer of the series to give the A’s their first lead, Max Muncy tied it with a game-changing opposite-field blast, and Colby Thomas collected his first MLB hit in his debut. But the turning point came in the 10th, when Austin Wynns—pinch-hitting for Lawrence Butler—drove in the go-ahead ru...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 330
MLB All-Star Game voting ignites fierce debate. Is fan selection flawed? Our hosts analyze issues with the current voting system, suggesting radical changes to All-Star format. Ideas range from requiring starters to play full nine innings to implementing a "golden batter" rule. American and National League roster selections take center stage, with passionate arguments for overlooked stars. Could an all-Dodgers starting lineup become reality? Tune in for insider perspectives on revamping MLB's mi...
Jul 01, 2025•34 min•Ep. 328
In one of their most exciting wins of the 2025 season, the A’s walked into Steinbrenner Field and stunned the Rays with a 6–4 victory that had everything: early fireworks, mid-game collapse, and a clutch ninth-inning gut punch. Shea Langeliers got the party started with a three-run bomb in the first, giving the A’s a 3–0 lead before some fans even found their seats. Brent Rooker stayed hot with an RBI single in the third to stretch it to 4–0. But like any game in Tampa, nothing comes easy—especi...
Jul 01, 2025•43 min•Ep. 329
Two teams. Two spring training ballparks. Two bottom-three payrolls. And yet… only one is competing like it belongs in October. In this special crossover edition of Locked On A’s and Locked On Rays, Booney is joined by Kevin Weiss and Ulises Sambrano to break down the bizarre baseball paradox of 2025: why are the Rays winning with the same financial constraints and stadium issues that have the A’s sinking like a stone? From front office philosophy to player development and culture, we dissect ho...
Jun 30, 2025•31 min•Ep. 327
The A’s wrapped up their series against the Yankees in the most humiliating way possible—by not showing up. In the rubber match, former Yankee Luis Severino returned to the Bronx and got lit up like a Fourth of July firework. Severino lasted just 3.2 innings, coughing up five hits and seven earned runs, including a back-breaking two-run shot by Aaron Judge that sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy and sent the A’s spiraling, again. If you're looking for positives, stop. There weren’t any. The A’s o...
Jun 29, 2025•39 min•Ep. 325
Today on Locked On A’s, we remember one of the most electrifying, awe-inspiring players to ever wear the green and gold—Dave Parker, a.k.a. The Cobra. Parker passed away at the age of 74, and while many fans know him for his MVP days in Pittsburgh, this episode digs deeper into his legacy—specifically, what he meant to Oakland, to the late-’80s A’s, and to the next generation of stars he helped mold. From mentoring McGwire and Canseco, to ripping clutch hits in the ‘89 title run, to sitting quie...
Jun 29, 2025•33 min•Ep. 324
The A’s bounced back in a big way in New York today, blanking the mighty Yankees 7-0 in a dominant Game 2 performance that reminded everyone this team still has bite. Brent Rooker set the tone early with a thunderous home run that had Yankee fans reaching for their phones to check if it was 2023 again. And Nick Kurtz? The rookie keeps announcing his presence with authority—this time with a solo shot that left zero doubt he belongs. The A’s didn’t just score—they punched back, and this time, New ...
Jun 28, 2025•51 min•Ep. 323
The A's dropped Game 1 of this Bronx series 3–0, failing to crack New York’s pitching. The story: Mitch Spence surrendered four walks—and the A’s offense sputtered, managing just three hits. Yankees rookie Will Warren, shaky early, settled into five scoreless innings, backed by a flawless bullpen that kept the A's off the board Now, the A’s must improve command—fewer free baserunners—and get aggressive at the plate. With Clarke Schmidt taking the mound tomorrow, expect a focus on drawing deep co...
Jun 28, 2025•41 min•Ep. 322
In this episode of Locked On A’s, we rip the green-and-gold curtain off the Moneyball myth and show you what’s really behind it: not a revolution, but a retreat. Once hailed as the ultimate underdog story, Moneyball has morphed into a billionaire’s cheat code—an excuse to gut payrolls and gaslight fans. We dive deep into how Billy Beane’s brilliant strategy to find value turned into John Fisher’s strategy to avoid spending altogether. From OBP to “Oh Please,” the A’s front office went from playi...
Jun 27, 2025•32 min•Ep. 321
The A’s got punched in the mouth by a journeyman arm from Korea and never recovered. In today’s episode of Locked On A’s, Booney breaks down a brutal 8-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, where Dietrich Enns—who hadn’t pitched in the bigs since 2021—made the A’s lineup look like a KBO tryout camp. Five scoreless innings from Enns, and not a single run for the A's. Yikes. The A’s mustered just three baserunners off Enns, and their best chance came in the third—runners on first and second with nobody ou...
Jun 26, 2025•34 min•Ep. 320
It’s celebration time on Locked On A’s as the A’s pulled off a stunner in Motown! In today’s episode, we’re reveling in the Athletics’ 3-0 shutout win over the Tigers – yes, the team with the best record in baseball just got blanked by the green-and-gold. We break down how rookie Nick Kurtz’s massive three-run homer provided all the fireworks the A’s needed, and marvel at how Jacob Lopez completely tamed Detroit’s lineup with seven innings of scoreless, bulldog-caliber pitching. (We’re pretty su...
Jun 26, 2025•31 min•Ep. 319
The A’s teased hope early in Detroit, jumping all over the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal. Brent Rooker launched a two-run bomb in the first, then Denzel Clarke—yes, that Denzel Clarke—crushed his second big league homer to give the A’s a 4-2 lead. But as quickly as optimism sparked, it was extinguished just as fast. Luis Severino, supposed to be the veteran presence in this rotation, got lit up for seven runs in five innings. And once again, the A’s unraveled the same way they have all ...
Jun 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 318
First-half wrap-ups always bring reflection: who helped carry the team this far, and what adjustments are needed heading into the second half of the season. In Detroit tonight, the A’s will test themselves on the road against the best team in baseball and the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers. Why this road trip may decide if there is still hope for the season. Last week brought an intriguing three-game showdown against the Guardians on the weekend and a 4-game set ag...
Jun 24, 2025•31 min•Ep. 317
On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, we dissect the most lopsided loss of the season as the A’s get torched 13–3 by a familiar face—former A’s pitcher Jason Alexander. The right-hander returned with a vengeance, tossing six strong innings and silencing his old club with a mix of sinkers, changeups, and cold-blooded execution. Meanwhile, JP Sears couldn’t escape the first few frames without disaster, setting the tone for a night that spiraled fast and never recovered. Cam Smith led a Houston Astr...
Jun 18, 2025•42 min•Ep. 316
The A’s have been through hell—an 11-game losing streak, a 9-game losing streak, losing 20 of 21 games—and yet here we are: just eight games out of the Wild Card. Host Boonie isn't just keeping the faith—he’s doubling down. In this episode of Locked On A’s, Boonie revisits the segment where he dug through MLB history to highlight the most improbable playoff comebacks of all time, and now… those stories feel a little less far-fetched. The standings don’t lie, and it’s not too early to scoreboard ...
Jun 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 315
The A’s just sent shockwaves through the AL West with a jaw-dropping 3-1 walk-off win over the first-place Houston Astros—and the hero of the night? None other than rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, who absolutely demolished a fastball into the Sacramento night for a two-run, no-doubt blast that sealed the A’s fourth straight victory. This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement. A thunderous, bat-flipping, dugout-emptying kind of statement that screamed, “We're not just rebuilding—we’re coming for the ...
Jun 17, 2025•43 min•Ep. 314
On today’s Locked On A’s Postgame Show, the green and gold came into Kansas City with one mission: wreck the Royals’ weekend and leave town with a broom in hand. Mission accomplished. The A’s, fresh off snapping a 14-game road skid earlier in the series, came into Sunday riding a wave of swagger—and left with a statement 3-2 win. Lefty Jeffrey Springs went to war on the mound, working through early traffic and limiting the damage when things looked dicey. Despite giving up a two-run third—courte...
Jun 16, 2025•35 min•Ep. 313
Jacob Lopez, who turned the mound into his personal playground. Lopez carved up Royals hitters like a Thanksgiving turkey, throwing six sparkling innings of shutout baseball, striking out nine batters, walking just one, and allowing a three hits. Lopez was so dominant, the Royals hitters looked as confused as tourists without GPS, swinging helplessly at pitches they had no shot at connecting with. Offensively, the A’s struck early and often. Tyler Soderstrom’s sharp eye earned him a pair of cruc...
Jun 14, 2025•31 min•Ep. 312
Two rising stars. Two very different storylines. Tonight in Kansas City, all eyes were on the shortstops as the A’s opened up a three-game set against the Royals. On one side: Bobby Witt Jr., a certified MVP candidate, the heartbeat of a Royals team dreaming of October. On the other: Jacob Wilson, the A’s rookie sensation who’s been lighting up scouting reports and proving he belongs in The Show. This wasn’t just another game—it was a showcase of what the next generation of baseball looks like a...
Jun 14, 2025•31 min•Ep. 311
Brady Basso's journey back to the mound is more than a recovery—it's a masterclass in grit, patience, and unwavering belief. Today we are doing a deep dive into how this 27 year old lefty is clawing his way into the big leagues—and why his story is a lesson in mental toughness. That is a bit later. Meanwhile, over in Lansing, T.J. Schofield-Sam is reminding the world why you never bet against the late bloomer. Once a 12th-round flier out of high school, he’s transformed into a Midwest League men...
Jun 13, 2025•47 min•Ep. 310
As the MLB trade deadline looms, teams across the league are strategizing their next moves. A surprising contender faces a tough choice: keep their breakout star or cash in for future prospects? Another team, on the cusp of playoff contention, must decide whether to go all-in for their superstar's potential final season or pivot towards rebuilding. One powerhouse club's plans may shift dramatically due to a key player's remarkable comeback. An unexpected dark horse could emerge as a serious penn...
Jun 13, 2025•34 min•Ep. 309
On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, Booney is joined by Steven Harmon, host of Curveballs and Changeups , for a conversation that blends baseball nostalgia, sharp insight, and a dose of political savvy. Steven, an East Bay native who grew up a fan of both the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants, brings a unique perspective rooted in years of reporting and public service. With nearly two decades as a political journalist and over a decade as a policy and communications aide, Steven knows how to...
Jun 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 308
The A’s dropped a heartbreaker in Anaheim Tuesday night, falling 2-1 to the Angels in a game that had “win” written all over it until Mark Kotsay put his fingerprints all over the final few innings. With the bullpen fully rested and the A’s holding a one-run lead, Kotsay made a string of baffling moves—pulling a cruising starter too early, leaning on the wrong matchup in the ‘pen, and letting his offense rot on the vine with runners in scoring position. The A’s played with fire and got burned, l...
Jun 11, 2025•32 min•Ep. 307
Being a fan of sports is supposed to be simple. It’s a place where people find joy, escape, and community. Whether your team is winning or rebuilding, there's comfort in knowing that for a few hours, you’re part of something bigger than yourself. But for A’s fans, that connection has been fractured. The team’s move to Las Vegas hasn’t felt like a unifying moment. The Politics and Hypocricy is something that has played its way into this saga and it has been ugly! For over a year, media voices — b...
Jun 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 306
The A’s are back on the upswing, winners of three of their last four, and they roll into Anaheim tonight with a chip on their shoulder and revenge on their mind. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Angels swept the A’s in a humiliating four-game beatdown. But this isn’t the same A’s squad. There’s fight, there’s energy, and there’s Nick Kurtz. The former first-rounder is back in the lineup, and his presence changes everything—lengthens the order, sharpens the approach, and puts fear back in opposing...
Jun 10, 2025•33 min•Ep. 305
The vibes are shifting in Sacramento, and the A’s just made it official—taking 2 of 3 from the Baltimore Orioles and notching their first series win since May 4. Sunday’s win wasn’t just another W in the scorebook—it was a statement. After a brutal stretch of losses, the A’s showed fight, heart, and that signature underdog swagger we’ve been dying to see. This wasn’t luck. This was growth. This was grit. This was a team that refused to roll over, and for the first time in weeks, it felt like the...
Jun 09, 2025•32 min•Ep. 304
