Four things we learned from A’s HQ: Breaking down position races, A.J. Puk’s nasty slider to Kris Bryant

MESA, Ariz. — A.J. Puk’s first pitch of the Cactus League: an easy 95 mph fastball.

“Just trying to be nice and easy, first game juice probably helped with that,” Puk said.

His third: a wicked 87 mph slider that Chicago Cubs’ MVP Kris Bryant took a listless jab at for a strikeout.

“First (slider) of the year, was a pretty good one to start out with, so I was real happy with that one,” Puk said.

Puk was succinct in his reflections and brief in his handling of the Cubs in his single inning pitched. His start on Saturday against the Cubs to kick off the Cactus League play on Saturday at Sloan Park in Mesa was Puk’s first since July 16, 2019 — a rehab start for the Midland RockHounds.

Puk made the most of his inning on Saturday, a high note in a long 12-2 loss for the Oakland A’s. He threw all four of his pitches — a 97 mph fastball, changeup, slider and his curveball — in a near perfect outing.

“And the changeup he didn’t have last year, that’s what’s going to make him who he is and his fastball will play up,” manager Bob Melvin said.

He could identify one blip, a missed first-pitch curveball to Javier Baez that led to a walk.

Lou Trivino: bad inning, but felt good

Trivino took over for Puk in the second inning and never got out of it. He gave up three runs and notched just two outs before getting the hook.

Call it first game jitters. Trivino liked how he felt, but wasn’t finishing his pitches.

“I’m not worried about it, obviously it didn’t go according to plan. I got tired at the end, it’s the first game jitters, but I’m not worried about it in the slightest, I felt pretty good just wasn’t finishing pitches. I know the score doesn’t dictate how I’m feeling,” Trivino said, noting that he felt like he was finishing pitches early on.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, the first hitter he faced, beat Trivino’s fastball up in the zone — Trivino said he wanted it to be up more on the outer half, Contreras just beat him to it.

Trivino’s velocity was at its typical ticks: his fastball clocked in at 95, 97 mph.

A frequent tidbit: Who’s on second?

The A’s will trot out at least three different third baseman in the next two days. And so begins a race for second base.

A run down of who’s playing what and when: Right-handed hitter Franklin Barreto started the spring training opener against the Chicago Cubs. Left-handed hitter Vimael Machin is expected to replace him later in that game and is penciled in at second to start the split squad game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-handed hitter Tony Kemp will man the position against the San Francisco Giants at Hohokam.

All five options will be in some sort of infield action. Jorge Mateo got the start at shortstop and Sheldon Neuse at third against the Cubs.

Here’s split squad lineups for tomorrow vs Giants and DBacks. pic.twitter.com/07Cr9FmPgT

— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) February 22, 2020

Manager Bob Melvin and his staff will be keeping a close eye on possible breakout performances from this overflowing pool of choices. In particular this spring, keep an eye out for improved patience at the plate for Barreto and Mateo.

Mateo just flipped his bat for a single I love spring training.

— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) February 23, 2020

Machin prides himself on extended at bats; he’s a contact hitter, so don’t expect too much power, but that’s a platoon skill that could easily 26th spot on the active roster.

Of course, also remember that spring performances can only inform decisions to a limited extent.

“I just want guys to get through it healthy, performance I completely ignore,” A’s executive vice president Billy Beane said for a quick chat at Hohokam Stadium.

“You have to respect the track records and information on the guys you have from that,” he added. “I don’t think guys coming to spring training and what they do should determine if they’re a starter or should play or not.”

Implicit strengths stand out for the bubble guys. Barreto pressed in his few big league stints, resulting in a .123 average over 57 at bats in 2019, down from the .233 average he accrued in 73 at bats in 2018. Barreto has elite exit velocity and clear untapped potential. Mateo’s top-of-the order potential speed and bat.

The A’s want to get a good look at the pair, so Mateo and Barreto got an extra at bat over the rest of the starters on Saturday. And made good use of them.

Mateo cracked one of the A’s five hits on the night — a line drive into center field off right-handed pitcher James Norwood on Saturday. He has the momentum of a winter playing in the Dominican League fueling his early spring at bats. Barreto, who didn’t participate in winter ball, knocked a two-run RBI single in the sixth inning off left-handed pitcher Tyler Olson’s curveball.

Parsing a crowded outfield

There are 12 A’s outfielders in camp. Four of them have the jobs to lose. Two of them are on the bubble — potential big leaguers who may be squeezed out and into the minor leagues. But, provide incredible depth nonetheless.

Remember Dustin Fowler? Not long ago, the outfielder acquired from the New York Yankees for Sonny Gray back in 2017 and almost instantly pegged as the center fielder of the future as he rehabbed from his leg injury.

Then Ramón Laureano and Mark Canha swooped in and claimed starting outfielder roles — with Stephen Piscotty and Robbie Grossman as sho-ins (with Tony Kemp in the platoon mix) completing an immediate regular season outfield picture.

But in Fowler the A’s have a left-handed bat right in their backyard. He has one minor league option left, which could have him on the outside of the active roster looking in once more. But this is an important spring for the 25-year-old to to possibly disrupt the status quo or, at least, take some steps closer to a breakthrough.

Fowler slashed .277/.333/.477 and 25 homer runs with the Las Vegas Aviators in 2019. Right now, he may fit best as a platoon option for a team rife with those. But, he’s an ever important depth piece.

Seth Brown is also on the outside looking in. He went 0-for-2 in Saturday’s game. Brown still has three minor league options, so it’s likely he’ll start the year in Las Vegas. With the Aviators last year, Brown had a .394 wOBA and slashed .297/.352/.634 with 37 home runs.

Called up to the big leagues last August, Brown flipped from a home run-hitter to an RBI fiend. He knocked in 12 runs over his first 52 at bats, batting .385 with a .439 OBP.

Brown may be on the wrong side of the bubble at spring’s end, but proven big-league ability shouldn’t have him too far from the right side in case of emergency.