Elephant Rumblings: A’s instructional league resumes after brief coronavirus shutdown

MLB news roundup

Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!

Two Oakland A’s story lines from last week had further developments over the weekend.

The A’s instructional league camp was shut down last week due to a positive coronavirus test, but they were able to resume operations on Saturday, reports Bill Moriarity of Athletics Farm. However, the schedule of inter-squad games will not be extended past its planned ending on Oct. 30 to help make up any lost playing time.

Meanwhile, the A’s received praise for retaining over 90% of their baseball operations staff, a rate far higher than some other clubs — especially after a tough financial year, and looking ahead to some possible contraction in the lower levels of the minors. However, there were more job cuts reported over the weekend by Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle, including around 30% of their business operations staff (roughly 60 positions, which were already on furlough). Slusser points out other clubs on both ends of the spectrum in terms of employee termination rate, both higher and lower than what the A’s have done this year.

World Series update

We might just have another classic on our hands. So far the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays have alternated wins, with the Dodgers currently up 3-2 entering Game 6 on Tuesday (after an off-day today).

In Game 3, Charlie Morton’s postseason magic ran out for a night and the Dodgers jumped on him early. The Rays never recovered against Walker Buehler, who struck out 10 in a 6-2 victory. Recaps: Dodgers | Rays

In Game 4, the Dodgers were about to take a commanding lead in the series, but a wild comeback by the Rays plated two runs in the 9th to walk it off 8-7. The winning run scored on one of the most excitingly odd plays in history (see more below), and goes down as an instant classic. Recaps: Rays | Dodgers | Nico

In Game 5, Los Angeles got back on track, as Clayton Kershaw put up another strong start in a quiet 4-2 win. Recaps: Dodgers | Rays

Here’s the remaining schedule (all times Pacific, all TV broadcasts on Fox):

• Game 1: Dodgers win, 8-3
• Game 2: Rays win, 6-4
• Game 3: Dodgers win, 6-2
• Game 4: Rays win, 8-7
• Game 5: Dodgers win, 4-2
• Game 6: Tue, Oct. 27, 5 p.m.
• Game 7: Wed, Oct. 28, 5 p.m.

It’ll be Blake Snell (visiting Rays) vs. Tony Gonsolin (home Dodgers) in Game 6. Here are seven key story lines, plus all the FAQ info you need.

Arozarena play

If you didn’t see the classic play at the end of Game 4, then dang, here’s what you missed.

Still frames

High praise

Enjoying the moment

This is the kind of role-player moment I thought Tony Kemp could have if the A’s had made it to the Series

You can also click here to relive the play at DRaysBay.

A’s Coverage

• Slusser: A’s cut business staff by about 30%, citing uncertainty amid coronavirus pandemic ($)
• Kawahara: Will A.J. Puk finally join A’s rotation in 2021? The group has big potential ($)
• Adams: The A’s Have Some Tough Qualifying Offer Decisions
• Johnson: Muncy believes A’s release helped turn him into Dodgers star
• AN: Liam Hendriks named 2020 AL Reliever of the Year

MLB News & Interest

• Yoo: Mission accomplished: how Dan Straily became the best version of himself in KBO
• Adams: Hirokazu Sawamura Has Drawn Interest From MLB Clubs
• Polishuk: 2021 Managerial Search Tracker
• Berry: Arozarena owns playoff hits, HR records
• McCalvy: K is for Kershaw: New playoff strikeout king
• Simon, et al: Playoff records fall in G5: 12 facts to know
• Monagan: Kershaw’s kids adorably interrupt Zoom
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter

Look for a full post on AN later today about the coaching staff

Great point in Lockard’s last sentence here, last seen in the Wild Card Series in Games 2 and 3

The Dodgers are now up to 9 players homering, setting a new record

That kind of movement on 100 mph just isn’t fair

Treinen’s turbo sinker isn’t fair either

Sigh

Old-timey photo alert!

Nailed it