In defense of the 2019 A's

Willie Nelson scored a breakthrough to wide popularity back in the mid-1970s with an album titled "Shotgun Willie." The title track had a line that went something like this: "You can’t make a record if you ain’t got something to say."

That may be why when I do comment on social media it’s often about the Oakland A’s, whom I follow closely. There is much empirical data available on their performance, but it changes with each passing game.

But with the A’s entering a three-game weekend series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, I can tell you a thing or two about the Oakland A’s.

Last year the A’s went a major-league best 63-29 from June 16 on to secure a wild-card spot.

This season, the A’s have gone 41-20 since June 17. They are doing it in different ways this year, but my contention is that in both seasons the main impetus has been their defense. It was really good last year. It’s better this season.

Even as the starting pitching has emerged as a surprise strength, it goes back to the team’s strong defense. Indeed, there’s evidence the A’s constructed its starting rotation to take advantage of the defense.

A’s starters are last in the majors in strikeouts, 6.86 K’s per 9 innings. Yet their 4.04 ERA is respectable enough to rank fourth in the 15-team American League behind only Tampa Bay, Houston and Cleveland, and they’re fourth in innings pitched.

The defense is the backbone of this year’s playoff push, and the key player, in my opinion, is Matt Olson at first base. He won a gold glove last year but his accolades, though many, don’t match those for Matt Chapman at third base, who earned the platinum glove in 2018 emblematic of the best defensive player regardless of position.

But Olson limits the errors by Chapman, Marcus Semien at shortstop and whoever is at second base or on the mound. Despite missing 34 games with an injury that required the excision of the right hamate, Olson leads AL first basemen in such cumulative defensive statistics as total chances (897), assists (74) and putouts (817) all with a .993 fielding percentage (second).

With Olson in the lineup, the A’s are 62-35 (.639) after going 15-19 when he was on the IL.

Chapman, though, is beyond compare. Ask Whit Merrifield who Tuesday night laid down what appeared to be a perfect bunt down the third-base-line with Chapman playing back at the outfield grass. Chapman charged fast, made a barehanded pickup and threw a 100-mph bullet to first that just nipped the speedy Merrifield.

Chapman was hit in the batting helmet by a pitch in the first inning Wednesday night, left that game the next inning, but returned Thursday to play defense in the ninth inning after sitting out. Chapman is scheduled to return to the lineup tonight at Yankee Stadium.

On Wednesday Chad Pinder filled in capably for Chapman, but speedy Royals beat out two soft ground balls to Pinder that led to a run in the fifth and started a two-run rally in the seventh of a 6-4 A’s loss, Chapman’s arm plus reaction time and speed may have made the difference on both plays.

But empirical data, Jack. Chapman’s total chances (396), putouts (127) and fielding percentage (.980) lead all MLB third basemen, and his assists (261) are second to Nolan Arenado.

Empirical data also backs Marcus Semien’s campaign for a gold glove at shortstop. He leads major league shortstops in assists (363) and American League shortstops in total chances (530), and his fielding percentage (.979) is third in the AL.

Chapman playing deep at third base and his superior range allow Semien to position himself more toward the middle and increase his already superior range even more toward his left.

More data among the outfielders. Left fielder Robbie Grossman has not made an error (207 chances) this season, and neither has right fielder Stephen Piscotty (169 chances).

Center fielder Ramon Laureano is expected to return soon from the IL (right lower leg stress reaction), and when he does, the A’s outfield will be even more armed and dangerous. At the time Laureano went on the IL (July 29) he had recorded 17 outfield assists in 152 games since his MLB debut on Aug. 3, 2018 – five more than any other outfielder in that span.

Of course, then the A’s will have to figure what to do with Mark Canha, who has been filling in for Laureano in center field quite admirably. Canha’s August in in contention for American League Player of the Month (.360/.441/.618 1.059 OPS) six home runs and 17 RBI.

But when Laureano was placed on the IL, Laureano was a contender for Player of the Month for July (.392/.443/.838 1.281 OPS) with eight home runs, nine doubles, 22 runs and 18 RBI in 22 games.

The A’s will figure out something.