Christine: You are not going to believe what we have to talk about today. Sixty-four wins. Ninety-eight losses. And yet, they are standing on top of the American League West. If you think that sounds impossible, you were watching the right season.
Jason: It is statistically absurd. The Houston Astros won the division with eighty-one wins—the worst record for a first-place team in modern MLB history—and the Athletics finished at sixty-four and ninety-eight. But here we are. Power rankings time.
Christine: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Christine, and this is your daily deep dive into the Bay Area’s favorite team, the Oakland Athletics. Today, we are breaking down exactly how this happened, where the roster stands, and what it means for the future in Las Vegas.
Jason: And I’m Jason. We’ve got three big topics. First, the absolute madness of the AL West standings and why the Astros barely survived. Second, the structural strengths and glaring weaknesses of this sixty-four-win club. And third, looking ahead to the transition to Las Vegas in 2028 and the new front office.
Christine: We’re also talking about Taylor Smith’s hiring as president of baseball operations, the departure of Sam Fuld, and Zack Gelof’s lawsuit against the Tigers. Plus, we’ll look at those earlier predictions about Jeffrey Springs and whether we can actually hit seventy-five wins next year. Let’s get into it.
Christine: Jason, let’s start with the elephant in the room. The Athletics finished with a sixty-four and ninety-eight record. That is one of the worst records in baseball. So how in the world did they finish first in the AL West?
Jason: It’s all about the bottom feeder race. You had the Astros, who despite being an elite organization, stumbled to an eighty-one and eighty-one finish. That was the fifth AL West title in six years for them, but it was historically bad for a division winner. The rest of the league just... collapsed around them.
Christine: Right. And the A’s managed to stay just competitive enough, or maybe everyone else was worse. It feels like a fluke standing, doesn’t it? Because sixty-four wins is not a playoff-caliber number anywhere else in the league.
Jason: It’s a statistical anomaly. When you look at the strength of schedule and the run differential, this team was not good. But the structure of the AL West meant that if you could avoid losing by double digits every week, you could win the division. The Astros beating the A’s nine to zero on Sunday in their final game really highlighted the gap between them.
Christine: That nine to zero loss behind Lucas Spence’s two-run triple was a brutal way to end the season. It showed that when the A’s played the best teams, they got exposed. But winning the division is still winning the division. Does that give them any momentum heading into the offseason?
Jason: I’d argue it gives them confusion rather than momentum. Manager Mark Kotsay said Monday that the injuries derailed their plans and it was unlike anything he has seen in his five seasons leading the club. You don’t build culture on a sixty-four and ninety-eight season, even if the standings say otherwise.
Christine: Exactly. The silver linings for non-playoff teams might be nice for morale, but from a competitive standpoint, this is a rebuilding year gone wrong. They are entering their final year in West Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas in 2028, so this record is just another hurdle.
Jason: And now they have Taylor Smith coming in as president of baseball operations. He was the assistant GM for the Red Sox and remained a top candidate after Sam Fuld declined the offer. This is a fresh start, but starting from sixty-four wins makes the climb harder.
Christine: Before we move to our next segment, I want to take a quick breath. We know you love the Athletics, and you love that this show stays free for you. No ads, no paywalls, just pure baseball analysis. That only works because of listeners like you. If you can chip in to help keep the show running daily, please check out the link in the episode description. Your support keeps this network alive.
Jason: Thanks for listening. Now, let’s talk about the roster. We’ve got a lot of young arms in the bullpen and some interesting positional battles. Who stands out as a strength this season?
Christine: I think the catching depth is surprisingly solid. You’ve got Jonah Heim, Shea Langeliers, and Brian Serven. Langeliers has been a standout defensively, and Heim provides that veteran presence. But offensively, they struggled to find consistent production.
Jason: The infield was messy. You had Zack Gelof at third base, but his season was cut short by that incident with the metal fence at Comerica Park. He’s actually suing the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings, and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority for damages. That’s a huge distraction for him.
Christine: That is terrible news for Gelof. Hitting a metal fence is scary. How does that impact his availability and performance moving forward? Is he expected to be healthy for spring training?
Jason: The lawsuit suggests significant injury, but we don’t have specific medical reports yet. In the meantime, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Max Muncy are also in the mix at third base. Muncy brings power, but his OBP has been inconsistent. The platoon splits matter a lot here.
Christine: And then there’s the outfield. Lawrence Butler in right field, Henry Bolte and Denzel Clarke in center. Butler has shown flashes of high launch angle power, but plate discipline remains a question. Can he sustain that approach?
Jason: That’s the key. If Butler can improve his walk rate and reduce strikeouts, he becomes a five-tool threat. But right now, the outfield defense is a question mark. Carlos Cortes and Johnathan Rodriguez provide depth, but they aren’t ready for full-time roles yet.
Christine: Let’s talk pitching. The rotation features Gage Jump, Joey Estes, Jacob Lopez, and Jeffrey Springs. Springs is the ace, but he’s been dealing with injuries. How healthy is he expected to be for next year?
Jason: This is the biggest variable. We predicted last week that Springs would return to full health and anchor the rotation in 2027. If he’s healthy, he stabilizes everything. But if he’s limited, you’re looking at Hunt Bigge or Brady Basso stepping up in the rotation.
Christine: The bullpen is loaded with relievers like Elvis Alvarado, Mason Barnett, and Hunter Bigge. It’s a deep group, but consistency is hard to come by. Did any reliever emerge as a closer candidate?
Jason: Brady Basso had some high-leverage spots, but nothing was definitive. The usage was scattered. With the new front office, they’ll likely consolidate the bullpen roles. Seth Johnson and Geoff Hartlieb are also options, but the hierarchy isn’t set.
Christine: So, Jason, where do we go from here? We’ve got the move to Las Vegas looming in 2028. Taylor Smith is in charge. And we’re projecting a seventy-five win season for 2027. Do you buy it?
Jason: I do, but it hinges entirely on Jeffrey Springs. If Springs anchors the rotation, you gain ten to fifteen wins easily. Add in some development from Butler and Gelof, and seventy-five is realistic. It’s not a playoff push, but it’s a massive improvement over sixty-four.
Christine: And the position battles will be intense. Catcher, infield, outfield—everyone is fighting for a spot. The competition should make spring training very interesting. Are there any surprises you see coming?
Jason: I think Darell Hernaiz or Alika Williams could steal playing time at shortstop if the current starter struggles. Also, watch for Tommy White at first base. He’s got power, but his defensive positioning needs work. If he can fix that, he’s a starter.
Christine: What about the robot umpires? The brief mentioned they flipped fifty-four percent of challenged calls. How does that affect the A’s strategy? Do they challenge more often?
Jason: Catchers were far more successful than batters in challenges. That means pitchers are getting called strikes they wouldn’t have gotten before. The A’s need to adjust their pitch selection. More contact hitters like Jeff McNeil or Michael Stefanic might thrive more than swing-and-miss types.
Christine: That’s a smart tactical adjustment. Focus on contact, exploit the new strike zone. It’s a small detail, but in a tight division, those details matter. Any final thoughts on the Astros’ historic eighty-one win title?
Jason: It’s a testament to their resilience, but also their luck. Winning with eighty-one wins sets a low bar for excellence. The A’s have a chance to surpass that, but they need to stop bleeding games to bad teams. Discipline on and off the field is key.
Christine: There you have it. The A’s won the West with a losing record, Taylor Smith is taking over, and Jeffrey Springs is the key to seventy-five wins next year. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Birds!