Christine: You are not dreaming. The Oakland Athletics won the American League West with a 64-98 record. Yes, you heard that right. Sixty-four wins. Ninety-eight losses. And they still took home the division crown.
Jason: It is a statistical anomaly that defies traditional baseball logic, but here we are. The standings don't lie, even if the win column does. Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network.
Christine: I’m Christine, and I’m joined by Jason. Today is a special mailbag episode because the world is in shock. We’re answering your questions about the new President of Baseball Operations Taylor Smith, the bizarre legal situation with Zack Gelof, and what this young roster actually looks like heading to Las Vegas.
Jason: We’re going to break down the roster construction under this new analytics-heavy leadership, discuss the depth chart battles at third base, and tackle the elephant in the room: how do you build a contender when the system rewards losing?
Christine: Let’s get into it. First question comes from Sarah in Oakland. She asks: 'With Taylor Smith now leading baseball operations after Sam Fuld declined the role, what is his actual plan for the 2027 season?' This follows our discussion yesterday about the front office shift.
Jason: Okay, so Taylor Smith was hired specifically because owner John Fisher said, 'the world is run by 31-year-olds today.' He brings a fresh analytics perspective, distinct from Sam Fuld who passed on the job. His mandate is clear: continue the rich history with analytics but bring new ideas as we prepare for the move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Christine: So it’s a pivot toward modernization. But Jason, looking at the current 64-98 squad, does that mean we stick with the youth movement? We have a lot of arms here. Let’s look at the pitching staff.
Jason: The pitching staff is a mix of veterans and rookies. You’ve got Jeffrey Springs anchoring the rotation if he stays healthy—we predicted this last week. Then you have Gage Jump, Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales, Kade Morris, Braden Nett, and Jack Perkins. In the bullpen, it’s a laundry list: Elvis Alvarado, Mason Barnett, Brady Basso, Hunter Bigge, Scott Blewett, Hogan Harris, Seth Johnson, Hayden Juenger, Luis Medina, Joe Rock, Drew Rom, Chris Roycroft, and Yunior Tur.
Christine: That is a massive number of pitchers. @RaidersRick in San Jose asks: 'Hunter Bigge was mentioned as a breakout candidate last time. With all these arms, does he have a real shot at closing duties in 2027?'
Jason: If Taylor Smith is implementing new analytical approaches, he’ll likely look for high-leverage efficiency. Bigge has the profile. But honestly, with guys like Hogan Harris and Seth Johnson also on the roster, the competition will be fierce. It’s not just about who throws hard; it’s about who minimizes runs in short stints.
Christine: Speaking of leverage, let’s talk about the most headline-grabbing story: Zack Gelof suing the Tigers over that metal fence incident at Comerica Park. Mike from Detroit wants to know: 'Does this lawsuit distract from Gelof’s performance at third base?'
Jason: Legal distractions are never ideal for plate discipline. Gelof is one of the key pieces alongside Joshua Kuroda-Grauer at third. If he’s focused on damages against Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, that’s mental energy taken away from OBP and launch angle optimization.
Christine: Right. And Jeff McNeil is there at second base, Darell Hernaiz at short stop. The infield defense matters. If Gelof is out of sorts due to stress, the defensive positioning shifts. We talked about this post-season roster construction earlier. Does the team need to call up someone else to handle third base while Gelof deals with this?
Jason: They have Max Muncy. Muncy can play third. He provides power and experience. If Gelof is sidelined or distracted, Muncy steps in. It’s a platoon split scenario essentially—Gelof for speed and contact, Muncy for power when needed. Taylor Smith will likely manage this carefully.
Christine: Okay, moving to Segment Two. Lisa in Las Vegas asks: 'With the move to Vegas coming, why keep Shea Langeliers behind the plate? Is he the long-term catcher?'
Jason: Shea Langeliers is the primary catcher listed on the roster. For a team betting on youth and analytics, Langeliers’ framing and pitch-calling abilities are crucial. He works well with the pitching staff, especially with Jeffrey Springs anchoring the rotation. Keeping him stable is key for the transition.
Christine: And in the outfield, we have Henry Bolte, Lawrence Butler, Denzel Clarke, Carlos Cortes, and Nate Eaton. Tyler from Sacramento wonders: 'Who starts center field in 2027? Is it Bolte or Clarke?'
Jason: Denzel Clarke has the defensive upside. Henry Bolte offers more offensive potential. Taylor Smith’s analytics focus will likely favor the player with the better defensive metrics in center field, which leans toward Clarke. But if Bolte’s bat plays, he might start in left or right.
Christine: So it’s a battle of defense vs. offense. What about Tommy White at first base? Is he the everyday guy? @A'sFan99 asks: 'Why isn’t there more competition at first base?'
Jason: Tommy White is currently the starter. With a 64-98 record, the organization wasn’t looking to add expensive veterans. They’re developing internal talent. Unless an injury occurs, White holds the spot. It’s about cost control and development, aligning with the new front office strategy.
Christine: Interesting. One more from Jessica in San Francisco: 'How do robot umpires impact this young team? The headlines say they flipped 54% of challenged calls.'
Jason: Robot umpires change everything. Catchers were far more successful than batters in challenging calls. For a young team with developing plate discipline, this means fewer walks if they aren’t precise. It forces better pitch selection early in counts. Taylor Smith’s analytics team will definitely adjust their coaching to account for this absolute strike zone.
Christine: So less margin for error. That’s tough for rookies. Okay, Segment Three. We’re winding down, but first, a quick support ask. If you enjoyed this breakdown of the AL West champions and the Taylor Smith era, please consider supporting us. It keeps the show free and daily. Just use the link in the episode description. Now, back to the fun stuff.
Jason: Alright, lightning round. Hypothetical: If the Athletics finish 85 wins next year as predicted, what’s the first thing Taylor Smith changes? My bet? He revamps the bullpen usage data.
Christine: I agree. Data-driven bullpen management is huge. Quick takes: 1. Jeffrey Springs anchors the rotation. 2. Gelof’s lawsuit is a distraction but not a deal-breaker. 3. The move to Vegas is the ultimate goal.
Jason: And 4. The AL West title with 64 wins is the greatest anomaly in sports history. Don’t forget that.
Christine: That’s it for today. We covered the historic 64-98 championship, Taylor Smith’s hiring, the Gelof lawsuit, and the roster outlook. Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network.
Jason: Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. See you next time.
Christine: Go A’s!