The players listen to him and he knows how to hit and adjust.

Didn’t have to watch too many A’s games last year to realize the hitters had screwed up approaches. Plate discipline is not walks. Plate discipline is swinging at good pitches to hit and not swinging at bad pitches to hit. I don’t care how much research and preparation VanBurkleo did, the A’s hitters swung at way too many bad pitches, and didn’t swing at way too many good ones.

I agree with Zonis. It’s time to get a coach who will preach a more aggressive approach (controlled aggression).

Matt Holliday has never played a game in Oakland, Calif., never taken an at-bat or caught a flyball. But that doesn’t mean the left fielder doesn’t have connections to Oakland.

For the last few seasons, the three-time all-star has received hitting tips via text messages from Mark McGwire, one of the A’s greatest sluggers. And he’s also close to former Oakland shortstop Walt Weiss and Mike Gallego, the A’s new third-base coach.

Matt Holliday has never played a game in Oakland, Calif., never taken an at-bat or caught a flyball. But that doesn’t mean the left fielder doesn’t have connections to Oakland.

For the last few seasons, the three-time all-star has received hitting tips via text messages from Mark McGwire, one of the A’s greatest sluggers. And he’s also close to former Oakland shortstop Walt Weiss and Mike Gallego, the A’s new third-base coach.

“Gags threw me batting practice the last three years (with the Rockies), so it’s nice to have a familiar face there, to know someone,” Holliday said.

Here’s what the A’s know about Holliday, officially acquired Wednesday from the Rockies for closer Huston Street, starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

“He’s a premium, MVP-caliber player. To say that we could do better than this, that would be tough,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said.

Holliday plans on wearing No. 5 in Oakland, though his prodigious blasts might conjure memories of No. 25, once worn by McGwire. Holliday spoke to Bay Area reporters for the first time Wednesday, taking the high road over his Rockies exit while embracing his new challenge in Oakland, even if it is only for a few months or a single season.

“I try to keep it simple. I am not going to wrap my thoughts around what people are watching or expecting,” said Holliday, whose pending free agency after next season and the Rockies’ concession that they could not satisfy his contract demands drove the trade.

“When you try to take on big expectations and put more weight on your shoulders, that can be more of a negative than a positive,” Holliday said. “I will try to be a leader through my work ethic.”

Holliday’s first challenge? Debunk a lingering stereotype. Despite the humidor normalizing home run totals at Coors Field — the Rockies haven’t had a 40-home run hitter since installing the device in 2002 — the national perception is Holliday is a Coors Field creation because of his home-road power splits. His new park is among baseball’s most pitcher-friendly.

“If I could aim the ball where I wanted it, I would have a lot higher average anywhere,” joked Holliday, a career .319 hitter who has averaged 32 home runs and 113 RBIs the past three seasons. “My focus is on hitting the ball hard; if I do that, I will take my chances.”

Holliday will be counted on to ramp up one of baseball’s worst offenses. The A’s finished last in the American League in batting average and slugging percentage.

“I’m not Pollyannaish enough to think that you acquire one player and you go from 75 to 95 wins,” Beane said. “This addresses some of our immediate needs and helps us continue what we’re trying to do long-term, which is continue to acquire young players (through draft picks if Holliday leaves as a free agent) so we can take advantage of situations like this.”

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com