Elephant Rumblings: A’s take on Giants in “Spring Breakout” today

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

Our favorite cross-bay rivalry is in effect today at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona today. Barring rain, the A’s and Giants are playing a double header, and the second game will be a “Spring Breakout” contest featuring the teams’ top prospects. 2023 first round picks Jacob Wilson and Bryce Eldridge headline a list of future stars and present hopefuls that are expected to be part of the action. Shayna Rubin and Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle have the details.

The A’s are projected to have another losing season even though manager Mark Kotsay has set the bar at .500. Most likely, us A’s fans will have to settle for the excitement of watching young players develop as the main point of interest this season—as opposed to watching a contending team make a push into October. That’s not necessarily a small consolation. In fact, Scott Ostler at the San Francisco Chronicle thinks that the A’s youth movement could be more fun to watch than the Giants this year, even if the latter will likely win more games.

The A’s bullpen suffered a setback this week, as 26-year-old Dominican reliever Angel Felipe was announced to be headed for Tommy John Surgery. Check out this injury update from AN’s dfriis for more details.

No week would be complete without more news on the A’s relocation drama, and AN’s Connor Ashford has you covered on that with details on yesterday’s “productive” meeting between the A’s and City of Oakland on a Coliseum lease extension.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s offense goes cold in 3-1 loss
• A’s negotiations with Oakland for lease extension ‘productive’
• A’s Injury Updates: Angel Felipe headed for Tommy John, Miguel Andujar scratched with calf soreness
• Giants’ and A’s ‘breakout’ prospects to face off in new spring showcase ($)
• Could the A’s be more fun than the Giants in 2024, even with (many) fewer wins? ($)
• Kotsay sets .500 record as ‘challenge’ for A’s in 2024 season
• Stripling details ‘hectic’ trade to A’s from Giants

MLB News & Interest:

• Padres-White Sox trade grades: Taking stock of the Dylan Cease deal for both sides ($)
• 2024 MLB ‘Wild-Card Era’ Franchise Rankings: Rangers break into top 10, Cubs fall out ($)
• The Angels adjust to life after Shohei Ohtani: ‘Like being kicked out of the band’ ($)
• Offseason In Review: Houston Astros
• Gerrit Cole Meeting With Dr. Neal ElAttrache Today
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

More speculation on the A’s Opening Day infield.

And another hypothetical rotation that includes Joe Boyle.

I don’t hate it.

Lockard on Effectively Wild!

Oakland 68s organizing volunteers at the Alameda Community Food Bank.