2020 Oakland Athletics season

The 2020 Oakland Athletics season was the 120th season for the Oakland Athletics franchise, all as members of the American League, and their 53rd season in Oakland (all at Oakland Coliseum). The season saw the Athletics win the American League West for the first time since 2013.

2020 Oakland Athletics
American League West champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record36–24 (.600)
Divisional place1st
Other information
Owner(s)John Fisher
General manager(s)David Forst
Manager(s)Bob Melvin
Local televisionNBC Sports California
(Glen Kuiper, Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Ray Fosse, Mark Mulder, Eric Chavez, Shooty Babitt, Dallas Braden)
Local radioKNEW (July 30 onward)[1]
(Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Ray Fosse, Coco Crisp)
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On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[2] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[3] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[4]

Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.[5] On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders on the season would be seven innings.[6]

The A's hit two walk-off grand slams in their first 11 games of the season. They became the 17th team to hit two walk-off slams in the same year, the third team to hit two in an 11-game span and the fastest to do so from the start of the season.[7]

On September 21, 2020, the A's clinched the American League West championship and then defeated the Chicago White Sox in three games in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series. Which was the A's first postseason series victory since 2006 and won their first winner-take-all postseason game since Game 7 of the 1973 World Series (snapping an MLB record nine-game losing streak in such contests). However, they lost to the Houston Astros in the 2020 American League Division Series.

Offseason

Rule changes

For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following:[8]

  • Single trade deadline – there will no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year.
  • 26-man roster – rosters will expand from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers.
  • Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.

Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the use of the DH in the National League, a shortened schedule, and starting extra innings with a runner at second base.[9]

Regular season

Standings
AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Oakland Athletics 3624 0.600 — 22–10 14–14
Houston Astros 2931 0.483 7 20–8 9–23
Seattle Mariners 2733 0.450 9 14–10 13–23
Los Angeles Angels 2634 0.433 10 16–15 10–19
Texas Rangers 2238 0.367 14 16–14 6–24
Division Leaders W L Pct.
Tampa Bay Rays 4020 0.667
Oakland Athletics 3624 0.600
Minnesota Twins 3624 0.600


Division 2nd Place W L Pct.
Cleveland Indians 3525 0.583
New York Yankees 3327 0.550
Houston Astros 2931 0.483


Wild Card teams
(Top two qualify for postseason)		 W L Pct. GB
Chicago White Sox 3525 0.583 +3
Toronto Blue Jays 3228 0.533 —
Seattle Mariners 2733 0.450 5
Los Angeles Angels 2634 0.433 6
Kansas City Royals 2634 0.433 6
Baltimore Orioles 2535 0.417 7
Boston Red Sox 2436 0.400 8
Detroit Tigers 2335 0.397 8
Texas Rangers 2238 0.367 10

Record against opponents
2020 American League Records

Source: AL Standings Head-to-head

Team HOU LAA OAK SEA TEX NL
Houston —4–63–77–35–510–10
Los Angeles 6–4—4–65–54–67–13
Oakland 7–36–4—6–47–310–10
Seattle 3–75–54–6—8–27–13
Texas 5–56–43–72–8—6–14

Game log
2020 Game Log 36–24 (Home: 21–9; Away: 15–15)
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Athletics team member

Roster
2020 Oakland Athletics
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

 Manager

Coaches

  • 91 Dustin Hughes (bullpen catcher)
  • 88 Philip Pohl (bullpen catcher)

Postseason

Game log
2020 Postseason Game Log: 3–4

Wild Card Series

The A's hosted the Chicago White Sox at the Oakland Coliseum in the Wild Card series.

Game 1

Rookie left hander Jesús Luzardo got the ball for Game 1 against White Sox ace Lucas Giolito. Outfielder Adam Engel got the scoring started with a solo home run. MVP candidate José Abreu added a 2-run home run. Meanwhile, Giolito carried a perfect game into the 7th inning before giving up a leadoff single to Tommy La Stella. Giolito would end up going 7+ innings, allowing 1 run. Yasmani Grandal added a solo home run in the 8th. A's outfielder Ramón Laureano grounded into a force play to make it 4–1 before White Sox closer Álex Colomé shut the door in the 9th inning.

Game 2

A's ace Chris Bassitt got the ball for Game 2 against White Sox lefty Dallas Keuchel. The A's got ahead early with an fielding error from White Sox 2nd baseman Nick Madrigal that scored 2 runs. A's shortstop Marcus Semien added a 2-run home run in the 2nd and A's DH Khris Davis added a solo home run in the 4th inning, chasing Keuchel from the game after ​3 1⁄3. Bassitt would pitch ​7 1⁄3, allowing 1 run. Grandal hit his 2nd home run of the series off A's closer Liam Hendriks and Grandal would bring in a run via a bases loaded walk. Diekman replaced Hendriks and got Jose Abreu to ground out to tie the series and send the series to a winner-take-all Game 3.

Game 3

The A's sent out right hander Mike Fiers, while the White Sox counted with righty Dane Dunning. The White Sox struck first on a monster home run from rookie Luis Robert. The White Sox added two more runs in the 3rd inning on an RBI single from Robert and an RBI double from Nomar Mazara. The A's got back into the game with a 2-run home run from rookie catcher Sean Murphy, then back 2 back bases loaded walks gave the A's the lead, 4–3. The White Sox tied the game on an RBI single from Mazara. The A's added insurance in the 6th with a 2-run single from utility player Chad Pinder. A's closer Liam Hendriks, who threw 49 pitches in Game 2, pitched around a leadoff single from White Sox catcher James McCann, striking out Yoan Moncada, Robert & Mazara to send the A's to the ALDS against the Houston Astros.

Wild Card series roster
2020 Oakland Athletics
ALWCS Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Designated Hitters Manager

Coaches

  • 91 Dustin Hughes (bullpen catcher)
  • 88 Philip Pohl (bullpen catcher)

ALDS

The A's lost to their division rivals, the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Game 1

The A's announced that ace Chris Bassitt would get the ball for Game 1 against right hander Lance McCullers Jr.. A's DH Khris Davis got the scoring started with a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning, followed by a Sean Murphy solo shot in the 3rd inning. The Astros responded with a solo home run from Alex Bregman and a game-tying home run from Carlos Correa in the top of the 4th. The A's responded quickly with a solo shot from Matt Olson to put the A's back in front, 4–3. A Mark Canha sacrifice fly extended the A's lead to 5–3. Both starters went 4 innings. The Astros took the lead in the 6th inning when Josh Reddick reached on a fielding error with 2 outs, Martín Maldonado singled, George Springer doubled in Reddick, José Altuve doubled in both Maldonado & Springer & Michael Brantley singled in Altuve to make it 7–5. Correa hit his 2nd home run of the game to make it 8–5. The Astros broke it open in the 9th inning with a Correa RBI single & a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice fly. Ryan Pressly worked a 1-2-3 9th inning to seal the Game 1 victory for the Astros.

Game 2

Left handed pitcher Sean Manaea will get the ball, he will be opposed by Astros lefty Framber Valdez. A's DH Khris Davis hit another home run to give the A's the lead in the 2nd inning. The Astros fought back and took the lead when George Springer hit a 2-run home run. The Astros added another run on an RBI groundout. The A's would strike back with a Chad Pinder solo home run in the 4th inning. Martín Maldonado & Springer went back 2 back in the 5th inning. Both pitching staffs then held the game scoreless after that. With Astros closer Ryan Pressly picking up the save, the A's were put in an 0–2 ALDS hole.

Game 3

Astros manager Dusty Baker announced that right hander José Urquidy will get the ball for Game 3, while the A's will give the ball to lefty Jesús Luzardo. A's second baseman Tommy La Stella got the scoring started with a solo home run in the first inning. The Astros responded with a solo home run from José Altuve and an RBI groundout to take the lead. The A's responded again with a solo home run from left fielder Mark Canha. The A's took the lead in the 4th inning on a Olson solo home run. The A's would add another home run with a Marcus Semien solo shot. The Astros tied it in the bottom of the 5th inning with an Aledmys Díaz 2-run home run. The Astros would regain the lead with a Michael Brantley RBI single, an Alex Bregman RBI double and a Kyle Tucker RBI single. The A's would tie in the top of the 7th on a Pinder 3-run home run. The A's would add two sacrifice flies in the 8th inning to cap the scoring. A's closer Liam Hendriks pitched 3 scoreless innings to save the A's season and send the series to a Game 4.

Game 4

The A's started Frankie Montas while the Astros started Zack Greinke. A's outfielder Ramón Laureano got the scoring started with a 3-run home run. The Astros responded in the 4th inning with a 2-run home run from Astros DH Michael Brantley and a 3-run home run from Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. The A's responded in the 5th inning with another home run from Laureano that chased Greinke from the game. Lefty Blake Taylor came in and got the final out of the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Brantley hit his 2nd home run of the game and Correa added an RBI single to make it 7–4 Astros. In the 6th inning, Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker added an RBI single followed by another single for Correa that made it 9–4. Astros 2nd baseman José Altuve hit a 2-run home run to make it 11–4 Astros. Astros pitcher Cristian Javier pitched ​2 1⁄3 scoreless innings. A's shortstop Marcus Semien got an RBI single & A's 2nd baseman Tommy La Stella singled in Semien before Astros closer then shut the door in the 9th inning to send the Astros to the ALCS and eliminate the A's

ALDS roster
2020 Oakland Athletics
ALDS Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Designated Hitters Manager

Coaches

  • 91 Dustin Hughes (bullpen catcher)
  • 88 Philip Pohl (bullpen catcher)

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Las Vegas Aviators Pacific Coast League
AA Midland RockHounds Texas League
A-Advanced Stockton Ports California League
A Beloit Snappers Midwest League
A-Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters New York–Penn League
Rookie AZL Athletics Arizona League
Rookie DSL Athletics Dominican Summer League

Notes

    References
    1. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/193908/oakland-as-drop-tunein-as-radio-flagship-to-move-to-iheartradio-app-960-knew/
    2. Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
    3. "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
    4. Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
    5. Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
    6. "MLB reduces doubleheaders to 7 innings for '20". ESPN.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
    7. Kawahara, Matt (August 5, 2020). "A's two walk-off grand slams in 11 games: How rare is it?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
    8. "Report: Single-trade deadline, 26-man roster, 3-batter minimum among changes in next 2 years". masslive. March 14, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
    9. Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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