A’s Plus

Matt Kawahara hosts The San Francisco Chronicle's podcast on the Oakland A's, featuring interviews with past and present players, managers and executives of the trend-setting franchise. With contributions from national baseball writer John Shea.

Sports
Baseball
76
Landon Powell At Risk During Coronavirus Pandemic
Former A's catcher Landon Powell talks to Susan Slusser about losing his infant daughter to a rare disorder in 2013, and how his own health issue puts him at-risk during the coronavirus outbreak.
42 min
77
Having Stared Down Death, Micah Bowie Fears COV...
Part 2 with ex-A's reliever Micah Bowie about his nearly fatal medical issues, leaving him with massive lung damage. He's now concerned about COVID-19 patients enduring similar battles.
31 min
78
Having Stared Down Death, Micah Bowie Fears COV...
Ex-A's reliever Micah Bowie talks to Susan Slusser about his nearly fatal medical issues, leaving him with massive lung damage. He's now concerned about COVID-19 patients enduring similar battles.
44 min
79
Chronicle Subscriber Zoom Q&A, Part 2
Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman answer subscribers' questions about the A’s and Giants in the second of two parts. Could robo umps be near? Will the White House have any say on baseball's restart?
38 min
80
Chronicle Subscriber Zoom Q&A, Part 1
The baseball crew of Susan Slusser, Henry Schulman and Jon Schultz answer Chronicle subscribers' questions. How are the A's and Giants players working out? And how is Susan's ankle injury healing?
26 min
81
A’s Gone By: Rob Bowen, Cop
Former A's catcher Rob Bowen calls Susan from Georgia, where he's got a second career in law enforcement. He describes his work in the K9 and SWAT units and chats about his dog partners.
26 min
82
Puk, Luzardo Ride Out Time of Coronavirus
Top rookies and ex-roommates A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo discuss how they're weathering baseball's COVID-19 shutdown, the possibility of no baseball this year and Puk provides a health update.
17 min
83
How Liam Hendricks Is Staying Safe
Closer Liam Hendriks and wife Kristi tell Susan how they're handling baseball's hiatus, which members of their animal family are with them in Arizona, and how Liam is managing to work out safely.
32 min
84
Marcus Semien on the Coronavirus Shutdown
Shortstop Marcus Semien, who is also the A's player representative, discusses baseball's shutdown. Will there even be a season this year? He also talks about the potential ramifications on service time and free agency, plus what he's doing to stay in shape during the hiatus.
16 min
85
Shutdown Check-in: Ken Korach
Susan Slusser talks to the A's broadcaster — and her co-author — about baseball's decision to halt during the coronavirus outbreak and how he and his family, including his 101-year-old father, are doing.
26 min
86
Coronavirus Shutdown: Giants, A’s React
Giants writer John Shea and A’s writer Matt Kawahara discuss Major League Baseball’s decision to suspend spring training and delay the start of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic and how the Bay Area baseball teams are responding.
25 min
87
The MLB Response to Coronavirus
MLB.com national baseball writer Mark Feinsand talks to Susan about the league's response to the coronavirus health crisis -- plus he picks the A's to win the AL West. | A's Plus Newsletter
18 min
88
Mark Canha on Hitting, Bat Flips and Food
The A’s outfielder tells Matt Kawahara about the key to his productive 2019, the toughest pitcher he's faced in the majors, his stance on bat flips and his favorite restaurants around the Bay Area
29 min
89
Susan Slusser Speaks From the Injured List
Chronicle A’s beat writer Susan Slusser joins Matt Kawahara to discuss some of the position battles playing out in spring training, how the A’s might use their 26th roster spot – and her prognosis on recovery from a broken ankle. | A's Plus Newsletter
33 min
90
How the A's Will Hit
New assistant hitting coach Eric Martins, a former mailman who scouted for the A’s and played and coached for them in the minors, tells Matt Kawahara about joining the big-league staff and his approach to working with hitters, and breaks down some of Oakland’s young hitting prospects. | A's Plus Newsletter
21 min
91
Dustin Fowler's 2020 Challenge
Oakland outfielder Dustin Fowler talks to Susan about his rough 2018 and where he now stands in the A's plans after Ramon Laureano grabbed the center-field spot; and spring webcast play-by-play man Donny Baarns gives his impression of the team this spring and how battles might shake out.
24 min
92
Sandy Alderson: Is Sign Stealing the New Steroids?
Former A's GM Sandy Alderson discusses his first year as a senior advisor back with the team, his unique take on the Astros cheating scandal. And: Are there are parallels with the steroid problem of the 90s? Alderson's perspective on how the A's handled those.
23 min
93
ESPN's Howard Bryant on A's, Astros and Rickey
ESPN's Howard Bryant and Susan discuss the A's outlook, Mike Fiers' role as the whistleblower in the Astros cheating scandal, his new book, "Full Dissidence," and his upcoming book on Rickey Henderson. | Listen to Bryant on It’s All Political
33 min
94
Sean Manaea Flames the Astros
The A's lefty talks to Susan Slusser discusses what he learned from his disappointing wild-card start and his desire to be in the Cy Young race this year, plus: More of Manaea's thoughts on the Astros.
24 min
95
Introducing Catcher Austin Allen
The former Padre tells Susan Slusser about how his first camp with Oakland is going, his efforts to improve his defense and what it’s like to face — and now catch — Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk.
16 min
96
A's and Giants: Five Questions Heading into Spr...
In their second annual joint podcast ahead of spring training, Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman ask the five key questions that each team must answer in the 2020 season, with the Giants and A’s starting off in very different places.
28 min
97
Pitching Coach Scott Emerson
A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson stops by to talk with Susan about the team’s talented rotation and plans for AJ Puk and Jesus Luzardo, plus his thoughts on the Astros cheating scandal and how it affected pitchers.
20 min
98
A Chat With Chris Bassitt
The A’s pitcher talks with Susan Slusser about his thoughts on Oakland’s upcoming 2020 season and what his own role might be, plus how the A’s pitching staff was aware about allegations against the Astros for years.
14 min
99
Feldy's Follies
Stats expert David Feldman talks with Chronicle A's beat writer Susan Slusser about the A’s slow offseason, Houston’s cheating scandal and other hot topics, plus Susan discusses her vote for Tuesday’s Hall of Fame election.
37 min
100
Best of A's Plus: Billy Beane
The A’s vice president of baseball operations discusses his 2019 team’s biggest surprises and looks ahead to the then-upcoming playoffs. First published Sept. 27, 2019.
28 min