Locked On A's - Daily Podcast On The Athletics

In one of their most exciting wins of the 2025 season, the A’s walked into Steinbrenner Field and stunned the Rays with a 6–4 victory that had everything: early fireworks, mid-game collapse, and a clutch ninth-inning gut punch. Shea Langeliers got the party started with a three-run bomb in the first, giving the A’s a 3–0 lead before some fans even found their seats. Brent Rooker stayed hot with an RBI single in the third to stretch it to 4–0. But like any game in Tampa, nothing comes easy—especially not in a spring training ballpark doubling as a major league battlefield...

Two teams. Two spring training ballparks. Two bottom-three payrolls. And yet… only one is competing like it belongs in October. In this special crossover edition of Locked On A’s and Locked On Rays, Booney is joined by Kevin Weiss and Ulises Sambrano to break down the bizarre baseball paradox of 2025: why are the Rays winning with the same financial constraints and stadium issues that have the A’s sinking like a stone? From front office philosophy to player development and culture, we dissect how Tampa keeps turning budget into brilliance—while Vegas is still stuck chasing shadows. 

We also...

The 2025 MLB Draft is almost here, and the A’s are on the clock with the 11th overall pick. In this jam-packed episode of Locked On A’s, Booney breaks down the top prospects expected to be available when the A’s makes its selection. From dynamic college bats like Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill to power arms like Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon, we cover the scouting reports, comps to current MLB players, and why each guy could be a franchise-altering pick. There’s also a deep dive into team needs – spoiler alert: it’s pitching, pitching, and more pitching – and how that cou...

The A’s wrapped up their series against the Yankees in the most humiliating way possible—by not showing up. In the rubber match, former Yankee Luis Severino returned to the Bronx and got lit up like a Fourth of July firework. Severino lasted just 3.2 innings, coughing up five hits and seven earned runs, including a back-breaking two-run shot by Aaron Judge that sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy and sent the A’s spiraling, again. If you're looking for positives, stop. There weren’t any. The A’s offense looked allergic to hitting—a now routine feature of their 2025 c...

Today on Locked On A’s, we remember one of the most electrifying, awe-inspiring players to ever wear the green and gold—Dave Parker, a.k.a. The Cobra. Parker passed away at the age of 74, and while many fans know him for his MVP days in Pittsburgh, this episode digs deeper into his legacy—specifically, what he meant to Oakland, to the late-’80s A’s, and to the next generation of stars he helped mold. From mentoring McGwire and Canseco, to ripping clutch hits in the ‘89 title run, to sitting quietly with a bottle of champagne after a World Seri...

The A’s bounced back in a big way in New York today, blanking the mighty Yankees 7-0 in a dominant Game 2 performance that reminded everyone this team still has bite. Brent Rooker set the tone early with a thunderous home run that had Yankee fans reaching for their phones to check if it was 2023 again. And Nick Kurtz? The rookie keeps announcing his presence with authority—this time with a solo shot that left zero doubt he belongs. The A’s didn’t just score—they punched back, and this time, New York had no answer. On the mound, it...

The A's dropped Game 1 of this Bronx series 3–0, failing to crack New York’s pitching. The story: Mitch Spence surrendered four walks—and the A’s offense sputtered, managing just three hits. Yankees rookie Will Warren, shaky early, settled into five scoreless innings, backed by a flawless bullpen that kept the A's off the board Now, the A’s must improve command—fewer free baserunners—and get aggressive at the plate. With Clarke Schmidt taking the mound tomorrow, expect a focus on drawing deep counts and manufacturing runs through small-ball tactics. A simple, scrappy approach could turn this series around. Las Vegas...

In this episode of Locked On A’s, we rip the green-and-gold curtain off the Moneyball myth and show you what’s really behind it: not a revolution, but a retreat. Once hailed as the ultimate underdog story, Moneyball has morphed into a billionaire’s cheat code—an excuse to gut payrolls and gaslight fans. We dive deep into how Billy Beane’s brilliant strategy to find value turned into John Fisher’s strategy to avoid spending altogether. From OBP to “Oh Please,” the A’s front office went from playing chess against big market teams to playing possum while cashing reve...

The A’s got punched in the mouth by a journeyman arm from Korea and never recovered. In today’s episode of Locked On A’s, Booney breaks down a brutal 8-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, where Dietrich Enns—who hadn’t pitched in the bigs since 2021—made the A’s lineup look like a KBO tryout camp. Five scoreless innings from Enns, and not a single run for the A's. Yikes. The A’s mustered just three baserunners off Enns, and their best chance came in the third—runners on first and second with nobody out—only to have Jacob Wilson...

It’s celebration time on Locked On A’s as the A’s pulled off a stunner in Motown! In today’s episode, we’re reveling in the Athletics’ 3-0 shutout win over the Tigers – yes, the team with the best record in baseball just got blanked by the green-and-gold. We break down how rookie Nick Kurtz’s massive three-run homer provided all the fireworks the A’s needed, and marvel at how Jacob Lopez completely tamed Detroit’s lineup with seven innings of scoreless, bulldog-caliber pitching. (We’re pretty sure “Jacob” means “Tiger tamer” in some language, because he made those Tigers look toot...

The A’s teased hope early in Detroit, jumping all over the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal. Brent Rooker launched a two-run bomb in the first, then Denzel Clarke—yes, that Denzel Clarke—crushed his second big league homer to give the A’s a 4-2 lead. But as quickly as optimism sparked, it was extinguished just as fast. Luis Severino, supposed to be the veteran presence in this rotation, got lit up for seven runs in five innings. And once again, the A’s unraveled the same way they have all season—bad pitching, worse defense, and a dugout tha...

First-half wrap-ups always bring reflection: who helped carry the team this far, and what adjustments are needed heading into the second half of the season. In Detroit tonight, the A’s will test themselves on the road against the best team in baseball and the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers. Why this road trip may decide if there is still hope for the season. Last week brought an intriguing three-game showdown against the Guardians on the weekend and a 4-game set against the Astros. Let’s talk about what went down and what it mean...

On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, we dissect the most lopsided loss of the season as the A’s get torched 13–3 by a familiar face—former A’s pitcher Jason Alexander. The right-hander returned with a vengeance, tossing six strong innings and silencing his old club with a mix of sinkers, changeups, and cold-blooded execution. Meanwhile, JP Sears couldn’t escape the first few frames without disaster, setting the tone for a night that spiraled fast and never recovered. Cam Smith led a Houston Astros barrage, homering twice and feasting on everything the A’s staff served up. The A...

The A’s have been through hell—an 11-game losing streak, a 9-game losing streak, losing 20 of 21 games—and yet here we are: just eight games out of the Wild Card. Host Boonie isn't just keeping the faith—he’s doubling down. In this episode of Locked On A’s, Boonie revisits the segment where he dug through MLB history to highlight the most improbable playoff comebacks of all time, and now… those stories feel a little less far-fetched. The standings don’t lie, and it’s not too early to scoreboard watch. Boonie breaks down the current Wild Card landscape, id...

The A’s just sent shockwaves through the AL West with a jaw-dropping 3-1 walk-off win over the first-place Houston Astros—and the hero of the night? None other than rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, who absolutely demolished a fastball into the Sacramento night for a two-run, no-doubt blast that sealed the A’s fourth straight victory. This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement. A thunderous, bat-flipping, dugout-emptying kind of statement that screamed, “We're not just rebuilding—we’re coming for the crown!”

 This game had everything: electric pitching, clutch defense, and just enough tension to make your hear...

On today’s Locked On A’s Postgame Show, the green and gold came into Kansas City with one mission: wreck the Royals’ weekend and leave town with a broom in hand. Mission accomplished. The A’s, fresh off snapping a 14-game road skid earlier in the series, came into Sunday riding a wave of swagger—and left with a statement 3-2 win. Lefty Jeffrey Springs went to war on the mound, working through early traffic and limiting the damage when things looked dicey. Despite giving up a two-run third—courtesy of Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino—the A’s refused to...

Jacob Lopez, who turned the mound into his personal playground. Lopez carved up Royals hitters like a Thanksgiving turkey, throwing six sparkling innings of shutout baseball, striking out nine batters, walking just one, and allowing a three hits. Lopez was so dominant, the Royals hitters looked as confused as tourists without GPS, swinging helplessly at pitches they had no shot at connecting with.

Offensively, the A’s struck early and often. Tyler Soderstrom’s sharp eye earned him a pair of crucial walks, leading to Max Muncy’s rocket of a homer in the second inning, making it a q...

Two rising stars. Two very different storylines. Tonight in Kansas City, all eyes were on the shortstops as the A’s opened up a three-game set against the Royals. On one side: Bobby Witt Jr., a certified MVP candidate, the heartbeat of a Royals team dreaming of October. On the other: Jacob Wilson, the A’s rookie sensation who’s been lighting up scouting reports and proving he belongs in The Show. This wasn’t just another game—it was a showcase of what the next generation of baseball looks like at one of the game’s most demanding positions. W...

Brady Basso's journey back to the mound is more than a recovery—it's a masterclass in grit, patience, and unwavering belief. Today we are doing a deep dive into how this 27 year old lefty is clawing his way into the big leagues—and why his story is a lesson in mental toughness. That is a bit later. 

Meanwhile, over in Lansing, T.J. Schofield-Sam is reminding the world why you never bet against the late bloomer. Once a 12th-round flier out of high school, he’s transformed into a Midwest League menace — barreling baseballs, getting on base by any me...

As the MLB trade deadline looms, teams across the league are strategizing their next moves. A surprising contender faces a tough choice: keep their breakout star or cash in for future prospects? Another team, on the cusp of playoff contention, must decide whether to go all-in for their superstar's potential final season or pivot towards rebuilding.

One powerhouse club's plans may shift dramatically due to a key player's remarkable comeback. An unexpected dark horse could emerge as a serious pennant threat if they land a top-tier starter. Meanwhile, the pressure mounts for one team's front office, as...

On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, Booney is joined by Steven Harmon, host of Curveballs and Changeups, for a conversation that blends baseball nostalgia, sharp insight, and a dose of political savvy. Steven, an East Bay native who grew up a fan of both the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants, brings a unique perspective rooted in years of reporting and public service. With nearly two decades as a political journalist and over a decade as a policy and communications aide, Steven knows how to read between the lines—and he brings that same approach to his a...

The A’s dropped a heartbreaker in Anaheim Tuesday night, falling 2-1 to the Angels in a game that had “win” written all over it until Mark Kotsay put his fingerprints all over the final few innings. With the bullpen fully rested and the A’s holding a one-run lead, Kotsay made a string of baffling moves—pulling a cruising starter too early, leaning on the wrong matchup in the ‘pen, and letting his offense rot on the vine with runners in scoring position. The A’s played with fire and got burned, letting Anaheim walk it off in the bottom of...

Being a fan of sports is supposed to be simple. It’s a place where people find joy, escape, and community. Whether your team is winning or rebuilding, there's comfort in knowing that for a few hours, you’re part of something bigger than yourself. But for A’s fans, that connection has been fractured. The team’s move to Las Vegas hasn’t felt like a unifying moment. The Politics and Hypocricy is something that has played its way into this saga and it has been ugly! For over a year, media voices — both national and local — have told us this m...

The A’s are back on the upswing, winners of three of their last four, and they roll into Anaheim tonight with a chip on their shoulder and revenge on their mind. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Angels swept the A’s in a humiliating four-game beatdown. But this isn’t the same A’s squad. There’s fight, there’s energy, and there’s Nick Kurtz. The former first-rounder is back in the lineup, and his presence changes everything—lengthens the order, sharpens the approach, and puts fear back in opposing dugouts. 

Tonight’s matchup won’t be ea...

The vibes are shifting in Sacramento, and the A’s just made it official—taking 2 of 3 from the Baltimore Orioles and notching their first series win since May 4. Sunday’s win wasn’t just another W in the scorebook—it was a statement. After a brutal stretch of losses, the A’s showed fight, heart, and that signature underdog swagger we’ve been dying to see. This wasn’t luck. This was growth. This was grit. This was a team that refused to roll over, and for the first time in weeks, it felt like the start of something.

And the tim...

The A’s came into tonight’s game riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak, looking to keep the good vibes rolling against a tough Orioles squad. With ace Luis Severino taking the mound, confidence was high—and early on, that confidence looked well placed. The A’s came out swinging, putting up four runs in the first inning and setting an energetic tone for the night. While they couldn’t quite capitalize on some early opportunities with runners in scoring position, they showed the kind of aggressive, team-first baseball that fans love to see. As the game unfolded...

The vibes are shifting in Sacramento. After a stretch that felt like baseball purgatory—20 losses in 21 games—the A’s have ripped off back-to-back wins, and this one came at the expense of the streaking Baltimore Orioles. The usual suspects were at it again: Lawrence Butler swung the big stick, Jacob Wilson kept showing why he belongs, and Brent Rooker reminded us that he’s still the engine of this lineup. But the moment of the night? Denzel Clarke defied gravity with one of the most jaw-dropping, run-saving catches you’ll ever see. It wasn’t just a highlight—it was a state...

On today’s Locked On A’s Pregame Show, we’re diving straight into the heart of the A’s departure from Oakland with a guest who’s got receipts. Zennie Abraham, former economic advisor to Mayor Elihu Harris and longtime expert on development in the city, joins us to break down exactly what went wrong. Was it all on John Fisher? Did the City of Oakland play a bigger role than they’ve let on? Zennie isn’t pulling punches — he’s here to give you the unfiltered truth about the politics, the money, and the missed opportunities that sent the A’s...

The A’s finally snapped out of their nightmarish freefall, bulldozing the Minnesota Twins in a statement win that felt like a long-overdue exhale. After losing 20 of their last 21 games—and looking lifeless for most of it—the A’s didn’t just win, they erupted. The offense poured it on, the pitching held strong, and for the first time in weeks, there was actual joy in the dugout. It wasn’t just a win. It was a release of everything that’s been building: the frustration, the doubt, the pressure. The A’s didn’t sneak past Minnesota—they steamrolled the...

The A’s are spiraling. After losing 19 of their last 20 games, they sit at 23-39, buried 10.5 games back in the AL West, and limping into Game 3 of a bizarre four-game set against the Twins in Sacramento. The bats have gone silent, the pitching’s unraveled, and the vibes? Absolutely in the gutter. This team started the season scrapping and clawing its way to respectability — but now it feels like they’re stuck in a recurring nightmare with no sign of waking up. The question on everyone’s mind: is this just a brutal cold stretch, or has the clock already st...

The A’s took the field in Sacramento with their season teetering on the edge, looking to snap out of a brutal stretch that’s seen them flounder at home and fall further behind in the standings. But trading the Coliseum for a minor league ballpark didn’t magically fix anything. In tonight’s episode of Locked On A’s, we break down every angle of the matchup against the Twins—what worked (if anything), what failed (probably plenty), and whether this experiment in Sacramento is a wake-up call or just another distraction from the bigger issues plaguing this team. We als...

MLB playoff race heats up as underdogs challenge favorites. Are the Dodgers and Astros locks for October, or could surprising contenders like the Rangers and Pirates shake things up?

Jeff Carr and the Locked On MLB Squad analyze current playoff positions, potential fallers, and intriguing statistics. The hosts debate the Twins' chances, the Mariners' struggles, and the impact of the expanded wild card on smaller market teams. Baltimore's pitching woes and the Rockies' historically bad start take center stage, while Cleveland's no-hitter drought raises eyebrows.

Discover which teams might defy expectations an...

They’ve lost 17 of 18. The bats have gone silent, the bullpen’s been a mess, and the energy has flatlined. But let’s pump the brakes on the funeral procession, because this season? It’s far from over. We’re only 60 games in. That’s 102 left to play. One hot streak, one spark, one turnaround—and suddenly the vibe changes. Baseball seasons aren’t won or lost in May. This is a marathon, and the A’s aren’t out of the race just because they stumbled through one ugly mile. 

On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, we’re flipping...

Is winning the World Series the only measure of success for the New York Yankees,  the Los Angeles Dodgers or really any team? This episode challenges that notion, exploring the idea that a "perfect season" in MLB might be more about providing fans with an exciting summer.

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Coming off an absolute gut punch of an 11-1 beatdown in Houston, the A’s are staring down a major gut-check moment today After getting steamrolled by a lineup that looked like it was playing tee-ball, the A’s have a shot to punch back, split the series, and remind the Astros—and the rest of the league—that they’re not rolling over for anybody. Last night was ugly, no doubt. But baseball doesn’t give you time to sulk. It gives you 24 hours to get pissed off, regroup, and come back swinging. This is the kind of moment where...

After finally snapping an 11-game losing streak on Sunday, the A’s had a chance to build something—anything—against the Astros on Tuesday. Instead, they got bulldozed 11-1 in a game that looked like a carbon copy of the previous two weeks. So the question has to be asked: has anything actually changed? Or did Sunday’s win just give this team—and maybe even us—a false sense of hope? Because from the looks of it, the losing streak may be over, but the losing mentality is still alive and well. 

And then there’s Mark Kotsay. Hi...

The streak is over, baby! After 11 straight gut-punch losses, the A’s finally punched back—and did it with some serious style. On a sunny Sunday in Philly, the green and gold pulled off a heart-thumping 5-4 win over one of the best teams in baseball, and the heroes of the day weren’t household names—they were fresh faces: Logan Davidson laced key hits, Willie MacIver called a brilliant game behind the plate and came through offensively, and Denzel Clarke? That dude looked like a walking highlight reel. This wasn’t just a win; this was a message. The kids a...

Ten straight gut punches. That’s what this losing streak feels like. Not just for the players, but for every fan who bleeds green and gold. Ten games without a win is more than a slump—it’s a test. A test of heart, of resilience, of whether this team is just a group of guys wearing the same uniform or something more. Because fighting as individuals? That’s what losing teams do. One guy can rake, another can shove, but if it’s not connected—if there’s no trust, no fire, no unity—then it all falls apart. That’s wh...

The A’s have hit rock bottom—again. Nine straight losses, morale in the gutter, and a non-existent fanbase. This team can’t hit with runners on, the bullpen’s coughing up leads like it’s a charity drive, and the rotation’s barely holding together with duct tape. But in the middle of all this mess, a glimmer of hope just kicked down the door: Denzel Clarke. The A’s finally called up their top outfield prospect, the freak athlete with 70-grade speed, raw power, and the kind of upside that makes scouts drool. It’s the kind of move that sig...

Nine straight losses. That’s the brutal truth. But the story isn’t over—not even close. In today’s crossover episode with Locked On Phillies, we turn the page on the pain and focus on what’s ahead: a three-game showdown in Sacramento that will test this A’s squad’s heart, fight, and identity. Are they just a team in a slump, or is this the moment they rise off the mat and punch back? We dig into what went wrong, what still can go right, and why this weekend is bigger than the standings.

We also get th...