Photo credit: @angels_fanly

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — On Thursday, March 29th, 2018, Major League Baseball returns after six long months of inactivity. The A’s last played at the Coliseum way back in September, and the fans have been drooling for the season to start, and that will happen Thursday afternoon at 1 pm.

Opening day is such a special day. The players are excited to get the season going, and the A’s are playing a day opener for the first time since 1994. The A’s management will have the bunting out to decorate the stadium, and the grass will never be so green as it is on opening day. There will be a presentation of the colors and then the singing of the National Anthem to be followed by a flyover by the Navy that the fans always love.

The A’s, under the leadership of President Dave Kaval, have made improvements to the stadium so that the baseball experience will be even better. The food trucks are back, and the A’s have made improvements to the food being served at the park.

The A’s have taken a section in left field and made it into an area to be known as the Treehouse. Fans can stay out there for the game and enjoy great food and beer while the game is going on.

The A’s have also created an area known as the Farm where fresh vegetables will be grown. The hates tarps will not be around this year, and if the team improves as many people think they can, the team will need the extra seating.

The A’s are committed to having ties with the past. On Wednesday, the A’s hosted a gala at their new office at 55 Harrison Street in Oakland. Many community leaders were present as were many of the great players that brought Oakland six Pennants and four World Championships. Rickey Henderson, perhaps the greatest Oakland Athletic of all-time, was there. Carney Lansford and Terry Steinbach were there. Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fingers were there, and all these former players will be in attendance Friday night for the night opener.

The A’s, under manager Bob Melvin, are looking to escape from the cellar of the American League West, where they have resided for the past three years. The A’s brought up some of the best prospects near the tail end of the season last year. The A’s traded Yonder Alonso to the Seattle Mariners to make room for Matt Olson at first base. Jed Lowrie had a terrific bounce-back year at second base, and his 49 doubles were second-best in the AL in that department. Marcus Semien missed about half the season, but he is healthy now and hopes to be a force in the lineup. Matt Chapman will be at third base, and he showed he belonged with great fielding. He also has a lot of power.

The outfield will consist of Matt Joyce and Chad Pinder platooning in left field. Joyce hit 25 homers after a slow start and Pinder also showed that he can hit with power and he can play several positions. Boog Powell will start in center but Dustin Fowler, who was sent down to Triple-A to get more playing time, will be back. Right field will be patrolled by Steve Piscotty who came to Oakland in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Khris Davis, who hit 43 dingers last year, will be the DH. The catching chores will be done by former All-Star Jonathan Lucroy. Lucroy could be the best bargain of the year. Bruce Maxwell will be the backup catcher.

The big problem for the A’s could be the starting rotation. The A’s are hoping for big things from Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea. Graveman was hurt last year and recorded just six wins. Manaea led the team with 12 victories. These two pitchers could be the keys to the A’s success if they can be more consistent. Lucroy’s vast experience handling pitchers should be beneficial. Daniel Mengden, who was up and down last year, came on strong in September after he made an adjustment in his pitching motion and he seems to be on the right track. Filling out the rotation will be Andrew Triggs and Daniel Gossett. The A’s lost Jharel Cotton for the season as he underwent Tommy John surgery last week. Plack Blackburn, who pitched well before being hurt last year, has some arm problems, and the A’s first-round draft pick of 2016 A.J. Puk appears to be heading for Tommy Joh surgery, too. The A’s signed Trevor Cahill to a contract, and he is at Nashville getting to be called up when needed.

The A’s bullpen added Emilio Pagan from Seattle to go with Chris Hatcher, Liam Hendriks, Santiago Casilla, Yusmeiro Petit, and Blake Treinen. Danny Coulombe and Paul Buchter are the lefty relievers. Ryan Dull will start the season on the DL.

The A’s start the season against their division rival, the Los Angeles Angels. Everyone in the division will be gunning for the World Champion Houston Astros. The A’s, without question, are trying to emulate the Astros. Everybody is trying to do what the Astros did. It wasn’t that long ago that the Astros were known as the Lastros. They developed young talent and did it pay off. The Astros won their first World Championship in their 55th season of operation. That, too, could happen to Oakland, If that were to happen and if the A’s were to get the new stadium built, they would have no trouble putting people into the seats at the old ballpark.

It’s opening day where all the teams are in first place. It’s time for the fans to come out early and remember that boys in Green and Gold will be doing their best to get off to a good start. It’s opening day, and that means hot dogs and beer. It’s opening day and its a time for optimism. It’s opening day, and it’s time to say Play Ball!