MLB lockout: At least the two sides are talking

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Updates from the latest round of labor negotiations

The MLB lockout began on the first of December, and we’re now around eight weeks in.

There’s still no end in sight, at least in terms of any kind of specific date when we might expect the offseason to resume. What’s more, there’s still no guarantee that spring training and the regular season will begin on time, nor that the full season will be played.

However, at...

Announcement: A new commenting system is coming to Athletics Nation

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Coming Thursday, comments will look different.

Hey everyone. I’m Tanya, and I oversee all of our baseball communities for SB Nation.

This Thursday will be a big day for our community: we’re moving our comments to a new platform, developed especially for SB Nation. All of our MLB communities will be moving to the new platform, and I’m excited about the change.

Some of you may already be familiar with this new platform as it rolled out to our NFL...

Braves, A’s discussed Matt Olson trade prior to lockout

With Freddie Freeman a free agent, could the Braves go with a younger option instead of bringing him back?

What are the best mustaches in A’s history?

Clockwise: Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Bill King, and Dick Williams | Photo by John M. Burgess//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Follicular analysis

The Oakland A’s are here to do two things: win some baseball games, and grow some mustaches. Over the years, they’ve been excellent at both.

The A’s probably didn’t invent the mustache, though history can’t be certain. What we can say for sure is that they revolutionized the art of upper lipholstry in...

A’s lead AL West standings since 2010

Celebrate good times, come on! | Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The near future looks dark, but the big picture is much brighter

The Oakland A’s aren’t perfect. They haven’t won a World Series title in over three decades. They don’t pay to keep star players. Their stadium situation is a mess. Their owner is an embarrassment.

Hold on, I’m pretty sure I was going somewhere with this.

Oh yeah. The A’s aren’t perfect, but one thing they do consistently is win...

So long Canha, and thanks for all the bat flips

Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Mark Canha signed with the Mets this winter, but he made an impact over 7 years in Oakland

Don’t panic, Athletics Nation.

Far in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the eastern side of the Bay Area lies a small unregarded green-and-gold baseball team. Their roster is scheduled for demolition this winter, but due to a fluke of timing, a labor dispute is lying down in the mud in front of the bulldozers, blocking their path and delaying the...

A’s bench coach Brad Ausmus is 4-time Most Handsome Manager in baseball

Giving Pitt a run for his money | Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images

An official science fact

A decade ago, Hollywood visited the Coliseum to film a baseball movie starring Brad Pitt. Now there’s another handsome Brad in town.

The Oakland A’s hired Brad Ausmus as their new bench coach this winter, as part of a larger shakeup of their coaching staff. Ausmus brings tons of experience to the job, between an 18-year playing career and five seasons as an MLB manager. His accomplishments include...

A’s stadium news: Another step forward for Howard Terminal in Oakland

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Oakland Planning Commission vote is a success

In a journey of a thousand steps, the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal stadium project took another one forward on Wednesday.

The Oakland Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the project’s Environmental Impact Report for certification by the City Council, reports Casey Pratt of ABC7. The council could vote on their certification “likely mid-February,” per Pratt.

Back...

Oakland ballpark proposal clears key hurdle

Should the broader proposal move forward as planned, it would bring to an end one of the longest running stadium dramas in baseball history.

MLB family tree of Chris Cron, new A’s assistant hitting coach

Hi Chris! | Rob Schumacher/The Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Cron isn’t the only ballplayer in his family

The Oakland A’s have a couple new faces on their coaching staff this year, including two external hires from outside the organization.

One of the arrivals is Chris Cron, who came over from the D’Backs and will serve as Oakland’s assistant hitting coach.

However, just because Cron is new to the A’s doesn’t mean he’s a novice when it comes to coaching....

Stephen Curry looks great in an A’s beanie

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Warriors superstar shows some love for the MLB team he once shared a parking lot with

There’s not much happening in baseball right now during the MLB lockout, but basketball is going strong for those who also follow the NBA. In particular, Bay Area fans have been able to enjoy the resurgent Golden State Warriors, who hold the second-best record in the league despite a recent slump and appear to have returned to championship contender...

What is a Run Prevention Coach?

Darren Bush | Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images

Darren Bush now holds that title for A’s, along with 3B coach

The Oakland A’s announced their 2022 coaching staff last week, led by new manager Mark Kotsay, and it includes a some new faces as well as a few incumbent names moving to different roles.

Among the latter category, Darren Bush is switching from hitting coach to third base coach, and in addition to 3B duties he’s also taking the position of “run...

A’s sign 7 international prospects, led by OF Carlos Pacheco

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First day of the 2021-22 int’l signing period

Saturday was a big day in the prospect world, as the 2021-22 international signing period began. That means a new class of amateur prospects became eligible to sign with MLB clubs, and while the period runs through December, much of the action usually happens on the first day.

The Oakland A’s announced seven signings this afternoon:

If There Was Ever A Time...

“I can’t watch this. No seriously, I can’t — it’s blacked out in my home town.” | Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

You often hear about “organized labor” but rarely are the virtues of “disorganized labor” extolled. This is unfortunate for baseball fans because we are, collectively, a very powerful group incapable of organizing as we are scattered around the country with no means by which to act as “one”.

And so we sit on the sidelines as MLB and MLBPA posture and...

A’s revamp coaching staff for 2022, add some new names

Tommy Everidge

Tommy Everidge and Chris Cron join as hitting coaches

The Oakland A’s have a new manager, and he has now finished selecting his coaching staff.

The A’s announced their coaches for the 2022 season on Friday, led by rookie skipper Mark Kotsay. The group includes three new additions, while all five remaining incumbents were retained, though some of the holdovers were shifted to different roles.

Here’s the full list:

Athletics finalize coaching staff under new manager Mark Kotsay

A few weeks after naming Mark Kotsay manager, the A’s announced their 2022 coaching staff Friday afternoon.

Submit your piece to write for Athletics Nation!

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Join our team!

Hello Athletics Nation!

Back in July, we put out a call for new writers and began accepting applications to join the team here at AN. Now that the season is over and the offseason is on pause, let’s pick up where we left off.

As a reminder, we’re looking for a few independent contractors to write posts on Athletics Nation. They will work remotely, and be paid a monthly stipend based on expected production on an...

Stray Thoughts (And Deep Cats)

“Tastes like umpire.” | Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images

“Baseball is too slow!” complains the young sports fan, who took a break from trashing their own friends on Instagram and watching sound bytes from a movie to avoid having to watch the whole thing, in order to weigh in. “I don’t have time to sit there while oh wow that’s shiny hey did I post a picture of my breakfast yet?”

OK so the problem isn’t baseball, it’s modern society, but still...we all have our...

What would you like to see come out of the MLB lockout?

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Lots of issues on the table to discuss

The MLB lockout began on the first day of December. Five weeks later, the league and Players Association haven’t even begun talks on their new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Maybe they will start negotiating in January. Maybe. Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports that the league is preparing to present an opening proposal to the players, “likely this month.” Jeff Passan of ESPN doesn’t paint...

A’s to hire Brad Ausmus as bench coach

Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images

Joining the staff of new manager Mark Kotsay

The Oakland A’s got a new manager this winter, and now they’re setting to work retooling their coaching staff.

The A’s are expected to hire Brad Ausmus as their new bench coach, reports insider Jon Heyman. The move has not yet been officially announced by the team.

Ausmus brings a wealth of experience both on and off the field. As a player he spent 18 seasons in the majors as a...