A’s trying to cope with lineup shuffling
The A’s pride themselves on their versatility and built a roster of players able to play multiple positions and in multiple roles.
The problem is, all the mixing and matching means fewer players get consistent playing time.
When the A’s acquired Chris Coghlan and Khris Davis late in the offseason, it meant a deeper team of experienced hitters but fewer at-bats to go around for those accustomed to playing regularly.
No matter how much time a hitter spends in a batting cage, however, it can’t simulate facing a major-league pitcher in a major-league game.
Butler, in the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract, had two doubles on Opening Night and appeared in the first three games (hitting .300) as the White Sox started three straight lefties.
[...] lefty-righty matchups kind of go out the window when you don’t have at-bats, because of the comfortablitity factor.
The A’s are hitting .216 with a .273 on-base percentage and .612 OPS, ranking 14th through Sunday in a 15-team league in each category.
The newcomers are struggling, from Davis (.162 average, 15 strikeouts in 37 at-bats) to Coghlan (.161, one walk, 10 strikeouts) to Yonder Alonso (.128, one walk, eight strikeouts).
The A’s beat the reigning champion Royals twice over the weekend by scoring eight runs.
Last year, he ranked third on the team in homers, RBIs and OPS.
“You want to go out every day and find a way to make yourself a better hitter, a better baseball player,” Canha said.