The House Always Wins Media Network | A’s Baseball Podcasts

Budget Baseball gets a little smarter — and a lot more interesting — as hosts Sammy and Quinlan are joined by Sam from Where Stats Meet Instincts for a crossover episode built around one simple idea: stop looking at players as simply “good” or “bad.” The crew digs into the overlooked strengths of Hogan Harris, including his elite fastball characteristics and how his fastball/curveball combination creates problems for hitters. Then they turn their attention to Donovan Walton and why his ability to consistently barrel and pull the ball could make him a surprisingly useful piece for the A’s despite his defensive limitations.

The conversation then gets spicy with a deep dive into Jack Perkins, who was recently sent to Triple-A despite some seriously intriguing underlying numbers. Is Perkins actually regressing, or is one disastrous fastball hiding a pitcher with two potentially plus weapons? From there, the crew goes player-by-player through the current A’s roster and debates who should return in 2027, including Luis Medina, JT Ginn, Gage Jump, Jacob Lopez, Zach Gelof, Lawrence Butler, Denzel Clark, Tommy White, Alika Williams and more. Finally, they tackle the biggest offseason question facing the A’s: Can the new front office turn their outfield depth into the pitching this roster desperately needs?

The A’s just walked into Seattle and delivered one hell of a statement! After falling behind 5-2, the offense erupted in the third inning with five runs, featuring home runs from Zack Gelof, Jeff McNeil, Alika Williams and Max Muncy. Then the A’s kept swinging, adding two more runs in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead and put the Mariners squarely on the ropes. This wasn't some sleepy September win — this was an offensive avalanche.

Now the question is whether the A’s can slam the door and turn a wild night in Seattle into one of their biggest wins of the season. Last Call: A’s Postgame breaks down the comeback, the home-run barrage, the clutch at-bats, the pitching and the players who stepped up when the game was there to be won. Join us LIVE on YouTube at 10:30 PM for the full postgame reaction, because after a win like this, there is absolutely no way we're going quietly into the night!

The Lab is diving deep into the latest Top 30 A’s prospect rankings, and Aidan isn't simply reading the list and moving on. He explains how prospect rankings actually work, why prospect status matters, how MLB service time and the Prospect Promotion Incentive can impact teams, and—most importantly—why fans shouldn't treat prospect rankings like they're carved in stone. Some players are high-floor, some are high-ceiling, and comparing them without considering age, level, and development path can lead to some seriously bad conclusions.

Then Aidan works his way through the entire Top 30, highlighting players like Leo De Vries, Drew Burress, Jamie Arnold, Breyson Guedez, Devin Taylor, Edgar Montero, Shotaro Morii and Brandon Nett. He also makes the case for some players to move higher, explains why Drew Burress' 5'9" frame shouldn't scare anybody away from his power potential, and identifies several prospects who could dramatically change their stock with one developmental adjustment. If you want to understand what's really happening inside the A's farm system—not just who appears on a list—this episode of The Lab is must-watch baseball nerd territory.

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0:00 Analyzing the Top 30 A's Prospects

0:39 Defining Prospect Status and Eligibility

1:27 The Prospect Promotion Incentive Explained

3:39 Decoding Scouting Grades and Rankings

4:24 The Problem With Unified Prospect Lists

30:32 The Future Star at Number One

Henry Bolte might finally be figuring it out.

The A's crushed the Rangers 9-2, and Henry Bolte was the biggest reason why. Two home runs, a .341 average, and an .885 OPS over his last 30 games have The Faithful Few wondering whether we're finally seeing the version of Bolte the A's hoped would emerge.

Kobi and Nick break down Bolte's turnaround, his potential as a future leadoff hitter and center fielder, why hitting the ball to all fields matters, and what these final weeks of the season could mean for the young A's heading into 2027.

Plus, the guys get HEATED discussing Ketel Marte's controversial absence from the Diamondbacks during their playoff push, debate who they're rooting for in the American and National League postseason races, and react to Stan Kroenke becoming the new owner of the Angels.

Topics include:

The record may be 54-86. The Faithful Few never quit.

GO A'S!

The Lansing Lugnuts had a brutal week, losing five of six, but there were still plenty of reasons to keep an eye on what is happening in the A’s minor-league system. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler joins Booney to break down the week, including Tucker Novotny’s impressive six-inning, five-hit, three-run, two-earned-run, nine-strikeout performance against a loaded Great Lakes lineup and Miles Naylor’s monster day featuring two home runs. Jesse explains what makes Novotny so interesting despite modest velocity and why Naylor’s power is undeniable — while pitch recognition remains a major part of his development.

Then the conversation gets much bigger. Who could jump from Lansing to Midland in 2027? Could Drew Burress make an aggressive move? Where does Stephen Echevarria fit? What happens with Josiah Romeo, Alex Barr, Mason Edwards, Gabe Gackle, Aiden Weaver, Donnie Tricona and Samuel Dutton? Jesse also discusses Jose Parra’s electric arm, the importance of individualized development plans, the potential impact of a new A’s general manager on the minor leagues, and why Mark Kotsay’s comments about Jamie Arnold’s changeup reveal something important about how the organization wants prospects developed. From coaching staffs and technology to pitching philosophy and player development, this episode goes well beyond one bad week in Lansing.

The A’s came into Baltimore riding back-to-back series wins and promptly got swept, losing 4-3 in 10 innings, 5-3, and 8-5. The pitching once again became the story, with Jeffrey Springs getting crushed while continuing to receive starts, the offense leaving 25 runners on base, and the defense committing four errors. Meanwhile, the A’s repeatedly created opportunities and then found ways to leave them sitting there. At this point, Hobbs isn't pretending this is just another bad series. The season has become Evaluation Day.

So who deserves to be part of what's next? Hobbs has plenty to say about Jeffrey Springs, Cade Morris, Jack Perkins, the bullpen's surprisingly solid work, and Lawrence Butler's offensive turnaround. He also aims at the recurring inability to bring runners home from third with fewer than two outs, the double-play problem, Jeff McNeil getting thrown out at home, the defensive breakdowns, and the crowded roster full of players seemingly filling the same roles. The question isn't simply why the A's keep losing — it's who should still be here when this team moves forward?

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0:00 A Frustrating Weekend Sweep

1:23 Welcome to the Habit Hunter Podcast

3:01 Jeffrey Springs and the Pitching Woes

4:28 Opener Breakdown: A Bizarre Start

7:18 The Mental Toll of Missed Opportunities

10:20 Questionable Decisions from the Dugout

17:29 Saturday Night's Failure to Execute

35:49 The Final Game: A Familiar Collapse

The A’s 2026 season continues to unravel, and Sunday’s 8-5 loss to the Orioles in Sacramento was a fitting gut punch. The A’s jumped out to a 5-1 lead, getting a two-run double from Lawrence Butler, an RBI double from Jeff McNeil and a two-run homer from Jacob Wilson—but Baltimore slowly turned the game around before taking control. The Orioles tied it with a three-run fourth, then Gunnar Henderson delivered the knockout blow with a three-run homer in the fifth. Henderson added a triple in the eighth as the Orioles completed the sweep. We break down how the A’s let another winnable game—and another series—slip through their fingers.

But this episode is about much more than one ugly loss. We take a hard look at the 2026 season as a whole, examine where the A’s went wrong, and ask the uncomfortable questions about what this organization actually has moving forward. Joining us is special guest Sam, host of Where Stats Meet Instincts, who brings a unique perspective shaped by his own experiences as a former college baseball player and coach. Sam explains how those experiences influence the way he evaluates players, development, and the farm system—and what the A’s need to do differently if they want their next wave of talent to actually become the foundation of a winning team.

The A’s have played better baseball lately, winning series against the Astros and Twins, and frankly, winning is a lot more fun than losing. But Sam is back on Where Stats Meet Instinct to separate the results from the things that actually tell us something about the future. Are these wins evidence that the A’s have finally figured something out, or are we simply watching a bad team experience some positive regression? Sam also digs into why the recent DFA-reliever additions may be more interesting than their ERAs suggest—and why those moves could reveal what the organization is actually looking for.

Then it’s time to talk about the players who really matter. Lawrence Butler is playing much better, but can A’s fans evaluate him without letting frustration, expectations and contract money cloud the conversation? Henry Bolte is showing why struggling, adjusting and succeeding again can be far more meaningful than simply getting off to a hot start. Sam also breaks down Jacob Lopez’s resurgence, Gage Jump’s flashes of frontline potential, the development questions surrounding Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, and why the real story of this season may be hiding underneath the win-loss record.

Join The Faithful Few for an honest conversation about A's baseball and the future of the roster.

In this episode, Nick DiCicco, Kobi, and Rants break down the latest news surrounding the team. We discuss the current state of A's fan culture, specifically looking at the rise of the self-proclaimed King of A's Twitter and what that status means for the community. It is a necessary listen for anyone trying to stay connected to the team during these challenging times.

We also pivot to an analysis of the pitching staff. The crew evaluates the question of whether these arms actually matter in the long-term rebuilding plan. By examining the current depth and potential of the bullpen, we offer a realistic perspective on what supporters can expect as the season progresses. This discussion aims to cut through the noise and focus on the actual performance metrics that will define the next chapter for the organization.

Subscribe for weekly A's breakdowns, and comment below if you think the pitching staff has what it takes to turn things around this year.

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Hobbes is back, and for once, there's a little sunshine breaking through the clouds. The A's took another series from the Twins, giving the team back-to-back series victories and a stretch of four wins in five games that actually gives A's fans something to smile about. Hobbes breaks down the ugly series opener, Jeffrey Springs' struggles, the A's maddening habit of leaving runners stranded, and the late offensive rally that made a blowout look a whole lot more respectable.

Then comes the good stuff: Gage Jump's outstanding start, Carlos Cortes getting his power stroke back, Jeff McNeil continuing to rake, Henry Bolte making an impact, and the bullpen surviving long enough to preserve a win. Hobbes also takes a hard look at Hayden Younger, the decision-making from the dugout, Elvis Alvarado finally getting another ninth-inning opportunity, and why seeing the A's players actually smiling matters more than it might seem. As always, Hobbes hands out flowers where they're deserved—and a few asterisks where they're definitely not.