The Las Vegas A’s Podcast — part of the House Always Wins Media Network

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. Follow Us on "X": @lasvegasaspod Podbean: https://lasvegasathleticspodcast.podbean.com/ 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

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 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.

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. Follow us on "X": @lasvegasaspod Podbean: https://lasvegasathleticspodcast.podbean.com/

Lawrence Butler's traditional numbers may have looked ugly early in the season, but the underlying data tells a much more interesting story. Quinlan and Sammy break down Butler's recent improvement, including his hard-hit rate, average exit velocity, chase rate, career-best walk rate, and improving pull-air rate. They also examine how his knee recovery could be affecting his swing, defense, and speed, and why relatively small changes in how often he lifts the baseball could make a major difference in his overall production. The big question: was Butler actually as bad as those early-season numbers suggested? Then the conversation turns to Henry Bolte, and things get really interesting. Bolte has extraordinary athleticism, elite bat speed, game-changing speed and legitimate defensive upside — but his 64% ground-ball rate and high whiff rate create a fascinating development dilemma. Should the A's try to turn him into a power hitter by getting him to lift the baseball, or should they focus on reducing the whiffs and maximizing his ability to put the ball in play? Quinlan and Sammy also debate whether Bolte could eventually have 30-30 potential, how Drew Burriss and Tyler Soderstrom complicate the roster picture, and whether Soderstrom could eventually become the DH. Neither Butler nor Bolte is a finished product, but both give A's fans something increasingly rare: reasons to be optimistic.

Jared Davis didn't exactly ease into his Lansing Lugnuts career—he kicked the door down. After arriving from the Arizona Complex League, the 17th-round pick immediately opened his Lugnuts tenure with five hits in his first five at-bats. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler breaks down what makes Davis so intriguing, from his unique batting stance and aggressive approach to the energy and personality he brings to the ballpark. We also dive into Pedro Pineda's breakout week, Breyson Guedes' power display, and Brian Arendt's massive three-run homer. There's plenty more to unpack as the Lugnuts continue their torrid stretch at Jackson Field. Jesse and Booney examine Tucker Novotny's emergence as a starting-pitching weapon, Ben Hanson's dominant outing, the progress of Dylan Fien and Daniel Bucciero, and the immediate impact of Jared Sprague-Lott and Ali Camarillo after their promotions. With the Lugnuts taking five of six and the postseason race tightening, Lansing has suddenly become one of the hottest teams in the league—and Jesse explains exactly what needs to happen next for the Lugnuts to make a playoff push.

The A’s came into Houston looking to do exactly what the Habit Hunter demanded: spoil the Astros’ season. After getting shut out 4-0 in the opener, the A's responded with a dramatic comeback win and then erased an early 6-0 deficit in the finale to take two of three from Houston. The series featured Brian Serven’s three-run blast, Max Muncy’s go-ahead home run, Tommy White’s big production, and another impressive performance from Donovan Walton, who continues to make his case for more playing time and a higher spot in the batting order. But the wins don’t erase the problems. Hobbes breaks down the A’s struggles with strikeouts, runners left on base, double plays, defensive mistakes, base-running blunders, and questionable pitching decisions. He also examines Jacob Lopez’s outstanding start, the bullpen’s strong overall performance, Luis Medina’s continued struggles, Hogan Harris settling into a setup role, Elvis Alvarado’s emergence, and the frustratingly inconsistent performances from players such as Zack Gelof, Jonah Heim, and Max Muncy. With the Twins coming to West Sacramento next, the Habit Hunter takes one last look at what went right, what still needs fixing, and which players deserve more opportunities down the stretch.

The Athletics finally snapped their five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Houston Astros 4-3. Jacob Lopez gave the A’s six strong innings, striking out nine while allowing just one run, and Donovan Walton provided the early offense with a 422-foot home run in the third inning. But after Houston grabbed control in the seventh on a Daulton Varsho homer and Jeremy Peña RBI single, the A’s appeared headed toward another frustrating loss. Then came the eighth inning. McNeil singled, Gelof walked, and a sacrifice bunt put the tying runs in scoring position before a wild pitch brought the A's within one. Lawrence Butler tied the game with a single, Tommy White doubled, and Jonah Heim delivered the go-ahead RBI groundout. Elvis Alvarado then slammed the door in the ninth with three straight outs. On Last Call A’s Postgame, we break down the comeback, Lopez’s performance, the eighth-inning rally, Tommy White’s three-hit night, the bullpen, the controversial sixth-inning moment involving Joe Espada and Hunter Brown, and what this win could mean for the A’s moving forward.

The A's just got swept in Kansas City, dropping four straight games in a series that somehow managed to get more painful every day. The Habit Hunter breaks down the disaster from Mason Barnett's brutal start and the bullpen's latest meltdown to an offense that repeatedly went to sleep after scoring early. The A's scored first in three of the first three games and still couldn't win, while their parade of one-two-three innings, wild pitches, blown leads and defensive mistakes made this series feel less like baseball and more like a four-day hostage situation. But this episode isn't just about the losses — it's about figuring out who should still be part of the next version of this team. Tyler Soderstrom is done for the season, Jacob Wilson is also shut down, and Hobbes takes a much harder look at the players and coaches who may no longer deserve the benefit of the doubt. Lawrence Butler's baserunning and defensive mistakes take plenty of heat, while the bullpen, Bobby Crosby's decisions and an offense that produced 18 one-two-three innings in four games all end up in the crosshairs. The message is simple: this isn't about winning anymore. It's about finding out who wants to be here and who needs to go.

The A’s were three outs away from stealing another one in Kansas City, but the ninth inning turned into a nightmare. Leading 3-1, the A’s handed the ball to Hogan Harris, who surrendered a single, a walk and then watched Kansas City tie the game on a two-run single from John Tolbert. After the A’s went to Elvin Alvarado, Bobby Witt Jr. delivered the gut punch—a walk-off RBI single that completed a three-run ninth-inning comeback and a 4-3 Royals victory. Before the collapse, the A’s did plenty right. Brady Basso and the pitching staff kept Kansas City largely quiet, while Jeff McNeil continued swinging a hot bat and the offense manufactured three runs, including a two-run sixth inning. Zack Gelof and McNeil helped set the table, while Nick Kurtz's replacement in the lineup and the bottom half of the order battled to give the A’s a 3-1 cushion. But in the end, another late-game failure turned a potential road win into another brutal loss. Last Call: A’s Postgame breaks down where it went wrong, the ninth-inning decisions, the bullpen meltdown and whether this was a game the A’s simply had no business losing.

The A’s jumped on the board first behind Jeff McNeil’s 375-foot homer, but Kansas City answered immediately and never really gave them control of this one. Bobby Witt Jr. was the difference-maker, going 3-for-4 with a homer, double, stolen base, and three runs scored as the Royals turned a 1-0 deficit into a 6-1 lead. The A’s did fight back, with Tommy White and Brian Serven contributing to a three-run fifth inning that pulled them within two. But every time the A’s got close, Kansas City had another answer. Witt’s sixth-inning single helped set up another Royals run, and his eighth-inning double sparked a two-run rally that extended the lead to 9-4. The A’s managed one final run in the ninth, but it was far too little, far too late. Tonight, Where Stats Meet Instincts, hosted by Sam, takes over the postgame and breaks down Bobby Witt Jr.’s domination, the A’s pitching problems, the offensive bright spots and another frustrating loss that never quite felt out of reach until it was.

The drought is finally over! The A’s took two of three from the Texas Rangers, winning Sunday’s finale 5-2 to capture their first series win in West Sacramento since April 28-30 and their first home series victory since June 12-14. After going 0-12-1 over their previous 13 series at their current home ballpark, the A’s finally gave the home crowd something worth celebrating. Jacob Lopez delivered six strong innings, striking out six while allowing two runs on five hits, and the offense answered with three home runs from Lawrence Butler, Zack Gelof and Tommy White. On tonight’s Last Call Live, we break down how the A’s finally slammed the door on the Sacramento series drought. Butler’s 394-foot blast got the offense rolling, but Gelof’s 403-foot two-run bomb in the seventh put the A’s back in front for good before Tommy White launched the first home run of his major league career in the eighth. We’ll talk Lopez’s bounce-back performance, Gelof’s huge moment, White’s first career homer, Hogan Harris closing it out, and what taking two of three from a division rival actually means for this team moving forward.

Jeff McNeil put together a monster night, collecting four hits and driving the A’s offense in an impressive comeback victory over the division-rival Texas Rangers. The A’s jumped out early, watched Texas answer with three runs in the sixth, then fought right back behind McNeil’s big bat—including a 400-foot home run—and a huge three-run eighth inning. On tonight’s Last Call, we break down how the A’s turned a tight game into a statement win, McNeil’s four-hit performance, Lawrence Butler’s 411-foot blast, and the late-inning rally that put Texas on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Is this the kind of win that can give the A’s some momentum—or just another fun night in an otherwise frustrating season? Join us live at 10:00 tonight on YouTube!