Friday, December 05

Hello! Welcome to another edition of the A’s Beat newsletter.

LOS ANGELES -- While the Dodgers and Blue Jays returned to Dodger Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the World Series last week, Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler went to work.

Butler was enlisted by Major League Baseball as a correspondent for Games 3 and 4, providing player-first coverage and creating content across the suite of @MLB social media channels.

Among the highlights of Butler’s time in Los Angeles was an appearance at Guisados near the ballpark to surprise a cook with World Series tickets, as well as having fans at the game answer questions for Halloween candy.

He even tried his hand as a reporter. Before Game 3, Butler, the A’s 2025 Roberto Clemente nominee, attended the press conference where Mookie Betts was officially presented with the Clemente Award for ‘25. While sitting in the audience, Butler asked for the microphone and presented a question:

Butler: What’s up, Mook? Congratulations, you and your beautiful family. Even though I felt like I should have won. But, you got any advice for a young player in this game trying to get to where you’re at today?

Betts: It’s going to take a lot of work, which is obvious. But you really have to be in the right mental headspace all the time. Opportunities come and go. But you’ll miss them if you’re in a bad headspace. Upset, mad, whatever it is, you just have to stay in the right headspace, man. That’s one that’s calm. Be aware of what’s going on, but just live moment by moment, man. This year was the biggest teacher for me -- just to live moment by moment. Usually, when you do, a lot of moments come that you really don’t know. When it comes, you just have to be ready for it.

The next day, Butler conducted a postgame interview with Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement, his teammate with the A’s during Spring Training 2023, after Toronto’s Game 4 win.

It was a fun experience for Butler, though he’s looking forward to focusing the rest of his offseason on his recovery from surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee, which he underwent shortly after the end of the regular season.

“I’m feeling good, moving around well,” said Butler, pointing to his right knee. “I’m going to be ready to go for Spring Training.”

What was the signature catchphrase of legendary A's broadcaster Bill King?

A. “That’s a goner!”

B. “Put this one in the books!”

C. “Holy Toledo!”

D. “Can you believe that!?”

The A’s will kick off their second season at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Friday, April 3, at 6:40 p.m. PT against the Astros. Across the 81-game home slate, the A’s will play 75 games in West Sacramento and six games in Southern Nevada, when they host the Brewers and Rockies at Las Vegas Ballpark from June 8-14. 

The A’s will play a total of 53 night games in West Sacramento, 47 of which will begin at 6:40 p.m., as opposed to the 7:05 starts for most night games in 2025. They will also host 22 day games in West Sacramento, including six midweek 12:05 p.m. starts. 

Four of the six games at Las Vegas Ballpark will begin at 7:05 p.m. The series finale against the Brewers on Wednesday, June 10, will begin at 6:05 p.m. The A’s will end their Las Vegas stint against the Rockies on Sunday, June 14, with first pitch at 12:05 p.m.  

The 2026 home schedule in West Sacramento is highlighted by matchups against the Giants (May 15-17), Yankees (May 29-31), World Series champion Dodgers (June 29-July 1) and Red Sox (July 27-30). The A’s will play at home for four popular summer holidays, taking on the Mariners on Memorial Day (May 25), the Angels on Father’s Day (June 21), the Marlins on Independence Day (July 4) and the Blue Jays on Labor Day (Sept. 7).

The full promotional and special event calendar will be announced closer to the season. For more information on 2026 season tickets in West Sacramento, visit athletics.com/seasontickets.

• Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson are both finalists for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. More >>

C. “Holy Toledo!”

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