Chapman: 'We're expecting to win division'

Matt Chapman already had extra motivation for 2021 as he aims to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2020 season and regain his All-Star form.

Add some extra fuel to that fire.

Chapman’s laser focus usually allows him to drown out any outside noise. But as the regular season drew closer, even he couldn’t resist taking a glance at the yearly projections that have been published online by various media outlets over the past couple of months.

“They predict us to win like 81 games, which is absurd. But that’s their opinion,” Chapman said on the eve of Opening Day against the Astros on Thursday. “I’m not constantly checking those things, but I pay attention. I see those things. I don’t value them too much because I don’t agree with their opinions.”

Chapman has a right to feel a little slighted. After all, the A’s are fresh off winning their first American League West title since 2013, and they've reached the postseason in each of the previous three years. Yet, Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projections have Oakland finishing with 82.6 wins on average in simulations, which would put the club third in the division standings behind the Angels and Astros.

“We like being the underdogs,” Chapman said. “That just means we’re playing with house money. We’re not expected to do anything, so everything we do is great. But I know it’s a different vibe in this clubhouse. We’re expecting to win the division.”

Not only does Chapman not expect a drop-off in team production this season, but after the A's addressed the losses of stars Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks with the additions of Elvis Andrus and Trevor Rosenthal, the third baseman believes that in terms of talent, this year’s squad could be the best team he’s ever been a part of.

“People don’t like to give us credit for some reason,” Chapman said. “I think this is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here. I think we can get to 100 [wins] this year. It’s motivation for me, because I like trying to prove people wrong.”

Here are some more highlights from the Chapman conversation:

Chapman was limited to 37 games and a .232 batting average in 2020 due to a nagging right hip issue that he said affected his mobility, both on offense and defense, and ultimately led to season-ending surgery. He was asked how he feels entering the season after getting plenty of action in the Cactus League.

“I feel a lot better. Early in camp, I was still kind of getting my feet under me. The biggest thing was building up that endurance. Having to get used to playing every day again and getting through those initial aches and pains, now I feel great. I feel like at the very end of the Cactus League, it clicked for me. I was making plays that didn’t hurt. At the end of last season, my back was just locking up. Now, I just feel free and easy. I’m really excited to be healthy this year.”

Chapman had a career year in 2019, slugging a career-high 36 homers to go with his second consecutive Gold and Platinum Glove Awards, and the first All-Star selection of his career. Now healthy, he discussed his personal goals for '21.

“I want to repeat what I did in 2018 and ‘19. I know that I’m even better than I was then, so I think I can put up better numbers. I don’t want to put any pressure on it, but I will say that I want to win the Gold Glove and get back to being the player I am. I think I can get myself right back on track and only keep climbing up that ladder.”

The A’s first 10 games of the regular season will be played solely against the Astros and Dodgers. Chapman discussed how that might show them what they’re really made of early on.

“We’re excited. Those teams gotta play us, too. We’re excited to play the Astros. It’s always fun playing them. That’s probably our biggest competition in this division. But we’re the reigning champs and they have to prove it to us.

“We’re not taking these games lightly. These are good teams. We’re definitely going to be battle-tested early on with the Dodgers and Astros. But they have to play us, and we like to believe that these are our games.

“Our core group of guys is only getting better. We’re only getting more experienced. We’re comfortable with each other and more of a team, and the guys we brought in seem to fit right in. I think our bullpen has the ability to shorten games and our starters have proven they can pitch well at this level. I just think we have a really well-rounded team. I feel really confident in our team.”