MESA, Ariz. - Oakland doesn’t get to ease into the Cactus League, no low-profile Brewers matchup at Maryvale for the A’s.
Instead, Oakland faces the Cubs at packed-to-capacity Sloan Park, Chicago’s first game since winning the World Series last fall.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way but to start with the guys who finished at the top. It will be fun,” said new A’s outfielder Matt Joyce, who is looking forward to congratulating his former Rays manager Joe Maddon and longtime teammate Ben Zobrist.
Another new Oakland outfielder, Rajai Davis, put a major scare into Cubs-dom in Game 7, with his game-tying homer in the ninth inning for Cleveland, one of the more thrilling moments in recent baseball history.