A's Rebuilding on Track

According to the year end press conference by A's General Manager Billy Beane, the Oakland A's are in the middle of a rebuilding process that will "take time and patience". Most A's fans know that the team completed year two of a rebuilding phase which saw then finish last in the American League West. Some argue they just completed year three, but I do not count 2007 as a rebuilding year. It was just bad luck. The start of the 2007 season saw the A's come off winning the American League West title and loosing the ALCS to the Detroit Tigers. Many people forget that the A's were in first place about week prior to the All Star game. That week saw them loose to the Angles and then stumble out of the gate and end up 5 games back of the Angels just after the break. Then the injuries hit and the ship sank. This was unexpected. A mid season collapse can not be counted as a rebuilding year.

Based on the season we just saw, the A's in year two of their rebuilding process have established a strong foundation of youth in a front line starting rotation. In addition to already having one of the best bullpens in baseball the A's have developed Rookie of the Year candidate Andrew Baily as a premier All Star closer. With the return of Joey Devine next season, the A's will certainly maintain their position as among the deepest bullpens in baseball.

The hitting however has been nothing short of atrocious and that is what year three of the rebuilding process will hopefully address. The A's are loaded with a lot of potential young bats, and I stress "potential". We already know that Rajai Davis, Kurt Suzuki, and Landon Powell are main stays. Adam Kennedy as well if he is resigned. That does how ever leave huge questions about the corner outfield positions and first base which are all power positions that the A's desperately need.

With the pitching on track, the A's can already claim a successful year two the rebuilding phase. They have stocked up on hitting talent which should hopefully mature by the end of next season.

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