Oakland Athletics' Week 11 Review

Things seem to be collapsing for the Oakland Athletics. No matter where I look, I see a good team playing like a Minor League team most of the time. Like the San Francisco Giants, the only thing the A’s have is pitching.

Now, I don’t mean the A’s are as good as the Giants. They aren’t. I mean the A’s fans go to see the team’s youngsters pitch.

The offense has been dead since Mark Ellis got injured. There has been no real consistency in the lineup. I hope there is enough time left for Ellis to help turn things around.

There is something wrong with Jason Giambi. I don’t think it’s because he is not ‘juiced’. The only other time he has hit so poorly in a season, was 2004, when he was injured. I fear he is hurting more than he is letting on and it’s killing the team!

The only off season acquisitions who are truly not busts are Matt Holliday and Michael Wuertz.

Holliday is still struggling but not as much as he was in April. Will he be gone before the end of July? You can bet the farm on that.

Wuertz, on the other hand, has been very good out of the bullpen, which is otherwise one of the weaknesses of the A’s.

Another blow was dealt to the A’s this week as Josh Outman was placed on the 60 day Disabled List. They have called on Gio Gonzalez to take over.

Really? Gio has proven to me that he is not ready. I would have gone with Dana Eveland or Edgar Gonzalez, but that is just me.

As I look forward, the A’s have a little relief in that they got Ellis back. What does this mean? It means a lot.

First, the A’s get back their excellent second baseman. No offense, Adam Kennedy, but Ellis is better.

Second, since Kennedy is hitting well and Jack Hannahan is not, moving Kennedy to third is the best option. Ellis technically replaces the weak bat of Hannahan, but Hannahan truly loses his job to Kennedy.

I am really not concerned with Ellis’s average because I know he can hit.

Billy Beane still has a lot of work to do before the A’s are back to full form. Holliday is bound to get something good back. Look for a trade to happen in mid to late July.

I think A’s fans are going to suffer longer then they want, but I know it is going to be worth it in the long run. I sure will!