The Athletics Mid Season Report

It seems like the Oakland Athletics struggle with injuries in the first part of the season every year. This year is no different.

This has been a bad season, the worse in a while. I don’t think the A’s has ever had such a poor offense. It doesn’t help when half of the players you count on get injured.

When Eric Chavez got injured things unraveled. At the time, the A’s didn’t have a true third baseman who could provide a quality punch at offense. The logical choice was Nomar Garciaparra, who got injured in the last of April.

Bobby Crosby is not an every day answer for third.

Jack Hannahan still can’t hit Major League pitching, but is a better fielder at third than any of the other A’s player.

Mark Ellis got injured the same day Nomar did, leaving a void at second base. There wasn’t a clear cut choice of a replacement in the A’s minor league system.

Luckily, Billy Beane got Adam Kennedy as a solution to second base. I applaud this action, because the A’s had a player who could play third base when Ellis returned. Although Kennedy is not Chavez caliber player, he is a better choice than anyone else on the team.

Offense is not the only aspect to be plagued by injuries. The pitching staff has had it’s share.

Justin Duchscherer has been out since spring training. He was the best pitcher on the staff and had the most experience.

Brett Anderson missed a couple starts because of blisters.

But the biggest hit the A’s have been handed, was when Josh Outman suffered an injury that required him to undergo Tommy John surgery. He was the best rookie they had on their staff.

I must say, the pitching has been good, especially the rookie starters. They have been the shining light to this dismal team. I just wish the offense would wake up.

This is the A’s. Do I think Billy Beane has done a good job? No, and he has admitted it. He neglected the farm system, aka team’s Minor League affiliates.

I hope it doesn’t take long for him to repair the damage, but I like what I see so far, pitching wise of course.