Most Disappointing Oakland A's Players in Spring Training so Far

Although we're only one week into spring training, there are still certain Oakland A's players we hope turn things around before the season starts.

The A's have only played eight spring games so far. To say you're deeply disappointed in any player's overall stats is a bit unfair. However, you may have watched a particular singular performance and felt some frustration.

After all, the season may hinge on key players. So it's never fun watching them "fail," even if it is during one spring training game early in March.

Here are two hitters and two pitchers to root for extra hard during week two.

Hitters

To be put on a watch list after one week, you really have to be a big name. So the fact that Matt Olson is hitting just .154 in 13 at-bats is forgivable. He won't be Oakland's savior in 2015.

On the other hand, even if you're a big name, you still need the at-bats. Stephen Vogt is hitless, oh no! But he's actually only 0-for-1. (Note: Coco Crisp is 0-for-4, which wouldn't be concerning on its own, but throw in a move to left field and an injury, and he's a guy to keep an eye on.)

So who hasn't met expectations yet?

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Brett Lawrie will be expected to make up for quite a bit of the production lost when Oakland traded Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays. So far, we've heard he's a fantastic personality. He's even made a defensive play or two.

But he hasn't hit, yet.

Lawrie has appeared in four of the eight games, going 1-for-8. The good news is that in those eight at-bats, he only struck out twice. Of course we want to see Lawrie tear it up and ease any pain of losing Donaldson that still remains. One hit isn't ideal, but it's early.

Billy Butler is in a similar position.

Butler will be counted on to add power to the lineup and drive in runs, likely from the third, fourth or fifth spot in the A's lineup. In seven at-bats, he has one hit. Naturally, it's an opposite-field home run.

Sam Fuld is on the cusp of being included.

He's not really a full-time starter, so I'm not counting him as completely in yet. But he does have the fourth-most at-bats of all A's in spring training, and he's hitting just .154.

Pitchers

The pitchers have less appearances than the hitters, so it's even harder to be truly disappointed in any one guy.

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That said, there are two that, after they pitched, many likely thought, "man, I wish they did better."

Jesse Hahn is an exciting young arm, vying for a spot on the 25-man roster, specifically in the starting rotation. Hahn has a ton of competition, which makes spring training even more fun. Ideally, fans should enjoy watching all of the competitors do well, making the race exciting.

Hahn has more innings pitched than anyone and currently owns a spring training ERA of 6.75.

He's pitched in two games and started one. In those games, he's allowed six hits, given up three runs (which includes one home run), walked two and struck out three.

Tyler Clippard is even more important to the A's success in 2015.

Clippard arrived to keep Oakland's bullpen as stout as it was in 2014, even after losses such as Luke Gregerson. Clippard became even more important when the A's shut down closer Sean Doolittle. Unfortunately, he's allowed four earned runs in 1.2 innings. That includes two walks and one run.

The performance made Twitter explode with comparisons to Jim Johnson—though most were jokes.

What, If Anything, Is Disappointing?

Is anyone legitimately worried or concerned after one week? No one should be.

Disappointed? Maybe. But there's plenty of time. Again, I can't stress this enough: It's been one week. Injuries are of bigger concern than the play.

Doolittle (RP), Crisp (OF), Jarrod Parker (SP), A.J. Griffin (SP), Nate Freiman (1B), Josh Reddick (RF) and Sean Nolin (SP) are all sidelined with injuries as of this writing.

Nolin would have fought for a spot in the rotation, but the injury will keep him out of spring. So that's one less guy able to fill in for Parker and Griffin, who are already missing from the rotation. The A's have pitching depth, luckily.

Freiman was battling for a roster spot as well. With an injury, it's going to make it even more difficult to be out a guy like Mark Canha. It's not terrible for the team, but it's not good for the player or his fans.

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Crisp and Reddick's injuries change everything.

With Crisp out, the outfield would be Reddick, Craig Gentry and Sam Fuld. But now Reddick is hurt (and Fuld isn't hitting). Yes, both guys should be healthy by Opening Day. But spring is important. You don't want these guys starting the regular season cold—or banged up.

Lingering injuries can derail a season more than one down week of spring training.