Oakland Athletics' Off Season Outlook

As I look at the up coming baseball season, I find myself wondering if my Oakland Athletics are going to be good. I am excited out some things, but am concerned about others. How much better is the going to be?

Did they actually improve their line up? I think so. They are going with their youngsters instead of signing big names like Jason Giambi and Nomar Garciaparra.

Do I agree with all the personal changes? No, but I do know that I can’t control everything.

I was kind of hoping that the A’s would hold on to Adam Kennedy. He is a solid infielder, who can hit, something the A’s have lacked recently. He plays third base, making him a great back up just in case Eric Chavez gets injured again.

What if Eric Chavez is healthy? What then? Do you take a gamble a pencil him at shortstop or use him as a utility infielder? I don’t think Kennedy would truly fit in the starting line up, where he belongs on any team.

Another player I didn’t want to see was Justin Duchscherer. The problem is that he has had injuries the last three seasons limiting his playing time.  Do the A’s truly need him? No, so they didn’t need to spend a lot effort trying to sign him and can focus on other issues.

One player I am not surprised is gone is Bobby Crosby. He was not treated in a respectable manner entering the season. The A’s were not able to move him. It was time to move on for both sides.

As I look over the 40 man roster for the A’s, I find it hard to make a mock 25 man opening day roster. They are not a spewing volcano of talent, but they do have some.

Starting pitchers is probably set with Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill, Vince Mazzaro, and Gio Gonzalez. It’s a young bunch of talented pitchers that showed sparks of greatness at times. For Anderson, Cahill, Gonzalez, and Mazzaro, this will be their second year, so keep a close eye on them for signs of improvement.

Expect Josh Outman to be called up in July, after he completes his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

I think the A’s bullpen is solid too. They have last year Rookie of the Year, closer Andrew Bailey, along with Brad Ziegler, Mike Wuertz, Craig Breslow, and Jay Marshall, all returning from good seasons. Bobby Cassevah, a rule 5 pick, will be thrown in the mix, too. This leaves out Joey Devine and Dana Eveland of the Major Leagues for the start.

As for an every day catcher, there is two choices. Go with the more experienced Kurt Suzuki, or the up and comer Landon Powell. Both have proved that they can hit the ball. I think Powell could be an every day starter, but I think Suzuki is just a little better.

Now to the tough decisions. The infield. Lots of questions here. Who are you going to play at first and shortstop? What if Eric Chavez goes down yet again?

Let’s start at first. Two choices again, start with the former top prospect, Daric Barton, or the potential Rookie of the Year, Tommy Everidge. I think you have to go with latter, but they may have one of them DH. It all depends on them not keeping Jack Cust, but I’ll get into that later. I don’t see them platooning Barton and Everidge. It wouldn’t work out. Platooning hardly does.

Shortstop is the shakiest for me. This is rests solely on Chad Pennington’s shoulders. I am not questioning his defensive abilities at all. Can he produce good numbers, is my concern. He has not wowwed me in past years.

Now the toughest decision Billy Beane must wrestle with. Can Eric Chavez return to past form. Remember, Chavez hasn’t been healthy in three plus years, under going I believe 3 or 4 back surgeries in that time.

Given that Adam Kennedy was likely not to sign to be a back up, Beane went out and acquired minor league two infielders, Jake Fox and Aaron Miles. Fox is the answer at third, while Aaron Miles can play second base and shortstop.

In the outfield, is some what fixed. Left field will be platooned by Scott Hairston and Travis Buck, right field will see Ryan Sweeney and center field will be manned by Rajai Davis. Look for Buck to see more time then Hairston.

Finally we come to Jack Cust, the Designated Hitter. I think Beane made the right call in not re-signing him. I think the A’s are banking on Everidge to at least pick up some of the slack.

This is not the free swinging, muscle bulging, power team of yester year. I see one guy, Chavez, that can produce solid numbers. May be Barton and Everidge in the future, but at the moment, this is not a scary line up.

I see a fast, solid, hard hitting type of team that produces runs by getting hits. They are relying on getting hits produce runs. It has the potential of being an exciting year....

then again, it might just turn out to be a very, very, very long year of disappointment.