The 2010 Oakland A's Depth Makes the Sacramento Rivercats a Team on the Rise

I feel sorry for the Portland Beavers, the Fresno Grizzlies, and every other team that has to face the Sacramento Rivercats during the 2010 season.

The Oakland Athletics, hoping to overcome this vicious rash (pun intended Braden fans) of injuries that the team has endured the past couple seasons, have stockpiled impressive roster depth that could arguably make the Sacramento Rivercats (The A's AAA affiliate) a team that is able to take on a quality Major League team.

Over the offseason, Oakland GM Billy Beane sought out defense-first players and picked up a few new bats. As the recent signings of Brett Tomko and Jason Jennings show, you can never have enough pitching depth either. The Oakland roster will have a defense that will be the envy of their competitors.

Also, if their offense spends a little more time on the field than in the trainer's room, they may finally be able to pick up the slack for Oakland's respectable pitching staff.

So what does this Oakland roster do for Sacramento? The Rivercats will be sporting a roster full of hitters and pitchers who are more than adequate Major League replacements.

Let's look at Sacramento's potential roster position by position:

Starting Rotation

This has a lot to do with who loses the battle for the fifth rotation spot in Oakland. Let's for a moment assume that Oakland's projected rotation starters are all healthy (bold, I know), and Gio Gonzalez wins the Oakland rotation spot.

That leaves Sacramento with an opening day rotation option of Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro, Clay Mortensen, James Simmons, and Jason Jennings. I like Jennings as a starter.

Four of those five have Major League experience under their belts, and when Brett Tomko comes back healthy in May, add him to the rotation. Josh Outman also comes back from elbow surgery somewhere around the All-Star break. He either bolsters Sacramento's rotation or pushes his way back to Oakland and forces someone else down—another Major League-experienced arm in Sacramento.

The Bullpen

This is tricky because the A's have so many arms here too. I'm going to assume that a Rule Five draft pick doesn't make the club and is returned to Anaheim.

Remaining for Sacramento are Sam Demel, Michael Benacka, Jon Meloan, Henry Rodriguez, Brad Kilby (I love Kilby but think he starts in Sacramento), Marcus McBeth, and a few others I just can't think of. There are a few more pitchers who either have MLB experience or are knocking on the door.

Catcher

Any combination of Josh Donaldson, Anthony Recker, and Joel Galarraga will be behind the dish ready to fill in if ironman Kurt Suzuki (doubtful) or Landon Powell (more likely) get hurt in Oakland.

First Base

Oakland will be loaded with some combination of Daric Barton, Eric Chavez, and Jake Fox. Waiting in the wings in Sacramento for a taste of the big show; mega-prospect Chris Carter (pictured), Sean Doolittle, and Matt Whitney.

Middle Infield

Ready in Sacramento if Mark Ellis goes down at second base are Adrian Cardenas, Eric Sogard, and close behind them Jemile Weeks. One of those three prospects will be the A's opening day second basemen in 2011. That'll be a fun one to watch. Lest we not forget about waiver pickup Stephen Tolleson and MLB-experienced Gregorio Petit at shortstop.

Third Base

Cardenas may very well be getting extra training here, depending on how long the A's intend to hang onto freshly acquired Kevin Kouzmanoff in Oakland. Also promising is oft-injured Dallas McPherson, capable of 40 home runs if healthy.

Outfield

Sacramento might have Travis Buck here again. It seems unknown what management really thinks of Buck. They seem to really value him and maintained that he was not available as trade bait, but who knows when he gets another shot in Oakland.

Flanking him will be Doolittle (assuming Carter dominates play at 1B), mega-prospect Michael Taylor, and Matt Carson. All of these players have the potential to make an impact in Oakland.

So, all these prospects and MLB-ready players will be lighting it up in Sacramento waiting for their chances in Oakland. I dare say the Rivercats lineup AND rotation will be downright scary! Both Oakland and Sacramento figure to have enormously talented teams this year...making right now an awesome time to be an A's fan!