I have really been thinking about baseball season lately, I miss it way too much. I feel like the offseason is so long! Most people think they play too many games but I can never get enough of it. So I want to talk a little bit about the upcoming season and where I see the A's this year.
Projected Lineup:
1. Ryan Sweeney-CF
2. Mark Ellis-2B
3. Matt Holliday-LF
4. Jason Giambi-1B
5. Jack Cust-DH
6. Eric Chavez-3B
7. Kurt Suzuki-C
8. Bobby Crosby-SS
9. Travis Buck-RF
That is the lineup I would put up on opening day...but there are a few things to consider. Chavez may not be healthy enough to play third anymore, so we may have to move things around a bit. Even after all his injury troubles and problems at the plate, I think a healthy Chavez has the potential to be a serious threat. Sometimes I like to sit back and think of the good old days when he was hitting 30+ jacks and driving in 100+, not to mention piling up the defensive hardware...All this leading up to the decision that he would be the only guy we would take a chance on and actually keep...Ouch that hurts to think about. But I also like to keep the faith, and believe that he can be that guy again...Call me Billy Beane but I still believe in Chavy, he has something left in him and I hope it comes out this year. A healthy Chavez behind Holliday, Giambi and Cust would be absolutely huge. I like the lineup we have right now with the most power and depth we have had in awhile. Weird to think this year our question mark is who takes the hill each day.
Oh, pitching. It has been the strong point for the A's as long as I have been a big fan. The Big Three were dominant, then we traded for an All-Star starter in Haren, traded him away but had Harden and Blanton dealing, traded them away for youth. Youth, what we covet here in Oakland. That youth is going to have to come up big for us this season, especially on the mound. Our "veteran" starter is one who has yet to pitch a full season as a starter, Mr. All-Star himself, Justin Duchscherer. He was dominant in the games he started last year but his health is an issue, it scares me a bit having him as our ace. After Duchscherer, our staff is very inexperienced. We have Dana Eveland who was sent down to AAA last season after a rough middle of the season. Then there is Dallas Braden who has always been up and down but did end last season on a high note and gave us some hope. Sean Gallagher, who Beane has a lot of confidence in and traded Harden for last season, will be in the rotation. Then there is Mr. Gio Gonzalez. Gio is an interesting one for me, I don't really know what he will bring to the table this season because after so much anticipation for his call up last season, he was disappointing to say the least. He gave up an average of a run per inning while averaging one strikeout per inning. He also gave up 9 home runs in 34 innings which is not very impressive. I was not impressed with his stuff but I know he was nervous being in the bigs for the first time and there was a lot of pressure being put on him to succeed. The A's have been spoiled with young pitching talent and we expect greatness from these young guys even from the beginning. Although he was roughed up a bit late last season, I think that was a good learning experience for him. Now he comes into this season with some experience on the big stage and I think will only get better, some predict him to be this year's AL Rookie of the Year. If that prediction holds, the A's will be very happy and likely a big contender in the AL West. To close out the games, we have two of the best young arms in Joey Devine and Brad Ziegler. We all know what Ziegler did last year to earn himself the closer role, but Devine's numbers were just as impressive. That one-two punch in the 8th and 9th should be solid for us this year.
If any of these young pitchers stumbles, there are some solid arms in the minors ready to take their spot in the rotation. The A's have always been known for their great depth in the minors and the staff down there is no different. The A's have a ton of young pitching prospects in the minors just waiting for that call to join the team. One pitcher to keep an eye on is young Brett Anderson, who was a key player in the Dan Haren trade. At just 21 years of age, Anderson has been impressive as he has quickly moved through the minor league system and some call him the best pitching prospect in baseball. Fellow minor league pitching prospect Trevor Cahill is a similar story. He is only 21 years of age and moving up just as quickly as Anderson. Both are said to not have much of a chance to make the team this spring training but are one "serious hot streak away from a Major League call up." These guys look good and should be good for the A's if not this season, in years to come...so watch out West, there's a new team in town.
Watch out Angels, the A's got some power in their lineup and some arms ready to impress on the mound.
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