Due to their poor stadium situation, the A’s currently lack the financial resources to compete in the tough AL West. Until the MLB
stops dragging its heels on working out the issue of whether or not the A’s can move to a new place in San Jose, the team is basically treading water. They’ve kind of taken it to an extreme, however. This offseason, GM Billy Beane traded away just about every valuable asset the team had, even the ones that weren’t expensive yet. As a result, this might very well be the worst team in the American League.
Projected Lineup:
- Jemile Weeks (2b)
- Cliff Pennington (ss)
- Coco Crisp (Lf)
- Seth Smith (DH)
- Yoenis Cespedes (Cf)
- Josh Reddick (Rf)
- Kurt Suzuki (C)
- Daric Barton (1b)
- Josh Donaldson (3b)
Note: This lineup may look quite different on Opening Day because Cespedes may be in the minor leagues. However, he wont be in the minors for long and this will be the every day lineup after that.
Projected Rotation:
- Brandon McCarthy
- Brett Anderson (recovering from Tommy John, may not be back for Opening Day)
- Dallas Braden likely wont be healthy by Opening Day
- Brad Peacock
- Bartolo Colon
- Jarrod Parker
Strengths:
Projected rotation: The starting rotation (as is) isn’t really a strength because of the injuries but once Braden and Anderson return this could be a pretty good staff. Brad Peacock is one of the guys the A’s received from the Nationals for Gio Gonzalez this winter and he has a chance to be a star. He dominated in his 132 big league innings last season and it will be interesting to see him over a full season.Bartolo Colon is coming off a resurgent season with the Yankees and will look to repeat his success. Brandon McCarthy is the Ace, although by default. He posted a 3.32 ERA last season and should have a good one again this year, though it will be tough to rack up wins on this team.
Weaknesses:
Just about everything else.
Lineup: Coco Crisp, once a very good leadoff hitter, it batting third. Need I say more? The A’s made headlines for trading their best players this winter but they were all pitchers, there’s really no excuse for them to have a batting order this poor. Daric Barton is an awful offensive first basemen, and Seth Smith is a guy the Rockies got tired of waiting for. And Smith is the 4 hitter! I know they already lost Scott Sizemore, the starting third basemen, for the year with a knee injury but c’mon, third base isn’t even close to the only hole in this lineup. Josh Reddick has potential but he’s not there yet, I’m really not sold on Jemile Weeks until he can avoid a sophomore slump and replicate his rookie success, and Yoenis Cespedes is a huge wild card. And those are the best 3 guys. This offense is really really bad.
Storylines:
Cespedes: Yoenis Cespedes is the highest paid Athletic despite never having taken a pro AB in the US. He’s a star Cuban defector coveted by many teams but ultimately wrangled in by Oakland. We all know he’s a freak athlete but we don’t know how he’ll perform against the best pitchers in the world. He’s got a ton of potential and may be a star but it may be tough for him for the first year or so, especially on this team.
Prediction:
67-95 Last place, AL West. The A’s have to face the Angels and Rangers 19 times each this year and they just aren’t good enough to compete. This will be a lost year by the bay.
Bold Predictions:
- Yoenis Cespedes will hit .325 with 22 homers after making the opening day roster. He will also be an All-Star
- Jemile Weeks will hit .256
- Seth Smith will be the regular 8 hitter by June
- Brad Peacock will finish second in the rookie of the year voting with a 2.89 ERA
-Max Frankel
