The Athletics had a pretty busy off season as they brang in some new faces, old faces, and faces that haven’t been seen in a while. Bringing in a new face and a fresh new beginning is star outfielder Matt Holiday, who was acquired from the Colorado Rockies in a multi player deal that saw closer Huston Street packing. Returning is an old face, Jason Giambi, after a five year hiatus in which Giambi spent with the New York Yankees. Things didn’t work out there, and playoff success with Giambi and other sluggers was limited. A face that has rarely been seen is Nomar Garciaparra, and has really travelled around the major’s.
With those roster improvements the Athletics should at least be able to contend with their only other AL West competition in the LA Angels of Anaheim on an offensive basis only. Pitching wise, the Angels hold a distinct advantage over the Athletics and their very young pitching staff.
A couple of top prospects are at camp this year for the Athletics and the opening day start is still up for grabs. More realistically, the final decision will most likely come down to either Justin Duchscherer or Dana Eveland. Both pitchers showed last year they can pitch on a consistent level, but opening day just has a different feel to it, and it means more. Whoever gets the nod, it will show the Manager has plenty of faith in that pitcher, and that could really boost one of the two players’ confidences.
At the same time, Duchscherer and Eveland will also pitch to see who gets the number one spot in the pitching rotation. These two players should really be able to breakout this year, because in just half a season they both pitched solid. Duchscherer also made the All-Star team and finished the season with ten wins, while Eveland finished with nine victories. After those two, the Athletics will be hard pressed to find other reliable starters in the rotation or out of the bullpen for a spot start.
Even the bullpen for the Athletics struggled last season and that really increased the losses. Without a shut down closer anymore, the Athletics bullpen got weaker, as they traded Huston Street for power hitting in Matt Holliday.
Which means the offensive abilities of the Athletics will have to carry this team, or else they will be out of the division race real fast. A lot more pressure will be placed on Matt Holliday to produce runs, because the Athletics weakened one important aspect of their team for him. Holliday will have to get back to his thirty homerun hitting self, because last season he only hit 25, with 88 RBI. Playing in Oakland isn’t as pressure packed, but there is a slight difference in media coverage, and this won’t be like playing in Colorado. Playing in front of a half empty stadium in Oakland will probably make it feel like Colorado though.
With the return of Jason Giambi, he can now move into the DH role full time, or he and other DH Jack Cust will swap time from time. Both play at the same skill set when at first base, but Giambi can still ht for more power even in his late thirties now. Then again, Jack Cust is pretty strong to and belted 33 homeruns and really broke out last season.
In Giambi’s final four seasons in New York, he hit thirty or more homeruns three times. Just last year he hit 32 homeruns and batted in 96 RBI. Giambi and Holliday do present a problem for opposing pitchers, and these two can carry the team.
The past two years have been injury plagued for third basemen Eric Chavez, as he has only played in 113 games. Chavez usually is the go to guy on this Oakland team, and he has produced to earn that right as well. If healthy, and Chavez can play the whole season, he will only add and make the Athletics even more dangerous. A lot of the pressure will be eased on him too, because Holliday and Giambi can put up power numbers.
Nomar Garciaparra and Orlando Cabrera have bounced around from a number of different teams. Both can still play the game, but not like they used too. If given the starters role in their respective positions, each player can average at least 55 RBI each and can handle the bat at the top of the line-up.
Mark Ellis has been a very sound player for the Athletics over the years, and is great defensively. This is a payer that goes out and plays the game to the best of his ability. His power numbers have dwindled lately, but he is a tough out.
Bobby Crosby finally got to play a full year last season with 145 games, and really didn’t impress a whole lot. His Homerun total was seven, which was one worse than his eight from 2007 in 93 games. Crosby is getting to the point in his career where he has to show he can play consistently, or else he will be done with the Athletics. According to the depth charts, Crosby isn’t listed as a starter.
The Athletics have the offense to keep up with the LA Angels of Anaheim, but their pitching is weak, and don’t have a deep bench.
POSITIVE --> BATTING ORDER IS PRETTY GOOD WITH MATT HOLLIDAY, JASON GIAMBI AND A HEALTHY ERIC CHAVEZ.
NEGATIVE --> PITCHING STAFF IS WEAK.
X-FACTOR --> DANA EVELAND AND JUSTIN DUCHSCHERER WILL HAVE TO HAVE REALLY GOOD SEASONS AND MAKE UP FOR THE LACK OF GOOD PITCHING ON THIS TEAM.
SLEEPER PICK --> CATCHER KURT SUZUKI HAS QUIETLY EMERGED AS A SOLID EVERYDAY PLAYER, AND HIS STATS HAVE ALSO RISEN.
PREDICTION --> NO PLAYOFFS, WILL LOSE THE DIVISION RACE TO THE ANGELS, AND WILL FINISH ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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