by The GM on September 17 at 7:39PM
The Oakland A's season is pretty much over right now. Well, except for the last few games. With no chance to make the playoffs I have nothing to look forward this baseball postseason. I'll watch all the games like normal, and like normal I won't have any care on who wins (as long as it is NOT the Boston Red Sox).
I was studying the roster that Oakland has right now and I am fairly optimistic (career pessimist) about the direction of the team next year.
I can see Billy Beane trading off Bobby Crosby and Rich Harden this winter. The starting rotation could look something like Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Chad Gaudin, Dallas Braden, and Dan Meyer. If not, then Braden and Meyer will probably split the job of the fifth starter in the rotation.
The Athletics have plenty of youth in the field. With the emergence of Daric Barton, he has probably stolen the first base job from Dan Johnson permanently. Johnson, if still with the club, will probably be the backup and platoon at DH.
I don't really see Mark Kotsay being around much longer either, which sort of sucks, but his health is absolutely horrible and he hasn't contributed to the team on the field. If Shannon Stewart sticks around, the outfield would be Stewart, Swisher, and Travis Buck.
Eric Chavez has had more health issues the last two seasons than I'd like to see him have. With Jack Hannahan proving he can handle a meaty workload, he will be on the roster next year. With Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro in the middle infield, the defense should continue to be solid.
I am going to go ahead and say the Mike Piazza experiment is over with after this season. Kurt Suzuki has proven he can handle the bat and the pitching staff. I am not sure how the backup catcher is going to be appropriated for this team (free agent or trade).
I was studying the roster that Oakland has right now and I am fairly optimistic (career pessimist) about the direction of the team next year.
I can see Billy Beane trading off Bobby Crosby and Rich Harden this winter. The starting rotation could look something like Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Chad Gaudin, Dallas Braden, and Dan Meyer. If not, then Braden and Meyer will probably split the job of the fifth starter in the rotation.
The Athletics have plenty of youth in the field. With the emergence of Daric Barton, he has probably stolen the first base job from Dan Johnson permanently. Johnson, if still with the club, will probably be the backup and platoon at DH.
I don't really see Mark Kotsay being around much longer either, which sort of sucks, but his health is absolutely horrible and he hasn't contributed to the team on the field. If Shannon Stewart sticks around, the outfield would be Stewart, Swisher, and Travis Buck.
Eric Chavez has had more health issues the last two seasons than I'd like to see him have. With Jack Hannahan proving he can handle a meaty workload, he will be on the roster next year. With Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro in the middle infield, the defense should continue to be solid.
I am going to go ahead and say the Mike Piazza experiment is over with after this season. Kurt Suzuki has proven he can handle the bat and the pitching staff. I am not sure how the backup catcher is going to be appropriated for this team (free agent or trade).
|
