Team Name: Oakland Athletics
2008 W-L Record: 75-86
Place in division: 3rd
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2009 Projected Lineup |
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Player |
Pos. |
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Kurt Suzuki |
C |
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Daric Barton/Jason Giambi |
1B |
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Mark Ellis |
2B |
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Bobby Crosby |
SS |
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Eric Chavez/Jack Hannahan |
3B |
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Matt Holliday |
LF |
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Ryan Sweeney |
CF |
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Jack Cust/Travis Buck |
RF |
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Jason Giambi/Jack Cust |
DH |
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Key Bench Players |
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Player |
Pos. |
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Jack Hannahan |
IF |
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Travis Buck |
OF |
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Cliff Pennington |
IF |
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2009 Projected Rotation |
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Player |
Pos. |
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Justin Duchscherer |
SP1 |
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Sean Gallagher |
SP2 |
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Dallas Braden |
SP3 |
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Gio Gonzalez |
SP4 |
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Dana Eveland |
SP5 |
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Key Relievers |
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Player |
Pos. |
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Brad Zielger |
Closer |
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Joey Devine |
Setup |
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Santiago Casilla |
Setup |
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Jerry Blevins |
Specialist |
2009 Outlook Paragraph:
The 2008 A's were the worst offensive team in the American League last season, and it wasn't really even close. They finished last in runs scored, tied for last in OBP and last in SLG. Interestingly enough they were fourth in the league in walks which would make you wonder how they finished last in OBP. Then you see that they lead the league in strikeouts and things make a bit more sense. The A's addressed the issue of offense with the additions of Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi. Holliday should have a slight drop off from his numbers at Coors Field, but nothing too drastic. While adding Giambi was a good move, it still forces him or Cust into the field every day, and that's always quality entertainment. Conversely, the A's pitching staff wasn't bad in 2008, finishing 6th in FIP. The bullpen will again be strength of this team, with Brad Ziegler taking over the closing duties from Huston Street and Joey Devine and Santiago Casilla setting him up. The starting rotation still has its problems. Justin Duchscherer probably isn't going to be able to sustain his success of 2008 when he had a .240 BABiP, and Gio Gonzalez is going to take some lumps in the rotation. The A's should be far improved offensively in 2009, and the pitching should be decent enough to get them by some days, but I don't see them beating out Anaheim, or Texas for that matter, in the division.