Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 21, 2008 20:42:41 GMT -5
Last season: 76-86, 3rd in A.L. West
Manager: Bob Geren, 2nd season, 76-86 (.469) career record
New faces: OF Emil Brown (KC), RHP Joey Devine (ATL), C Matt LeCroy (MIN), OF Todd Linden (FLA), RHP Kirk Saarloos (CIN), 1B/DH Mike Sweeney (KC), OF Ryan Sweeney (CWS)
Left town: OF Dee Brown (LAA), OF Jeff DaVanon (SD), RHP Dan Haren (ARI), OF Mark Kotsay (ATL), C Adam Melhuse (TEX), IF Marco Scutaro (TOR), OF Nick Swisher (CWS)
Overview: After years of squeezing blood out of a stone, the law of averages finally caught up to Billy Beane's boys. They finished below .500 for the first time since 1999, so it's back into full retool and draft mode again, hoping to be successful on a budget. With that in mind, Dan Haren, Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay were sent packing for prospects, and they'll gamble that their deep farm system will help fill in the holes. But they'll also need pain-free seasons from the left side of their infield - Eric Chavez and Mark Ellis - who combined to miss 141 games last season and affected the defence. All told, the Athletics suffered through a season full of injuries which cost them a whopping 1,200 games with players making 22 trips to the disabled list. Beane and his protégé, Jays G.M. J.P. Riccardi, finally had something in common.
Stat to ponder: With the dealing away of Haren, Swisher and Kotsay this off-season, the A's find themselves in re-tooling mode yet again. But to have any shot at playing with the top teams in the division they'll have to improve on their 24-33 record against teams in the West. Top prospect: OF Carlos Gonzalez: Was stalled on the D'Backs depth chart with Justin Upton and Chris Young ahead of him, but he'll get a prime time shot with the Athletics. Gonzo drove in 86 runs last season between double-A & triple-A and will get every shot at being the everyday centre fielder.
Hitting
2007 AVG: 256 (25th), RUNS/GAME: 4.57 (19th), HR: 171 (13th)
Some of the kids are going to be expected to prop up a below-average offence. Travis Buck goes from an oft-injured part-time rookie to the lead-off hitter. While his numbers projected out to 43 doubles and 67 RBI last season, he suffered through a pair of injuries to his thumb and elbow. Big things are also expected from high prospect Daric Barton, who takes over from Swisher and Dan Johnson at first base. He had a big RBI at triple-A, but the power hasn't developed yet. If it does, look out. Their projected fifth place hitter, Emil Brown, hit just six home runs last year for a last place team in Kansas City. It seems to me that with such an anaemic offense the crowds, which are sparse on the best of days, will be pretty thin on the East Bay this summer.
Pitching
2007 ERA: '07 ERA (RANK): 4.28 (13th), OPP AVG: .263 (10th)
Nothing says "We're Rebuilding" like dealing away the ace of your rotation. Dealing Dan Haren to Diamondbacks allowed them to pick up three prospects, one of whom will start in centre field this season. Canadian Rich Harden has the stuff to step into the breach if he could just stay healthy. Five years in the league, only 76 starts due to four different arm/muscle injuries. Everyone says he's got ace stuff, but it's still too small a sample to know for sure. Joe Blanton is a solid two but his days might be numbered in Oakland as well. Chad Gaudin has salvaged his career after Toronto released him in '06, although he started the year 6-1 before losing 12 of his next 17 decisions. Like almost everyone else on his team, closer Huston Street is a top-shelf closer ... when healthy.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Third place after dealing away so many proven major leaguers. If the prospects they received are as good as everyone believes it should only take a couple of years to turn this back around.
