Today’s big league preview team is the Oakland Athletics. The A’s provided me with one of the most unexpected winners I’ve ever had last season, as I’d played them Under on the win total. This was a play I basically had no shot to win, and then I did as the A’s hit a massive late season skid. It got worse for the franchise when they blew a big late lead in the play-in game against the Royals and then had sit and watch KC roll all the way to the AL pennant.
I did learn a lesson, or actually got one reinforced along the way last year. That is, don’t bet against Billy Beane. He might be a mad scientist at times, but he’s a great GM. The fact the mid-season rental ploy blew up doesn’t take away from that reputation. I thought the approach was terrific, even if the final tally didn’t justify the moves.
So now I’m looking at the 2015 A’s and my initial thought is that they’re supposed to slip in the standings. I don’t especially like the offense, which on paper is simply not as good as it was last year. This could very well be a team without a single 20-HR producer and the Athletics aren’t an organization that likes to play small ball.
The starting pitching is also not a sure thing. Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir are probably going to be fine. Jesse Hahn looked good in his first extended look with the Padres and he slots nicely as a #3. The back end of the rotation is kind of an unknown quantity right now. Drew Pomeranz probably has the inside track for the #4. I’ll call the #5 a fluid situation for the time being, although at some point Jarrod Parker figures to claim a starting spot. The bullpen should be better than average.
As for the lineup, Ben Zobrist and Billy Butler are quality adds. Marcus Semien is at least a breakout candidate after coming over from the White Sox. Brett Lawrie is an across the board contributor, but he’s not Josh Donaldson. Coco Crisp can still be a productive leadoff hitter and I can see Stephen Vogt being an acceptable option behind the plate. Josh Reddick needs to relocate his power stroke as the projected 3-hole hitter. I;m not enamored with the 1B or CF scenarios.
My bottom line is that I don’t see the A’s making the playoffs this season and I do think there’s a real possibility they could regress to perhaps even below .500. But as previously stated, I got away super lucky with my Oakland projection last season. I don’t think I’ll try that again this year.