2015 MLB Team Season Previews – Athletics
Billy Beane as always been deemed a genius when it comes to baseball. He’s taken the lowest of teams and turned them into World Series contenders. He’s going to have that exact task this year as the Oakland A’s shipped away many veterans this offseason as they went toward the youth direction for 2015.
MLB Lines & Matchup Insight
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
2015 MLB Team Previews – Oakland A’s
AL West: +400
American League: +1200
World Series: +2500
Key Additions: Ben Zobrist, Ike Davis, Billy Butler
While the A’s traded away some solid veterans this off season, Billy Beane still made his splash in free agency with the additions of some solid bats. Butler and Davis both provide Oakland with some pop and Zobrist will give Oakland some average.
Projected Starting Line-Up:
1. Coco Crisp LF
2. Ben Zobrist 2B
3. Josh Reddick RF
4. Billy Butler DH
5. Ike Davis 1B
6. Brett Lawrie 3B
7. Stephen Vogt C
8. Marcus Semien SS
9. Sam Fuld CF
The projected lineup will have a different feel at the beginning of the season as OF Coco Crisp is out 8 weeks with elbow surgery.
[dfads params=’groups=63744&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Oakland has many options to adjust to this. Ben Zobrist has played some outfield in his tenure in the MLB. They could also move Sam Fuld over to left, and move Craig Gentry into the starting role in CF.
With the addition of Billy Butler this off season, the A’s are hoping their gamble pays off. Butler hit for a solid average in 2014 at .271, but only had 9 home runs to his name. They’ll also hope the signing of Ike Davis which was a low risk, high reward signing, can pay off. Davis hit only .233 in 2014 and had just 11 home runs.
Oakland will need either one or both to provide some power for them in 2015 if they hope to compete in the AL West.
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Sonny Gray
2. Scott Kazmir
3. Jesse Hahn
4. Kendall Graveman
5. Drew Pomeranz
6. Jarrod Parker* (Slated to return July from Tommy John Surgery)
The Oakland Athletics pitching staff has potential, but could also end up being a disaster in 2015. The ace, Sonny Gray, will lead the way as he comes in off a solid year. the righty went 14-10 with a 3.08 ERA in 2014.
[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Gray is projected to have around 14 or 15 wins in 2015, with a slightly higher ERA.
Kazmir made his comeback to baseball a couple years ago with the Cleveland Indians. The southpaw got paid by Oakland and they haven’t regretted it for a second. Kazmir went 15-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 2014. Kazmir has the stuff to easily be the ace on this team. Him and Gray have the potential to be a solid 1,2 punch if they can both stay consistent throughout the entire year. Kazmir especially, has shown signs of fatigue late in the season over the past couple years.
The back end of the rotation is a giant question mark. Hahn, Graveman, and Pomeranz could go either way. Odds are one guy will be the odd man out come July when Jarrod Parker returns from Tommy John Surgery.
Closer
Tyler Clippard RP
Sean Doolittle RP* (Slated to return in May from injury)
Dan Otero RP
Eric O’Flaherty LP
On paper, Oakland has a good bullpen. Sean Doolittle was expected to be the 2015 opening day closer for Oakland, but with his injury, Tyler Clippard is going to get the nod. Clippard was traded to Oakland back on Jan. 14th for SS Yunel Escobar. In 2014, Clippard played the setup role for Washington and had a 2.18 ERA.
With the rest of the bullpen coming into shape, Dan Otero, O’Flaherty, and Fernando Abad will get the middle innings.
[dfads params=’groups=63745&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
In the long relief role, expect to see RP Jesse Chavez. Chavez was a starter for a majority of the 2014 season. He started in 21 games and went 8-8 overall with a 3.45 ERA. With his arm strength up, he can easily go 4 or 5 innings any given day. Chavez could also make a spot start if somebody gets injured or one of the starters is struggling.
2015 Prediction:
Oakland shouldn’t compete this year. Beane has made it clear that Oakland is in a clear rebuilding mode. That being said, if one thing is learned from the past, you never count out Billy Beane.
Oakland will need all the pieces to fall perfectly to have any success if they hope to compete with Seattle and Los Angeles. Billy Butler and Ike Davis will need to both have home run hitting years, and Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir will need to have even better performances than the ones they in 2014.
Oakland will battle, but ultimately fall into 3rd place in the AL West in front of Texas and Houston with just under 80 wins.
We’ll be providing 4* free plays on the blog all season long, and check out our EXPERTS for guaranteed premium baseball plays!
[dfads params=’groups=65348&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
