2011 MLB Team Preview: Oakland A’s
Hard to believe, as some of us still have VERY cold temperatures outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; teams have started reporting to 2011 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.
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Athletics Calender
FEB. 1-18, 2011 – Salary arbitration hearings
FEB. 14, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players
FEB. 19, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for non-pitchers and catchers
FEB. 26, 2011 – Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players
Was there a “beiger” team in Major League Baseball than the Oakland Athletics last year? Long removed from the spotlight of Moneyball, they went 81-81, staying completely under the radar.
However, after their pitching staff quietly made major strides, is the forecast for 2011 more optimistic?
Maybe the A’s can emulate that other ballclub that plays across the bay and won it all last year.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
World Series odds: +3000
If you’re a believer in the San Francisco Giants’ story, one that exposed pitching as more valuable than hitting in today’s game, then you can’t count the Oakland Athletics out of the playoff hunt in the American League this season.
Trevor Cahill exploded onto the scene with 18 wins last season. While he was pretty lucky and won’t repeat that stat, he doesn’t have to: I’d argue that he’s only the third-best pitcher on his own team. With Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez, the A’s could have their best top of the rotation since the days of Hudson, Mulder and Zito.
Anderson and Gonzalez both have hurdles to overcome, however. Anderson looks like surefire star – when healthy. He started just 19 games last season. He has to prove he can handle a full-season grind. Gonzalez’s health isn’t a problem but his control could be. He has great stuff and natural strikeout ability but he can beat himself with walks when he’s off his game, sort of like a young Carlos Zambrano. 
The A’s have other decent guys to fill out their rotation. Dallas Braden is overrated after tossing a perfect game last year but he can eat innings. Rich Harden may pitch in relief this year but he’s a low-risk, high-gain investment that is still capable of dominating hitters when he’s on. I’d like to see Oakland give him a shot as its No. 5.
Oakland’s bullpen looks like it’ll be among baseball’s best this season. We all know what closer Andrew Bailey can do. While he’s an injury risk, the A’s have plenty of insurance. Grant Balfour, Brad Ziegler, Brain Fuentes and Michael Wuertz are all solid guys who miss bats. This is a very deep pen.
OK – so it probably looks like I’m stalling. I’ve talked up Oakland’s pitchers long enough now without saying a word about this team’s lineup. While it certainly lacks anything resembling star power, the lineup is at least made up of solid professionals.
Hideki Matsui and Josh Willingham join the fray and still have decent pop. David DeJesus isn’t anything special but he’s a reliable top-of-the-order guy who gets on base. Coco Crisp ran wild in his half-season with the A’s last year. Kurt Suzuki is secretly among the AL’s best offensive catchers. Daric Barton’s lack of power is disappointing but he has a phenomenal eye at the dish.
2011 OUTLOOK
Sure, the offense is underwhelming as can be, but Oakland’s pitching is strong enough to make it a competitive ballclub this season. That said, I see the A’s finishing closer to third place than to first in the AL West this season. Something around 85 wins seems about right. That’s nothing to sneeze at but I don’t think the A’s are quite ready for a return to the playoffs.
Prediction: 2nd, American League West
