The Oakland A’s are being called the San Francisco Giants of 2011.
The comparisons stem from the fact that the A’s have a solid pitching staff. Like the Giants, the A’s have added some key veterans to make a push towards the playoffs.
The last time the A’s made the playoffs was 2006 when they lost to the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. The A’s have added a list of veterans to help them get over the 500 mark for the first time in four years.
Following is a list of key additions that could help the A’s get over the hump and possibly contend for a pennant.
David DeJesus was brought in to play right field and bat third, DeJesus is not a power hitter but he hits for average, batting .318 in 91 games in 2010. He has a lifetime batting average of .289.
The Oakland A’s continued the trend of bringing in more bats with the addition of left fielder Josh Willingham from the Washington Nationals. Willingham is probably going to start the season in left field. Although, he does have the versatility to play other positions, which comes in handy during the grueling 162-game season.
The 6’2″ Willingham can bring some pop to the lineup, he will bat cleanup and brings the potential to hit twenty or more home runs. During his career he has cleared 20 home runs three times.
To fill the void left after the departure of Jack Cust is veteran Hideki Matsui. After seven years with the New York Yankees and a one-year stint in Los Angeles with the Angels, he lands in Oakland as the designated hitter. Hopefully he can do the same as Willingham is expected to do and hit twenty or more dingers.
Matsui has been called a “professional hitter” by many analysts and he also brings a veteran presence to the club.
It’s no secret that the glue holding the Oakland A’s together is the starting pitching staff, featuring 2010 eighteen game winner Trevor Cahill and left-handers Dallas Braden, (pitched a perfect game in 20110), Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson.
The A’s bring in Rich Harden (again) to round out the rotation, although an injury to Harden has left the race wide open for the fifth starters spot. Tyler Ross, Branden McCarthy and Bobby Cramer all have a chance at the final slot.
The A’s have also tinkered a little bit with the bullpen adding Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour to a group led by All-Star closer Andrew Bailey.
The A’s hope that the additions on offense will help improve a club that was ranked 23rd overall in runs, 17th in batting average and 26th in slugging percentage.
Many experts predict that the Oakland A’s will improve upon their 81-81 record, but it may not be consistent with the traditional American League style of play. The A’s may have to play small ball and manufacture runs instead of the classic American League trait of getting one or two guys on base and hitting a two or three run bomb.
The A’s are definitely hoping they can get some fire power from the four and five holes, but they do have the capability of manufacturing runs with guys like leadoff man Coco Crisp, Mark Ellis, Kurt Suzuki, and DeJesus, just to name a few.
With manager Bob Geren entering his fifth season, some might wonder if he is the right man for the job. He has not had a winning season since he arrived in Oakland. Some analysts have argued that Geren is the right man for the job because he has the fortitude to handle hands on General Manager Billy Beane, who is said to be a bit intrusive when it comes to the everyday handling of the ball club.
Only time will tell how it all plays out, but Beane has definitely put the pieces into place for Geren and the Oakland A’s to succeed in 2010.
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