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The Oakland Athletics haven't been a great deal a factor in the AL West the last few seasons, but are coming of a 81-81 season where they completed second the division behind Texas. It was the first time in 4 seasons the A's did not finish below .500. Oakland's pitching staff completed with an MLB-finest 3.47 ERA, but the offense was one of the worst in all of baseball, and kept this team from the producing the playoffs. The Athletics are hoping some good off-season additions will support the offense bounce back and have the A's contending for the division title. Here is a closer appear at the A's starting starting lineup and starting rotation for the 2011 season, plus our MLB predictions on where they will finish the year in the AL West.
Starting Lineup
For Oakland to truly get take off offensively this year, they require center fielder Coco Crisp to locate a way to remain on the field. Crisp has totaled just 124 games over the last two seasons. In only 75 games last season, Crisp hit .279 with eight house runs and 32 stolen bases. Oakland went out and added appropriate fielder David DeJesus from the Royals, and he could genuinely make a distinction if he too can maintain from obtaining hurt. DeJuses was hitting .318 before his season was ended with a thumb injury in 2010. Left Fielder Josh Willingham comes over from the Nationals and is projected to hit third in the lineup. Willingham hit just .268 final year, but his .389 OBP and .848 OPS have us thinking he could seriously assist this team score some runs. The Athletics are taking a gamble on DH Hideki Matsui, with the believed he can give them some a great deal required power. Matsui hit .274 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs last year with the Angels. Oakland is depending on catcher Kurt Suzuki to really be a force offensively this season, right after hitting just .242 with a .303 OBP in 2010. 1st baseman Daric Barton hit .273 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs, easily his very best year in the majors. What certainly has us liking Barton is the 110 walks he totaled. Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff led the Athletics with just 16 residence runs last year, but hit just .247 with a .283 OBP. Difficult to expect much alot more than an typical household run total in 2011. A guy to watch out for is veteran Mark Ellis, who put together a solid 2010 season with a .291 average and .358 OBP. Do not be surprised if he puts comparable or greater numbers this season. Cliff Pennington did a respectable job in his first full season as the beginning shortstop, but has to improve on his .250 typical.
Beginning Rotation
Although the Athletics seem to have improved their offense, if they are going to take over the AL West this year, it will be since of their beginning rotation. It all starts with 22-year-old Trevor Cahill, who went 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 2010. If the offense improves, Cahill could simply win 20 games this season. Gio Gonzalez really got it going in 2010, immediately after going just 6-7 with a 5.75 ERA in 2009, he went 15-9 with a 3.23 ERA. Dallas Braden could be the most recognizable starter in the starting rotation thanks to the best game he threw last season, but he went just 11-14 with a 3.50 ERA. A lot of that has to do with terrible run support, which has us thinking he will need to put up a much greater win total in 2011. Brett Anderson is another young arm the A's are honestly excited about. Anderson went 7-6 with a 2.80 ERA in just 19 starts, but did miss some time considering of elbow troubles. The last spot in the rotation figures to belong to Brandon McCarthy, who went 7-4 with a four.62 ERA in 17 starts.
2011 Projections: 3rd Place Al West
If The A's can get a jump offensively from their new pieces and a couple of breakout seasons from their young stars, Oakland will with out question contend in the West. They pitching staff is very underrated, and could even strengthen off their strong 2010 season. Even though we didn't choose the A's to win the division, they are a sleeper worth watching out for.
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