Sunday, December 21, 2008

Leading Off: First Look At Your Season 6 Oakland Athletics

Leading Off

Welcome to the first of 9 installments focusing solely on the Oakland Athletics. Today, in the leadoff spot, is your Oakland Athletics Season Six Preview. We will cover how this team looks at the beginning of the season and what to expect from the Athletics in their quest to finally take home the Major Leagues World Series Title.

First, we'll take a brief look at the projected lineups for the Season 6 Oakland Athletics, which will be doing something a little different this season, as far as platooning some key players goes.
Roosevelt Thomas asked if he could be the everyday lead-off hitter, and has been granted his wish by Oakland management, who is very excited to see what he can bring as the full time table-setter with his combination of power and speed. Mo Springer brings his 51 homers in 432 AB's down to the 8-hole where he says he feels no pressure and can just drive the ball as he pleases and also utilize his incredible speed when he's not smacking the ball silly. Hey, whatever works for you Mo! Kent Lewis is expected to take on his share of playing time, as are rookies Ronald Traynor and Bud Hogan. Being able to shift former AL MVP Turk Weaver between 1st and 2nd helps get these guys into the lineup, as well as Charley Jameson's willingness to take a seat vs. lefties. Weaver will also be allowed to reclaim his 3rd spot in the order, where he too claims to preform much better.

The defense is all around above average, never lacking in range at any position. However, the glovework of Weaver at 2nd, Springer in CF & Piper Ross occasionally at SS could use a little improvement. Former SS Jeff Zambrano has transitioned into a very good, if not great, 3rd baseman defensively and provides a ton of value all around. C Hersh Hargrave has been aging extremely well for a catcher, able to play in over 135 games in four straight seasons and handles himself very well behind the plate. Last season was quite possibly his best offensively, but it's been told that the way he handles his staff is an overlooked and vastly underrated part of his game. Hopefully, the teams excellent range can help it to overcome it's faults with the glove.

Overall, the starting 9 are extremely solid vs. both lefties and righties. Take a look:

Lineup Vs. LHP
1. LF Roosevelt Thomas (.298/.377/.550 in 342 AB's)
2. 3B Jeff Zambrano (.323/.380/.571 in 396 AB's)
3. 1B Turk Weaver (.293/.373/.500 in 594 AB's)
4. RF Terry Heffner (.295/.367/.580 in 553 AB's)
5. DH Ronald Traynor (.326/.436/.675 in 1661 Career MiLB AB's)
6. C Hersh Hargrave (.331/.430/.488 in 523 AB's)
7. 2B Kent Lewis (.331/.408/.481 in 2271 Career MiLB AB's)
8. CF Mo Springer (.329/.374/.745 in 432 AB's)
9. SS Piper Ross (.279/.335/.503 in 569 AB's)

Bench Vs. LHP
C - Bart Morgan
1B - Bud Hogan
DH - Charley Jameson
1B/LF/RF - Peter Small
Utility - Timothy Jones

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lineup Vs. RHP
1. LF Roosevelt Thomas (.298/.377/.550 in 342 AB's)
2. RF Terry Heffner (.295/.367/.580 in 553 AB's)
3. 2B Turk Weaver (.293/.373/.500 in 594 AB's)
4. 1B Bud Hogan (.325/.412/.627 in 2324 Career MiLB AB's)
5. DH Charley Jameson (.286/.375/.497 in 517 AB's)
6. C Hersh Hargrave (.331/.430/.488 in 523 AB's)
7. 3B Jeff Zambrano (.323/.380/.571 in 396 AB's)
8. CF Mo Springer (.329/.374/.745 in 432 AB's)
9. SS Piper Ross (.279/.335/.503 in 569 AB's)

Bench Vs. RHP
C - Bart Morgan
DH - Ronald Traynor
2B - Kent Lewis
1B/LF/RF - Peter Small
Utility - Timothy Jones


Noticeably different this season is the fact that there are 14 position players on the 25-man roster. The Athletics approach this year seem to be slanted toward an even more powerful offense, better balanced by the capabilities of the bench players.

Amongst those regularily on the bench will be backup catcher Bart Morgan, who's defense has kept him at the ML level backing up Hargrave for a couple of seasons now. It helps that he carries a bit of pop in his bat to go with those solid defensive skills. Timothy Jones will be around to handle the more demanding defensive substitutions that may need to be made. Not only can he cover any position on the diamond except catcher, he is lightning fast on the basepaths and comes in very handily as a pinch-runner. Peter Small is a cat that can handle 1B and the Corner OF positions nicely, while carrying a decent amount of pop in his bat and fairly quick speed as well. ALmsot equally effective against righties and lefties, he's handy for using against those managers who like to micromanage their bullpen.

When a LHP starts the game, Oakland will have two huge power bats than can come off the bench to hit later in the game if the opposing manager is forced to go to his pen. Bud Hogan & Charley Jameson are two of the most intimidating bats a manager can have at hand late in the game. As for when a RHP starts, Oakland will have the same luxury with Ronald Traynor available to pinch-hit late and the added versatility of IF/OF Kent Lewis to fill in capably anywhere on the diamond, and hit very well against lefty relievers. These added dimensions to the bench are expected to help boost an offense that will need to score plenty of runs after another failed attempt by Oakland ownership to bring in an elite Ace stater.

On Deck: #2 Hole - A look at the 11-man Pitching Staff in Oakland this season.





No comments: