2010 MLB Season Preview: Oakland Athletics

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Ben Sheets (SP)
Kevin Kouzmanoff (1B/3B)
Coco Crisp (OF)
Gabe Gross (OF)

Key Departures:

Scott Hairston (OF)
Orlando Cabrera (SS)
Matt Holliday (OF)

The Oakland Athletics are a miserable baseball team. One of my least favorite clubs in Major League Baseball, the A's can expect to have another difficult season in 2010. While their young potential has definite potential, I doubt that any of them will turn into Tim Hudson or Mark Mulder anytime soon. Their lineup lacks power and on-base percentage and the rotation is without a dependable number one starter.

The A's suprised many within the game by shelling out big time for pitcher Ben Sheets. Athletics General Manager Billy Beane must have liked what he saw when Sheets worked out, liked him to the tune of $10 over one year with an additional $2 million in incentives. Ten million dollars is a lot of money these days, especially for a player who has not played in over a year and is incredibly injury prone. Granted, when healthy Sheets has been a great pitcher. But I doubt if he will be able to put together a full season this year in Oakland.

Last season the rest of the league was taken aback by the young talent in the A's starting rotation. Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill, and Brett Anderson put up some impressive numbers for men of their age, but I do not think they will pitch well enough to carry the A's out of the cellar this year. Athletics closer Andrew Bailey, the team's only All-Star last season, with 26 saves and a minuscule 1.84 ERA in 83.1 IP.

The Athletics lineup is a total bore this year. I do enjoy watching Rajai Davis, their fleet footed left fielder who stole 41 bases last season. Aside from him, there is not much excitement to look forward to at McAfee Coliseum this season. Jack Cust, the team's major power threat, strikes out too much and Eric Chavez is a shadow of the player he once was. Going into Spring Training the Athletics listed Chavez on their depth chart as the back up third and first baseman. Kouzmanoff is a decent pick up from the San Diego Padres, but he does not have the potential to carry a lineup.

So with 100% certainty, I am picking the A's to finish fourth in the AL West this season.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Rajai Davis (LF)
2. Mark Ellis (2B)
3. Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)
4. Jack Cust (DH)
5. Cliff Pennington (SS)
6. Kurt Suzuki (C)
7. Ryan Sweeney (RF)
8. Daric Barton (1B)
9. Coco Crisp (CF)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Ben Sheets
2. Dallas Braden
3. Trevor Cahill
4. Brett Anderson
5. Justin Duchescherer

Predicted 2010 Finish: Fourth in the AL West.