2010 MLB preview: Oakland A’s
New year same old story for the Oakland A’s and their fans. Once again they will have the smallest payroll among the 0 teams in Major League Baseball. Once again they will have some of the best young arms in the game, once again they have added a veteran player the figures to be gone by the trading deadline, and once again the A’s are just meandering though another MLB season.
One has to wonder where the offense on this team will come from. Certainly it will not be via the home run, this is a team built fro small ball. They had some success playing small ball in the second half of 2009, and that trend will continue. The A’s will rely on their speed Rajai Davis will be running from the first pitch of 2010 to the last, but they added Coco Crisp, for his power, but it now looks like he will start the season on the DL.
We may also ask if there is enough depth in the starting rotation. Ben Sheets comes in to be the ace, but is coming off surgery that kept him inactive in 2009. The A’s staff is young, and if Justin Duchscherer is healthy they would have enough starters to field two four man rotations. However every member of this staff has some form of question mark about them.
The last big question is what can oft injured Eric Chavez contribute? 20 home runs and 400 at bats would be nice, but after yet another season of rehab one has to wonder if that is realistic. They plan to use him as a utility player, and hope that is reduced role will allow him to stay healthy.
Related Links:
- Oakland A’s News and Notes
- The Business of Major League Baseball
- MTR baseball.com
