Post by cbs0121 on May 21, 2006 14:08:43 GMT -5
Oakland fans have reason for optimism entering the 2006 season, and expectations are running high in the bay area. With talented young pitchers in the rotation and bullpen, 3 Gold Glove caliber defenders in the infield, and some solid bats, the A's feel that their time has finally come. After failing to reach the postseason last year, and four untimely playoff exits in the last five years, the A's have somthing to prove coming into this year, despite being one of the league's most successful franchises of the last few years.
Anyways, to the team.
1B/DH - Dan Johnson & Frank Thomas
Johnson's solid bat makes up for his rather poor defense at first base. He's talented, but with the 1B prospects in the A's system, he's only temporary. Frank Thomas could be the bargain of the year at $500K, and should be solid for .250/.350/.475.
Top 1B/DH Prospects - Jeff Larish & Daric Barton
1B Jeff Larish was acquired in the offseason from the Detroit Tigers in the Hererra deal. His defense is, like Johnson's, below average, but his bat more than make up for it. He already has excellent patience and power, and should develop more contact skills this year in AAA ball. Daric Barton, who starts the year in A ball, is an excellent prospect in the mold of Mark Grace - excellent bat control and an amazing eye for the zone, but average at best power for the position. Look for him in a couple of years.
2B - Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis is an excellent contact hitter and stellar defensive 2B. He hit over .300 last year, and will probably open up 2006 as the A's leadoff man. He also has suprising power against left handers.
Top 2B Prospects - Kevin Millilo & Gregorio Petit
Millilo, who will play for Midland this year, is not an elite defender, but has excellent power for the position and also posesses above average speed. Projects as an excellent hitter. Petit starts off at the A level, but is a speedy and versatile infielder. He's probably better at 3rd than 2nd, but does both well enough to be a solid utility man at the next level, maybe an everyday starter if he gets a few breaks.
3B - Eric Chavez
Chavez is the A's best hitter and defender, owner of five gold gloves. Since breaking into the lineup full time in 2000, he's put up six straight seasons of 26+ home runs, .275+ BA, and .348+ on base. He needs to continue his work with the bat to power the A's offense this year.
Top 3B Prospects - none!
SS - Bobby Crosby
Top notch defender, excellent power for a middle infielder, Oakland A's... sound familiar? Bobby Crosby, Miguel Tejada's successor at SS, is not unlike his predecessor in many ways. Look for him to add some power in the bottom of the order this year.
Top SS Prospects - Cliff Pennington
Pennington may lack Crosby's acrobatics at SS, but he's a solid defender at his position. Possesses good contact skills and above average speed, he projects as an excellent hitter at the top of the order.
RF - Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley, and the A's, are hoping he can leave his personal conflicts behind and just play ball like he's capable of doing. Starts out at #2 in the Oakland lineup, and has a good mix of speed, patience, and power.
Top RF Prospects - Travis Buck & Richie Robnett
Both Buck and Robnett project as hitters with excellent power and, in Buck's case, good patience and excellent contact skills. Buck is a solid defender in right, and Robnett is just passable.
CF - Mark Kotsay
Kotsay is a solid defender in center, and average with the bat. Like Johnson, he has talent but just isn't the future of the position in Oakland.
Top CF Prospects - None. Buck has good range for right and could make a borderline CF, but no true CF exists in Oakland's farm.
LF - Nick Swisher
Swisher is a guy who Oakland is hoping has a breakout season. He's got, like so many A's players, a good eye and good power. He starts the season hitting 5th, behind Thomas and Chavez.
Top LF Prospects - Matt Watson
Between Swisher and his own bad defense, Watson will likely be a backup in Oakland, as the DH spot is Larish's to lose at this point. He projects as a good hitter with power, though.
C - Landon Powell
After the release of Jason Kendall, the Landon Powell era began in Oakland. A highly regarded hitter in the mold of Adam Dunn, the next two years should see him develop his skills further.
Top C Prospects - Kurt Suzuki and Jeremy Brown
Kurt Suzuki, an atheletic player, especially for the position, is Oakland's top young catcher in the minors. Jeremy Brown of Moneyball fame also looks solid behind the plate.
Pitching
Starting Rotation:
Barry Zito
Rich Harden
Danny Haren
Joe Blanton
Esteban Loaiza
Zito enters the last year on his contract with the A's this year, and will be leading a staff some are considering the best in the Major Leagues. Young fireballer Rich Harden is probably the team's best starter, and Danny Haren is also an excellent front line starter. Blanton should develop this year into the pitcher he's capable of being, and Loaiza should be solid as a #5, but for 7 million dollars a year, he needs to be more than that.
Top Starting Pitching Prospects - Jared Lansford, Craig Italiano, Vince Mazzaro, Jordan Tata
The A's are loaded with young arms in the minors, with four excellent SP prospects on the way up. Expect to see them in the next two to four years.
Closer - Huston Street
Last year's ALROY prepares to dominate hitters again in his sophomore campaign. Doesn't throw incredibly hard, but knows how to strike batters out with good movement and location.
Top Closer Prospect - Kevin Wheelan
Wheelan is an absolutely overpowering young hurler acquired in the Hererra deal. He has an excellent future ahead of him in the Majors.
Coming into the 2006 season, Oakland is a hot pick to win the Series. We'll see if they can live up to the expectations, or suffer yet another early postseason exit.
Anyways, to the team.
1B/DH - Dan Johnson & Frank Thomas
Johnson's solid bat makes up for his rather poor defense at first base. He's talented, but with the 1B prospects in the A's system, he's only temporary. Frank Thomas could be the bargain of the year at $500K, and should be solid for .250/.350/.475.
Top 1B/DH Prospects - Jeff Larish & Daric Barton
1B Jeff Larish was acquired in the offseason from the Detroit Tigers in the Hererra deal. His defense is, like Johnson's, below average, but his bat more than make up for it. He already has excellent patience and power, and should develop more contact skills this year in AAA ball. Daric Barton, who starts the year in A ball, is an excellent prospect in the mold of Mark Grace - excellent bat control and an amazing eye for the zone, but average at best power for the position. Look for him in a couple of years.
2B - Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis is an excellent contact hitter and stellar defensive 2B. He hit over .300 last year, and will probably open up 2006 as the A's leadoff man. He also has suprising power against left handers.
Top 2B Prospects - Kevin Millilo & Gregorio Petit
Millilo, who will play for Midland this year, is not an elite defender, but has excellent power for the position and also posesses above average speed. Projects as an excellent hitter. Petit starts off at the A level, but is a speedy and versatile infielder. He's probably better at 3rd than 2nd, but does both well enough to be a solid utility man at the next level, maybe an everyday starter if he gets a few breaks.
3B - Eric Chavez
Chavez is the A's best hitter and defender, owner of five gold gloves. Since breaking into the lineup full time in 2000, he's put up six straight seasons of 26+ home runs, .275+ BA, and .348+ on base. He needs to continue his work with the bat to power the A's offense this year.
Top 3B Prospects - none!
SS - Bobby Crosby
Top notch defender, excellent power for a middle infielder, Oakland A's... sound familiar? Bobby Crosby, Miguel Tejada's successor at SS, is not unlike his predecessor in many ways. Look for him to add some power in the bottom of the order this year.
Top SS Prospects - Cliff Pennington
Pennington may lack Crosby's acrobatics at SS, but he's a solid defender at his position. Possesses good contact skills and above average speed, he projects as an excellent hitter at the top of the order.
RF - Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley, and the A's, are hoping he can leave his personal conflicts behind and just play ball like he's capable of doing. Starts out at #2 in the Oakland lineup, and has a good mix of speed, patience, and power.
Top RF Prospects - Travis Buck & Richie Robnett
Both Buck and Robnett project as hitters with excellent power and, in Buck's case, good patience and excellent contact skills. Buck is a solid defender in right, and Robnett is just passable.
CF - Mark Kotsay
Kotsay is a solid defender in center, and average with the bat. Like Johnson, he has talent but just isn't the future of the position in Oakland.
Top CF Prospects - None. Buck has good range for right and could make a borderline CF, but no true CF exists in Oakland's farm.
LF - Nick Swisher
Swisher is a guy who Oakland is hoping has a breakout season. He's got, like so many A's players, a good eye and good power. He starts the season hitting 5th, behind Thomas and Chavez.
Top LF Prospects - Matt Watson
Between Swisher and his own bad defense, Watson will likely be a backup in Oakland, as the DH spot is Larish's to lose at this point. He projects as a good hitter with power, though.
C - Landon Powell
After the release of Jason Kendall, the Landon Powell era began in Oakland. A highly regarded hitter in the mold of Adam Dunn, the next two years should see him develop his skills further.
Top C Prospects - Kurt Suzuki and Jeremy Brown
Kurt Suzuki, an atheletic player, especially for the position, is Oakland's top young catcher in the minors. Jeremy Brown of Moneyball fame also looks solid behind the plate.
Pitching
Starting Rotation:
Barry Zito
Rich Harden
Danny Haren
Joe Blanton
Esteban Loaiza
Zito enters the last year on his contract with the A's this year, and will be leading a staff some are considering the best in the Major Leagues. Young fireballer Rich Harden is probably the team's best starter, and Danny Haren is also an excellent front line starter. Blanton should develop this year into the pitcher he's capable of being, and Loaiza should be solid as a #5, but for 7 million dollars a year, he needs to be more than that.
Top Starting Pitching Prospects - Jared Lansford, Craig Italiano, Vince Mazzaro, Jordan Tata
The A's are loaded with young arms in the minors, with four excellent SP prospects on the way up. Expect to see them in the next two to four years.
Closer - Huston Street
Last year's ALROY prepares to dominate hitters again in his sophomore campaign. Doesn't throw incredibly hard, but knows how to strike batters out with good movement and location.
Top Closer Prospect - Kevin Wheelan
Wheelan is an absolutely overpowering young hurler acquired in the Hererra deal. He has an excellent future ahead of him in the Majors.
Coming into the 2006 season, Oakland is a hot pick to win the Series. We'll see if they can live up to the expectations, or suffer yet another early postseason exit.
