What went right for Oakland in 2013: I like big bats and I cannot lie. - Maybe I am thinking in the moment, but I cannot remember an Oakland with this much firepower. They had four guys hit over 20 home runs last season plus Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick added double-digit home run numbers. This team was an offensive juggernaut. They were third in home runs and runs as a team. They also finished second in doubles. Oakland has always been known for their pitching, but their big bats were a major key to success last season.
What went wrong for Oakland in 2013: Yoenis Cespedes took a wee step back - I am not going to rush to conclusions, but Cespedes definitely had himself a sophomore slump. Yes, he did win a Home Run Derby and hit more home runs, but other than that, he had a pedestrian year. Cespedes hit only .240 which was 50 points less than his first year with Oakland. Further, he had a dismal OBP of .254 and only an OPS of .442. Cespedes will be a player to watch this season.
Key Additions: RP Jim Johnson, IF Nick Punto, SP Scott Kazmir, RP Luke Gregerson, RP Francisco Abad - Not many big signings for the A's, but Johnson definitely could be a shut down closer again. We have seen guys move teams and reinvent their career especially as closers. Gregerson is a solid bullpen arm. Don't hate the Kazmir move either.
Key Subtractions: OF Chris Young, RP Grant Balfour, C Kurt Suzuki, SP Bartolo Colon - Nothing really stands out as a major loss. Young never became the player people expected him to be and that's disappointing.
What to watch: Will the young pitching hold up again? - We can talk all day about the bats from Oakland, but it is always all about pitching. Oakland features a stable of young arms with Jarrod Parker, Sonny Gray, Dan Straily whom are all 25 or younger plus A.J. Griffith is only the ripe age of 26. These guys could all hit at the same time, and it is fair to talk about Oakland to be World Series contenders. I am dead serious. But there is still a chance that these guys will be slightly inconsistent meaning it could lead to struggles of the team as a whole. There is a huge boom or bust with this squad.
Population: Breakout: SP Sonny Gray - Even though I am wondering about the young pitchers, I do think some of them will have a big year. Gray seems like the most likely to have a huge year. He had a 2.67 ERA in 10 games started including only giving up four home run and a WHIP of 1.109. That's pretty great even if it is a small sample size. ZIP's thinks Gray should have a pretty solid year having a decision in 26 starts which feels like a lot, but maybe I am wrong there. Look forward to watching Gray pitch this season, it could be special.Population: Regression: Would you like a Jed Lowrie or Brandon Moss - Projections do not see a big time drop off, but I have to think one of these guys falls off the map. Lowrie hit .290 and has came nowhere near in other years. Brandon Moss was a journeyman for many years but he hit 30 home runs with a .250 average after going for 21 home runs with .290. Where will Moss end up this season? I think Moss is more likely to struggle versus Lowrie. There is not much there to hope Moss stays the course.
Prospect to Watch: SS Addison Russell - He is only 20 years young, and they do not think he will be ready for 2014 season, yet if Russell has a strong minor league season, I think he comes up for the postseason push. In Single A, he hit 17 home runs, hit for a .260 average with 21 stolen bases and had over 100 hits. Russell will not be on the major league roster, but he had a solid Spring Training meaning the future is damn bright for him.
Outlook and Prediction: Oakland won the AL West in the last two seasons. Many people wondered how this happened and there are columns about Oakland doing it again. I love the A's, and what they stand for, but you have to think one of these years, the big boys of the AL West are going to come to roost plus betting on the offense to be there again is questionable. I am predicting third in the AL West with about 87 wins.
Charlie.
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