Oakland As: Spring Training Information

By Paul Bonanos
Location: Phoenix Municipal Stadium – Phoenix, Ariz.
Pitchers and catchers report: Feb. 13
First game: Feb. 28
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Travis Buck (RF)
2. Daric Barton (1B)
3. Jack Cust (DH)
4. Eric Chavez (3B)
5. Mark Ellis (2B)
6. Bobby Crosby (SS)
7. Chris Denorfia (CF)
8. Kurt Suzuki (C)
9. Ryan Sweeney/Emil Brown (LF)

Projected Rotation

1. Joe Blanton RHP
2. Rich Harden RHP
3. Chad Gaudin RHP
4. Justin Duchscherer RHP
5. Lenny DiNardo LHP

Projected Bullpen

Long: Dan Meyer LHP
Situational: Alan Embree LHP, Kiko Calero RHP, Joey Devine RHP, Keith Foulke RHP
7th: Andrew Brown RHP
8th: Santiago Casilla RHP
Closer: Huston Street RHP
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Key Battles: Some would call it a fire sale, but to the data-driven A’s, it’s aggressive rebuilding. The A’s swapped two of their best players, All-Star Game starter Dan Haren and OF/1B Nick Swisher, for nine prospects this winter, including a few highly-rated ones who could make the Opening Day lineup and rotation.

By acquiring as much talent as possible, general manager Billy Beane seems to have built flexibility into his plan, knowing that several of his newly acquired players will be marginal or won’t pan out at all. This isn’t an entirely new way to approach the situation for Beane. Consider that he’s spent three years deciding whether Nick Swisher belonged in the outfield or at 1B as the variables played themselves out, although his hand was usually forced by injuries to various outfielders (Mark Kotsay especially) and the spotty performance of Dan Johnson, a platoon player if ever there was one.

With that in mind, Beane has stockpiled useful players, especially for the outfield spots. The only sure thing is 2007 rookie Travis Buck, who played all three pasture positions. Carlos Gonzalez, a speedy CF yielded by the Haren deal who turned 22 in the fall, will get an extended look in the Cactus League, but the numbers suggest he could use at least a few more months in AAA. More likely, they’ll go with Chris Denorfia in CF for now, and flank him with Buck in right and Ryan Sweeney (acquired in the Swisher trade) and/or Emil Brown in left.

A’s fans wake up each morning wondering if Joe Blanton has been traded yet, but for now he still figures to start one of the two games against the Red Sox in Japan. Rich Harden, if healthy, will handle the other. Chad Gaudin and Justin Duchscherer should take the three and four slots, but the fifth is up for grabs. Southpaw Lenny DiNardo is probably the frontrunner, but lefties Dan Meyer and Dana Eveland, or any number of others, could prove to be the one. Most A’s fans expect that sooner or later Harden will sustain an injury, which could give Gio Gonzalez – another auspicious prospect acquired from the White Sox – a shot. And Beane may prefer to have two lefties in the mix.

The infield should be sewn up, with talented hitter Daric Barton winning the 1B job and veterans Ellis, Crosby and Chavez holding onto theirs. Mike Sweeney provides depth at DH and 1B, should Dan Johnson be traded and/or Jack Cust be injured. Rob Bowen figures to be the backup to catcher Kurt Suzuki, who developed before our very eyes as last summer waned. And while the bullpen could remake itself any day now – with or without a Huston Street trade – hard-throwing righties Andrew Brown and Santiago Casilla are the most likely setup men.

What To Expect: Most big league fans would consider such a chaotic environment disturbingly disorganized, but A’s fans have been trained to think they’re seeing the future unfold before them. After years of watching his low-paid, overachieving teams fall tantalizingly short in September and October, Beane clearly reached for the prize in 2006, trading away youth for experience (Ethier for Bradley) for the first time. This year, the A’s will face the blowback.

Paul usually writes about popular music and venture-backed startups, but finds time to sit in Section 208 of the Oakland Coliseum twenty-two times each year.

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