Well, along with every other A's fan, I am looking forward to next season. In the process I have spent a little time thinking about next year's lineup and whether we have a chance to succeed with what kind of talent exists on this team.  Additionally, I am guilty of taunting Billy on this site about needing to go out and getting some power hitters. Yet, if  one looks at this lineup it appears to me that he may not trade nor sign any free agents because he has enough players as it is at every position. It is downright scary the thought of next year's lineup, and the fact they we may very well stand pat this winter and be left with..........well...............this lineup.

Catcher: Suzuki

First Base: Barton

Second Base: Patterson, Pennington

Shortstop:  Crosby

Third Base: Chavez

DH: Cust

Right field: Sweeney

Center Field: Gonzales

Left Field: Buck, Murton, Cunningham, Patterson

I put multiple players at certain positions due to the depth that exists. This depth further explains why Billy will not go out and get anyone to improve this situation; he already has enough players!  All of these players are young and have some potential, I just seriously question whether this potential compares to the scoring potential of the Rangers and the Angels.

Concerning individual players I put in the this lineup, well, no one is going to want to trade for Crosby, he is here for the duration. Ellis won't be signed because Billy has enough middle infielders who are cheaper and potentially the same type of player as Ellis with Pennington and Patterson.  (Jeez, Pennington in the field could be physically confused for Ellis! They uncannily look the same.) He has way too many outfielders with Buck, Gonzales, Sweeney, Murton, Cunningham, and on and on ad nauseum. With the exception of Gonzales, they are the same player. Cust is going no where due to his on base baloney, and Sweeney, although he has a good batting average, he is not showing me any power potential. But, he is the person replacing Nick Swisher so Billy will trot him out there regardless or not.  Barton is staying, why else would Billy not send him down to AAA with his horrendous numbers? Suzuki has been good, but does anyone really think that those 18 doubles and 7 or 8 homers are really going to make a difference on this team offensively? And finally, based on media reports about his surgery and the lack of no backup, I can see Chavez playing next year and providing some offense. If Billy were, and that is a big WERE,  going to sign anyone it would be a backup plan for Chavez. That would be Hank Blalock, good lord. 

So the question is, does anyone think that next year's lineup is going to win any more games than this year? Does anyone think that Billy will actually replace anyone in the lineup via trades or free agency? And don't get me started on the pitching staff. As of tonight, this Gallagher dude is becoming questionable. But, I said I wouldn't get started on the pitching staff. Is this 300 words yet?

While reading through my dog eared Baseball Prospectus and checking out all the VORP's, PECOTA's, MLVR's, and EQAVG's (never figured that one out), I came upon Travis Buck's PECOTA projection. They had Travis Buck as being comparable to Jeremy Giambi.  What the......?!?!   Now, I love my Baseball Prospectus, and I realize that they can not be correct all the time, but, whatever happened to good ol' intuition? It seems Baseball America uses various leaps of faith when they come up with their top ten prospects each year.  They had Trevor Cahill in the top then this year and he had barely pitched! They also had Craig Italiano, Jermaine Mitchell, Matt Sulentic, Javier Herrera, and Richie Robnett (was he on a list?) on top ten lists....and what the heck have they done? Baseball America will habitually rate someone highly and get everyone all hyped up.  For a while it seemed that people on this board were always writing about Jermaine Mitchell and his small sample size of great statistics at Vancouver.  Now look at him.  Just horrible. The same goes for Matt Sulentic and Vince Mazzaro.  And, why does it always have to be a "top ten" list of prospects? So, let me share with you my top NINE prospects...

Continue reading this post »

who would be the likely suitors?

Continue reading this post »

What ever happened to Depodesta?

Continue reading this post »

Does Fritz has what it takes?

Continue reading this post »