2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

WOOT!!

For some reason everyone is picking the Angels for the AL West this year. Eff'em. Their line-up still sucks. Of course the A's line-up kinda sucks too. Piazza should do OK but he's no Frank Thomas*. A's will need more production out of everyone else in the line-up this year (cough, cough, Chavez, cough, cough). The number 5 starter is also an issue. I always thought Saarloos was a great bottom of the rotation guy and I think the A's will miss him. Joe Blanton is also kind of an issue when he's not pitching against the Mariners. Will be interesting to see what kind of year he has. I'm also looking forward to watching Duchscherer pitch. He is amazing when he's dialed in. But whatever happens, Eric Chavez and Mike Piazza make a really cute couple.

*I made this statement without looking at any recent career stats or park adjusted stats for Petco. The statement was based soley on Thomas' monster year in 2006. Sabre guys feel free to rip me a new one.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Sup Boris. Looking forward to the season, and seeing what Crosby/Swisher/Harden are capable of

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

please be healthy Harden.

you are right about Piazza, but I'm not sure he will even be OK for a DH.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

We really need Bradley and Crosby to stay healthy.. if MB can stay healthy I think he could have a huge year.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
please be healthy Harden.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

lol @ harden ever staying healthy for a full season

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

As an Oakland fan, all I can say is 'God, help us!'.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Last year Oakland was a very good team that deal with a lot of injuries. This year, they've lost a bit, but if they can avoid the injury bug should still be competitive. Here's last year's team.

Player PA 2006 OPS+ Career OPS+
Kendall 626 89 104
Johnson 331 85 100
Ellis 500 85 98
Chavez 576 106 118
Crosby 398 68 88
Swisher 672 126 113
Kotsay 558 89 100
Bradley 405 115 106

That's a lot of bad years in the starting lineup. Kendall might just be done. Bradley might have slightly over achieved. But Swisher is entering his prime, last year wasn't likely a fluke. You have to think they can get more out of Johnson, Ellis, Chavez, Crosby and Kotsay.

Which brings us to the DH, Thomas. His OPS+ was 141. He is being replaced by Piazza, who comes off a 120 OPS+. Remember that Piazza played in maybe the worst hitters park in the majors while playing catcher, while Thomas played in the AL, that combined to make Thomas's edge over Piazza look greater than it really was. If Piazza has another 120 OPS+ he's probably one of the better DH's in the league.

Overall I think the offense can easily be better than last year, if they are healthy. But that's a lot of ifs.

I have no clue on pitching, but if Harden pitches a full year I'll bet that more than makes up for losing Zito.

If they have injuries like last year, they'll probably finish at .500.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Boris, last year you said Bobby Crosby sucks and I didn't listen. Please tell me which A's will suck this year so I know who to avoid in my draft!

I look forward to being at Safeco on Opening Day, watching the M's whip up on the A's.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Nolan - The A's don't have anyone this year who I feel is way over-hyped like Crosby was. If anything, I think players like Chavez, Ellis and Crosby might be a bit undervalued in the mock drafts because of recent suckiness. Definitely stay away from Dan Johnson. I think Swisher is going to be a beast but he's not exactly a secret anymore. Kotsay is on the downhill part of his career.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Crosby is a plus defender based on Dewan's system, and his bat is decent. The significant problems with the A's are injuries to Harden, Crosby, and Chavez.

That said, I think it'll be a coinflip with the Angels, because the Angels lineup is likely not better than 50% of the AAA teams out there. I'm not totally convinced it's better than the Royals.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Why the hate on Crosby? Hw was hurt last year. The year before he put up a 109 OPS+, which is very good for a short-stop, and when healthy, he's reputably a plus defender. That would make him one of the top short stops in the league.

For example, Micheal Young has a career OPS+ of 102, and was under 109 two out of the last three years.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Kyle they will be in the top 50% in runs scored this year

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Just being a baseball fan, I would love to see a full healthy year out of Harden. The dude is just sick to watch.

I think it will be a close battle this year, again, between the Angels and A's. I think the Angels defense will be improved a fair amount, and I also think the offense will improve marginally. That, plus the fact the A's lost Zito/Thomas, and the recurring injuries of Harden/Crosby, make me feel the A's will prob get 2nd.

I would love to see a healthy team (from both) all year though!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why the hate on Crosby?

[/ QUOTE ]

As Boris said, overhyped. That's all. I mean, Gammons was handing him the MVP last March, and people started to really expect a monster year out of him. He was hurt, and when he played he was nothing spectacular, so hence the hate.

I've got no rooting interest in the As, but I get most of their games here and I enjoy watching them. They've got a solid broadcast booth, too. Hopefully the pitching staff is healthy because then they're a load of fun to watch.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Bump

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

go a's!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Dan Johnson injurs his left hip in a collision, has torn cartilage.

He may be out up to 3 months. Link on MSN.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

tuq - you da man dawg!

doyle - not to be a hater but I could care less that Johnson is out.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
tuq - you da man dawg!

doyle - not to be a hater but I could care less that Johnson is out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well Kotsay's out, which means Swisher is outfield, which means Johnson is needed. If Swisher and Kotsay both were healthy, no problem. We know Piazza isn't playing first. Time for Daric Barton or Travis Buck to step up?

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]

For some reason everyone is picking the Angels for the AL West this year.

[/ QUOTE ]

As an Angel fan I have absolutely no clue what to expect this year. We have so many youngsters that a 70-win season wouldn't surprise me, and a 95-win season wuldn't surprise me either.

I pretty much know what to expect out of Cabrera and Vlad, but outside of that, who knows.

I'm about ready to give up on Kotchman, but he's only had 300something AB's, and he's only 24, so we'll see if he figures it out this year.

Kendrick looks like a hitting-beast-in-the-making, but who knows.

I don't know what to make of Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar for 2007. And what are they going to do with Brandon Wood?

Garret Anderson, as much as I love him, needs to be put out to pasture.

...And that's just the offense

Their pitching is just as questionable. Will Lackey continue to become a bonafide ace? Will Escobar be healthy for a full season (probably not)? Will Colon stay away from the buffets? Will Santana continue to improve? Can Weaver keep from getting injured and still be dominant? If the answers to most of these questions are yes, then the Angels will have a rotation few in the majors can match. They're a legit 5-deep.

Their bullpen should continue to stay good, especially after picking up Speier. I have no idea why Darren Oliver is wasting a major league roster spot though.

My prediction for my Angels? 90 wins, plus or minus 15 [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

I am very interested to see how Piazza will do facing new pitchers in a new league. Switching to DH will keep him fresher through the season, and he will benifit from batting in Oakland instead of Petco.

The stregnth of the team this year is clearly the bullpen. I expect big things from Gaudin this year. The A's also picked up Alan Embree and have some good looking prospects. Street can be very good, but Duchscherer really needs to be closing.

I am looking forward to a big year from Starter Dan Haren also. Kennedy looked awful most of the spring but he is penciled in as the fifth starter. I don't know who will replace him if he continues slumping. Who knows if Harden can stay healthy?

Angel's fans, I am looking forward to a great race this season. The teams seem to be pretty evenly matched if everyone stays healthy.

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am very interested to see how Piazza will do facing new pitchers in a new league. Switching to DH will keep him fresher through the season, and he will benifit from batting in Oakland instead of Petco.


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not an expert, but I assume his HRs will go up due to being out of SD, but that his average will likely take a hit due to the massive amount of foul territory in Oakland.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]

I'm not an expert, but I assume his HRs will go up due to being out of SD, but that his average will likely take a hit due to the massive amount of foul territory in Oakland.

[/ QUOTE ]

BA in the AL was higher in the AL last year, .275, vs. .265. He's going to a league where the DH helps tire out pitchers more, so he's going to get a boost that way. And he'll only hit half the time in Oakland. But the AL is widely considered much stronger than the NL, so he'll probably be facing tougher pitching. So who really knows?

One thing about Piazza was his hitting was pretty weak the two years before last year. So last year could have been a "last gasp" for him. Though two years ago he was trying to learn 1st base, and he had some injuries during the last two years with them. So once again, who really knows?

It's going to be a very interesting year.

I wonder if Durazo has anything left in his tank as well.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

The A's signed Todd Walker today (3.30.07). I can't stop laughing.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
The A's signed Todd Walker today (3.30.07). I can't stop laughing.

[/ QUOTE ]

what

g
sdhjkl

wheayjdsksd;kljsdsd;kljhs

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

[ QUOTE ]
The A's signed Todd Walker today (3.30.07). I can't stop laughing.

[/ QUOTE ]
imo smart signing

GO A's!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

So far the A's offense licks balls. If this keeps up it's going to be a very long season. Throwing out one outlier, the A's are averaging 1.87 runs per game so far. Ouch!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

f'ing terrible loss. thank god the rest of the division sucks

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARCOOOOOOO

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

that was impressive.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

The mariners are going to win the division

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

MARCO!! SCUTARO!!

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Extremely appropriate thread bump. Scuataro is such a clutch hitting attention whore. I love it. Man that must feel good to hit an 0-2 bomb off of Rivera.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

That would've been a great series to see. A's win by 1 in 11. Yanks win by 1 in 13 on Giambi's homer. A's win the finale by 1 with a three-run homer with two outs. Good times.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Over/under on total runner left on base in this series?

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Harden to miss his next start. WTF with this guy.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Am I sensing a touch of schadenfreude Yellowdoyle?

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

Definitely had to look that one up.

No, you are not sensing my pleasure because of Harden's misfortune. Being a non local fan, I have only watched about 6-7 Harden games. Usually he is very very good and I just love watching good pitching. The guy just keeps getting injured for whatever reason. I guess Kyleb was right when he described his as the AL's Mark Prior.

Re: 2007 Oakland A\'s Thread!!!
 

sdcsadsafasfsadasdasf rich harden

Also, yellowdoyle has been a fan of Harden since he's been posting here. I can vouch for that.