Mar 05 2009
Oakland’s Season Dependent on Pitching
The Oakland Athletics signings of shortstop Orlando Cabrera and utility man Nomar Garciaparra highlighted an offseason of change for the green and yellow. Cabrera takes the spot of underachiever Bobby Crosby, who will now be resigned to pretty boy in Fox Sports Bay Area commercials. Oakland’s lineup – anemic in 2008, is much improved with Cabrera, outfielder Matt Holliday, and second baseman Mark Ellis at the top of the lineup.
The pitching staff is still a big question mark. Justin Duchscherer is not your typical ace – he’s a former setup man who sits in the mid 80’s. Duchscherer has also battled injury which further compromises his value. Following him is a motley crue of characters including Sean Gallagher, Dana Eveland, Josh Outman, Gio Gonzalez and others.
Oakland does have a couple of top pitching prospects waiting in the wings in Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. Expect both to claim rotation spots by the all star break no matter how the team is progressing. Anderson may even make the team out of spring training. He is a big lefty with plus command and plus makeup who is the son of a coach. While he doesn’t have the electric stuff of some young prospects he has advanced feel for pitching and won the third place game for Team USA in the Olympics.
