Versatility, depth leave A's in position to repeat

[HMFFL]

Thoughts?

Versatility, depth leave A's in position to repeat

A deep roster and effective platoon system will again be at the core of Oakland's quest for the American League West.

The A's have finished at the top of the division in each of the past two seasons and, despite a dip in pitching depth, with frontline man Jarrod Parker out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Monday, a third straight title remains in reach for this club.

Oakland will front a rotation led by Sonny Gray, who will be followed in order by Scott Kazmir, Jesse Chavez, Dan Straily and Tommy Milone. A.J. Griffin (elbow), who compiled 200 innings last year, is expected back sometime in May.

"Obviously the loss of Parker means there's going to be big shoes to fill," said shortstop Jed Lowrie, "but I think we have the personnel to step up. This is still an exciting group, and there's no reason we can't be just as good, if not better, than we were last year."

Last year the A's ran away with the division on 96 wins, before bowing out of the playoffs after a second straight Game 5 loss to the Tigers in the AL Division Series. The early departure inspired a bevy of offseason moves, beginning with the signing of another player to add to Team Versatile: Nick Punto.

The A's got loud in December, pulling the trigger on four significant moves in a span of 40 hours, coming out of it with Kazmir, All-Star closer Jim Johnson, setup extraordinaire Luke Gregerson and perhaps the game's best part-time player in Craig Gentry on their side. A week later, they dealt for former first-round Draft pick Drew Pomeranz, a lefty swingman with plenty of upside despite a down stint in Colorado.

Along the way they lost their top outfield prospect Michael Choice and one of the top lefties, when healthy, Brett Anderson, along with DH Seth Smith. The decision to part ways with Choice, in particular, reflected their win-now approach.

Gentry, like reliever Ryan Cook, will start the season on the disabled list, after being set back in spring by a lower back strain, but both are expected back when eligible April 5. In the meantime, depth again comes to the club's rescue.

Late offseason pickup Sam Fuld, a defensive whiz, will serve as the club's fourth outfielder, and the A's don't figure to miss a beat in the later innings, either, with an abundance of arms from both the left and right side readily available to step in for Cook.

Right-handers Johnson, Gregerson, Dan Otero and Evan Scribner, and southpaws Sean Doolittle, Fernando Abad and Pomeranz are expected to begin the season in a bullpen that figures to be the club's biggest strength. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/oak/oak ... y=news_oak

[number1joker]

I like our chances to Repeat but we gotta start fielding better!!!

[Danny1533]

This team is built to be decnet and possibly win the division but this team is not built to excel. Too many holes in the line up and without Parker and Griffen this team is a big question mark. I know they have no money but they need two more good hitters. I can not stand the love the A's show Barton. He is a mess. Also I like Reddick but this guy is proving to be a lost cause. Great defense is fine when the rest of your line up is filled with killers. The A's are not that line up. Barton, Reddick and Sogard are all auto-outs. They need to add more power and someone that can also hit for average. That or go out and get another starter who can be super solid cause this team is not going to outscore other teams on a nightly basis.

[number1joker]

best record in mlb baby!