Oakland Athletics: A Season Of Questions
The Oakland Athletics are entering the 2015 season with new faces and new questions. The team that has had their loyal and fiery fan-base doing the Bernie and swaying to George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” in the stands of O.Co.Coliseum, will have a distinctively different look in 2015.
The Athletics off-season has had more twists and turns than a prime-time soap opera. The fans of the green and gold have become accustomed to sweeping roster changes over the years. And they have learned not to get to attached to the names on the back of the jersey’s, because in Oakland there are no untouchables.
The turnover that seems to take place in Oakland every two to three years has been well documented and their fans have had to learn to cope with the revolving turnstile that is the Athletics locker-room.
However, this off-season seemed to take it to a different feel than its predecessors.
Instead of the subtle roster tweaks and mid-level trades, the Athletics had a nearly complete roster overhaul. Oakland had seven All-Star participants last July. Only two are left on the roster.
The heart and soul of the roster — which had won two of the last three American League West division titles — has been replaced with unfamiliar names and faces.
The cabinet wasn’t left completely void of talent. The Athletics still boast some very familiar names that Athletic’s Nation can ramp up the bleacher drum beats to.
Sonny Gray and 2014 All-Star Scott Kazmir, will lead the A’s relatively young, but strong pitching staff. Oakland will be relying on two of their young injured hurlers to be able to bounce back to form after the departures of mid-season rentals Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija.
Right-handers A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker are both coming off Tommy John surgery. This was the second such surgery for Parker, so the Athletics brass is taking a slow and methodical approach in rehabbing the young duo.
"“We are looking at how they respond physically.” manager Bob Melvin said during a recent interview with espn.com. We want them to make progress each time out, but we are more concerned about how they feel afterward.”"
The pitching staff will have a few new arms leading the Athletics in their quest to regain the top spot in the West, but the fans may have to use flash cards to help memorize the players on the field.
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The offseason move which had many Athletic fans pulling out their hair and questioning the sanity of the front-office, was the trading away of All-Star and MVP candidate Josh Donaldson.
Donaldson was not just a fan favorite, he was the engine that powered the middle of the Athletics line-up. The All-Star third-baseman had hit a combined 53 home runs and drove in 191 runs, over the past two years.
Those numbers are not easily replaced and Donaldson was more than just a middle of the lineup slugger.
He was a virtual vacuum at the hot corner, displaying cat-like reflexes and a rifle arm, which allowed Oakland pitchers to stay aggressive and attack the strike zone without fear or hesitation.
Replacing the big void left by the departure of Donaldson is just one of quandaries Bob Melvin is facing this season.
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The middle of the Athletics order will have a vastly different look in the soon to kick off regular season. The departures of Yoenis Cespedes, Brandon Moss and Derek Norris has presented Melvin with an everyday line-up devoid of power.
Oakland will be relying on new acquisitions Brett Lawrie and Billy Butler to supply middle of the line-up thump. The Athletics are hoping Butler can reclaim his All-Star form of 2012.
The 29-year-old designated hitter hit 29 home-runs and drove in 107 runs in his lone All-Star year, and will be heavily depended upon to be a steadying force in the middle of the Oakland order.
Replacing Donaldson’s power and leadership will not be accomplished by one man. It will definitely be a collective effort, but Oakland needs Lawrie to step up in a major way.
They need a healthy and productive Lawrie to start fulfilling some of the expectations placed on him, as a young prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
The time for production is now.
A’s fans have become accustomed to the thrills and excitement that come with post-season play, and while fans may need name-tags to keep up with who is wearing those famous white-shoes on the field, the roar of the crowd won’t be tamed just because the names may not be the same.