I know it's only been a week and there's a long way to go before this season is anywhere near over but I can't help but be impressed with the way that the A's have started their season. You must remember, this is coming from a fan that saw his team trade 2 out of the 3 "aces" from a staff that led the team to 4 straight playoff appearances and then went on to start the season 17-32 with no hopes of seeing the playoffs anytime soon. So when my team wins both series' in the first week, one from the always hated Yankees and the other a four game series vs. the division rival Mariners, it doesn't get better than that.
What I like about those wins was the way in which we won those games. The season couldn't have gotten off to a worse start after watching Barry Zito get shelled while lasting only 1.1 innings against the team that we truly hate. Losing 15-2 on Opening Night in your home stadium is not a confidence booster for a team that many pick to go all the way this year. As soon as that game was over, all the haters came out saying how the A's couldn't handle the pressure of being expected to win and how they still can't compete against the big market teams and how even if they get to the playoffs, it will be like previous years and they will not make it out of the first round. Pleeeaaassseee, it was one bad game and over the next two nights that A's proved it was just that. They won the next game 4-3 with a solid outing from, a guy whom I think will win the Cy Young this year, Rich Harden and solid pitching from our relief pitchers (0 runs in 1.1 innings). The third game was a statement game in which the A's showed off their improved offense and won 9-4. The two "controversial" offseason pickups (Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley) came up big, each driving in 3 runs a piece as the pitching was once again solid, giving up only 4 runs to the potent Yankee lineup.
After taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees, it was onto Seattle for a 4 game set against division foes the Seattle Mariners. Once again, the A's dropped the series opener as the other key offseason pickup (Esteban Loaiza) struggled in his first start. In game 2, all the hype was surrounding King Felix Hernandez making his first start of the season but Joe Blanton was the one people were talking about after the game as he threw 8 innings of 2 hit ball. In game 3, it was more of the same as Barry Zito and 3 other Oakland pitchers combined for a 1 hit shutout of the Mariners. In game 4, it was Harden's turn as he gave up 1 run over seven innings while striking out 8. With that, the A's have won their first two series' and have gotten off to a 5-2 start.
What I liked so far:
--- Oakland dropped both series openers but came back to win the rest of the games in the series showing their solid makeup.
--- Harden looks healthy and Oakland won 3 out of the 4 games in which Bobby Crosby missed due to a cut finger. A big deal was made about the A's needed Crosby to win last year which I think was blown out of proportion.
--- Eric Chavez getting off to a hot start batting with 3 home runs and 6 RBI over the first 7 games. He is a notorious slow starter so getting off to a good start is extremely important to him. He tried something a little different in prepartaion for the season this year which it seems to be working and I expect a big year out of him.
--- The bullpen looks very strong as the three key setup men (Kiko Calero, Justin Duchscherer, and Joe Kenedy) along with their closer (Houston Street) have yet to give up an earned run in 14 innings of work. This pen is deep and gives manager Ken Macha a lot of options late in the game.
What I didn't like so far:
--- I'm concered with Esteban Loaiza's first start as I feel we overpaid for him. However, I think if he reaches 200 innings, no matter what his record may be at the end of the season, he did his job by keeping the bullpen fresh.
--- I'm concered with the slow starts of Milton Bradley (.217 avg), Frank Thomas (.091 avg), and Dan Johnson (.000 in 19 ABs). These 3 guys will be key run producers for the Oakland offense and when the pitching struggles, these guys will need to pick it up.
Up next for the A's:
This week they head out to Minnesota for a 3 game set vs. the Twins and then return home for a series vs. division rivals the Texas Rangers. I expect the A's to take both of these series' as well as both the Twins and the Rangers are struggling right now. I'll be back next week with another week in review.
DJ - I think Dan Johnson will pick it up, and I am glad Hatteberg is history because for a 1B he had no power whatsoever. With the payroll situation they get priced out of the market at the cold corner (my term). First Big Mac gets traded for junk, then Goomba flies to NYC. Maybe Johnson just needs to get on the juice, okay that's a low blow.
Loaiza disappointed me too, and not just because I need to look up the spelling on his name every time. You are dead on about the 200+ innings factor though. The problem is that rarely in his career (2003, 2005) has he hit that mark. Twice (1997, 2001) he went 190 and in 2004 he did make it to 183 between the Yanks & Nats. This is where someone like Greg Maddux (Mr. 33+ starts) will be looked upon favorably when he retires. I hope Esteban can prove his worth. It is tough to justify paying someone who has 21/112 of his career wins (that's 18.75%) in the 2003 season alone without a single trip past 12 during his 14 year career!
I must say I'm worried about this trip to the Twinkie Dome. They are 1-5 and ticked off so the A's might not sweep them just based on laws of averages, but this is already looking like a GREAT April for the Green & Gold. I saw a guy at San Leandro Costco wearing his gear. Go A's!
This has been kind of a crappy draft. I took Jay Cutler because the ####s behind me wouldn't trade me squat for the pick (Young gone) and I had interest so there was still hope I could deal him after taking him. It didn't work out.
Still, I got Whitner in round 2 which is robbery. Then I got Rod Wright (DT-Texas) who has the size to be another Ted Washington type run stuffer in round 3.
It is a pain in the #### to determine who is still left on the board, but I am thinking best LB is about all I can do. Possibly a DE or OT, but there are a ton of OL guys off the board.
Tell me what you think if it interests you. There are a half dozen or so picks until I'm on the clock.
You will be looking for "Experts Draft Mock Invitational 2" which on my screen goes by the above web address in my other comment.
I don't believe you have to be logged in or anything to view the draft, but I could be wrong. I believe on the main index page you should see a link on the right side of the page to "Experts..." and it appears under the heading of "Latest News and Info".
Yes, I think Edwards would be the best fit based on the remaining candidates and it also works out that he is my highest rated player amongst the remaining. After that it would be Oshinowo followed by McClover.
DJ - I failed above to say thank you. It is a big help. I want to show well for the Raider Nation even though Version 2 of this mock draft really fell apart.
Version 1 was a quality 3 rounder, but in this one people made ridiculous trades (like for 2007 selections and one sided) so it really hurt the legitimacy overall.
Ray Edwards is a guy I considered in round 3 so that would be huge.
Jets are on the clock (they already took Hali) then Houston, New Orleans and San Francisco (they have Tapp) so the odds are pretty good I can land him.
I figured while Sapp is still on board he can teach Rod Wright and Hawthorne the ropes. That could potentially be two legs of the future rotation in my scenario.
If I knew these idiots would be so dumb about their trades, I would have just taken Justice instead of Cutler because I'm not going to land anything at OL other than probably a sleeper in round 5 or 6.
No Problem man. Hit me up whenever you want, I love this stuff.
Oh and on a side note, I think the guy who is on the clock (KC I think) right now in your draft is going to take a while. You better put a clock on him.
Last edited by DJ_BoTaks on April 11th at 6:18 PM.
DJ - If you want, you can register (free) at xpertsports to check out that full draft (middle of the 4th right now, pick #111).
http://www.xpertsports.com/regi ster.php
If you want me to sign up for you I can do that too. Just thought you might want to see the whole draft. I won't pick again for 60 more slots, which will be late next week at the earliest.
My bad Norcal, I was away for the weekend. Just took a look at the mock. Looks like quite a few guys have slipped, we should be getting great value with our 2nd rounder.
DJ - I am chomping at the bit man. I won't even need to consult you if the guy I am thinking of is there, but I don't want to jinx it.
It's no sweat I knew people were going to be gone, I just thought you might have been around. I did get this thing kicked through to #35, but now I'm stuck on the Jets AGAIN. I hit up rivjo who I "know" well and who likes the Jets. I want to give him a little time to take them over if he is so inclined.
Once he picks, cuz & MrNFL then us, followed by Pipsy & lionsman57 ... that group is usually online so I think finishing the top 40 by tomorrow is possible.
I'm a young kid, just graduated from college and I am a die hard fan of the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders. I bleed green and gold and silver and black. Nothing makes me happier than watching those two teams win. As the man Al Davis says, "Just Win Baby!"
