Can the A's contend in 2015? Sure they can. But
it will take a lot of ifs. Did Billy Beane reshape the roster enough from
trading seven All Stars? Can the pieces lost last year in Griffin and Parker
come back and retake their rotation spots? Can the new pieces acquired come in
and restore a statistically powerful lineup from last year? That's a bunch of
questions that need to be answered. If that answer is yes then yes the
Athletics can again win the west or at worse be a wild card team...
But if any of those questioned are answered with
a no? Then the A's could fall beneath Seattle in the division. The Angels are
slowly moving into the team we thought they'd be five years ago. Texas is still
a dangerous team led by Darvish and Fielder. And then there is Seattle led by
Hernandez and Cano. A's fandom is again split between wondering if Beane can pull
off the magic that had the A's at contender levels the last three years or if
the A's will suffer while the team again reshuffles the entire roster. So many
questions. So many ifs. Parker and Griffin missed last year with injuries.
Beane landed a very good player in Zobrist from TB but can be replace Cespedes
or Donaldson's production?...
This year I don't think the A's will contend.
Too many unanswered questions. Big moves made by Beane right after depleting
the team of its best players and the farm system of high potential talent. This
season screams rebuilding year for Oakland. A year where they will have to
fight Seattle to stay above Houston in the standings. The rotation can be very
good if healthy. Gray, Kazmir, Parker and Griffin are a formidable rotation.
But can Zobrist replace the production of Cespedes and Donaldson by himself or
be the lineup linchpin that helps those around him? I just don't see it...
Beane is building yet again for the future
after going all in last year. But it can't be denied that he is the best GM in
baseball. He's done everything except win a World Series. Ownership continually
handcuffs him as they obviously wait to try to move again to build a new
stadium. Lew Wolff and company hate Oakland. But MLB's new commissioner has told
them that he won't allow them to leave and they should build in Oakland. Build
a stadium that could've been built ten years ago if Wolff didn't hate Oakland...
So no I just don't see the Athletics contending this year. At the beginning of this year all teams start 0-0. That's as close as I believe the A's will be to first place. The depth is too weak to withstand an injury to any pitcher or the lineup. Bob Melvin can work magic with this team but it may not be enough. Beane has reshaped this entire roster. The team will need to find another identity. They won't be able to be the team they were the last three years and this year we will see the new Oakland Athletics. A team with interesting pieces and hopes but one that will require a long time to gel and become the team they were...
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