- Thread starter
- #1
Isaiah4110
Member
So in light of all the A's recent moves, realizing the A's off season is far from over, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how the A's 25-man roster is shaping up thus far. I'll list platoon starters vs. righties and the "starter" with the starter vs. lefties showing up on the bench. Here's what I'm coming up with:
SP:
Kazmir
Parker
Gray
Griffin
Straily
RP:
CL Johnson
SU Cook
SU Doolittle
SU Gregerson
MR Otero
MR Scribner/Abad
LR Chavez/Lindblom
IF:
C Vogt
1B Moss
2B Sogard
3B Donaldson
SS Lowrie
DH/C Jaso
OF:
CF Crisp
LF Cespedes
RF Reddick
Bench:
C Norris
1B Freiman/Barton
2B/UTIL Callaspo/Punto
OF Gentry
A couple notes:
SP:
Kazmir
Parker
Gray
Griffin
Straily
RP:
CL Johnson
SU Cook
SU Doolittle
SU Gregerson
MR Otero
MR Scribner/Abad
LR Chavez/Lindblom
IF:
C Vogt
1B Moss
2B Sogard
3B Donaldson
SS Lowrie
DH/C Jaso
OF:
CF Crisp
LF Cespedes
RF Reddick
Bench:
C Norris
1B Freiman/Barton
2B/UTIL Callaspo/Punto
OF Gentry
A couple notes:
- I'm not sure that I see how the roster could have room for both Alberto Callaspo and Nick Punto. Neither of them has real 1B experience to speak of (meaning you need a Freiman/Barton-type guy on the roster to back up Moss) and I can't see them running with a Jaso/Norris platoon given Jaso's concussion struggles. I guess they could also run with only 6 relievers, but that would leave them with a pretty short bullpen.
- I realize a lot of guys are way down on Barton and I'm probably going to get flak for even sticking his name there, but I could see the A's deciding they liked what they saw from Freiman last year and sending him down to Sac to get full-time ABs and develop his power in a low-pressure situation. Under this scenario you would need Barton as your backup 1B.
- Milone and Drew Pomeranz are likely going to compete with Straily and/or Griffin for the 5th and/or 4th rotation spots. I suppose there is also an outside chance Fernando Rodriguez could make an appearance here, but that all depends on how well he has recuperated from TJ surgery.
- I like the trade off from last year switching Smith/Young out for Gentry as your primary 4th OF. Gentry can play all 3 positions with great defense and may even be OK to step in for Crisp at lead-off when he needs a day off.
- The only potential "weakness" I see here is that the lineup is lacking what has become the prototypical DH (.280 avg, 35 HR guy) and will instead be continuing to use that slot as a "half rest" day for some of their everyday position players. Theoretically (dream world) I suppose Moss could become that guy if Barton tears the cover off the ball in spring training.