Sizing Up Scott Sizemore

In a mere matters of months, a familiar face will suit up once again for the Athletics. For this very player, the grass will smell a little sweeter, the sun will shine a little brighter, and after losing nearly one calendar year to a torn ACL in his left knee, he will return to the game he loves.

This player is Scott Sizemore, and you may remember him from such heroics as his 9th inning bases clearing double in June of 2011, which catapulted Bob Melvin to his first win as A’s manager and ended a 10-game Oakland losing streak.

. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference a year makes.

Prior to his injury, the former Tiger had solidified the third base position in 2011 after being acquired via trade. Steady yet unspectacular, Sizemore provided a decent amount of pop with 11 home runs and 52 RBI’s while hitting .249/.345/.433 in 355 plate appearances. Defensively, he left something to be desired committing 13 errors, 9 of which were throwing in 88 games at the hot corner. In his defense (no pun intended), Sizemore was learning a relatively new position on the fly as he had been primarily a second basemen in the Detroit organization.

With the current Oakland third base situation currently spoken for by the strong play of Josh Donaldson during the second half of 2013, Sizemore will head to spring training in the mix for the starting job at second base in 2013. With Cliff Pennington out of the picture look for Sizemore to compete with the incumbent Jemile Weeks. Depending of course that he is fully recovered after last seasons devastating injury. With the position very much in flux due to Weeks’s poor 2012, the timing is right for Sizemore to place a permanent hold on the starting role and claim it for himself.

If Sizemore is unable to wrestle second base out from under Weeks, he may still have a place on the team as a utility infielder filling in at both second and third. Having experience on the big league level at both positions, he will provide the A’s with insurance and be able to start in the case of either Donaldson or Weeks faltering or falling to injury. When considering this alternative option, making the team as the utility infielder is no lock either for the Virginia Beach native. Standing in his way are fan favorites Eric Sogard and Adam Rosales, as well as San Diego import Andy Parrino who are all but guaranteed to be evaluated for the role during spring training.

The last time Scott Sizemore was on a field in Arizona he was being carried off after a horrific injury. With so much for him to prove on a personal and professional level, the time has come for A’s fans to welcome back an old friend to the fold. Whether you’re on Team Sizemore or Team Weeks this spring regarding the second base position, cheer them both on in the name of competition and enjoy it as the team takes shape.