Prediction/Preview

Welcome to Swingin’ A’s Triple Play where we field one subject and turn it into three possible outcomes. My gut feeling on how things may pan out is at the end of the post where you can cast your vote in the monthly poll and sound off in the comments section. IN PLAY: Daric Barton‘s 2012 season. At one time Barton was a hyped prospect in the blockbuster Mark Mulder trade.  At this time a year ago he was a promising young player penciled in as Oakland’s everyday first baseman on the strength of a slick glove and a knack for [...]

It’s anyone’s guess if the A’s decide to ask first baseman, Daric Barton to move down to the minor league River Cats.   However, for now it may not be looking good for him to stay.  Barton has struggled during the first half of this season after the A’s hyped him up as one of a top-notch player during Spring Training. Bleacherreport.com is reporting that, “The result has been a season-long slump that has him batting close to the Mendoza line at .211, without a single home run, and with just 12 extra base hits (all doubles).  He set the [...]

With the Texas Rangers off to a scorching 6-0 start, the Athletics will need to win their first series of the young season. After losing two of three against the Mariners at home, they lost two in Toronto. The A’s are 1-2 on this nine game road trip, and their next stop is in Minnesota to face off against the 2010 AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins. Stepping in to provide his Minnesota Twins insight is FanSided’s very own Wally Fish, Senior Editor of Puckett’s Pond. Oakland Athletics: 2011 Regular Season Record: 2-4, t-3rd in AL West (4.0 GB) Minnesota Twins: [...]

Even with a revamped offense and an even deeper bullpen, the A’s fell flat during their opening series against the visiting Seattle Mariners this past weekend. Expectations are high for Oakland, however, as many see them possibly unseating the Texas Rangers this year as division’s top team. In order to meet those expectations, however, the A’s must play up to their potential, meaning the team will have to play better on defense and support their starting rotation. The A’s embark on a nine-game road-trip this week, and first up are the Toronto Blue Jays. Joining me in this series preview between the A’s [...]

Forget the ‘Big Three,’ the A’s have a stronger foundation in place for the 2011 season and beyond. A’s GM Billy Beane has spent the past few season assembling all the necessary pieces for a postseason run, and there are now some lofty expectations surrounding the A’s this year. The A’s have positioned themselves in place to overthrow the Texas Rangers as division leaders in the American League West, and it all starts with Oakland’s pitching staff. Oakland’s ‘Fab Four’ of Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, and Dallas Braden is highly talented and can definitely stack up well against [...]

With Spring Training officially underway, the A’s and their small but loyal fan base are eager to show baseball what they’re really made of this year. Oakland’s deep pitching staff, along with an upgraded lineup, will look to lead the team to the top of the ranks in the American League West this season. Taking out the Texas Rangers will be difficult, but many analysts will be quick to point out that the west isn’t exactly the toughest division in the majors. I’d say the AL West might be the most wide-open division heading into the 2011 campaign. Texas, Oakland, [...]

Entering the 2011 season, the Oakland A’s are highly optimistic about their chances in competing in the American League West this season. And while they have every reason in the world to be optimistic, manager Bob Geren has yet to prove he’s capable of leading a team into the postseason. Geren, who took over following Ken Macha’s dismissal after the 2006 season, has yet to post a winning record in his last four seasons as manager. The A’s, however, are hoping that their skipper can lead the team into the postseason this year. After all, fifth time is the charm, [...]

With Spring Training now underway for some clubs, baseball fans all around the world can rejoice over the fact that baseball is finally back. For A’s fans, it couldn’t come any sooner. The A’s have had themselves quite the offseason, and many fans in Oakland are buzzing about the team’s chances at reaching the postseason in 2011. The offense is upgraded, and the pitching staff is stellar and deep. This team is without a doubt, manager Bob Geren’s best assembled squad since he took over in 2007. General Manager Billy Beane added some pieces on offense like Hideki Matsui, David [...]

Last season, the A’s got a pleasant surprise in the form of pitcher Trevor Cahill. In his sophomore season, Cahill went 18-8 with 2.97 ERA in 30 starts. Compared to his rookie season, where he went just 10-13 with a 4.63 ERA, his sophomore season comes off as stellar. The 22-year old Cahill will be an integral part of Oakland’s young rotation in 2011, and he’ll definitely look to build upon his 2010 campaign. He led Oakland’s staff in wins last year, and he and fellow pitcher Gio Gonzalez combined to win 33 games for the A’s last year. But [...]

The Oakland Athletics have great pitching depth heading into the 2011 campaign, but the team still has a vacant spot in its talented young rotation. Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Gio Gonzalez all figure to be in the rotation for the A’s this season, but the team will be looking at several possible fifth-starter candidates this spring. One of  those candidates figures to be Rich Harden, who makes his return to Oakland this year since being traded in 2008. Harden, 29, pitched last season for the Texas Rangers before getting designated for assignment on October 6th, right before [...]