3B Kevin Kouzmanoff is just one player on offense that needs to step up this year for the A's (Photo Credit: evri.com)

Last season, the Oakland A’s faded out of the American League West picture by September largely because of their offense’s inability to score runs. The A’s ranked 23rd in the majors with just 663 runs, 17th in batting average with a .256 team mark, and 26th in slugging percent with the team slugging just .378. The team placed second in the division at 81-81, and finished 9.0 games behind the eventual AL Pennant winners Texas Rangers.

This season,  however, the A’s are banking on their revamped offense to score more runs. General Manager Billy Beane and the rest of the A’s front office added guys like DH Hideki Matsui, and outfielders David DeJesus and Josh Willingham to the mix in the hopes of scoring more runs in 2011.

Last season, the A’s opened the season with long-time star Eric Chavez as their primary DH, but he proved largely ineffective, hitting just .236 with one homer and 10 RBI’s through 33 games. This year, Matsui will step in as Oakland’s DH.

And while it’s true that Matsui is no spring chicken, the A’s are hopeful that “Godzilla” still has some power in his bat. Last year with the Angels, Matsui belted 21 HR and drove in 84 RBIs while hittin .274. If Matsui can replicate those type of numbers again this year, then the A’s should be in good shape.

DeJesus and Willingham are two nice additions to the A’s, and both outfielders possess the ability to make things happen on offense. DeJesus is a guy who is expected to hit near the top of the order, and Willingham is expected to hit somewhere in the middle of the order. (more…)