Aug 17, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Allen (31) high fives teammates in the dugout after scoring run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at the O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Last week, I boldly stated in Sean Davis’s Prognostications from the Swingin’ A’s Crew, that Brandon Allen would be a key to the A’s success in 2012. Today, he has been designated for assignment in place of another chapter in the saga of Daric Barton‘s career. What a difference a week makes. With Barton recovering from a shoulder injury and having an option left, it looked like a safe bet that he would stay at Sacramento for the time being and the A’s would go with the combo of Allen and Kila Ka’aihue at first base. After a four game experiment, Ka’aihue finds himself relegated to the bench, Barton back starting at first, and Brandon Allen cut loose into baseball oblivion awaiting his next opportunity. Let’s take a look at what lead to this decision and why the leash was so short to begin with.

As part of the Brad Ziegler trade, Allen came over at the trade deadline from Arizona last season and immediately caught the attention of stat heads like myself. Looking at his gaudy numbers in Triple-A Reno, which granted were somewhat askew due to playing in the launching pad known as Aces Stadium. I was nevertheless intrigued by his power potential and his 1.006 OPS in 83 games with the Aces.  Upon his call up to Oakland in mid August, it became apparent that Allen was gifted with prestigious power. Putting his talents on display during a game against the Yankees on August 23rd, he would become only the 2nd player to hit a ball into the upper deck at the new Yankee Stadium. During his month and half long stay at the big level, it became abundantly clear that although his power was real, so were his deficiencies at the plate. Armed with the knowledge that he had considerable difficulty laying off pitches in the dirt. Opposing pitchers would attack and expose Allen’s vulnerabilities in the final weeks. Striking out an alarming 55 times in 158 plate appearances, it was apparent that he would have to make adjustments in 2012.

Faced with competition this spring from Ka’waihue and Barton, Allen rose to the challenge putting up strong splits of .314/.368/.571 while cutting down his K’s and showing excellent athleticism and competent defense at first base. Named the opening day first basemen in Japan, he struggled in 7 at bats against the Seattle Mariners and was rendered helpless against King Felix’s power slider and hard curve striking out 5 times. Usually going hitless against one of the best pitchers in baseball over two games isn’t going to cost a player his job. But with Barton ready to come off the DL, and Ka’waihue making consistent contact something had to give and unfortunately Allen was the odd man out.

While it all makes sense, and due to his on base skills it became obvious that Barton would get a chance to reclaim his starting job. It still feels like Allen wasn’t given a fair chance to solidify himself in Oakland. While he still has plenty of time to reach his potential as a power hitting first basemen it doesn’t appear that this will happen with the A’s. Perhaps he will make it through waivers and stay in the organization, but due to his potential it’s more than likely he will find himself on another team sometime in the near future. I myself would of like to have seen Allen make the necessary adjustments and succeed in Green and Gold, giving the A’s something they have not had in years. A source of power at first base. I suppose it’s comforting we still have Chris Carter in the organization. Right?

Devin Pangaro can be found ranting and raving about all things green and gold on twitter @devinpangaro, and please follow my fellow Swingin’ A’s scribes @FS_SwinginAs or like us on Facebook

The A’s needed a first-baseman, and the team never passes up on additional support on the mound, so this deal, in retrospect, made sense. With 1B Daric Barton hitting rock bottom this season, the A’s needed a solution to their first base problem.

For a moment there, Allen actually looked like he might’ve been that solution to many of Oakland’s problems. He flexed his muscles early on with Oakland, hitting a phenomenal .290/.333/.551 with 3 HR and 8 RBIs in 69 August at-bats. Many A’s fans, including myself, hoped that Allen, a young player who resembles a Chris Carter type, would prove to be a solution over at first for the A’s.

Unfortunately, the A’s saw Allen cool off in September. He hit a paltry .130/.193/.182 with no home runs and 3 RBIs over 77 at-bats.

Entering the offseason, the A’s will need to assess their corner-infield spots. Both first and third remain glaring problems for the Athletics going forward, with the team lacking a true solution to either problem.  (more…)

Despite entering the year with one of the best starting rotations in baseball, the Oakland Athletics somehow placed third in the AL West in a very disappointing 2011 season. Oakland’s young arms, considered to be among the best in the business, entered the season with a ton of hope and potential, but injuries to several of the staff’s starters and inconsistencies on offense derailed Oakland’s 2011 campaign.

Oakland’s staff bolted to success during the first-half of the season, despite losing Dallas Braden and Brett Andersonto injuries. The A’s starting pitching depth proved to be extremely helpful this year, as Brandon McCarthy and Gulliermo Moscoso stepped up big this year in Oakland.

For Oakland, McCarthy and Moscoso definitely proved to be valuable pieces of the rotation. McCarthy, who battled shoulder problems in 2010, stayed relatively healthy this year en route to a 9-9 record and a 3.32 ERA in 170.2 innings pitched. Moscoso, meanwhile, was nearly just as good, posting a 8-10 record with a 3.38 ERA in 128.0 innings pitched this year.

Heading into to next season, both McCarthy and Moscoso should be included in Oakland’s starting rotation based on their performances this year. As Oakland learned this season, having too much starting pitching isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It actually comes in handy. (more…)