Swingin' A's » infield

Who’s At First Base For The A’s?

Joseph Lopez — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:31:47 +0000

Is Barton out at first base? (Photo Credit: US Presswire)

It’s only November, but there are plenty of questions surrounding the Oakland A’s this offseason. The apparent logjam at first base is, in my opinion, one of the more pressing issues for the A’s heading into next season.

It’s really a question that’s worth fully exploring in February and March, not in November, but early speculation never hurt anyone. Essentially, if you take free agent acquisitions out of the equation, the A’s have four options at first base.

Players Brandon Allen, Daric Barton, Chris Carter, and Kila Ka’aihue all figure to be in the running for the first base position next season. Allen, who was acquired by Oakland at this year’s July 31 trade deadline, played exceptional baseball for the A’s during his first month or so with the club. (more…)

A’s 2011 Report Card: Defense

Joseph Lopez — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:31:49 +0000

The grades are in! Swingin’ A’s hands out grades to the 2011 Oakland Athletics. This is the third and final part of a three-part series that takes a closer look at some of the A’s triumphs and struggles during the 2011 season. Read more below to see which players got a passing grade and who came up short in 2011!

Entering the season, the A’s had hoped their defense would be a reliable source of support for the team’s young starting pitching. While the Athletics boasted one of the better pitching staffs in the American League, the team’s defense, to say politely, wasn’t up to par.

All politeness aside, the A’s defense proved to be downright atrocious in 2011. In addition to the numerous injuries the team sustained and the inconsistencies on offense, the A’s had to deal with the defense’s miscues. In the early goings of the season, the team’s young pitching kept the team in contention, but after the injuries to Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson, Tyson Ross, and a few others, the A’s quickly sank to the bottom.

The struggles on offense and defense ultimately proved to be too much for the A’s this season. Over the course of the season, the Athletics committed an AL-leading 124 errors (2nd in MLB) and posted a team .979 fielding percentage.

The inconsistencies on defense is just another example of how 2011 proved to be a Jekyll and Hyde season for Oakland. In 2010, the team prided itself on its strong defense. The A’s committed just 99 errors and posted a .984 fielding percentage that season. When you typically think of the A’s, you usually associate the team with having a strong pitching staff and a strong defense. (more…)

A’s Jemile Weeks Provides Glimpse Into Future

Joseph Lopez — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:28:48 +0000

The Athletics haven’t had the greatest time on offense this season, as the team currently ranks 28th in runs scored (338) and 27th in batting average (.236). It’s been difficult finding bright spots in this tumultuous season, but one player does give me hope for a brighter future: second-baseman Jemile Weeks.

Weeks, who has played well since getting called up last month, is currently batting .308 with 11 RBIs in 36 games this season. The younger brother of Milwaukee’s Rickie Weeks, Jemile has adapted well to the big league scene. He lacks the power of his older brother, but he’s been a catalyst on offense for the A’s. He provides the lineup with some much needed energy, and knows how to steal a base or two (10 SB in 36 games).

The former first-round draft pick should continue hitting near or at the top of Oakland’s lineup. Bob Melvin seemingly likes the combination of Weeks and fellow speedster Coco Crisp at the top of his lineup.

Oakland’s front office has spent the last couple of seasons drafting hitters in the draft, with the exception of this year, and is still looking to provide the big-league rotation with some much needed offensive support. (more…)