Swingin' A's » RBI

A’s To Bring Back Matsui In 2012?

Joseph Lopez — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:52:44 +0000

According to multiple sources, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics may try to bring designated-hitter Hideki Matsui back for the 2012 season. The Chronicle also notes that there is a possibility that the A’s will open the 2012 season in Tokyo. If that should come to fruition, the A’s would face Seattle and the enormously popular Ichiro Suzuki in Tokyo.

A Matsui-Ichiro would definitely help sell a lot of tickets.

Matsui, who turned 37 earlier this season, has seen his numbers fall a bit compared to last season, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that his best days are probably behind him.

This season, Matsui has put together a .253/.324/.383 slash line with 12 HR and 71 RBIs in 135 games this year. Last year, while with the Angels, Matsui put together a .274/.361/.459 slash line with 21 HR and 84 RBIs in 145 games. (more…)

A’s-Twins Series Preview (April 8-10)

Joseph Lopez — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:25:40 +0000

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:

2011 Regular Season Record: 2-4, t-4th in AL Central (2.0 GB) (more…)

A’s Look To Score More Runs In 2011

Joseph Lopez — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:03:57 +0000

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…)