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2007 MLB
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2007 Oakland A's Predictions
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Oakland A's Predictions!
The Oakland Athletics
finished with a 88-74 record in 2005, which wasn’t bad,
but they missed the playoffs for the second straight
time. I didn’t anticipate this team getting back over the
hump so quickly in 2006 as they overtook the Angels to
capture the AL West title last season. The 2005 A’s were
a profitable team, especially against left-handed
pitching. They went 30-17 against lefties for a positive
11.6 units. They have consistently been good when facing
left handed pitching over the past 5 seasons and we
expect this trend to continue in 2007. In 2006, the A’s
were a very profitable team gaining their backers more
than any other American League team except for the
Minnesota Twins.
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Barry Zito was the best pitcher in baseball in 2002
posting a 23-5 record, but he was just 39-36 the next
three seasons leaving A’s fans wondering what happened
to their former ace. Zito answered the call in 2006 with
a 16 win season for the green and gold, but now he will
be hanging his hat across the bay. This will hurt the
A’s as he would be a one or two on almost every team
across the league, however, I thing the A’s got his best
years out of him. At this stage in his career the
National League will suit him better and I personally
feel that the Giants are paying way too much for a guy
pat his prime.
The A’s will need to do a better job supporting all of
their pitchers this season if they want to recapture the
AL West crown which looks to be more and more the
Angels’ title to lose. With Rich Harden, Estaban Loaiza,
Danny Haren, and Joe Blanton the A’s have a solid
nucleus of starters which should be good enough to
secure the number two spot out west. And I can’t forget
about Huston Street who really came on as a nice closer
last season.
Offensively, the A’s will drastically miss Big Frank’s
39 homeruns, but they can expect another All-Star
caliber season from Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez. Mike
Piazza will step in and try to be this year’s Frank
Thomas. The A’s are confident in the abilities of Eric
Chavez, who is a very underrated left handed stick.
Although there is a list of other possible candidates
who have the potential to be big contributors on this
year’s team, we really can’t pencil anyone else in as a
reliable force. The A’s got more out of the Big Hurt
than they ever could have expected last season which I
feel was a big part of why they took the division. We’ll
see an inevitable offensive drop off in 2007, but
hopefully the pitching will be able to pick up the
slack.
The A’s are will benefit from playing in the smallest
and weakest division in baseball this season as they
attempt to reload and reclaim their first place spot
without Zito and Thomas. I suggest seeing how this team
develops before you start backing them. They won’t be as
profitable as last season as 2006 was a surprise. But I
do see profit with this team especially at home and
against the bottom two teams in their division.
2007 Texas
Rangers Predictions
2007 LA Angels
Predictions
2007 Seattle
Mariners Predictions
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