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2008 MLB
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2008 Oakland A's Predictions & Season
Preview
Just
two seasons after making an
appearance in the ALCS, the
A’s are starting over. This
became quite apparent when
they dealt ace Dan Haren to
Arizona for six prospects.
They then sent outfielder
Nick Swisher to the White
Sox for three more up and
comers. Can veterans Eric
Chavez, Mark Ellis, and
Bobby Crosby help these
youngsters come in ahead of
the curve to keep Oakland
above water? Jimmy’s 2008
Oakland A’s predictions
provide insight.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
What once was one of the
most feared starting
rotations in the league is a
big question mark for the
A’s heading into the season.
With Haren out, Joe Blanton
will inherit the title of
ace on this staff. He won 14
games last season and has
averaged as many in his
first three full seasons.
The A’s need a big season
out of Rich Harden. When
Harden has been healthy,
he’s been better than good.
He has a record of 31-18
with Oakland with a 3.60 ERA
but only has 16 starts the
past two seasons due to
injury. Chad Guadin made a
nice jump from relief to a
starting role last season,
but will be coming off of
hip surgery. Justin
Duchscherer will also have
to make the jump from the
pen to a starting spot. The
number five spot could turn
hands several times. Lenny
DiNardo is the current front
runner.
Houston Street has just 16
saves last season after
missing two months with
elbow pain. His health is a
necessity. Alan Embree did a
decent job of filling in for
Street in the closer spot,
but will be happy to fall
back into a middle relief
role.
Batting Order
Several vets and a whole lot
of no-namers make up
Oakland’s haphazard lineup.
Travis Buck hit .288 as a
rookie but could not avoid
the injury bug which seems
to continually hover over
this team. Ideally, one
would think the A’s would
want a little more of a
threat to run hitting
leadoff. Second baseman Mark
Ellis is solid through and
through. He registered
career highs in homeruns and
RBIs last season, but his
numbers could suffer this
year if he tries to do too
much to pick up the slack.
Eric Chavez is the best
stick on this team and a
six-time Gold Glove winner
as well. Injuries caused a
second straight sub-par
year, and Oakland absolutely
cannot afford another one.
Jack Cust has made his
living as a career minor
league until he broke
through with 26 homeruns and
82 RBIs. These stories
always make me wonder if the
juice had a helping hand.
Emil Brown falls into the
five spot. The guy crushed
lefties at a .317 clip but
righties held him to a .217
average. Shortstop Bobby
Crosby is another one of the
A’s which can stay on the
field. He hit just .226 last
year and has only averaged
91 games a year since 2005.
That makes it very tough to
find any rhythm. First
baseman Daric Barton showed
glimpses of his potential
after being called up last
season. Centerfield Carlos
Gonzalez and catcher Kurt
Suzuki finish out the order.
Oakland has been murdered by
injuries the past few
seasons and after a couple
big offseason deals, they
have lost more pop at the
plate and their best
pitcher. Oakland has
officially started its
rebuilding project. It may
not take them as long to get
back to the top as it would
teams in bigger, tougher
divisions, but the A’s still
have a few seasons of work
to do.
Jimmy went 296-263-6 (53%)
last season in Major League
Baseball, profiting clients
5005 units with
baseball betting, and
adding another handicapping
title to his trophy case.
Handicapping the MLB is all
about spotting underdogs and
no one does it better than
Jimmy Boyd. Climb on board
the money train all summer
long and pick your bookmaker
apart with the best
baseball picks in the
biz.
Odds to win AL West:
10/1
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant:
40/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
65/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 16th, 2008
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