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2009 Oakland Athletic Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

athletics It’s no secret that the A’s are rebuilding. Since winning 93 games and taking first place in the AL West in 2006, the A’s have posted back-to-back third place finishes with 76 and 75-win seasons. It could get even worse in 2009 as a once deadly starting rotation doesn’t have any of its horses remaining. Find out where Jimmy Boyd has the A’s finishing in the AL West in this MLB betting preview. The Oakland Athletics are listed at +4000 to win the 2009 World Series.

Pitching
Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, and Rich Harden have all found new homes. That means two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer will get the ball on Opening Day. He led the A’s with 10 wins and a 2.54 ERA last season, but he started only 22 games last season due to a hip injury. That makes four trips to the DL in the past three seasons and the A’s can’t afford another. Sean Gallagher, acquired in the Harden deal from the Cubs, and Dana Eveland, picked up in the Haren deal from Arizona, are both locks for the starting rotation, but that isn’t saying a whole lot. Gallagher posted a 5.88 ERA after coming over from Chicago. Eveland proved he could beat the Mariners, going 4-0 with a 2.55 ERA against them, but he was 5-9 with a 4.65 ERA in his other 25 outings. Lefties Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden are the current favorites to round out the rotation.

With Houston Street off to Colorado, Brad Ziegler will take over as closer. The A’s are hoping the move works out as Street blew seven saves last season and Ziegler was 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA in 47 games as a rookie. The A’s converted only 33 of 52 save opportunities last season so this is one area where they can stand to get better.

Lineup
Landing Matt Holiday from the Rockies instantly improves the A’s lineup, but will he be the next A’s star that Billy Beane ships out for young talent? Holiday hit .321 with 25 homeruns and 88 RBIs last year for Colorado. It will be interesting to see how playing outside Coors Field will affect his numbers. The A’s also bring in former Yankees star Jason Giambi to see if the slugger still has some pop in his bat. Giambi hit 32 round trippers and added 96 RBIs for the Yankees last season. He needs just four more bombs to join the 400-club. I have been a long time fan of A’s third baseman Eric Chavez ever since I saw hit hit a game-winning homerun against the Mariners back in 2001. He can still produce when in the lineup, but the injuries are starting to pile up. He spent just 23 games in the bigs last season. Second baseman Mark Ellis had a poor year at the plate with his average slipping from .276 to .233, but he made up for it in the field with a .993 fielding percentage – tops in baseball. Because of his defense, the A’s will live with his 12 homerun, 41 RBI seasons. Shortstop Bobby Crosby is beginning to look like a bust. He hit 22 round trippers and drove in 64 runs in 2004 when he claimed Rookie of the Year honors, but has hit just .229, .226, and .237 the last three seasons. Rightfielder Jack Cust showed pop last season with 33 homeruns and 77 RBIs, but strikes out way too much (197 strikeouts). Centerfielder Ryan Sweeney, catcher Kurt Suzuki, and first baseman Daric Barton will likely finish out the lineup card on Opening Day.

Prediction: 4th Place AL West
GM Billy Beane is not concerned with winning now. If you need proof, then just look at all the recent deals he’s done to get rid of his best pitching for young talent. A depleted starting rotation will likely land the A’s in the AL West basement despite adding Giambi and Holliday to the lineup. The Oakland Athletics are listed at +200 to win the AL West.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on February 25, 2009 · Filed Under Baseball Betting Articles, News & Previews

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