The A's So Far- Part III
Much like "the Sopranos," our week-long look at the A's this season concludes with a look at pitchers and outfielders, as well as some closing thoughts on the A's from Christy. FYI- there's nobody gets whacked in this write up. We also recommend checking out Athletics Nation for more of Christy's stuff.
Outfield
Travis Buck (.265 AVG, .371 OBP, .538 SLG, 6HR, 17 RBI) - A-
With the plethora of healthy outfielders at the start of Spring Training this year (my, how quickly things change), chances seemed slim that Buck, despite tearing up the minor leagues, would be able to break into the big league club, and looked to be starting the season in AAA. However, when Dan Johnson’s injury forced Nick Swisher to first base, the window of opportunity was cracked open, ever so slightly, and Buck took full advantage. Battling through injuries to his wrists and elbow (let’s be honest, ‘Athletics’ this year is synonymous with ‘Injury-ridden’), Buck has put up highly impressive rookie numbers and as the team is coming back
together, he looks to keep a spot in the big league lineup, while staying healthy. If Buck can remain healthy, and keep these numbers steady, he will be a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year, and a huge help to the power-starved A’s.
Shannon Stewart (.276 AVG, .357 OBP, .347 SLG, 2HR, 16 RBI) - B+
Shannon Stewart has just about lived up to his billing, putting together a nice little season so far in the outfield. Despite warning injury reports, he has stayed healthier than the majority of the team, and has been a steady presence in the clubhouse, and on the field. The A’s would like to see him hit with a little more power, but overall, there isn’t much to complain about.
Nick Swisher (.305 AVG, .433 OBP, .537 SLG, 9HR, 32 RBI) - A+
The biggest off-field move for the A’s so far this year was signing Swisher to a contract. More and more every day, he is looking like the best move the A’s have made since they traded Haren for Mulder. Swisher, who could be a Gold Glove candidate at first base, looks as good as any top players in the league right now on offense, and for a switch-hitter to put up the kind of
numbers that he has, it is pretty amazing.
Starting Pitching
Dan Haren (1.64 ERA, 6-2) - A+
No one has been better for the A’s this year than Dan Haren, who showed that he was truly the ace of the staff as he struggled with the A’s offense through a couple of tough losses, and a few no decisions, but he has stayed healthy, fantastic, and is sitting atop the AL lead in ERA. Haren deserves all the praise he can get; and we could not have asked for anything more. If
he continues to pitch the way he has this year, look for him to be a strong contender for the AL Cy Young race.
Joe Blanton (4.23 ERA, 4-3) - C+
He hasn’t been stellar; he’s been hit hard his last couple of times out, but Blanton has kept the A’s in most of the games he’s pitched, and his numbers are better than his line indicates. His strikeout/walk ratio is great, and if the A’s offense was better, Blanton’s numbers would look a little better. However, he’s been a very solid starter for the A’s, and healthy, something
that cannot be stressed enough this year.
Chad Gaudin (2.32 ERA, 5-1) - A+
After injuries to both Estaban Loaiza and Rich Harden allowed for Gaudin to become a starting pitcher, it is looking more and more likely that he will never go back to the bullpen, as much as it might miss him. Gaudin has been spectacular this year, posting numbers that rival the best in the league, and he is a big part of the reason the A’s have even hung in the race as long as they have. The A’s badly needed starting pitching after the loss of their number 2 and 3 starters, and Gaudin has been there from the beginning, proving that he should have been there all along.
Joe Kennedy (3.62, 1-4) - B
After a simply dreadful Spring Training, where Kennedy threw batting practice for five or six starts, he has been a solid #5 starter posing as a #4. Kennedy has pitched much better than his record indicates, and like all of the A’s pitchers, has been victimized by the A’s below-average offense performance to date. Kennedy has been a solid starter, and has really done
everything the A’s have asked him to do in this role. He will mostly likely be a starter for the rest of the season; the odds of both Harden and Loaiza coming back are not great.
Kiko Calero (5.85, 0-3) - C
This is not the Kiko we have known and loved. This Kiko spent most of the year struggling to make his pitches, but has lowered his ERA considerably, and has come on lately. With the loss of both Duchscherer and Street, Kiko’s presence in the bullpen is going to be invaluable, and the A’s need him to be as good as possible from here on out.
Lenny DiNardo (1.80, 1-2) - A-
We are shocked to be writing this grade, but DiNardo, despite being sold as a no-name mop-up member of the bullpen, has proved his worth in the late innings, and has even earned a temporary (we’ll see) role as a starter, where he cruised through five innings before being sold down the river by unusually bad A’s defense. DiNardo is one of the unexpected surprises of the
season, and most of those have come from the pitching.
Jay Marshall (5.57, 1-2) - C+
Marshall came on strong early this year, pitching lights-out out of the bullpen, but he’s had his struggles as the season wore on. The A’s need him sharp, especially now, as they are severely lacking shut-down pitchers late in games.
Jay Witasick (3.60, 1-0) - B
Heralded in the bullpen as another mop-up pitcher, Witasick has pitched better than he has had any right to. Due again to the high injury factor, Witasick has found himself in situations that he usually doesn’t pitch in, and has excelled more often than not.
Final Thoughts
The real story with the A’s has been the pitching staff, for it is they that have really held the team at the .500 mark, when they could have so easily been buried by injuries. Look for the offense to come on strong as they get injured players back, KEEP them back, and if the Angels can falter at all, the A’s might have a chance at another summer run for the pennant. If. If. If.