The A’s optioned out Jeff Fiorentino, Dallas Braden and, contrary to rumor, Carlos Gonzalez from the 28-man roster they used in Japan. That leaves the 25-man roster as follows:
Starting Pitchers: Joe Blanton, Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland
Relief Pitchers: Andrew Brown, Santiago Casilla, Lenny DiNardo, Alan Embree, Keith Foulke, Fernando Hernandez, Huston Street
Catchers: Rob Bowen, Kurt Suzuki
Infielders: Daric Barton, Bobby Crosby, Mark Ellis, Jack Hanahan, Dan Johnson, Donnie Murphy, Mike Sweeney
Outfielders: Emil Brown, Travis Buck, Chris Denorfia, Ryan Sweeney, Jack Cust
15-day DL: Eric Chavez, Chad Gaudin
60-day DL: Kiko Calero
I’m pretty satisfied and confident about the quality of that pitching staff. If Harden can pitch, he easily makes up for the loss of Dan Haren. I think Justin Duchscherer will sneak up on a lot of people, and be an above-average starting pitcher. Eveland and Gaudin will probably fall into the talented-but-inconsistent category, but that’s not bad for your fourth and fifth starters. If Foulke can keep pitching as well as he has in his last four outings (including the two that counted against the heart of the Red Sox order), then that’s an awfully deep bullpen. With Lackey and Escobar out for the Angels, this is probably the best pitching staff in the AL West from top to bottom.
The defense should be at least adequate, if not good. The big question is the bats: the A’s may have the best pitching in the division, but they probably have the worst hitting. The trade of Nick Swisher makes the outfield lineup look pretty darn weak. I expect a lot of 2-1, 3-2 ballgames this year, and the A’s success or lack thereof may depend on where Pythagoras decides to roll his dice in all those close ballgames.
1. I have not gotten a chance to see Fernandez pitch. He has good k/bb ratios in the minors. What kind of stuff does he have?
2. I have to imagine that FerHer is only around until Chad Gaudin comes back (i.e. when the A's need a fifth starter), which is what, two weeks?
The question is what happens if Eric Chavez comes back. My guess: Dan Johnson is traded within the next week and Fiorentino is brought back up as a fifth outfielder (Cust doesn't count) until Chavez is healthy, at which point Fiorentino is sent back down to Sac-town.
3. Hernandez is a Rule 5 draftee, so he's going to stick on the 25 man roster, because the A's like him a lot, and don't want to lose him. I think the A's will go with 12 pitchers when Gaudin gets back.
I think you're right about Johnson though. He is the one guy without a clear role on the team and probably is the obvious guy to send away.
4. I'll echo what Ken said. The fact that Jay Marshall stayed with the team all last season should give you some idea how much the A's hate to give back Rule 5 guys. Johnson is gone when Gaudin comes back. I'd be surprised if he even gets an at bat before he goes.
It'll be interesting to see how the roster shifts this season. Who goes when Carlos Gonzalez comes up? How about when Gio comes up? In all likelihood, injuries will take care of things, although there's also the matter of Ryan Sweeney and Chris Denorfia both being garbage (I'm betting CarGon is starting in center by my birthday, June 7).
Man, I'm ready for the season; Tuesday night can't come fast enough.
5. so what happens to brooks conrad?
6. 5 Down to the minors, I guess.