OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Paulie123 · 10-06-2015, 06:37 PM

The Oakland Telegraph
1 April 2024
World champions for now, but a repeat looks unlikely
With the new MLB season round the corner, our speculative pre-season predictions correspondent, Crystal Ball, gives her analysis of the 2024 Oakland A's.

Rotation: The A's pitching staff snuffed out most lineups last year and again looks exceptionally strong. Jose Fernandez (31/R/5*, 19-7, 2.59 in 2023) was the best player on the best team and looks destined for the Hall of Fame. He will be ably supported by lefties Eduardo Rodriguez (30/L/3.5*, 20-9, 3.15) and Rodney Stewart (26/L/3.5*, 15-8, 3.43, drafted 2015 rd 1 by LA Angels). Young Denny Miller (24/R/2.5*, 13-10, 4.19, drafted 2017 supp rd 1 by St. Louis) gained a surprise all-star call-up in his rookie season in 2022 but found life tougher last term and will be trying to bounce back. Bill Williams (25/R/3*, 4-4, 2.86, drafted 2016 supp rd 1 by Oakland) is indebted to his parents for his humorous name and has been promoted out of the bullpen.

Bullpen: Established closer Bernardo Lopez (28/R/3.5*, 7-3, 1.60, 47 SV, drafted 2017 rd 1 by Oakland) was stripped of the role in the run-in last year after going through a shaky spell, but Beane says he'll return as closer to start the title defence. Franyel Casadilla (27/R/4.5*, 6-2, 2.93) and flame-throwing youngster Eric Wright (22/L/5*, 3-3, 5.54, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Oakland) form the set-up pair. Veteran free agent signing from Texas in the off-season Luke Jackson (33/R/3.5*, 6-13, 5.91) and uber-prospect Karl Dickson (22/R/2.5*, 1-0, 1.63, drafted 2020 rd 1 by Miami) are pushing for rotation spots. Adam Ravenelle (30/R/3.5*, 0-0, 7.71) and Jimmie Sherfy (32/R/3.5*, 1-1, 1.29) complete the set. Oakland have pitching strength in depth with the likes of reliever prospect Jose Ceguera (23/L/4.5*, drafted 2022 rd 2 by Oakland) beginning the season in the minors.

Catcher: Beane likes strong defense in this position to help his pitchers and views any offense as a bit of a bonus. Which is lucky for former all-star Devon Fisher (27/R/2.5*, .267 OBP, 13 HR, 73 RBI). His defense is stellar and he gives the ball a right wallop when he makes contact. It's the making contact part he finds tricky. Elys Escobar (27/R/1.5*, .342, 8, 35) is a solid reserve with a good arm.

Infield: First baseman Matt Olson (30/L/3.5*, .339, 19, 85) has one of the best eyes in the game and walks more often than I have hot dinners. Second baseman Ozhaino Albies (27/R/2*, .364, 1, 57), signed in free agency this winter after 9 years in Atlanta to replace Jonathan Schoop, has less power than my grandma but gets on base well. Third base will be manned by Patrick Snel (25/L/3.5*, .349, 7, 45, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Baltimore), acquired from the Orioles midway through last season, who is one of several lightning quick roadrunners on the roster. Franklin Barreto (28/R/3*.309, 12, 71) was an all-star in 2020 and begins his ninth season as Oakland's starting shortstop. Versatile Rodrigo Mendez (27/R/1.5*, .254, 2, 11, drafted 2018 supp rd 1 by Oakland) and defensive specialist Mark Duncan (24/R/2.5*, .260, 2, 5, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Washington) are infield backups.

Outfield: Ed Ware (27/L/3*, .351, 19, 87, drafted 2019 supp rd 1 by Atlanta) claims to be a right fielder but is singularly useless in the position. He also couldn't hit lefty pitching if they threw at him from 600 feet away but takes the designated hitter spot against righties. Raimel Tapia (30/L/2*, .363, 10, 84) and Mookie Betts (31/R/3.5*, .396, 7, 71) are good contact hitters at left field and right field. Oakland signed centre fielder Keith Wilson (27/S/3.5*, .303, 22, 67, drafted 2018 rd 1 by LA Angels) from free agency over the winter but question marks hang over his defense. He homers a lot but sometimes struggles to get on base. He surely doesn't fit the typical Beane centre field profile of contact hitting and outstanding in the field. Jim Thompson (25/R/2.5*, .290, 11, 58, drafted 2020 rd 1 by Oakland) is like a walking baseball glove in the outfield and backs up all three spots.

In summary, my reading of the runes is that Oakland will again be league leaders in pitching and defense. But, I seriously doubt that they have the batting quality and power to give the men on the mound consistent run support, and they will get nowhere near last year's 109 wins. Low scoring, tense games could be commonplace at the Coliseum this year. Entertaining it won't be. It should be easy to get a ticket.

10-06-2015, 06:37 PM	#4
Paulie123 All Star Starter Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 1,945	The Oakland Telegraph 1 April 2024 World champions for now, but a repeat looks unlikely With the new MLB season round the corner, our speculative pre-season predictions correspondent, Crystal Ball, gives her analysis of the 2024 Oakland A's. Rotation: The A's pitching staff snuffed out most lineups last year and again looks exceptionally strong. Jose Fernandez (31/R/5, 19-7, 2.59 in 2023) was the best player on the best team and looks destined for the Hall of Fame. He will be ably supported by lefties Eduardo Rodriguez* (30/L/3.5, 20-9, 3.15) and Rodney Stewart* (26/L/3.5, 15-8, 3.43, drafted 2015 rd 1 by LA Angels). Young Denny Miller* (24/R/2.5, 13-10, 4.19, drafted 2017 supp rd 1 by St. Louis) gained a surprise all-star call-up in his rookie season in 2022 but found life tougher last term and will be trying to bounce back. Bill Williams* (25/R/3, 4-4, 2.86, drafted 2016 supp rd 1 by Oakland) is indebted to his parents for his humorous name and has been promoted out of the bullpen. Bullpen: Established closer Bernardo Lopez* (28/R/3.5, 7-3, 1.60, 47 SV, drafted 2017 rd 1 by Oakland) was stripped of the role in the run-in last year after going through a shaky spell, but Beane says he'll return as closer to start the title defence. Franyel Casadilla* (27/R/4.5, 6-2, 2.93) and flame-throwing youngster Eric Wright* (22/L/5, 3-3, 5.54, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Oakland) form the set-up pair. Veteran free agent signing from Texas in the off-season Luke Jackson* (33/R/3.5, 6-13, 5.91) and uber-prospect Karl Dickson* (22/R/2.5, 1-0, 1.63, drafted 2020 rd 1 by Miami) are pushing for rotation spots. Adam Ravenelle* (30/R/3.5, 0-0, 7.71) and Jimmie Sherfy* (32/R/3.5, 1-1, 1.29) complete the set. Oakland have pitching strength in depth with the likes of reliever prospect Jose Ceguera (23/L/4.5, drafted 2022 rd 2 by Oakland) beginning the season in the minors. Catcher: Beane likes strong defense in this position to help his pitchers and views any offense as a bit of a bonus. Which is lucky for former all-star Devon Fisher (27/R/2.5, .267 OBP, 13 HR, 73 RBI). His defense is stellar and he gives the ball a right wallop when he makes contact. It's the making contact part he finds tricky. Elys Escobar* (27/R/1.5, .342, 8, 35) is a solid reserve with a good arm. Infield: First baseman Matt Olson* (30/L/3.5, .339, 19, 85) has one of the best eyes in the game and walks more often than I have hot dinners. Second baseman Ozhaino Albies* (27/R/2, .364, 1, 57), signed in free agency this winter after 9 years in Atlanta to replace Jonathan Schoop, has less power than my grandma but gets on base well. Third base will be manned by Patrick Snel* (25/L/3.5, .349, 7, 45, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Baltimore), acquired from the Orioles midway through last season, who is one of several lightning quick roadrunners on the roster. Franklin Barreto* (28/R/3.309, 12, 71) was an all-star in 2020 and begins his ninth season as Oakland's starting shortstop. Versatile Rodrigo Mendez* (27/R/1.5, .254, 2, 11, drafted 2018 supp rd 1 by Oakland) and defensive specialist Mark Duncan* (24/R/2.5, .260, 2, 5, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Washington) are infield backups. Outfield: Ed Ware* (27/L/3, .351, 19, 87, drafted 2019 supp rd 1 by Atlanta) claims to be a right fielder but is singularly useless in the position. He also couldn't hit lefty pitching if they threw at him from 600 feet away but takes the designated hitter spot against righties. Raimel Tapia* (30/L/2, .363, 10, 84) and Mookie Betts* (31/R/3.5, .396, 7, 71) are good contact hitters at left field and right field. Oakland signed centre fielder Keith Wilson* (27/S/3.5, .303, 22, 67, drafted 2018 rd 1 by LA Angels) from free agency over the winter but question marks hang over his defense. He homers a lot but sometimes struggles to get on base. He surely doesn't fit the typical Beane centre field profile of contact hitting and outstanding in the field. Jim Thompson* (25/R/2.5*, .290, 11, 58, drafted 2020 rd 1 by Oakland) is like a walking baseball glove in the outfield and backs up all three spots. In summary, my reading of the runes is that Oakland will again be league leaders in pitching and defense. But, I seriously doubt that they have the batting quality and power to give the men on the mound consistent run support, and they will get nowhere near last year's 109 wins. Low scoring, tense games could be commonplace at the Coliseum this year. Entertaining it won't be. It should be easy to get a ticket.