2007 Oakland A's Baseball Preview
This 2007 MLB Preview Looks at the Oakland Athletics
The 2007 Oakland A's may be in trouble. They lost their best hitter and top starter to free agency. Their new lineup is made up of aging vets and career underachievers.
The 2007 Oakland Athletics are much weaker than the 2006 team. The losses of Zito and Thomas puts a lot of pressure on general manager Billy Beane to fill in the gaps. This 2007 Oakland Athletics team preview answers the questions of how the A's filled the new gaps in their lineup and rotation.
Significant Arrivals
1B Erubiel Durazo (Minor League deal)
C Mike Piazza (one year, $8.5 million)
Significant Departures
DH Frank Thomas (Toronto, two years, $18.12 million)
SP Barry Zito (San Francisco, seven years, $126 million)
The 2007 Oakland Athletics Pitching
The A’s lost a tremendous amount of talent. Left handed starter Barry Zito bolted for the San Francisco Giants and their $140 million contract. That’s 16 wins, 221 innings, and a 3.83 ERA the team needed to replace. They didn’t sign any top free agent pitchers, nor do they have another stud young arm waiting in the minor league wings. So the A’s will need Rich Harden, Danny Haren and Joe Blanton to win at least 45 games among them if Oakland is to compete with the Angels in the AL West.
Perhaps the biggest strength of the Oakland A’s is their bullpen, which is deep and should rank among the best in the American League this year. Closer Huston Street is ably set up by Kiko Calero and Justin Duchscherer, both of whom had ERAs less than 3.50 last season. If Jay Witasick pitches like he did after coming to the A’s in 2005, new manager Bob Geren may have an easier time in his managerial debut.
The 2007 Oakland Athletics Offense
The biggest weakness for the 2007 Oakland Athletics is their offense. Last year, the A’s finished 9th in runs scored, and now they lost Frank Thomas along with his 39 home runs and 114 RBI. So far, they haven't appeared to have patched this hole.
It will be up to Eric Chavez (22 HR and 72 RBI in 2006), Nick Swisher (35 HR and 95 RBI) and Mike Piazza (.283, 22 HR, and 68 RBI) to pick up the slack. Milton Bradley and Bobby Crosby will have to stay healthy and return to their 2004 form if this team is to have a chance to keep up with the Los Angeles Angels.
The 2007 Oakland Athletics Keys to Success
The only way for the A’s to be successful this 2007 season is if their starting rotation produces above expectations. It would also help if Eric Chavez thought it was 2004 once again (and Mike Piazza could hit like it was 2000 again.)
Prediction for the 2007 Oakland Athletics
Losing their best hitter and best starter from last season and replacing them with lesser guys is not a recipe for success. Combine that with a stronger Angels ballclub, and you’ve got a second place team that finishes somewhere between 6 and 10 games out, which means about an 84-78 finish, good enough for second place in a pretty weak division.
Click on the links for more 2007 Team Baseball Predictions.
