MLB Preview Day 20, Oakland Athletics

A's southpaw Gio Gonzalez was one of the game's best starters in the second half last season

2010 Record- 81-81, 2nd place AL West
2010 Triple Crown Leaders- Rajai Davis, .284 (t-19th AL), Kevin Kouzmanoff, 16 HR (t-48th AL), Kevin Kouzmanoff/Kurt Suzuki, 71 RBI (t-37th AL), Trevor Cahill, 18 Wins (t-4th AL), Trevor Cahill, 2.97 ERA (4th AL), Gio Gonzalez, 171 K (14th AL)

Key Additions- David DeJesus (OF), Rich Harden (RHP), Hideki Matsui (DH), Brandon McCarthy (RHP), Josh Willingham (OF), Brian Fuentes (LHP)

Key Losses- Eric Chavez (3B), Jack Cust (DH), Rajai Davis (OF), Justin Duchscherer (RHP), Gabe Gross (OF), Jeremy Hermida (OF), Akinori Iwamura (3B), Jeff Larish (1B), Vin Mazzaro (RHP), Ben Sheets (RHP), Edwin Encarnacion (1B)

2011 Projected Record- 80-90 wins, 2nd place AL West
Manager- Bob Geren (5th year, 307-340)
Best Player- David DeJesus
Best Pitcher- Gio Gonzalez
Biggest Breakout Candidate- Cliff Pennington
Biggest Potential Impact Rookie- Joey Devine

Projected Lineup/Projected Stats
David DeJesus, RF- .285/12 HR/70 RBI
Daric Barton, 1B- .265/10 HR/55 RBI
Kurt Suzuki, C- .275/18 HR/80 RBI
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B- .270/20 HR/90 RBI
Hideki Matsui, DH- .265/22 HR/80 RBI
Josh Willingham, LF- .255/15 HR/60 RBI
Mark Ellis, 2B- .265/8 HR/55 RBI
Cliff Pennington, SS- .255/6 HR/45 RBI
Coco Crisp, CF- .275/10 HR/50 RBI

Projected Rotation/Projected Stats
Gio Gonzalez- 16-8/2.85 ERA/210 K
Trevor Cahill- 17-8/3.05 ERA/140 K
Brett Anderson- 14-10/3.40 ERA/160 K
Dallas Braden- 12-10/3.85 ERA/120 K
Rich Harden- 7-10/4.45 ERA/95 K
Andrew Bailey- 1.25 ERA/48 Saves

Team Outlook- A team that will have to rely on their pitching staff to win ballgames.  The lineup as always will have a hard time scoring runs as a result of the hitters hell of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, but that should benefit the pitching staff that I feel is the best in the majors, with a potential 2-headed monster in Gonzalez and Cahill at the top of the rotation to go with one of the game's best 3-4 combo in the rotation with Anderson and Braden.  The bullpen was able to add Fuentes, who will set up Andrew Bailey, who is easily a top-5 closer in the majors.  The A's have a chance, and if they get in, lets just say they are nearly identical to the setup of last years Giants team, and we all know what they did.