MLB Preview: Oakland Athletics

Injuries were the story of the 2007 season for the Oakland Athletics as they shuttled across players from their triple A affiliate to the big league roster on what seemed like an everyday basis. The club lost Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, and Mike Piazza for the majority of the season, and thus ended any chance of them competing in 07.

The Athletics have been notorious for being one of the more aggressive teams in the off-season and this past winter was no different as the team traded their Ace Dan Haren for 6 minor league prospects, which was headlined by OF Carlos Gonzalez. The A's also traded their star 1B/OF Nick Swisher away to the Chicago White Sox for some additional prospects. The 2008 team will have an entirely new look, and the A's can only hope that their starters will be able to avoid the DL this season.

Now it's time to answer three questions about the 2008 Oakland Athletics

(1) Has Billy Beane's magic act finally run dry?

Billy Beane has developed a cult like following amongst stat heads, and the sabermetrics community, and ever since the publication of the best belling book Moneyball, Beane has become a household name amongst even casual baseball fans.

Beane certainly has made his share of mistakes during the past two seasons, evidenced by the Tim Hudson trade where the A's prize of the deal Dan Meyer has seen his career fizzle. Despite the Hudson deal, Beane's moves led the team to the playoffs in 2006, thanks in large part to his signing of Frank Thomas, and the development of players he drafted like Nick Swisher, or players he acquired via trade Dan Haren.

Beane detractors will point out the team has yet to win a World Series championship under his reign, and the fact that he received far too much credit for the clubs success during the early part of the decade as he won in large part because he had 3 of the game's best young pitchers.

I think it's safe to say Beane has proven those critics wrong, especially during the 2006 season as the team won, despite trading away Hudson and Mulder. Beane's ultimate success may rely on the development of the prospects he just acquired this off-season. It is hard to project the career of any prospect, but the A's minor league system was in ruins over the past two seasons, and these trades instantly give the A's one of the best farm systems in the majors again.

(2) Who will be this year's surprise player to energize the A's?

The Oakland A's have been getting contributions from unlikely sources for many years now. Whether it be a supposedly washed up Frank Thomas having an MVP calibar season in 06, or career minor leaguer Jack Cust becoming a star on the 07 A's.

This year the A's are counting on first baseman Daric Barton to emerge and become a valuable asset to the organization. Barton was acquired along with Dan Haren in the deal that sent Mark Mulder to the Cardinals. Barton has been highly regarded amongst stat heads because he is an On Base Percentage machine, and still is able to hit for a respectable power total.

Barton's power numbers aren't expected to hit the 35-40 plateau, but still should be able to hit between 20 and 30 on a consistent basis. There is definitely room on a MLB roster for someone with Barton's skills, and Barton's skillset matches up perfectly with the A's approach to hitting.

The A's also will be looking to Travis Buck for significiant contributions this season, Buck surprisingly made the opening day roster last season, and proved he belonged immediately. Unfortunately Buck also was stricken with the injury bug last season as he missed games with three separate injuries during the season. Buck also doesn't hit for much power, but his patient approach at the plate gives the A's another OBP% machine.

(3) Will the Oakland rotation include Rich Harden this season?

Rich Harden is possibly the most frustrating pitcher in the big leagues for fans, and the organization alike. Every time Harden is on the mound he captivates the audience and frustrates hitters as he is able to combine mid 90's heat, with a devastating changeup. Unfortunately for Harden and the organization he hasn't been able to stay healthy during his career, and especially during the past two seasons as he has only made 13 starts.

The A's at this point likely want Harden to stay healthy so they can showcase him and get return value for him, as they are unlikely to contend this season. It's hard to blame the A's for considering trading options for Harden as it's more important to rely on pitchers making their scheduled starts, then to be mesmerized by their talent on a handful of occasions.

Harden could be the big prize as the trading deadline approaches if he stays healthy, otherwise the A's will in all likelihood be faced with the same situation they have been in during previous seasons.

The 2008 Oakland Athletics are probably still a year or two away from contending, as they are waiting for their recently acquired prospects to harness their skills in the minors this season. However the team has a plethora of talent waiting to get their chance, and if the A's are out of contention early on, A's fans may get their first look at the future of the Athletics.