Speculating on the A’s potential lineup
By Joe Stiglich
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
in Uncategorized.
Just for kicks, here’s my guess at the A’s Opening Day batting order w/the current roster (I’m including Coco Crisp, though his signing hasn’t been announced yet):
1. Weeks 2B
2. Sizemore 3B
3. Crisp CF
4. Allen 1B
5. Suzuki C
6. Reddick RF
7. Carter DH
8. Taylor/Cowgill LF
9. Pennington SS
I initially penciled in Crisp as the No. 2 hitter behind Weeks because it just seemed a natural fit. But I see him as the A’s most complete hitter as things stand, so I slotted him third, where a team’s best hitter usually bats. I’m hesitant putting Allen at cleanup considering his inexperience, but given the A’s current makeup, he offers some of the best run-producing potential. I could see him and Suzuki flip-flopping, though Suzuki is not an ideal cleanup man either. I have no idea where Reddick fits best, but I put him sixth to get a little left-right-left variation going in the 4-5-6 spots.
This batting order wouldn’t exactly make pitchers run the other way, no matter how you arrange it. I expect the A’s to add another hitter or two through free agency, though I’m not sure how much more formidable they will make the offense.
Give me some feedback. What adjustments would you make?
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January 4th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
This look like something I plan on seeing on opening day. Hopefully we get our value back for Taylor and he takes some AB’s away from Cowgill.
How likely do you think it is that we see Green and/or Choice this season?
January 4th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Joe -
Surprised to not see Barton there. If I had to go with a lineup today it’d be:
1. Weeks, 2B
2. Sizemore, 3B
3. Barton, 1B
4. Allen, LF
5. Reddick, RF
6. Carter, DH
7. Suzuki, C
8. Crisp, CF
9. Pennington, SS
I like Crisp’s speed but don’t like his OBP. Hopefully (big hope – in the sense of home runs clearing this, perhaps little hope needed as everyone won’t hit?) he’d still have room to run in the 8 spot. I agree with you about Sizemore #2. I expect big strides from him and love his high OBP. I have Barton at first, with Allen in LF. I think Taylor and Cowgill sort of cycle around as 4th OF/DH backups.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Joseph, I would expect to see both of them by the end of the season. If I had to bet money, I’d say Choice cracks the majors first. Green needs more time to adjust to the outfield, and Choice just strikes me as more of an impact hitter who could help the big league club before Green.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Not a bad call on Allen in LF, David. But that’s contingent on Barton turning heads in the spring. … I know Allen has played outfield in the past. He shows pretty good athleticism at first base, so I could see him at least being serviceable in left.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
I’d go with this:
1 Weeks, 2B
2 Crisp, CF
3 Barton, 1B
4 Allen, LF
5 Suzuki, C
6 Reddick, RF
7 Carter, DH
8 Cowgill, RF
9 Pennington, SS
I’m hearing rumors of Ludwick or Ross, who would take Cowgill’s spot, so I’d throw them into the 4 or 5 hole. The A’s will STILL have good pitching, and call me crazy, but I think they may actually have just enough offense (with a full season of Weeks and another bat) to win an extra game than last year.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Tom, you’re gonna need to take one of those RF’s and make them a 3B, pal
January 4th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
how can anyone put Barton batting 3rd after last season in both the Majors and AAA.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Barton?
Really?
No…Why?
January 4th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
If everyone were to play to at least 75-80% of their potential, that’s not a bad line-up offensively. Coco is a bit light in the loafers to be the number 3 hitter so I might swap him with Sizemore, but other than that, there is potential. Carter and Allen both have pop in their bats. Elated to have Coco back, and I hope Daric Barton can get his play back to what it once promised to be. That and a rotation that could have Braden back as early as April and Brett Anderson before the All-Star break to go along with Brandon McCarthy, Josh Outman, Guillermo Moscoso and Tyson Ross also has promise. The bullpen also has potential with Grant Balfour, Joey Devine and Fautino De Los Santos in its ranks, among others.
January 4th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Cowgill’s shown huge OBP potential in the minors. Plus he’s got speed. If Cowgill makes the starting roster, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him hit second.
1. Weeks 2B
2. Cowgill LF
3. Crisp CF
4. Allen 1B
5. Sizemore 3B
6. Reddick RF
7. Carter DH
8. Suzuki C
9. Pennington SS
January 4th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Who gives a crap. The A’s mgmt doesn’t want to win. I will NOT attend one single game next year. I’m done with them. Go GIANTS.
January 4th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
@bbower08 – Because Barton had a messed up shoulder all last year. I’m hoping he is more like 2010 Barton.
January 4th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
1. Weeks 2B
2. Crisp CF
3. Matsui DH
4. Ludwick LF
5. Reddick RF
6. Sizemore 3B
7. Allen 1B
8. Suzuki C
9. Pennington SS
January 4th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
AAAa..and you know it Joe.
January 4th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
You cheated, Coachmm!! We’re only supposed to go w/players on the current roster
January 4th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Hi Joe,
I think they’ll still sign a couple of guys for LF and DH.
Since you want only current players, here goes
1. Weeks 2B
2. Reddick RF
3. Crisp CF
4. Kila DH
5. Sizemore 3B
6. Allen 1B
7. Suzuki C
8. Taylor LF
9. Pennington
January 5th, 2012 at 9:43 am
To hear Melvin this morning..scary. It’s on Penningtons shoulders? WHAT shoulders?-lol. Fanfest adding the 1972 A’s?. Ironic the first ever great A’s team-later all given away and leading to a decade of stinker A’s teams.
And -through Melvin- Beane’s NEW story is the A’s WILL be in San Jose in three years..so he HAD to trade all stars in their early 20′s to prepare for that? Does that make any sense to you? Kiss of Ty,spend for Coco the brittle?.
I think Beane man could use a good shrink..something wrong with that man. Cheap,when he should spend-but wants to be admired. Bad combo that doesn’t work does it Slick?
If I’m wrong -tell me where…
January 5th, 2012 at 11:26 am
@Joe
Regarding having 2 RF’s in my order, I’m all for having a softball-like 4-man outfield and 3 IF’ers! LOL j/k
Something like this then:
I’d go with this:
1 Weeks, 2B
2 Cowgill, RF
3 Crisp, CF
4 Allen, LF
5 Sizemore, 3B
6 Reddick, RF
7 Carter, DH
8 Suzuki, C
9 Pennington, SS
January 5th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
What should be just natural baseball talk since time began..is-with the A’s like dusting the house right before the tornado hits. Once the season starts the fun of lineups..will be long forgotten.
Blame Beane-he created this worthless lineup.