Ok, so I've been playing MLB 2k8.  And it's pretty depressing being the A's in that game. Aside from the fact that Carlos Gonzalez, Ziggy, and Greg Smith do not exist, Zook is horribly slow, the team doesn't even have Mike Sweeney or Frank Thomas, and Ryan Sweeney sucks, there's the fact that Harden and Chavez are by far the best players. 

So I did what any A's fan would do, i stole the best prospects from teams we traded with (usually with names of non-existent players), and re-named them.  For example, the Diamondbacks have a latin 22-year old and white 23-year old pitcher.  I stole them and named them Gio Gonzalez and Greg Smith.

I also created Carlos Gonzalez and adjust his and Swooney's ratings to the 77 & 78.  It got me thinking, why don't I just create the A's of the future team and name them the players in our system that (at this time) look like the favorites to be on that club? 

Now obviously, some of the guys that are on the current team that aren't on the roster I put together will be traded for some more prospects, but this is what I think our 2010 roster looks like including just players in the organization currently:

Starting with the Batting Order:

1. 2B Jemile Weeks - the first pick of the 2008 draft looks like the eventual replacement for Ellis long-term, and is the best defender among the three possible current 2B prospects I have on this roster.

2. RF Ryan Sweeney - By 2010 I expect these two will be nearing their all-star potential.  I think Sweeney will be a .300+/.450+/.400 guy.

3. CF Carlos Gonzalez - See Sweeney, add power.

4. DH Chris Carter - I know it's pushing it a little to have a guy in the lineup who's only currently in Stockton, but we need power.  Badly.  And if there's anything he can do, it's be Jack Cust.

5. LF Jack Cust - Speak of the devil.  Yes, you can hit .220 and still start for us when we're trying to compete if a.) you can hit the tar out of the ball and b.) you can OBP .400 in the process.  And with, essentially, 2 CF's out there he has less ground to cover.

6. C Kurt Suzuki - I have my doubts about him staying behind the plate.  I'm wondering if his bat and speed becomes too important to what we do to risk losing him to injury.  But we only have Donaldson as a legit prospect in the pipeline, so I'm sticking him here.

7. 1B Sean Doolittle - More power is good.

8. 3B Adrian Cardenas - I think he'll eventually move to third.  And though he can't field like Chavez in his prime, neither can Chavez.

9. SS Gregorio Petit - He's really here for his defense.  If not you we can plug Pennington in here.  But even at the plate, he seemed pretty impressive.  I'm surprised he hasn't gotten more chances.

Dugout Guys:

SS Cliff Pennington - He pretty much platoons with Petit, depending if we need offense or defense more.

OF Aaron Cunningham - He's our fourth outfielder, when we can throw Cust at DH or Carter at 1B to give someone the day off. 

OF/IF Jack Hannahan - I don't think he's a starting quality player, but he can be very valuable in a Scuataro-like role, only with more versatility.

C Rob Bowen - He continues to backup Zook until Donaldson is ready.

OF/IF Eric Patterson - Utility guy #2, he can play 2B or any of the outfiled positions.

3B/1B Wes Bankston - Like his power too.

Pitching Rotation:

1. RHP Trevor Cahill - I think the top three could end up in any order

2. LHP Brett Anderson - We'll stick him here, though it might be nice to have a rotation that went lefty-righty-lefty-righty-lefty.

3. LHP Gio Gonzalez - He finishes out what what may be referred to as "the NEW Big 3."

4. LHP Greg Smith - Eveland can go, but I like Smith and his pickoff move. 

5. RHP Sean Gallagher - He's probably a legit top 3 starter by 2010, which makes him that much more impressive as our fifth starter.

Bullpen:

Long Relief:
LHP Josh Outman - I think he's essentially our sixth starter, playing the role of DiNardo.  Only better.  And lefty too. 

Middle Relivers:

RHP Andrew Carnigan - Currently a closer, I don't know if he has the stuff that Devine or H-Rod does.  But he could be perfectly fine as a Middle guy.

RHP Sam Demel - I think he ends up in a similar role to Carnigan, but might end up out-playing him. 

RHP Joey Devine - Always a threat to go on the DL.  He's sort of what Andrew Brown is now.  Great when he's in there.  But it's those last four words that are important.

Set Up Guys:

LHP Jerry Blevins - Blevins works as the Lefty-specialist.  But also as a set up guy to give our other 2 set up guys a day off.

RHP Brad Ziegler - Even if the league ever gets a run on him, I could see him being the guy who works the seventh every night, so our young arms don't get worn down.

RHP Santiago Casilla - Before his injury he was already becoming what Okajima was to Boston.  I just see that continuing as he gets completely healthy.  He's our top set-up guy, and works the eighth every night.

Closer:

RHP Henry Rodriguez - He's had setbacks because he hasn't quite developed his change to compliment his 100 mph fastball.  But assuming he does, that's all he needs to blow hitters away in the ninth.  This could make him a VERY dangerous closer.  And watching the Future's Game, I couldn't help but notice how much he looks like Shawty Lo (the guy who did "Dey Know (L-O)"...google it). 

And under these circumstances we'd still have a pretty loaded AAA squad with:

whoever we get for letting Chavy, Ellis, Croz, Street, Duke, Eveland, and Frank go, plus:

RHP James Simmons

RHP Michael Inoa

RHP Craig Italiano

& C Donaldson

Plus, we'd get Mike Sweeney to be our hitting coach.

So there you go.....what do you guys think of my 2010 A's Roster?