FanPost

2009 schedule: we'll find out early what this team is made of

MLB posted the tentative 2009 schedule - the A's will be hoping to repeat last night's feat of beating John Lackey and the Angels, not in Oakland, but in Anaheim.  The A's open in Anaheim and close with the Angels in Oakland.  April will be brutal if the team is trying to find itself:

  • 4 at Anaheim
  • 3 Seattle, 3 Boston
  • 3 at Toronto, 3 at Yankees
  • 3 Tampa Bay
  • 3 at Texas

That said, we have a wonderful interleague schedule as the A's draw the NL West.  Unfortunately, the rest of the AL West draws the NL West (though the Rangers get Houston as their rival game).

  • 3 vs Arizona
  • 3 at SF, 3 at LA, 3 at SD
  • 3 vs Colorado, 3 vs SF

July is also a brutal month:

  • 1 vs Detroit
  • 3 at Cleveland, 3 at Boston, 3 at TB
  • 4 vs Angels, 3 vs. Twins
  • 3 at Yankees, 4 at Boston

If the A's can survive April that will be a positive sign and should set them up to thrive against the NL.  If we're still in a contending position through July, Beane would have good reason to make trades to improve the club.

There are a lot of question marks for the 2009 team - we should quickly get answers in April!

See schedule here