FanPost

2012 A's - So Far, So Good

I think I speak for most of us when I say that this A's season has been a pleasant surprise thus far. I know they had a similar start last season before the wheels came off. But this team seems to have an extra spark that was missing last season. Being a realist, I came into this season hoping the A's could hover around the .500 mark. But if they can ever get healthy (which seems highly improbable given the A's propensity for injuries), I think the A's have a decent shot to finish with a winning record. Billy Beane may have had his best offseason as the A's GM this year. While Cespedes is the crown jewel, getting Reddick for Bailey has proven to be a great move (nice to see a real professional hitter in the green-and-gold). I know Sweeney has a nice avg (but I won't miss a 225 lb. singles hitter). Seth Smith is starting to look like a solid left-handed bat and was worth the price of Moscoso and Outman. The Cahill deal has been great so far, with Parker looking like the A's ace of the future and Cook being the best reliever in the pen (he really should be the closer in my opinion), and Cowgill could be a nice reserve outfielder some day. As much as I miss Gio, Milone has been solid, Peacock has been tearing it up in Sacramento and Norris could be the heir apparent behind the plate. NTS (Not too shabby). The unheralded move of signing Johnny Gomes has paid dividends as well, giving the A's a powerful bat and much needed toughness. Really happy the A's scooped up Inge to man 3rd, as all other options have looked horrible. Really comfortable with the outfield once they get Crisp and Cespedes back, like Suzuki and Recker behind the plate w/Norris waiting in the wings, love Weeks and Pennington up the middle (the hits will come for these guys), and DH will be set once Manny arrives. Not that sold on our first base options though. Kila has played decently, though I was expecting more power from him. I just don't get what the A's see in Barton though. One of the worst-hitting first basemen of all time. Would have rather kept Allen, brought up Carter or given Gomes some reps at 1B then continually waiting for this guy to prove he doesn't suck. If they can hold it together until Anderson and Braden come back, we could be in the hunt well into the dog days of summer. Well done, Mr. Beane. Let's go, A's!