A's Organizational Preview

[Providence A's]

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/a...=.jsp&sid=t237

Just when you thought you had Billy Beane and his Moneyball tactics figured, the Athletics go and select five high school pitchers in their first nine picks of the 2005 draft. Granted, just about everyone else they took was a college player, but nonetheless, Oakland brass showed that they're not completely unwilling to take a shot on some young, raw, high-ceiling talent, too.

There was also the offseason trade of rapidly blooming prospect Andre Ethier to Los Angeles for the ever-controversial Milton Bradley, another move that seemed to fly right in the face of well-established A's protocol.

The A's first two picks, though, were college position players Cliff Pennington and Travis Buck, both of whom fit the standard A's prototype, and both of whom enjoyed success in their first professional season. The organization continued to enjoy success throughout the farm system as well, finishing just .001 behind the Tigers and Giants for best overall Minor League record. And despite a second consecutive season without a playoff appearance, the big club still won 88 games in 2005 and has a solid nucleus of young players such as Rich Harden, Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby and Huston Street to build around.

The rest of the article includes top specs and a 2005 draft recap.

[Bear]

Billy Beane is the best GM in baseball. If he is behind the drafting of these young pitchers you can count on at least one if not more will make it. A's
fans count your good fortune in having Beane as your GM!

[Providence A's]

It's Beane by the way

[Providence A's]

And people keep saying their minor league system is thin now, which it is, but that is because the system graduated so many players to the major league team (Crosby, Swisher, Harden, Blanton, Street, Johnson)...we don't need anyone to come up any time soon. The way I see it Beane has a couple years to restock the system and they'll be ready when they're needed; right not they're not needed.

[Providence A's]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_3646777

To accommodate the Baby Three, the A's originally had an eight-man rotation in mind, where the starters would pitch on three-days rest with limited pitch counts, alternating between starting and relieving.

But the team recently decided they can still protect the kids in a traditional five-man rotation. They won't throw more than 90 pitches a game and will be limited to about 120 innings.

"The priority is not to see how they handle situations late in the game," director of player development Keith Lieppman said. "We'll worry about that at Double-A and Triple-A. We want them in a consistent place with quality innings, and we just want them to come out healthy."

The kids will be among the youngest players in the league, so the bullpen pitchers will be a little older, providing a support group to bail them out. The teenagers are expected to hit some obstacles during the season.

"They know they are all going through the same thing together," Lieppman said. "It will be a good networking situation. They can all help each other out."

This is very good to see from the organization. They protected Haren and Blanton somewhat last year, too.