2008 Oakland Athletics

[Providence A's]

starters
Harden 4.5
Haren 2.5
Chen 2.5
Asahina 2.5
Blanton 2.0

mopup
Witasick 1.0
Kennedy 1.5

middle relievers
Tadano 3.5
Tsao 2.5
Kennedy 1.5
Witasick 1.0

setup
Duchscherer 3.0
Calero 3.5

closer
Street 4.5

DH + RHP
LF DeJesus 3.0
2B Aybar 4.0 spec
3B Chavez 4.0
DH Dunn 4.0
SS Crosby 2.5
1B Johnson 3.0
RF Bradley 2.5
C Shoppach 2.5
Kotsay 2.5

DH + LHP
LF DeJesus 3.0
2B Aybar 4.0 spec
SS Crosby 2.5
DH Dunn 4.0
RF Bradley 2.5
1B Johnson 3.0
CF Kotsay 2.5
C Buck 2.5
3B Chavez 4.0

RHP
LF DeJesus 3.0
2B Aybar 4.0 spec
3B Chavez 4.0
RF Dunn 3.0
SS Crosby 2.5
1B Johnson 3.0
CF Bradley 2.5
C Shoppach 2.5
pitcher

LHP
LF DeJesus 3.0
2B Aybar 4.0 spec
SS Crosby 2.5
RF Dunn 3.0
CF Bradley 2.5
1B Johnson 3.0
C Buck 2.5
3B Chavez 4.0
pitcher

bench
2B/SS Cora 1.0
1B/2B/SS/3B/LF/CF/RF 1.0 - 2.0 Woodard
LF/RF/CF Bigbie 1.5

I feel I've strengthened my starting pitching with the acquisition of Asahina to go along with Harden, Haren, Chen, and Blanton. Tsao strengthens my pen. Tsao, Tadano, Duchscherer, Calero, and Street give me a really solid pen.

I didn't really lose anything on offense as Kendall wasn't doing much. My platoon of Shoppach and Buck should improve the offense from catcher a little, but I don't expect much from them batting 8th. I added DeJesus who will be a vast improvement over the Kielty/Guzman platoon of last season. I feel I've improved this top 5 overall offense from last season. We will have a little more speed with DeJesus and having Aybar for the entire season at the major league level.

Overall, I think this team is improved and should contend for both the division (only 5 back Pythagorean record last season) and the Wild Card, which we won last season.

[bjd2933]

Harden would look fantastic in pinstripes.

Just saying...

[Providence A's]

certainly, if this team was not a contending team, then I would have to begin to consider thinking about the possibility of maybe moving Harden...yup