2002 Athletics

[Fullabull]

The 2002 season is approaching and the A's are preparing for the post Giambi era. It shouldnt be much different than the post McGwire. Billy Beane usaully fills the need. If he is still around.

Beane has been rumored as the frontrunner in the Redsox GM job replacing Dan Duquette. Beane is signed through 2005.

The A's recently traded for Carlos Pena, a powerful 23 year old to play 1st base. Pena isn't a lock to land the 1st base duties as the A's also aquired Scott Hatteburg. Olmedo Seanz returns to battle for playing time.

Second base is also cloudy with Randy Velarde coming back to compete with Frank Menechino. Randy, capable of batting leadoff, will see considerable time. Both of their fantasy values should drop without a clear cut starter.

The left side of the infield is set with Tejada and Chavez.

Behind the plate Ramon Hernandez is the starter and will be backed up by Hatteburg and Greg Meyers.

In the outfield the loss of leadoff hitter Johnny Damon really hurt. Terrance Long is not a true leadoff guy but does have experience there and can play all three outfield positions. Jermaine Dye is not expected to be ready for opening day (recovering from broken leg). The other Giambi and David Justice will see alot of time in right field and DH.

Starting rotation is solid with Hudson, Mulder, Zito, Lidle, & Hiljus. There are alot of new arms in the Bullpen. Billy Koch is an upgrade from Issringhausen.

A couple of senerios that could play out; Rickey Henderson returns for a 5th time to fill the leadoff hole and finnish his Hall of Fame carreer in Oakland. Big Mac gets bored with retirement and comes home. Even Canseco could help with the power outage. I wonder what Reggie is up to?
Wishful thinking?

[Fullabull]

Jermaine Dye signed a 3 year deal with a option for a 4th with the A's.
Further proof that Scott & Hoffman are commited to winning. The nucleus of the team is already under contract for three years. That is one reason why Dye decided to go with a 3 year deal. Only Barry Zito is not locked up long term and they are making signing Zito top priority.

Rumors from the Raider flagship station (The Ticket 1050) has Rickey Returning to the A's to help fill the leadoff hole.
He's still got game!:biggrin:

[Baseball Guru]

This should be an interesting year for the A's...
The loss of Giambi and Damon will hurt.....
Getting Rickey could be interesting:)
Lets see if they can hold off the surging Rangers...Great pitching staff will be the key for the A's...
IMO, the Mariners are the team to beat...

[amag]

If the A's lost Billy Beane then it's all over as far as I'm concerned

[Fullabull]

I think the timing of the Dye contract had a lot to do with the "Shefield to Braves deal". It had been rumored that Jermaine was the key ingrediant in a Shefield to Oakland deal. I'm glad it worked out this way (Shef is very high maintnance).:freak:

[Fullabull]

BOSTON -- It seems it will only be a matter of time before the new Red Sox owners dismiss general manager Dan Duquette. The question, then, is who will replace him?

Sources told the Boston Herald that A's general manager Billy Beane tops the Red Sox's wish list, which also includes Giants GM Brian Sabean, the Padres' Kevin Towers and former big league GM Doug Melvin.
To read more follow this link:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0118/1313401.html

[Fullabull]

The A's have boasted the best farm system in baseball the past several years.
The big league teams starting rotation is almost entirely home grown (Hudson, Mulder, Zito, Hiljus), and the recents trades this off season of minor leaguers (Justin Miller, Eric Hinske, Ryan Ludwick, Gerald Laird, Mario Ramos, Tyler Yates, and Jason Hart) have left gapping holes in the system.
Small market Oakland is competing with "The Big Boys", but at what price?
They felt they had a succesful amature draft with three picks in the first round.
Top prospects
Players in the "Will Help Soon" section could see major-league action in 2002. Players in the "Will Help Someday" section shouldn't reach the majors until '03 or later, though of course that can change. No 2001 draftees are listed. Players are listed alphabetically.

WILL HELP SOON
Eric Byrnes, OF: Hit .289 with 20 homers, 25 steals for Triple-A Sacramento. A hustler, plays "above his tools." Could make an ideal fourth outfielder.


Mark Ellis, SS: Hit .273 with 10 homers, 21 steals, and better defense than expected in Triple-A. Not a regular, but a potentially good utility guy.


Esteban German, 2B: Second Baseman of the Future. Stole 48, walked 81 times, hit over .300 combined between Double-A and Triple-A. A sleeper for fantasy owners.


Wayne Nix, RHP: Gained control of his 95 mph fastball last year, posting 167/36 K/BB ratio in Class A after walking over 100 the year before. Needs time in the high minors, but could see Oakland in September.


Carlos Pena, 1B: Best first-base prospect in baseball. Acquired from the Rangers, will start in 2002 and challenge for Rookie of the Year. Excellent makeup will help him avoid "Giambi Replacement" stigma.


WILL HELP SOMEDAY
Freddie Bynum, SS: First pick from 2000 draft, very toolsy, swiped 28 bases in Class A. Erratic with the glove and may not develop much power.


Adam Morrissey, SS-2B: Stolen from the Cubs for Mark Bellhorn in December. Australian, hit .309 with 14 homers, 80 walks for Class A Lansing, at age 19.


KEY SLEEPER
Chris Tritle, OF: Hit .336 with eight triples, nine homers, 22 walks, and 26 steals in 214 at-bats in the rookie-level Arizona League. A tremendous all-around athlete, but raw when signed out of an Iowa high school in 2000. He made big progress last year, and should get a chance in full-season ball in '02. ESPN

[Fullabull]

Catcher Ramon Hernandez has been lighting up the Winter league in Valenzuala.
Winning the league batting title with a .376 average, he has the fourth-best mark in the round-robin semifinal tournament, .341, and was tied for the lead among all players, with four home runs in the playoffs.

Hernandez plays primarily first base and designated hitter during the winter, using the time to rest his knees. He set an Oakland record catching in 143 games in 2000 and 136 games 2001.

Keep this in mind when ranking fantasy catchers.
:jump:

[Fullabull]

The A's checked another item off their to-do list Friday, avoiding arbitration with newly acquired left-hander Mike Venafro by way of a one-year contract for the 2002 season.
The A's do not make a habit of making the terms of a deal public.;)