| Team Information
Back and ready for business, the Oakland Athletics return to the 2007 season with high hopes. Finishing last year only seven games behind American League West champions, the A’s have big plans to rebound and come back stronger than ever. In fact, Athletics seats are already flying off shelves. An already young team, the A’s have also signed some new draft picks and free agents who will undoubtedly help strengthen their upcoming season.
Despite some very shaky starting pitching, the 2005 Athletics bullpen kept the team in the running entering the second half of the season. A's Relievers Hudson Street and Justin Duchscherer both added to the strong rotation on the mound. Also a serious contributor was starter Kirk Saarloos, who stepped up his game, pitching to win ten games for the first time in his four-year career. As far as fielding, the offensive production was led by outfielder Mark Kotsay, third baseman Eric Chavez, and outfielder Nick Swisher. Also adding to the starting lineup was newcomer Jay Payton, an outfielder acquired midseason. However, one the Athletics season’s biggest gems surprisingly turned out to be first baseman Dan Johnson, who was called up in late May.
In the off-season, the Athletics spent there time rounding up some new faces for 2006. Among these were A's free-agent pitchers Jay Witasick, Matt Rooney, and starter Esteban Loaiza. On top of these, the Athletics also picked up reliever Chad Gaudin in a trade along with outfielders Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez. Free agent Frank Thomas was also signed. For the 2006 season, the A’s have seriously focused on building up their pitching rotation. The team’s general manager Billy Beane believes that the team could be in major contention with a solidified Athletics pitching lineup.
|
