OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Bright Side of the Bay: An Oakland Athletics Dynasty

William Foster · 08-07-2009, 01:18 AM

2009 Oakland Athletics Preview Part 1: The Starters

The A's Rotation is filled with questions and unproven arms entering the season. After 2008's years rotation that included Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, Justin Duchsherer, Chad Gaudin, and Dana Eveland, only Eveland returns to start the 2009 season. Justin Duchsherer also returns however he won't return until June at the earliest. Until then the A's have a solid combination of young and unproven arms to hold down the fort. Including once highly regarded prospect Gio Gonzalez, organizational soldier Dallas Braden, unknown commodity Josh Outman, and Sean Gallagher who was one of the main players in the Rich Harden trade at last years deadline. This inexperienced staff will be subject to significant growing pains in 2009. This could get ugly.

1. Sean Gallagher
23 Years Old, RHP, 90-92 MPH
2008 Stats: 5-7, 5.15 ERA, 103 K, 1.53 WHIP
Contract: 1 Year worth 410,000 *Contract gets auto-renewed at end of season

Gallagher is coming off something of a mixed season. He didn't really impress in his 25.2 innings but his minor league numbers are good enough that he gets to take the ball on opening day for the A's. He's really more suited to be a middle of the rotation guy but on this staff he's one of the best pitchers. His long term future with the Athletics or as trading bait at the deadline no doubt depends on his performance this season.

2. Dana Eveland
25 Years Old, LHP, 90-92 MPH
2008 Stats: 9-9, 4.34 ERA, 118 K, 1.48 WHIP
Contract: 1 year worth 410,000 *Contract gets auto-renewed at end of season

Eveland is the only starter returning from last years rotation to begin the season. He put up serviceable numbers as a 24 year old last season but scouts think his future is as a journeyman bottom of the rotation type. The A's will hope he can take huge strides forward this season because the staff as it currently stands lacks an Ace caliber pitcher.

3. Gio Gonzalez
23 Years Old, LHP, 90-92 MPH
2008 Stats: 1-4, 7.68 ERA, 34 K, 1.68 WHIP
Contract: 1 year worth 405,000 *Contract gets renewed automatically at the end of the season

Gonzalez was absolutely awful in the 7 starts he made last year but the A's are giving him a mulligan due to how highly regarded he is. If any pitcher currently on the A's roster has the stuff to stay in the MLB long term its Gonzalez but he might be forced to make a move to the Bullpen at some point if he doesn't learn another pitch.

4. Dallas Braden25 years old, LHP, 86-88 MPH
2008 Stats: 5-4, 4.14 ERA, 41 K, 1.42 WHIP
Contract: 1 year worth 410,000 *Contract gets automatically renewed

A fly ball pitcher who doesn't strike many out and gives up the longball? You bet we're skeptical about Braden going forward. He has a 4 pitch arsenal but doesn't throw any of them very effectively so he could have a future as a LOOGY (Left Handed One Out Guy) in the Bullpen if he wears out his welcome in the A's rotation.

5. Josh Outman
24 Years Old, LHP, 89-90 MPH
2008 Stats: 1-2, 4.56 ERA, 19 K, 1.64 WHIP
Contract: 1 year worth 400,000

Another cheap A's starter who came over in the Joe Blanton trade, Outman is the odd man out (excuse the awful pun) in the rotation as far as some people are concerned. However he throws 4 pitches decently, keeps the ball on the ground, and has decent K numbers in his history. A definite sleeper that could just as easily blow up and lose his rotation job.

08-07-2009, 01:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
William Foster Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 120 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2009 Oakland Athletics Preview Part 1: The Starters The A's Rotation is filled with questions and unproven arms entering the season. After 2008's years rotation that included Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, Justin Duchsherer, Chad Gaudin, and Dana Eveland, only Eveland returns to start the 2009 season. Justin Duchsherer also returns however he won't return until June at the earliest. Until then the A's have a solid combination of young and unproven arms to hold down the fort. Including once highly regarded prospect Gio Gonzalez, organizational soldier Dallas Braden, unknown commodity Josh Outman, and Sean Gallagher who was one of the main players in the Rich Harden trade at last years deadline. This inexperienced staff will be subject to significant growing pains in 2009. This could get ugly. 1. Sean Gallagher 23 Years Old, RHP, 90-92 MPH 2008 Stats: 5-7, 5.15 ERA, 103 K, 1.53 WHIP Contract: 1 Year worth 410,000 Contract gets auto-renewed at end of season Gallagher is coming off something of a mixed season. He didn't really impress in his 25.2 innings but his minor league numbers are good enough that he gets to take the ball on opening day for the A's. He's really more suited to be a middle of the rotation guy but on this staff he's one of the best pitchers. His long term future with the Athletics or as trading bait at the deadline no doubt depends on his performance this season. 2. Dana Eveland* 25 Years Old, LHP, 90-92 MPH 2008 Stats: 9-9, 4.34 ERA, 118 K, 1.48 WHIP Contract: 1 year worth 410,000 Contract gets auto-renewed at end of season Eveland is the only starter returning from last years rotation to begin the season. He put up serviceable numbers as a 24 year old last season but scouts think his future is as a journeyman bottom of the rotation type. The A's will hope he can take huge strides forward this season because the staff as it currently stands lacks an Ace caliber pitcher. 3. Gio Gonzalez* 23 Years Old, LHP, 90-92 MPH 2008 Stats: 1-4, 7.68 ERA, 34 K, 1.68 WHIP Contract: 1 year worth 405,000 Contract gets renewed automatically at the end of the season Gonzalez was absolutely awful in the 7 starts he made last year but the A's are giving him a mulligan due to how highly regarded he is. If any pitcher currently on the A's roster has the stuff to stay in the MLB long term its Gonzalez but he might be forced to make a move to the Bullpen at some point if he doesn't learn another pitch. 4. Dallas Braden25 years old, LHP, 86-88 MPH 2008 Stats:* 5-4, 4.14 ERA, 41 K, 1.42 WHIP Contract: 1 year worth 410,000 Contract gets automatically renewed A fly ball pitcher who doesn't strike many out and gives up the longball? You bet we're skeptical about Braden going forward. He has a 4 pitch arsenal but doesn't throw any of them very effectively so he could have a future as a LOOGY (Left Handed One Out Guy) in the Bullpen if he wears out his welcome in the A's rotation. 5. Josh Outman* 24 Years Old, LHP, 89-90 MPH 2008 Stats: 1-2, 4.56 ERA, 19 K, 1.64 WHIP Contract: 1 year worth 400,000 Another cheap A's starter who came over in the Joe Blanton trade, Outman is the odd man out (excuse the awful pun) in the rotation as far as some people are concerned. However he throws 4 pitches decently, keeps the ball on the ground, and has decent K numbers in his history. A definite sleeper that could just as easily blow up and lose his rotation job. Last edited by William Foster; 08-07-2009 at 02:54 PM.