Issue: Closing time
Analysis: With All-Star closer Andrew Bailey gone, the most compelling competition at camp — and, with apologies to both infield corners, most likely Oakland’s most difficult decision — revolves around the ninth inning.
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Brandon Allen certainly sent a message that he’s up for the challenge of competing for the A’s first baseman job this spring by belting a grand slam and driving in seven runs in a 12-10 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Allen went deep in the fourth, added a two-run double in the fifth and drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with a groundout. In 41 games with the A’s last year, Allen hit .205 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.
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Issue: Running wild?
Analysis: The Giants, buoyed by the arrival of outfielders Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera, are placing an emphasis on aggressive baserunning this spring.
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PHOENIX-- Green-collar baseball? When Manny Ramirez is in camp for the A’s, it’s green do-rag baseball. It’s “Guess who’s in the cage?” baseball. It’s “Can he still do it?” baseball.
It hasn’t been like this for a while at Papago Park, the A’s training complex, a ball player who has to be watched, if even to find out whether he still deserves to be watched.
He won’t be eligible to play until May 30, the day on which Manuel Aristides Ramirez turns 40.
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The A’s? “Team Irrelevant”? Grabbing supposedly the best Cuban baseball playing defector available, Yoenis Cespedes, for $36 million? Then signing Manny Ramirez? The A’s?
Welcome to the New World of Moneyball. No longer when a journalist asks GM Billy Beane whether we’ll recognize any members of the A’s will he be able to respond, if tongue in cheek, “Do you ever?”
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Heading into spring training 2011, the A’s were the boutique pick of many experts as the favorite to win the American League West.
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It was not that long ago that the 2012 season for A’s baseball seemed to be one destined for mediocrity. That perception changed Monday with the acquisition of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.The A’s secured the highly coveted but untested Cuban defector Monday with a reported four-year, $36 million deal. The A’s bested the Miami Marlins, who were favored to add Cespedes to their A-list acquisitions of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell.
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A’s owner Lew Wolff spoke with a number of fans during FanFest on Sunday and explained how the team’s stadium situation is directly tied to the trades that sent three All-Stars to other teams.
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The A’s underwent major changes in the offseason, and life in 2012 begins without much of last year’s roster, including former All-Star pitchers Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey.“It’s tough,” A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki said at a FanFest event at Oracle Arena on Sunday. “It’s not just the fact that they’re leaving; it’s the fact that you build relationships with these players and you become close to them. ... It’s kind of a surreal feeling.”
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With spring training less than a month away, Oakland fans can get a chance to meet players and coaches before they head out to the Cactus League at A’s FanFest on Sunday. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held at Oracle Arena.
Close to 30 players are expected to be in attendance, including Coco Crisp, Jemile Weeks, Dallas Braden and new additions Josh Reddick and Seth Smith.
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