Welcome to Monday A’s fans!
The season continues to inch closer and closer. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting to camp in roughly one month, followed soon after by the position players getting back together for the start of the year. The first Spring Training game is just 40 days away, and the regular season is just 75 short turns of the earth away from commencing. Time flies and free agents still out there will soon be needing to pick teams.
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The A’s are likely done with their major lineup additions this offseason. They’ve beefed up second base with the trade for veteran Jeff McNeil and that should provide a boost at a position that didn’t offer much production last year. Third base looks like it could be a mess early on but the front office is reportedly okay with sticking in-house at the hot corner. Maybe someone like Max Muncy breaks out.
If the A’s are truly done with their offseason position player additions then we can begin imagining how the lineup will start looking. There are a few obvious things that will be certain. Young cornerstones Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz will be at or near the top of the lineup. The team used both in the lead off spot last year but Kurtz belongs in the heart of the order, not leading off games. Wilson is coming off a down ending to his season but he should still be one of the first guys hitting on days he’s in the lineup. Who ultimately takes the lead off spot could depend on the handedness of the starting pitcher if the A’s want Wilson in the #2 hole.
Designated hitter Brent Rooker and starting catcher Shea Langeliers are two of the other best hitters in a solid A’s lineup that could do some serious damage this year. They’ll be occupying the middle of the order as two of the bigger power threats in the lineup.
From there things can begin to go a lot of different ways. McNeil could slide in there to act as a sort of “second lead off man”, also changing the style of batter that pitchers will see. The team could keep a left-handed hitter there if they want left-fielder Tyler Soderstrom higher in the batting order. The bottom third of the lineup could end up leaning very left-handed, perhaps giving a reason to split them up with the right-handed Denzel Clarke going higher in the batting orderz
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The A’s will surely go with different lineups throughout the season but giving the players some continuity in their lineup position could end up benefiting them over the long haul. So how do you think the lineup should be constructed? Comment below!
And have a great start to your week everyone!
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