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Oakland Athletics: Projected Opening Day Lineup

The season is only five days away and the Oakland Athletics have almost solidified their 25-man roster. With yesterday’s poor performance by lefty Barry Zito, Oakland is expected to leave the veteran off the roster. It will then be Zito’s decision to accept a Minor League placement with the Triple-A affiliate in Nashville or sign with another team.

Outfielders Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick are likely to begin the season on the disabled list along with lefty closer Sean Doolittle. This opens up a few roster spots for some unexpected players. Here’s my projection for the Athletics Opening Day lineup:

  1. Craig Gentry - CF
  2. Sam Fuld - LF
  3. Ben Zobrist - RF
  4. Billy Butler - DH
  5. Ike Davis - 1st
  6. Brett Lawrie - 3rd
  7. Stephen Vogt - C
  8. Marcus Semien - SS
  9. Eric Sogard - 2nd

Bench: Billy Burns (OF), Tyler Ladendorf (UTIL), Mark Canha (1st, OF), Josh Phegley (C)

Semien probably deserves to be hitting in the two spot at this point, but I’d expect Bob Melvin to insert Fuld to break up the right-handed hitters. With right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo expected to start for the Rangers, it’s possible Burns could start in left field. This would move Fuld to right field, Zobrist to 2nd base and put Sogard on the bench.

Rotation:

  1. Sonny Gray
  2. Scott Kazmir
  3. Jesse Hahn
  4. Drew Pomeranz
  5. Kendall Graveman

Bullpen: Jesse Chavez (long relief), Eric O’Flaherty, Fernando Abad, Evan Scribner, R.J. Alvarez, Dan Otero, Tyler Clippard (closer)

Players being left out: Pat Venditte, Ryan Cook and Barry Zito

Venditte has been a pleasant surprise this Spring, but simply didn’t warrant enough attention to grab a spot in the A’s bullpen. In a more shocking move, the A’s sent veteran reliever Ryan Cook to Triple-A Nashville to work some things out.

Crisp and Reddick are due back within a week or two, which will likely send Burns and Ladendorf to Nashville.

Oakland will quickly head home after the early start in today’s last Spring Training game in Hohokam Stadium where they’re (13-2) in their new training facility. The Athletics will play their 3-game Bay Bridge series with the San Francisco Giants before opening up the regular season at home against the Texas Rangers.

I can already hear the chants now, “Let’s Go Oakland!”

Author: Guest Writer