Season Ends

So this season pretty much sucked. We went in with optimism, only to very quickly realize that our players fucking sucked. But that isn't to say this was the worst season ever, there are quite a few positives I would like to reflect upon, the first of which being:

1) Brett Anderson. Holy crap did I not see this coming. Dude is one year older than me, and he just straight dominated the league. Posted ~20% K-rate and a 6% BB-rate, along with a GB-rate over 50%. His slider is just an obscene pitch, and the fastball had velocity that was, for once, even better than advertised. Brett Anderson is awesome, and seriously guys, he has tons of time to get even better.

2) Andrew Bailey. Came even more out of nowhere than Anderson. And really, started out awesome and stayed awesome, pretty much striking out everyone. I expect he'll give up quite a few more homers next year, but still a very useful arm.

3) Mikel Wuertz. This guy was just godly coming out the pen...pretty much every day. I really can't understand how we didn't trade his ass at the deadline, some idiot had to have wanted to overpay for him. Next year hopefully...

4) Ryan Sweeney. Sweeney had a really good season. I hate on the guy a lot, (and I think deservedly so! He's a fucking giant with zero power) but he did throw up some insane fielding numbers this year, and once again hovered around league average with the bat. Really, he was one of the bigger positives this team has seen in a while, and if he can maintain this level of performance (glove probably regress quite a bit, but maybe the bat will improve?) he could be a part of our crowded outfield for a while. God that is a depressing thought. Though positive, this guy was throw in for swish. A throw in! Not a bad return, really.

5) Raj Davis. I really don't like raj davis. I don know why, his game is just incredibley annyoing to me. From the "stumble across homeplate" move he has whenever he takes a pitch or the "trip on the base cause I'm running so damn fast to the next base" move he always does, he just annoys me. So yea, he fluked himself into a good season, awesome it happened for us, kinda hoping he's a defensive replacement/pinch runner next season.

6) Gio Gonzalez. Gio struck out a shit load of guys this season. Seriously, he struck out a shit load. Yea he walked a shit load too, but holy crap can he strike guys out. Plus he was super unlucky this season! Watch as I defend Gio with the following numbers: .369 BABiP! 67.8% LOB%! 13.9% HR/FB! (he has a career 9.2% HR/FB as per minor leage splits) Alright his walk rate is fucking horrendous, but other than that Gio had a nice little half season in the bigs.

7) Kurt Suzuki. Kurt had a bit of a mixed season, but overrall could be a step in the right direction, development wise at least. He basically forgot how to take a walk, but learned how to hit the longball. His offensive value held about static from last year, I just hope next year the power stays and the walks return. Still, as he is, Kurt's an around league average bat at a premeium position. And from what I can gather, his defensive reputation seems to be fairly positive. That is definitely a positive, especially at the price he comes at.

8) Dallas Braden/Josh Outman. They were fairly awesome until they got hurt. Do I think they can continue what they were doing pre-injury? Heavans no, but they look like they could be decent backend starters, and cheap servicable pitching is always a welcome sight.

And that about wraps it up. Not going to list dissapointments because I don't think that list would ever end. As it stands now at the end of the season, A's are tied with the Padres and the Jays for 9th worst record (I think, just quickly glanced at the standings). I've no idea how that works out draft position wise, hopefully we get 9, but 11 isn't bad either I guess. If only we had pick 11 last year...Jemile Weeks better be fucking awesome. But overall a strange fucking year! Tons of questionable moves, what with acquireing Holliday, starting Cahill/Anderson, yo-yoing Gio/Eveland/Gallagher, at the start of the season I wondered if this was still the same front office. But over time it was clear this ball club still knows very well what it is doing, and I leave this losing season with, as always, quite a bit of optimism. Who knows! Next year could be the year!