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Oakland Athletics 2015 MLB season preview and predictions

By Jeff Weisinger

Feb 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie (15) bats during a workout at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie (15) bats during a workout at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) throws during a workout at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) throws during a workout at Fitch Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Three players to watch

-Sonny Gray, SP: The young right-hander pitched very well for the A’s in his first full season in 2014, going 14-10 with a 3.08 ERA, striking out 183 batters in the process while recording a 1.192 WHIP.  He also did all this while working in the same rotation that including guys like Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija.  It’s going to be really interesting what the 25-year-old does in his second full season, this time with less talent defensively (and offensively for that matter).  Look for him to be the Opening Day starter again in 2015, but this time because he’s the guy for the job.

Mar 3, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie (15) hits a double during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at HoHoKam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie (15) hits a double during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at HoHoKam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

-Brett Lawrie, 3B: The biggest thing to watch for with Brett Lawrie is if he can stay healthy and play over 100 games for Oakland in 2015.  He’s coming off of a year where he missed over half of the season in Toronto with a broken finger and a strained oblique.  He’s struggled so far in spring training hitting under .200, however overall Lawrie is supposed to have all of the tools that should make him a quality third baseman: quick, focused and powerful.  Now he just has to put it all together – preferably sooner rather than later.

-AJ Griffin/Jarrod Parker, SP’s: Both of Oakland’s top starting pitchers are expected to return from Tommy John surgery this year (probably towards June) after missing all of last season, needing the surgeries during spring training.  Griffin was 7-1 in 2012, then 14-10 in 2013 while Parker was 12-8 in 2012 and 13-8 in 2013.  It was the first time Griffin had to go through the surgery while Parker underwent the elbow ligament replacement surgery for the second time in his career.  Their return to the rotation could be the jump the A’s need if they’re going to return to the playoffs in 2015.

Next: Three keys for success

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