A's Have Hitting To Go With Arms Heading Into Season Opener
OAKLAND (CBS Sports / AP) -- The Oakland Athletics hope a solid staff and a rebuilt offense will make them the surprise in the American League West in 2011.
Oakland opens the regular season Friday night at home against the Seattle Mariners and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez.
But the A's may have a future Cy Young Award winner going for them in Trevor Cahill. The right-hander was Oakland's ace last year, posting an 18-8 record with a 2.97 ERA and an All-Star appearance.
"I liked what (Cahill) did last year. I liked his demeanor on the mound - the mental side of the game that he takes out there each time makes him ideal to start any game of the year," A's manager Bob Geren told the team's official website. "If there's a little extra hoopla and flyovers and fireworks on Opening Night, he's the perfect guy to handle that,"
Cahill is part of a core that includes Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden, but, the A's will begin the year without their closer. Andrew Bailey, who converted 25 of 28 save chances in 2010, went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained forearm, meaning former All-Star Brian Fuentes will be expected to finish games for now.
Fuentes had 24 saves with Minnesota and the Angels last season after posting a career-high 48 with Los Angeles in 2009.
The Athletics also placed right-hander Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday to complete their opening day roster. Harden has a strained lat muscle below his shoulder.
Oakland finished second in the West with an 81-81 record a year ago, however that result may have been more a testament to its pitchers. The A's offense produced only 109 homers and scored 663 runs last season, the team's second fewest in the last 28 non-strike seasons.
To address that - and challenge AL pennant-winning Texas - Oakland acquired David DeJesus from Kansas City and Josh Willingham from Washington, and also hope Hideki Matsui has something left as a designated hitter. The 36-year-old former Yankees star and 2009 World Series MVP was third on the Angels with 21 homers in 2010.
"Everybody's excited about the new guys we have. Expectations are high," shortstop Cliff Pennington said. "(Matsui is) a big-time player and it will bring some attention to the team."
Matsui told reporters through translator Roger Kahlon that physically he feels good and said he was ready for the start of the season.
The A's have won five straight over the Mariners, and went 13-6 against them last year.
(© 2011 CBS Interactive and CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
