2015 A's (A's/Yanks 1st round meeting 7th straight year?)

[Providence A's]

We're looking for our 7th straight playoff appearance and yearly first round series against the Yankees (2 wins, 4 losses). We're also looking for our 7th straight season with 90+ wins (94, 98, 91, 98, 92, and 92 wins the last 6 seasons). We made a couple cheap, low risk FA signings after the FA period. We've got some payroll flexibility, but not as much as we've had in the past.

Rotation (5-man, highest rested)
1. Madson (8,9,9,8; 19 - 10 with a 3.57 ERA in 2014)
2. Hirsh (10,7,9,9; 10 - 13 with a 4.16 ERA in 2014)
3. Asahina (6,8,10,8; 20 - 5 with a 3.73 ERA in 2014)
4. McCarthy (9,9,8,7; 7 - 9 with a 6.73 ERA in 2014)
5. Roe (8,9,8,7; 1 - 4 with a 7.81 ERA in 2014)

Bullpen
Mopup 1: Sisco (8,6,9,6; 2 - 1 with a 4.21 ERA in 2014)
Mopup 2/MR 4: Pinto (8,8,9,5; 1 - 5 - 3 with a 5.37 ERA in 2014)
MR 1: Silva (5,8,10,3; 0 - 2 - 2 with a 2.78 ERA in 2014)
MR 2/Setup 2: Hoey (10,7,9,4; 6 - 2 - 4 with a 4.41 ERA in 2014)
MR 3: Ray (9,7,8,4; 4 - 2 - 2 with a 3.63 ERA in 2014)
Setup 1: Casilla (9,9,9,3; 5 - 9 - 36 with a 4.88 ERA in 2014)
Closer: Mazzaro (10,6,10,7; 16 - 9 with a 3.52 ERA in 2014)

Starters
C Barton (8,8,8,10,6; 10th in AVG, 2nd in OBP, 4th in OPS, 9th in runs, and 2nd in walks in 2014)
1B Parmelee (9,9,6,6,7; 9th in doubles in 2014 and GG 6 years in a row)
2B Rickie Weeks (8,9,7,6,6)
3B Zimmerman (8,8,9,6,8; 7th in doubles in 2014)
SS Jemile Weeks (8,10,4,5,5; GG at 2B in 2014)
LF Mitchell (9,8,9,7,6; 5th in SBs and 20/20 in 2014)
CF Gomez (8,8,7,4,6; 9th in SBs and 20/20 in 2014)
RF Snelling (8,7,7,9,6; 5 straight seasons with 15+ homers, 80+ RBIs, and 80+ runs from the bottom of the lineup)
DH Pujols (10,10,10,10,10; 3rd in AVG, 1st in OBP, 1st in SLG, 1st in OPS, 6th in homers, 7th in RBIs, 7th in runs, 3rd in walks, and MVP in 2014)

Bench
C Jeroloman (7,6,6,7,6)
IF Pennington (8,8,3,8,6)
IF Casilla (8,7,3,4,6; 10th in SBs in 2014)
CF/LF Abrego (8,7,2,7,8).

Summary
The team was solid overall last season with a few guys playing below expectations and their track records. If Abrego fills out more, he may push Snelling to the bench, but for now Snelling stays with that consistency. I moved Mazzaro to the closer role because despite a 33 - 17 record the last 2 seasons as a starter his walks are way too high (3rd in 2013 and 1st in 2014). I'm hoping he'll succeed in the closer role with those ratings, 68 GBP, and the + velocity. If both McCarthy and Roe struggle mightily, then I can move Mazzaro back to the rotation and Casilla back to closer. We'll see how it plays out. I expect to battle for a playoff spot again regardless.

Thoughts?

[Doppelgänger]

To the death!

[nick]

Looks good... Should be a good battle between you and Anaheim, don't think Texas or Seattle are anywhere close to being factors.

I would've just left Mazarro in the roto though... if he's succeeding, don't mess with it... but I can see why you'd close with him. You haven't really had a lights out CL for a few years, and Casilla isn't getting any younger. Eh, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Kingdom]

314 walks in 592 innings is a pretty strong reason.

[Providence A's]

thankfully, Mazzaro gives up less than a hit per inning at least. we'll see, he may find his way back to the rotation as I said; I'm just trying to see if I can work out something better. Hoey was solid as my closer in 2013, but I like him in a setup and middle relief role. Casilla hasn't really been the same since his injury at the end of 2012. He hasn't been terrible, but definitely not as good as before the injury.

McCarthy and Roe are useless in the pen really. If they can be decent in the rotation, then I'll be happy. If one does well, then I'll go with a 4-man rotation. If both suck, then Mazzaro will be back in the rotation. I think my pen is a huge strength so hopefully they can offset Roe/McCarthy.