by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MESA AZ–As I spoke with Oakland A’s manger Bob Melvin during batting practice at the new Hohokam Stadium he told me he still has not decided who are going to be his starters after #1 Sonny Gray and #2 Scott Kazmir. Those two(free of injuries the rest of this spring training)you can write in ink, but the second part of that rotation? A’s pitchers A.J.Griffin and Jarrod Parker are not going to be in the rotation come April, they’re still rehabbing. Were still a couple of weeks away until the A’s end their Arizona part of spring training and head to the bay for three games against the World Champion San Francisco Giants, looking to tie the A’s this year with a fourth World Series title.

I have seen Sonny Gray in two outings here in the desert; and he looks as good as ever and would not be surprised if he has a very good year, even among those competing for the Cy Young in the American League. Scott Kazmir is the veteran of this staff right now, may I say the “super veteran” almost like the Bartolo Colon of the A’s staff, he has won in the past and there is no reason to believe he will not win this year.

After that, however, things get much more complicated. A’s pitchers Kendall Graveman, Jesse Hahn, get used to these names, because they could easily make this team right now. However, the two times I have seen Drew Pomeranz pitch here, I do not see how Bob Melvin doesn’t give him a spot in that rotation, #3, 4, 5? I do not know, but I expect Pomeranz to make this starting rotation.

Jesse Hahn cost the A’s catcher Derek Norris and Kendall Graveman was even a more expensive trade, he cost them one of the best players in the league, Josh Donaldson. And then…do not forget Jesse Chavez, who is always in the mkix, starting, in the bullpen, he is always ready, his determination and poise always has him fighting for a rotation spot, or even the bullpen. Jesse Chavez is the ultimate “team pitcher”.

So you ask how’s about Barry Zito? The ex-Cy Young Award winning with the A’s has not done much to hurt his chances; but for this veteran it could even be another team in his future, a possible Billy Beane trade? Do not bet against it! These are the Oakland A’s, they traded Cespedes in July and Donaldson after the season, that was the heart of their lineup, and they went Adios.

There is no more important decision for a major league manager than when to take a pitcher out of a game; but this year for manager Bob Melvin the most difficult decision might be which of these new faces make his rotation. He works well with pitching coach Curt Young, who is as good as any pitching coach today in baseball. Curt Young is a quiet man, but works very well with manager Bob Melvin, and there is little doubt in my mind, that Curt Young’s input is the key to Melvin’s ears.

But at the end, Bob Melvin is the guy that has to make the call. I asked Melvin how much of a challenge this year to have so many new faces in camp, and he told me: “We like that, there is no problem, we are getting used to each other”.

Unless they are some major surprises, like first baseman Ike Davis returning to his “slugger”form when he was with the New York Mets, and the A’s get great run production from him, as well as from Brett Lawrie, the new third-baseman hopefully he can play 124 or more games and stay healthy, the Oakland Athletics this year in one of the strongest divisions in baseball. The A’s will go as far as their pitching takes them. I do not expect this team to score a lot of runs.

The starting rotation will probably be named later this spring training, because these young arms are competing and looking very good, which makes Melvin’s decision tougher but sweet. All we know is that Sonny Gray will open the season April 6 at the Oc.com Coliseum against the Texas Rangers, minus the Rangers #1 pitcher Yu Darvish, Tommy John surgery out the whole season.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com