OAKLAND A'S--James Floto

The good news for Oakland fans is that this club is back in the running like the vaunted A's of a decade ago. The bad news is that despite providing fans with one of the most exciting assemblages of young ballplayers to appear in many a year, the denizens of the East Bay turned up to the tune of less than 20,000 fans per game. This was a championship club that drew better on the road than at home! As a result, the ALW champs are short of cash, so when some of there most important employees come up for free agency next year the A's may have to let them go. Enjoy your team this year, A's fans--the trip to the top may not last long.

Who are these young A's? Among position players SS Miguel Tejada is probably the best known at this point, with 3B Eric Chavez, and CF Terrence Long the other young stars. But outfielders Adam Piatt and Frank Menechino got some experience last year, and the brass thinks so highly of rookie 2B Jose Ortiz that they were willing to trade 38-year old Randy Velarde, who only two seasons ago was touted, along with Jason Giambi, as the glue that held this team together.

First sacker Jason Giambi is the greatest A's player since that team of a decade ago. He is the 2000 AL MVP, on the strength of .333, 43, 137. He has been willing to take less than full market value, but extension talks stalled over the issue of deferred payments. His agent insists this is his last year in the East Bay, although lately Jason says he still wants to stay. Having younger brother Jeremy there is an important part of the equation.

In the three-cornered trade that cost them Velarde, the A's picked up another young star just entering his prime, CF Johnny Damon of the Royals. He, too, becomes a free agent after this year, but with Giambi, Tejada, Long, Chavez, Damon and perhaps Ortiz and Piatt, the A's may have an offensive factory equal to any in the game. The other key A who may flee after 2001 is Jason Isringhausen, originally a Met who was supposed to be the next Dwight Gooden but was stalled by injuries. He road the baseball rails for a few years, then landed in Oakland's pen, where he developed into a premier closer.

The rotation is also young and brilliant. Tim Hudson won 20 games as a 2000 sophomore. He and lefty Barry Zito (7-4, 2.72) may be the next Maddux/Glavine. 6'6" southpaw Mark Mulder also showed signs of real promise and has dazzled observers this Spring The rotation is rounded out with two veterans, Gil Heredia, a junkball control pitcher who won 28 games the past two years and Omar Olivares, who won 15 in '99 but struggled last year.

Mix in a solid bullpen with Jim Mecir, Jeff Tam, Mike Magnante and Mark Guthrie, factor in the experience of those young players who are still all under 25, add the speed and defense of Johnny Damon, and the A's should be able to hold off the improved Rangers and Mariners.

The Yankees' famous quartet of Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez, Andy Pettitte and newcomer Mike Mussina was a combined 55-45 with a 4.08 ERA last year. The A's three youngsers, Tim Hudson, Brry Zito, and Mark Mulder, plus veteran Gil Heredia were 51-31 with a combined 4.24 ERA.