Oakland Athletics Season Predictions: A Guide To 2016

2016 Predictions: Bouncebacks and WAR

Biggest Bounceback Performance in 2016:

Andrew: John Axford
Mark: Jed Lowrie
Melson: Billy Butler
Katrina: Billy Butler
Rich: Billy Butler
Rylan: Coco Crisp
Samantha: Billy Butler

Four of the seven votes went to Billy Butler, who as mentioned above, really struggled in 2015. As Rich pointed out, there’s “only one way to go from 2015, and that’s up.”

It would take a drastic improvement for him to be a true bounceback candidate, but the Athletics would be a different team if Butler were hitting well in the heart of the lineup.

There was one vote for John Axford, and Andrew added: “Axford had stretches of poor play last year, but I’m going to blame Coors Field. The Coliseum will be a better dynamic for him.”

The final two votes came for Lowrie and Crisp. Crisp can improve by simply staying healthy. Mark went even further with his prediction, stating that Lowrie “will be one of the best second basemen in the American League”.

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Highest WAR:

Andrew: Sonny Gray
Mark: Stephen Vogt
Melson: Sonny Gray
Katrina: Sonny Gray
Rich: Billy Burns
Rylan: Sonny Gray
Samantha: Sonny Gray

Gray was the popular pick for WAR, with Vogt and Burns earning one selection each. Gray led the team in WAR last year, and he seems a solid candidate to do it again, although Burns will have a full season to try to rack up those first-pitch hits.

Next: 2016 Predictions: The Prospects