ESPN analyst sets the stage for quite a successful A's season

It has now been five seasons since the Athletics were last in the postseason. Since then, the club has done its best to rebuild, and the foundation is starting to be laid. 

The A's were one of the best offensive teams last season, hitting the seventh-most home runs across the regular season. However, the pitching staff was what held this team back. 

During the offseason, the team did not really address the pitching staff. So, it will be on pitching coach Scott Emerson to get things in order with the group of arms. 

MORE: Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom could be a massive steal in fantasy

ESPN analyst sets the stage for quite a successful A's season

As mentioned before, the offense should not be hard to come by for the A's this season. Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and others are expected to continue their dominance. 

All eyes will be on the pitching staff, as they will be the ones who either make or break the club. ESPN's Jeff Passan holds onto hope that they will get it together and contend for a wild-card spot. 

"It wouldn't surprise me if the A's contend for a wild-card spot. The pitching is still too iffy to say they're a favorite, but the lineup is one of the best in baseball, with Kurtz, Soderstrom, Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler and the newly added Jeff McNeil. They will rake. They will outscore you. And if pitching coach Scott Emerson can cajole something out of a rotation that features neither ace nor closer, the A's can beat up on lesser AL West competition while the AL East cannibalizes itself and the AL Central looks to redefine the word mediocre."

A postseason run for this team would surprise many, but they have the tools to do it. They just need a few arms to step up this season.

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