The Oakland Athletics spent the offseason collecting outfielders and potential designated hitters. So, of course, they've sustained a major injury early in camp somewhere else - third base, as Scott Sizemore will miss the year with a torn ACL. It's an injury from which he should make a complete recovery, but an injury from which recovery takes a lot of time.
FanGraphs: Scott Sizemore’s Injury Leaves The A’s In A Pickle
The blow has left the A’s in a bad position. On the one hand, since they’re highly unlikely to contend in 2012, there’s little sense of urgency with regard to finding a Sizemore replacement. On the other, you could say that Sizemore’s injury has left them exposed.
At FanGraphs, Jack Moore addresses the situation:
The Athletics do not have to make a major move here -- Scott Sizemore is coming off a season with a 108 wRC+ and could very well recover and become the third baseman of the future. But their complete lack of infield depth has been exposed, and with a full month of spring training preceding six months of games to go, it is a problem they will need to fix over the next few weeks.
People have talked about potential in-house solutions, and about potential out-house solutions. Miguel Tejada would be a potential out-house solution. This is a bathroom joke. The proper course of action would probably be to give the third-base job to someone who's already around, but if Billy Beane can find somebody out there who's affordable and a good bet to contribute in 2012 and beyond, then more power to him.
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