North Bay A's 06 preview

A's begin new era under new management

Seven A's remain and 10 new faces join in to try to bring A's back to playoffs

The 2006 A's: (Top from left) Brodie Nissen, Billy Dodson, Ryan Metcalfe, Rene Torres, Clinton Yeager (bottom from left) Kevin Metcalfe, Keith Lederer, Brent Everett, Jon Breidinger, Kevin Kennedy, Mike Mastroyannakis..

A's founder and manger Eric Brown left the area to find his own private Idaho. The 2004 REBL AL MVP started the team from humble beginnings winning just two games in its first season in 2001. The A's would make the playoffs in 03 and win the championship in 04, but took a step back last season with injuries and inconsistency as well as poor chemistry.

The team almost disbanded, but Ryan Metcalfe and Brodie Nissen agreed to keep the team alive at the request of REBL commish Rick Cantor. With the team already struggling to get 9 players to many games last season the biggest obstacle of the off-season was finding players to fill the roster and fill several key voids. Metcalfe worked his Marin connections with high school and college coaches as well as the Novato Knicks semi-pro team to recruit talent. Ten players have been added of various skill levels and many will need to shake off the rust of inactivity and the bad habits of slow-pitch softball. The early signings included former Knick Mike Mastroyannakis, who played with Metcalfe in the late 80s, Kevin Metcalfe and Jon Breidinger, who the Metcalfe brothers both coached in Babe Ruth ball before he went on to play for the College of Marin. Keith Lederer aided the cause by recruiting co-worker Brent Everett. When two A's -- Ryan Haven & Al Rubacabra -- were lost for a month to potentially the season due to injury, the A's turned up the recruiting harder and found two more former College of Marin players Shawn Purcell and Erik Zammarchi. The A's also worked the draft and landed the best hitter on the day, Clinton Yeager. With JD Nickelberry lost in the ether the A's found Kevin Kennedy on the waiting list. The former NL A's pitcher didn't have to change colors to join the AL A's. Roland Belcher, a former college classmate of Metcalfe and Nissen, and Lloyd Dorris the baseball coach at Marin Academy have signed on to be reserves.

The A's pitching staff is full of promise, but the power & stamina of Eric Brown will need to be replaced. Billy Dodson is the lone pitcher to notch significant innings last season to return. With Kennedy slated to take Nickelberry's spot as a part-time pitcher and third baseman, the question is how much sitting out last season might have cost him? Purcell and Breidinger were pitching teammates at COM, but Breidinger hasn't played since college and Purcell is trying to return from injury. Ryan Metcalfe will eat some innings in relief from time to time. The A's clearly have better depth on the mound, but at least one dominant arm will need to emerge.

The A's offense returns much of its top half with Metcalfe, Dodson and Nissen likely to set the table. The A's will be hard pressed to replace the potent bats of Brown, Rubacabra and Haven. Mastro' is expected to be a top run producer much like he was for the Knicks before retiring in 2002. Zammarchi may carry a bat as potent, but he is not expected to be a full-time player. The speedy Yeager, Kennedy and Breidinger should productive hitters and Lederer and Rene Torres should continue to improve after strong second halves last season.  Kevin Metcalfe and Everett will have to adjust after years of softball, but both have the athleticism to make the move well. Like the pitching staff, a couple strong bats will need to emerge and the A's will hold out hope that at least one of the Haven Rubacabra, Zammarchi trio becomes a steady force in the 5-hole down the stretch.

Will the A's find an ace starter? Will Breidinger, Masrto' and other be able to shake off the rust? Will the softball stars translate into baseball success? Will Haven & Rubacabra return form injury? Will the new AL teams (Brewers, Nationals & Padres) struggle in their first season in the REBL? If the answer to most of these questions is yes, the A's will likely contend with the Titans for the championship. If the answer is only partly yes, the A's will likely fight with the SilverSox, Giants and Astros for a playoff spot. If the answer is mostly no, the A's will likely miss the playoffs again.