Sole position upgrade: 1st base

To premise this idea, the notion that the A's would replace Hatteberg is probably close to nil. However, it remains that Hatty is covering the only position that could be upgraded.

	AB	OBP	SLG	OPS
DH	511	0.396	0.523	0.919
1st	550	0.367	0.420	0.787
2nd	386	0.333	0.479	0.812
SS	545	0.319	0.426	0.744
3RD	475	0.397	0.501	0.898
CF	606	0.370	0.459	0.829

As you can see, Hatty was outslugged by Crosby; I don't think I have to remind you that was in his rookie season, do I? I did not add Thomas or Swisher to the table because they are not necessarily upgradable positions nor where their sample sizes close to 300 abs. Sure the A's could get by with Hatty at first, but the fact is he's going to be 36 next year and while he may be able to still walk, you can bet that whatever power he did have is going to diminish.

I would hope that an opportunity to upgrade first base does arise and that the A's run with it. I am willing to say that Hatteberg will approach numbers very close to his injury-plagued 2003 season.