23-year old righty swinging outfielder Aaron Cunningham came into this season as the #4 rated prospect in the A’s minor league system according to Baseball America. Cunningham showed why in AAA-ball as he played in 83 games in which he was 101 for 334 (.302 avg, .851 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 11 homers, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. But when the A’s called him up due to the team having issues in the outfield he failed to respond to the challenge earning a trip back to the minors. Cunningham has played in 23 games for the A’s this season and he is 8 for 53 (.151 avg, .456 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. He also has whiffed 16 times for the A’s often looking overmatched. Maybe after a winter off Cunningham will come in focused for the 2010 season.

When the A’s acquired 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Daric Barton from the Cardinals they expected him to be their firstbaseman for a long, long time. They expected him to be a high average hitter with below average power for a 1B. But, he has not played up to his ability yet. He has played in 42 games for the A’s this season and he is 29 for 117 (.248 avg, .764 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 3 homers and 13 RBIs. Barton has now played in 200 games in his three years with the A’s and he is 155 for 635 (.244 avg, .736 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 16 homers and 68 RBIs. He better step up soon in Oakland or he won’t be there anymore.

Scott Hairston had the look of a “Moneyball” player with the Padres and that’s why the A’s traded for him. But, Hairston is looking like nothing more than a backup outfielder with the A’s so far. Hairston has played in 54 games for the A’s this season and he is 51 for 215 (.237 avg, .661 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 7 homers, 32 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. If he doesn’t finish the season strong the A’s won’t be able to depend on him for the 2010 season.

The Oakland A’s are aware that 29-year old righty swinging infielder Bobby Crosby wants out of town but they can’t even give him away because he’s just not a good baseball player. He has played in 87 games for the A’s this season and he is 47 for 211 (.223 avg, .659 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 6 homers and 27 RBIs. Crosby has been with the A’s for 7 years now covering 667 games in which he is 562 for 2,364 (.238 avg, .684 OPS) with 317 runs scored, 61 homers, 261 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. When he came up he was supposed to make A’s fans forget about the departing Miguel Tejada. What a joke! I say don’t let the door hit you in the ass when the season’s over Bobby.

Jack Cust has given the A’s exactly what they have expected this season. He has played in 76 games for the A’s and he was 62 for 277 (.224 avg, .723 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 14 homers and 42 RBIs. Cust has whiffed 84 times this season but that’s no surprise as it’s Cust’s M.O.