This post may be a day late, but it's definately not a dollar short as A's contributor Christy takes a look at the A's catchers and Designated Hitters. Coming next, outfield and pitchers.

Catchers

Jason Kendall (.182 AVG, .227 OBP, .194 SLG, 0HR, 12 RBI) - D-

In case you were wondering how on earth a player could possibly score a .194 slugging percentage in a major league season, that would be two extra base hits on the year, both of them doubles. The only reason to give Kendall a grade slightly higher than failing is on the off-chance that he does manage the pitching staff well, and calls a good game. There is reason to suspect just this, since the A’s starting pitching is fighting for the league lead in ERA, but in every other important area of the game; base hits, getting on base, offensive power, throwing runners out; Jason Kendall is failing spectacularly. He is no better than a pitcher hitting in the ninth spot, assuming that pitcher is Barry Zito; we can certainly name a handful of pitchers that hits better than he.

Adam Melhuse (.231 AVG, .333 OBP, .269 SLG, 0HR, 2 RBI) - D+

You may as well tattoo “Small Sample Size” to Adam’s forehead, since that is all the playing time he sees, even with Kendall’s abysmal season, and even with that caveat, he has a much higher on-base percentage than Jason. Melhuse is having a rather unfortunate year; it wouldn’t take much to obliterate Kendall’s hold on the catcher spot, yet Melhuse just cannot either catch a break, or make the most of the opportunity when it arises. Filling in for Kendall and allowing five steals and calling a game that allows double the runs of a usual outing is probably not the best way to endear you to the team. However, the A’s have a very serious catching
problem, with no good, viable solution right now. Big concern for the season.

Designated Hitter(s)

Mike Piazza (.282 AVG, .339 OBP, .379 SLG, 1HR, 8 RBI) - B-

Well, he’s no Frank Thomas, but he was showing signs of being the hitter than he has always been before his season was unceremoniously interrupted by injury. Although he has only one homerun on the season (and it was a big one--off K-rod to win the game), Piazza was starting to crank up the doubles, raising both his slugging percentage, and his average. Despite the
early theatrics of his replacement, Piazza has been missed. Look for a strong second half, assuming all healing goes well.

Jack Cust (.222 AVG, .411 OBP, .611 SLG, 8HR, 21 RBI) - B+

Well, it’s been a tale of two players, for the enigmatic Jack Cust, as his major league debut with the A’s found him racking up homeruns and RBIs like they were going out of style. He took the homerun lead from the team in a little over a week, but has cooled off considerably as of late, and we are left to wonder if his first two weeks were a flash in the pan. However, if the rest of his career is any evidence, Cust will get on base at a .400 clip, and this would be a valuable trait if we only had the hitters behind him to drive him in. He will be easily replaced by Piazza when he comes back if he cannot show management that he is more than a one-trick pony who
started strong, and faded fast.