For a team still in the rebuilding/development stages, the annual unknowns of spring training aren’t quite as pressing as they might be for a contender. The A’s focus will be on the regular season and the continuing maturation of some key young players, not those tired old spring concerns about fifth starters and fifth outfielders.
Starting Tuesday, when pitchers and catchers report to Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., the team will focus on figuring out which prospects are ready now - and formulating a timeline for the rest of the up-and-comers.
Here are five key questions the A’s need to answer:
1.