looking ahead, take 2

What’s the over/under on how many at-bats Seth Smith will get this year? The former Hillcrest Christian and Ole Miss star heads into his second season with Oakland as a bench player. Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick appear set as the corner outfielders and Brandon Moss as the DH. Both Reddick and Moss bat left-handed, like Smith. Newly acquired catcher John Jaso, yet another lefty hitter, may also vie for DH duties. Smith got 383 ABs in 2012 and hit 14 home runs with 52 RBIs, production that helped the Swingin’ A’s win the American League West. But Smith’s batting average fell to .240 (down from .284 in 2011 with Colorado) as his struggles against left-handed pitching seemed to worsen. He batted .157 in 70 ABs vs. lefties. Smith has good all-around skills, but that inability to hit lefties is going to limit his opportunities. Smith has 65 career homers, reaching double figures in bombs each of the last four seasons. Question is, Can he get enough ABs to do it again?