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We need Carp and Guti and Wells and Jaso to carry their weight.  Ackley/Smoak/Montero are not dragging this lineup into contention by themselves.
And our bullpen HAS to be better than that awkward junk we were running out there for much of last year.
If we're agile with our rotation we should be able to keep the starting 5 rolling.  After Felix, Vargas and Iwakuma we've got the following arms competing for the last two slots over the course of the year:  Millwood, Noesi, Beavan, Furbush, Erasmo, Carraway, Hultzen and Paxton.
We can ABSOLUTELY pull an early 2000s Oakland and spend the first 2 months figuring out our optimal arm deployment and the last 4 months whooping on people.
But the bullpen needs to protect leads.  We need Wilhelmsen and League to bring it.    Sherrill and Kelley being healthy and effective would be enormous for us, and Ruffin + whomever can't be weak links.
Everything doesn't have to go right from the outset, but we're gonna need to make quick, correct assessments from Spring Training forward.  Prescient calls like "Pineda is ready out of Spring Training" will be at least as necessary this year.
Like you said, there's talent scurrying around the 40 man in all directions.  Choosing the right 25 to do battle with is crucial for our hopes this year.
Luckily if we get it wrong, that talent (plus more) should be available next year.  We're on the rise.  It's just a matter of whether this is the year we rise up.
Since I'm tired of being treated to borderline-unwatchable offense, I'm certainly hoping so.
February first. 18 days til pitchers and catchers report.  Hurry up already!
~G