AL West preview

by Steve

Baseball season starts Sunday, and there has been zero coverage to date on this blog. So we err probably mostly me will dedicate the next week to enlightening the masses on every team division by division. Starting today with the AL West.

Oakland A's

Lets face it, Billy Beane is a genius. He has a shoe string budget year after year and is competitive year after year. True no World Series rings lately but they make the playoffs routinely which is a lot more than teams like KC, Pittsburgh, Baltimore etc can say.

This past offseason has been busy and a bit strange for the Athletics compared to previous years. Beane basically went completely off the reservation with the signing/trading of players like Giambi, O Cabrera, Nomar and of course Matt Holiday. These are atypical moves from a team that normally doesn't sign big time stars and mostly bargain hunts. Wait, that is exactly what these moves are, GREAT bargains, they got these dudes for pennies on the dollar (compared to previous years)

The explanation for Holliday is that a.) he'll be a major bat in the middle of the line up b.) help them a long way in competing for and possibly winning the Wild Card and c.) he is a free agent at the end of the yea. Meaning he will get PAID so the A's will get at least a first round pick out of the deal which is pretty much what they gave up for him in the first place.(And a bag of balls ie. Houston St. [overrated] Greg Smith [a throw in] and Carlos Gonzalez who I like but won't be starting the season on the roster and has struggled this spring and in the majors overall)

Their position players are relatively solid through out. They need a bounce back year for Chavez, more production out of the CF position and for Ellis to continue solid defense at 2b. The real concern with this club is obviously in the starting rotation. Duchscherer is out til at least May and besides Eveland (who is young in his own right) there is nothing else. The 3 4 and 5 guys are young and unproven. (Trevor Cahill, possible sleeper)


Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California United States

Damn that Gary Matthews Jr signing was terrible but the Torii Hunter signing appears to be less stupid than originally anticipated. Either way, this team is stacked in the outfield with Willets, Rivera and G-math riding the pine. That is a good thing, cause Vlad is fading and Torii plays too hard. Either way, it is simple logic penning this team in as the AL West champs yet again.

The only real question marks at this point are Morales at first and Aybar at short. Aybar could be on the brink but needs to build on a strong spring training. Chone is in his prime but had a mediocre '08 (at least for his standards) and should bounce back nicely although he is getting on the wrong side of 30.

The pitching staff is sick. Ervin Santan busted out last year and appears to be healthy despite reports to the contrary. Lackey is an ace, Saunders had a sick '08 and could still be improving, and Weaver and Moseley are a good young 4/5 combine for Wednesday and Thursday games. Lets face it, Mike Scioscia is one of the best in the business and will look to win another 100 games in '09.


Texas Rangers

Young, Hamilton, MURPHY?! As in David.. look for this dude to build on a strong first full season last year locking down the LF position in Arlington. This team is real young at SS with rookie "phenom" Elvis Andrus and second year player Chris Davis at first. With one of the best 2b's in the game in Kinsler and another solid campaign from Michael Young (roids?), this team might have one of the best infields no one will pay attention to in baseball.

Ron Washington is going to have his hands full this season. True, their is a mix of veterans and young players that could gel as the season progresses (despite the oppressive heat) but the bugaboo for this team is pitching.

Millwood is not a true ace, Padilla borderline sucks, and Harrison and Feldman aren't providing much relief in the middle of the rotation. Everyone is still waiting for Brandon McCarthy to step up but the hope for that is fading quickly. Here's hoping Derek Holland makes it to the bigs by June. Oh yeah, and when is Saltalamacchia gonna start raking?


Seattle Mariners

This team is in shambles. Am I reading this right, Endy Chanvez and Franklin Gutierrez are starting in the outfield? KGJ and Wladimir Balentien gettin' no love behind these bums? Yikes. Bedard is a bust, Beltre is over paid, but at least Richie Sexson is gone.

Bright spot: right side of the infield, well their second baseman, Jose Lopez. True it sounds like a fake name, but this dude had a sick '08 campaign in the wet northwest. I guess Mike Carp couldn't beat out has-been 'sluggers' like Shelton and Branyan, but he'll be around later in the year book it.

I honestly have no idea who Don Wakamatsu is but he better have a lot of aspirin in the Mariners dugout. "Ichiro" is 35 and although he has shown no signs of slowing down, it is inevitable. Behind King Felix, the rotation is piece mealed together. Well at least on paper Carlos Silva HAS to improve on his '08 numbers (4-15 6.46 ERA) but don't bet the farm and who knows, maybe Bedard will stay healthy and prove he isn't a one year wonder but ya gotta wonder.

2009 projections
Angels 98-64
A's 88-74
Rangers 79-83
Mariners 77-85