As I am sitting watching the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees game, it's getting my so pumped up to write this blog and preview probably the hardest divisions to pick in all of baseball.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Who's in: DH Hideki Matsui, SP Joel Pinerio, RP Fernando Rodney, RP Brian Stokes
Who's out: 3B Chone Figgins, DH Vladimir Guerrero, SP John Lackey, OF Gary Matthews Jr., RP Darren Oliver, RP Justin Speier, RP Jose Arredondo
First, I think this is probably the dumbest name in all of sports, name yourselves the California Angels, L.A. Angels or Anaheim Angels, not this atrosity of a name.
Anyway, looking at this team, there is nothing which really spark you as they are incredibly good in this area or incredibly bad in another, they are just so incredibly balanced all around, and they have so much depth in all areas, that it's hard to go against them in the regular season. Granted, the postseason is a different story, and we'll get to that in October.
The manager, Mike Scoscia is probably the best in the majors of getting the most out of what he has to work with. He consistently wins about 90 games per season, and I'm baffled every year by it, but he is just that good.
The Angels lineup is built around speed, with a little bit of power sprinkled in. The speed comes from everywher but first base and the catcher spot basically, where each person is capable of stealing 20 bases this season. The power is sprinkled in via Kendry Morales, who had 36 HRs and over 100 RBI as season. Then, there is Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu who can combine for 50 HRs and 170 RBI, which is pretty good. Los Angeles is relatively young as well, which is also terriffic, as they can continue to develop these players and help them reach their full potential. Plus, it helps with range for defense, as the Angels are normally always near the bottom of the league in errors, and near the top in defensive fielding percentage, as they love to work on fundamentals year round.
Starting pitching is normally a strenth for the Angels and should be again this year, as even though they lost their ace in John Lackey, they have a very capable fill in with Jered Weaver, who won 16 games last year. Then, they signed one of the Cardinals "big three" from last year, Joel Pinerio, who should be plugged into the second spot, and perform very well, say 15-8, with a 4.3 ERA in 30 starts. They have three other all-stars to close out the rotation in Scott Kazmir, who was acquired last year late from Tampa Bay, and should continue to perform well. The others are Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana, who should also perform very well.
Finally, the bullpen should be just fine again with Brian Fuentes closing it out again, who led the AL with 48 saves and then they got Tigers closer Fernando Rodney, who will be the set-up man and backup closer, just in case Fuentes struggles.
Prediction: 1st
Seattle Mariners
Who's in: SP Cliff Lee, 3B Chone Figgins, LF Milton Bradley, RP Brandon League, OF Eric Byrnes, C Josh Bard, RP Kanekoa Texeria
Who's out: 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B Russell Branyan, UTIL Bill Hall, C Kenji Johjima, RP/SP Carlos Silva, RP Chris Jakubauskas, OF Endy Chavez
After an 85 win season last year where the M's were in the playoff hunt until the final two weeks of the season, when they were mathematically eliminated. The Mariners are hoping to contend more this season, with the additions of Lee and Figgins being added to the mix.
The lineup looks solid, mostly the same as Los Angeles', with a good mix of speed and power, leaning a little bit more towards speed. The power comes from Figgins and Bradley, who hope to drive in the speed and on base potential of the top of the order with mainstay Ichiro, who is consistently hitting .300 and getting 30 steals a season. Then, they have Jack Wilson, acquired from the Pirates should provide very good defense at short. They also have speedster Franklin Gutierrerez in center, who will cover a lot of ground, and should steal a lot of bases. The defense all around looks to be solid as well, with the only really questionable fielder being Bradley, who isn't that great of a fielder.
Pitching is the biggest question mark for this team, as there are big questions behind co-aces Felix Hernandez and Lee. Will Ian Snell become Ian Smell again? Then, there is Ryan Rowland-Smith, who is a virtual unknown to most of baseball, how will he perform? Finally, the fifth starter's spot belongs to Jason Vargas, and I've got no idea how he will perform.
Then, the closer spot belongs to David Aardsma, who came out of nowhere to save 38 games last year, hopefully he can do the same job this year.
If everything comes together, this can be a dangerous team, and possibly win the division, which is quite possible. If not, and the back end of the rotation stumbles, they'll be fighting with the A's for last place.
Prediction: 2nd
Texas Rangers
Who's in: DH Vladimir Guerrero, RP Chris Ray, RP Darren Oliver, RP Clay Rapada, OF Endy Chavez, C Matt Treanor, UTIL Georgio Petit
Who's out: SP Kevin Millwood,C Ivan Rodriguez,SS Omar Vizquel,OF Andruw Jones,RP Eddie Guardado, OF Marlon Byrd, UTIL Joe Inglett, RP Joaquin Benoit, 1B/DH Hank Blalock, SP Jason Jennings
Texas has some high hopes for this season, and rightly so, as they have been improving ever since 2006. The Rangers have some very good, young players in house, including some players in the Mark Teixeria deal with the Atlanta Braves. Two of those players, Jarrod Satalamacchia and Elvis Andrus are burgeoning superstars. Andrus finished the season with 33 stolen bases and then Saltalamacchia is starting to come back from surgery last season, but I believe he will be a Joe Mauer type star behind the plate. Then, they have two other established stars in Ian Kinsler and Michael Young at second and third, who play great defense, and are easily 20 homer, 80 RBI guys each year. The outfield has two good power hitters in Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton, providing Hamilton stays healthy. Then, there is speed with Julio Borbon, who can steal 60 bases in a year.
The Rangers pitching is the big question mark though, with the oft-injured Rich Harden being signed to be the ace of the staff and replace the consistent Millwood. Then, there is Scott Feldman, who won 17 games for them last year, and they are hoping to do the same. Following those two guys, it's much the same as the M's, you have no idea what is going to happen. Then, the bullpen has some good pitchers in it though, with Frank Francisco being penned in as the team's closer and then they have Neftali Perez, also acquired in the Teixeria deal being a set up guy along with Ray, who should do fine.
The offense and bullpen are going to be fine, it's just the starting pitching which has me concerned to pick them to win the division or anything.
Prediction: 3rd
Oakland Athletics
Who's in: SP Ben Sheets , OF Coco Crisp, OF Jake Fox , 2B Aaron Miles
Who's Out: 1B Bobby Crosby,1B Nomar Garciaparra,OF Scott Hairston , OF Aaron Cunningham,2B Adam Kennedy, RP Santiago Casilla, RP Jeff Gray
The A's seem to be in constant rebuilding mode, and for that reason, they have been slightly worse than .500 since winning the division in 2005.
Oakland did get a find last year in Rookie of the Year closer Andrew Bailey, who saved 26 games, and should do better this season. Behind Bailey, they have former closer Joey Devine, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, and should perform fine.
The starting pitching has question marks all over the place, starting with ace Ben Sheets, also coming off Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2009 season to recover. How will he do? Then, there is Dallas Braden who was injured during the spring, will he be ok? After him is Trevor Cahill, who compiled 10 wins last year in his rookie campaign, will he duplicate that or get better? Justin Duchsherer is coming in like Sheets missing the entire 2009 season, how will he do? Will he perform to his all-star capabilities? Too many questions surround the starting rotation for me to trust it at all.
The defense for Oakland should be fine, with plenty of speed and being fundamentally sound. The offense concerns me though, as there is virtually no power in the lineup, with the only person having potential for 30 homers being Kevin Kouzmanoff, acquired in the offseason from the Padres. I'm just not sold on this being a great offensive team.
Prediction: 4th
NL West
With this division, much like in the AL, I could essentially roll dice and pick one of four teams to win the division. I've seen picks from Colorado to Arizona to San Francisco to Los Angeles for winning the division. I personally have no clue who to pick, but I do know that any 4 of those teams will not go far in the playoffs and lose in the NLDS. I will leave this one up to you though. All I know for sure is that the San Diego Padres, as beautiful as their ballpark is, the team they put out there will not be very good.
Next: an NHL playoffs preview/predictions
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