Its time to start the season previews! Starting today we will be crossing America one division and region at a time as we move over to the East Coast, and the Mets. As a series preview, this will be broken into 8 parts. One part for each division in baseball, one for the playoffs and one just devoted to the New York Mets. We start today with the AL West, which is my weakest division in personal knowledge thanks to my heavy east coast bias.
Division Prediction:
1) Angels
2) Rangers
3) Mariners
4) Atheltics
1) The Angels are the strongest team in this division by far for a few reasons. The first is that their rotation is the most stable and strongest. Their lineup is good, not the best in the division, but can still be devastating. When you have good pitching like they do, you don't need the lineup to score 10 runs a game. They lost Krod, but they got Fuentes and the bullpen is till good overall because they have a great system there for getting pitchers ready for bigger rolls. Two players to watch this year are Guerrero, because he will have a big year, even though he is slipping out fo this prime and Mike Napoli. Napoli is a catcher who has a lot of pop in his bat, but when he starts to slump, he really starts to slump. If he has a big year, they are a lock to win this division.
2) The Rangers have one of the most prolific lineups in baseball, they can really hit the ball hard and often. The reason it will be tough for them to take over this division is they need to get better pitching, which is something they don't have. If their pitching can step up then look for the Rangers to make a run at the Angels. Players to watch on this team will first be Hamilton, who will have to reproduce without Milton's protection and Saltalamacchia. He came over from the Braves in the Texieria deal and he has to show that his high status as a major prospect is true (plus anything to make Braves fans sweat).
3) The Mariners are my dark horse team in this division. I am a big Felix Hernandez fan, a big Eric Bedard fan and I think that Carlos Silva will also bounce back. If all of them have great years, then they really can make a surprise run. For that to happen though, the lineup will have to start hitting. For the most part, their lineup can, if just focus (looking at you Beltre). Also of Jose Lopez has a good year, then this could be a very good team.
4) Poor Athletics. I really like them, and they could take over third if the pitchers fail for the Mariners again, but they are placing a lot on Jason Giambi. They need Giambi to hit, otherwise Matt Holiday does not get the protection in the lineup that he needs to hit. Thier pitchers are young, so its a mystery on the rotation as well.
To summarize:
Best Rotation: Angels, Mariners 2nd
Best Lineup: Rangers, Angels 2nd
Best Bullpen: Angels…No Clear 2nd
Look for Part 2 soon, as we take a look at the NL West!
