This division is home to the defending American League champions. Texas dethroned the might Angels last season, after Anaheim's decade of western dominance. Despite that year off from the top of the standings, the Halo's are not going away, at least not without a fight. This division is the smallest in terms of teams but that does not mean anything when speaking of competitive balance and rivalries. Here is the early look at the American League West.
Texas Rangers
Why not start with the champ? To say the Rangers made leaps and bounds last season would be a great under statement, this team not only won its first ever playoff series but earned its first AL pennant in franchise history. Ever since falling to the Giants, Texas has been all over the hot-stove headlines and not always for the best of reasons. First, they lost out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, they made a push but he chose to return to Philly. There was not much they could do there. However, due to this loss the Ranger brass felt it necessary to get rid of off-season boredom by starting a drama feud with their face, Michael Young. Here is my full rant on this topic. Texas signed Adrien Beltre, he was coming off yet another stellar season in a contract year. Even though Beltre is often underrated, this move so far looks to be doing more damage than good. Young has accommodated his organization by moving from position to position over the course of the last decade, he played well every time and has become one of the best pure hitters in baseball. This drama seems to have cooled off recently, Young wants traded but wont force their hand anymore. That's great, still leaves me less confident in Texas this season.
The Rangers still will hit, as usual. They still own studs, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, and Young as well as Beltre still possibly being an asset with his bat and glove. The main issue for this team is the question marks they now have on the mound. Lee's departure leaves Texas once again looking for an ace. C.J. Wilson is solid, I'd rather use him as a number 2, and Tommy Hunter is fully coming into his own. Texas has made a move attempting to fill this ace void. Brandon Webb has been added in a very low risk high reward signing. I love this move and as Ramos and I discussed he could be a AL Comeback Player of the Year guy. Webb is a former NL Cy Young winner with a 20 game season under his belt and the only thing that has hampered his career is injuries. If they are behind him he could find his way to the top of the rotation and set their staff in its proper order. The bullpen may actually be improved with veteran Arthur Rhodes becoming the bridge to Feliz. He may not be able to top last years rookie record setting season, Feliz still should continue to dominate the 9th. Keeping in the closers role and bringing in Webb instead of turning him into a starter was the right call. Hopefully the Young drama doesn't become a cancer for a team that other wise is still very talented on paper. Repeating is never easy but the Rangers are primed to have a shot.
Key Subtractions: Lee (Phillies), Vladimir Guerrero (Orioles), Bengie Molina (FA)
Key Additions: Adrien Beltre, Arthur Rhodes, Brandon Webb, Mike Napoli, Dave Bush
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (still hate writing that)
Offensively, if Wells can return to form, the order will be full again. It has speed and experience yet may lack a big power bat. If Hunter, Wells, and the always underrated Abreu can combined for that pop they should be fine. Morales can be a 30 home run guy too just as long as his teammates don't swarm him at home plate again. Pitching wise, LA is loaded. The mound performance may be what beats out Texas. Weaver, Haren, Kazmir, and Santana are the top 4, that gives LA several guys with ace stuff. The main question mark lies in the pen. Fernando Rodney will be the closer, something tells me he may not hold on to this job long. Rodney has always struggled as the guy and is a much better set-up man. Look for Scott Downs and Francisco Rodriguez to get shots at the closer role as well.
Key Subtractions: Mike Napoli (Rangers), Juan Rivera (Blue Jays)
Key Additions: Vernon Wells, Scott Downs
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are one of the most historic franchises in MLB history, yet are far removed from the dynasty days of Reggie Jackson and Dennis Eckersley. Not only those great years, La Russa's squads of the late 80's and early 90's are far in the rear view mirror. Most of the past decade, despite some playoff births at the beginning, were spent loading up with aging veterans knowing full well they would be traded for young prospects. This year they certainly have some more trade bait but could also prevent that by surprising in the standings early. If this teams wins it will because the pitchers mature even further. Braden and Anderson gave hitters fits last year at times and have the potential to be stars. Trevor Champill is no slouch either, he won 18 in 2010. The relievers are often over looked in Oakland and that could be a big mistake. Andrew Bailey, Grant Balfour, and Brad Zeigler have each showed promise in time as the closer in the past, at the same time, all would be a better fit getting holds in front of a proven door stopper. Brian Fuentes has been brought in to be that stopper they have been desperately needing. Fuentes has done well in Colorado and then LA as the closer, so why not Oakland?
Coco Crisp and David Dejesus will flash leather in the outfield and Josh Willingham will provide some extra protection in the order. Matsui has several 100 rbi seasons and a World Series MVP on his resume, if healthy he could be the power guy this lineup would otherwise lack. Kurt Suzuki continuously gets overshadowed as one of the best hitting catchers in the AL, that should end this season with another common campaign. I would not be shocked if this team stays near the race come June. With that said, they just do not have enough to get by the Angels or Rangers after 162.
Key Subtractions: Rajai Davis (Blue Jays), Jack Cust (Mariners), Ben Sheets (FA), Justin Duchscherer (Orioles), Eric Chavez (Yankees)
Key Additions: Coco Crisp, Grant Balfour, Brian Fuentes
Seattle Mariners
A year ago today Seattle was the king of the off-season, adding Figgins and Lee along with some others. Let's just save time and say things did not exactly work out in the Pacific North West. Things were so bad franchise icon and future hall of famer, Ken Griffey Jr., decided he didn't even want to stick around and stay awake long enough to see the final result. Well good call Jr., the Mariners went from being one of the best teams to miss out on the playoffs to one of the worst. Literally every single player had their worst year of their career (with the exception of Ichiro of course). Now this organization looks to move on in the post-Griffey era and try to rebuild itself all over again. The Kid will still be around to help mentor and teach the craft he perfected so well during his first Mariners stint, hopefully he will not regret not leaving for good. The only plus side of last years squad is the defense, they actually were in the top 5 in fielding percentage in all of MLB. Offensively was and still is the problem. Ichiro tied the record (with Pete Rose) with his 10th 200+ hit season last year. He continues to amaze each and every day and has never put together an under .300, sub 200 hit campaign so far in his Major League career. While all that is true and he is an absolute beast, he can not get on, steal every base, and then steal home every night. Ichiro needs help! Milton Bradley was supposed to be that guy, maybe he still could be, but don't ever count on him (him and Eric Wedge have history). At least this season the load is not solely on the deranged one. Jack Cust has 30 homer pop and if he gets every day at bats will provide some power.
Even if the offense does improve (it can't get any worse). The lack of pitching depth will most likely keep this team in the west basement. King Felix received a much deserved AL Cy Young, he only won 13 but lead in pretty much every other category and can't exactly be expected to pitch a shutout every start. Behind him the M's bring the likes of Doug Fisher and Jason Vargas to the mound. Impressed? Me neither. The only hope of Felix getting a partner to replace what Lee gave Seattle in the first half last year is Erik Bedrard beating out Webb for the comeback honors. Bedard was once an ace in the making in Baltimore and even though it looked great at the time, Seattle needed pitching back then, the Bedard Adam Jones trade has become fully one sided. Erik Bedard had 13 wins in his last Oriole season and 15 the year before, he has blasted a grand total of 11 victories in two injury plagued campaigns for the Mariners. If healthy he should return to form. I see a bright future in Seattle but it is basically a fact they are still a couple years away from truly contending once again.
Key Subtractions: Ken Griffey Jr. (retired), Jose Lopez (Rockies), Casey Kotchman (Rays), Russell Branyan (Diamondbacks), Ian Snell (Cardinals), Ryan Rowland-Smith (Astros)
Key Additions: Miguel Olivo, Jack Cust, Hopefully the sane Milton Bradley's (this person may not exist)
Just for the heck of it, here is my KGJ career retrospective: A Tribute to "The Kid"
Key Additions: Coco Crisp, Grant Balfour, Brian Fuentes
Seattle Mariners
A year ago today Seattle was the king of the off-season, adding Figgins and Lee along with some others. Let's just save time and say things did not exactly work out in the Pacific North West. Things were so bad franchise icon and future hall of famer, Ken Griffey Jr., decided he didn't even want to stick around and stay awake long enough to see the final result. Well good call Jr., the Mariners went from being one of the best teams to miss out on the playoffs to one of the worst. Literally every single player had their worst year of their career (with the exception of Ichiro of course). Now this organization looks to move on in the post-Griffey era and try to rebuild itself all over again. The Kid will still be around to help mentor and teach the craft he perfected so well during his first Mariners stint, hopefully he will not regret not leaving for good. The only plus side of last years squad is the defense, they actually were in the top 5 in fielding percentage in all of MLB. Offensively was and still is the problem. Ichiro tied the record (with Pete Rose) with his 10th 200+ hit season last year. He continues to amaze each and every day and has never put together an under .300, sub 200 hit campaign so far in his Major League career. While all that is true and he is an absolute beast, he can not get on, steal every base, and then steal home every night. Ichiro needs help! Milton Bradley was supposed to be that guy, maybe he still could be, but don't ever count on him (him and Eric Wedge have history). At least this season the load is not solely on the deranged one. Jack Cust has 30 homer pop and if he gets every day at bats will provide some power.
Key Subtractions: Ken Griffey Jr. (retired), Jose Lopez (Rockies), Casey Kotchman (Rays), Russell Branyan (Diamondbacks), Ian Snell (Cardinals), Ryan Rowland-Smith (Astros)
Key Additions: Miguel Olivo, Jack Cust, Hopefully the sane Milton Bradley's (this person may not exist)
Just for the heck of it, here is my KGJ career retrospective: A Tribute to "The Kid"
AL West Prediction:
1. LA Angels
2. Texas Rangers
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners
written by Mike Asti
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