Tuesday, March 23, 2010

2010 MLB Preview Part 1: AL West

Let's get right to it... I'm doing a 7 part MLB Preview... Not in the longest form, but quick hitters on every team along with projected records/order of finish by division, etc.... The first one will be the AL West...
  1. Texas Rangers (85-77) - By far the best offensive lineup in the division led by studs like Kinsler, Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz with high-upside guys like Chris Davis and Elvis Andrus... Vlad Guerrero is a big question mark, but since they can DH him everyday, that shouldn't kill them... the pitching is better and has tremendous upside with Harden and a slew of younger guys with talent... they'll also play defense up the middle with the Borbon/Andrus/Kinsler combo, and that can't be discounted
  2. Seattle Mariners (82-80) - I had them penciled in the 1 spot until I thought about the Erik Bedard/Ian Snell/Doug Fister combo in the 4 and 5 starter roles... yikes... Felix and Cliff Lee are 2 of the top 10 starters in the league and in a playoff series, that's huge, but they are counting on Griffey/Milton Bradley/Kotchman to be every day guys that bring pop, and I don't trust it... Bedard is the overall X-factor, but too many question marks to pick them
  3. Anaheim Angels (79-83) - This is a tough one... they're still the Angels and you never want to count them out... The lineup is fairly potent until you get to guys like Brandon Wood (yikes), and the rotation is average at least... but there is little upside, and I don't trust Brian Fuentes at the backend at all... Would it surprise me if Scioscia could put it together again? No... but under .500 is more likely
  4. Oakland A's (76-86) - Still trotting out a lineup of guys you don't know... it's the A's after all... but the pitching is what will make them respectable... their young studs (led by world-beater Brett Anderson) should take another step forward, and if they get ANYTHING out of Ben Sheets, it's a plus... Still not ready to really compete for the division, but the bottom won't fall out...
Overall, a very competitive and even division... no real "favorite" but with the Oakland pitching, I don't see anyone falling 15 games behind at any point... Probably the most wide-open division in the league, and a fitting start to the breakdown.... Part 2 to come with the AL Central

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