AL West Division Betting Preview
The AL West has been pretty predictable in the past. This year will be no different. The Los Angeles Angels have been the steady front runner in this division for some time. They play a smart brand of baseball but will be tested this year.The Seattle Mariners are the opposite. They have primarily resided in the basement of the division. Yes I remember the aberration of 2007. Good luck trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice. That leaves the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics battling it out for 2nd and 3rd. Texas would be a huge force if they could get the pitching staff to the same level as their offense. Oakland, a “small market team,” can’t keep up with the big boys and their outrageous annual salaries.
Here is how I see this division playing out in 2009.
1. Los Angeles Angels (2008 1st place finish with a 100-62 record)
The class of the division will come back to the pack a little in 09. Four key contributors from last year are gone. Slugger Mark Teixeira, veteran Garret Anderson, starting pitcher Jon Garland and record setting closer Francisco Rodriguez. Free agent acquisitions Brian Fuentes and Bobby Abreu will soften the losses in the closer role and offensive production, but will not upgrade the situation. Manager Mike Scioscia has ruled Ervin Santana out for the start of the season (elbow issues). These pitching openings have given Nick Adenhart and Dustin Moseley the opportunity to earn a role in the starting rotation. A self proclaimed “healthy” Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter should bounce back and produce numbers similar to 2007. Other youngster will look to improve and earn spots in the lineup. If help is needed in the middle of the season they will have the resources to instantly upgrade via trades.
2009 Prediction – 1st place finish with a 90-72 record.
With key losses/injuries the Angels will struggle to match last year’s win output of 100. Thankfully for them they play in a weak division.
2. Texas Rangers (2008 2nd place finish with a 79-83 record)
Texas finds themselves in a similar situation as the past few years, great offense and poor pitching. Josh Hamilton will look to extend his great 2008 performance into 2009. He will get help from other talented hitters Ian Kinsler and Michael Young. Milton Bradley is gone but they are looking for David Murphy to produce even more than his breakout year in 2008. The pitching staff is led by veterans Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. 
Scott Feldman, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy and Jason Jennings look to fill in the final 3 spots in the rotation. The Rangers have one of the best farm systems in baseball but they can’t expect much help this year.
2009 Prediction – 3rd place finish with a 74-88 record.
This is not a repeat preview from 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, you get the picture. Until they develop pitching in the minors or management gets serious about signing proven pitching the Rangers will not take the next step to be a contender.
3. Oakland Athletics (2008 3rd place finish with a 75-86 record)
Oakland had the leagues’ worst batting average in 2008 at .242 and ranked 27th in total runs. They look to improve those stats with offseason acquisitions Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi. A healthy Eric Chavez will also give the lineup a much needed boost. Jack Cust can also help those stats if he can cut down on his strikeout total of 197 in 2008 which was 3rd most in baseball. Justin Duchscherer and Dana Eveland anchor the pitching staff. Behind them are several talented but un-proven pitchers. Brad Ziegler is the new closer now that Huston Street is gone. As always Oakland has several talented players in the minors that will get the chance to prove their worth late in the season.
2009 Prediction – 2nd place finish with a 84-78 record.
Key additions will help the inept offense. Oakland will rely heavily on un-proven pitching. If they can find a few bright spots in the rotation and bullpen they will contend for the division in 2010.
4. Seattle Mariners (2008 4th place finish with a 61-101 record)
Seattle was the worst team in the American League last year. On top of the season’s result they lost closer JJ Putz and the quality bat of Raul Ibanez. A few bright spots were that 2nd baseman Jose Lopez had the most productive season of his career with .297 avg and 89 RBI’s. They can still count on 200 hits out of Ichiro. Adrian Beltre will need to get back to where he was at 2-3 years ago. Ken Griffey Jr’s best days are well past him but he is still a fan favorite. Quite a few youngsters will be called on to contribute. Felix Hernandez will be the ace of the staff. Eric Bedard will attempt to live up to the hype when he came from Baltimore. Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista and Carlos Silva will probably round out the rotation. I don’t expect much from any of those three.
2009 Prediction – 4th place finish with a 70-92 record.
Griffey might sell tickets but he won’t add too many to the win column. It won’t be as bad as 2008 but I wouldn’t expect much from the Mariners this year.
AL West Wrapup
Lack of quality pitching keeps the AL West from excelling.
The most complete team is Los Angeles again.
Look out for both Oakland and Texas in 2010 if they can develop pitching out of their farm systems.
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