If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Well we are through the AL East and Central, time to tackle the AL West. This division is the easiest for me to handicap because I see no real threat to the LA Angels of Anaheim. The division is weak overall as the pre-season darling of many, Seattle, is a farce to me.
1. LA Angels of Anaheim- predicted record- 96-66
The Angels start the season with some pitching injuries but once this team gets healthy they should roll to the AL West title in 2008. Vlad is one of baseball’s best and most feared hitters, the only question that remains is whether the Angels can find some protection for him in their somewhat thin line-up. The pitching staff, led by John Lackey, is talented and deep while K-Rod is always waiting in the wings to shut things down in the 9th. Couple all this with the fact that the Angels possess one of the very best managers in the game in Mike Scossia and an owner willing to spend when necessary and you have the 2008 AL West Champions.
2. Oakland A’s- predicted record- 86-76
I am going out on the limb here and saying that Oakland will not be nearly as bad as some have predicted. A healthy Rich Harden is one of the AL’s best pitchers, the question of course remains; how long does Harden stay healthy? None the less, I like Joe Blanton behind Harden and Street is a pretty good closer even if he did blow a save in Japan last week. The line-up has question marks but Billy Beane seems to always find players from somewhere. This pick is as much about not being in love with the other teams in this division as it is about picking Oakland for 2nd.
3. Seattle Mariners- predicted record- 80-82
The Mariners traded this off-season for Erik Bedard, so what. Bedard is 29 yrs old and have never pitched 200 innings in his career. I do love Felix Hernandez but I have questions about their line-up and I mean big questions. I don’t like the make-up of the line-up overall. Sure JJ Putz had a great year closing last season, perhaps he can do it again. However, overall I see Bedard being shut-down for a while during the season as he is every year and I see Hernandez probably having the same thing happen. The rest of the starting staff is rather average. For some reason I am not buying what others are selling with this club.
4. Texas Rangers- predicted record- 71-91
The only thing I can say about the Rangers for their fans is your Dallas Cowboys are going to be really good this year! LOL..if I was a Ranger fans I would be anxiously awaiting NFL training camp because this team stinks. Nolan Ryan is the best pitcher in the organization which isn’t a bad thing other than the fact that Ryan is 62 yrs old. I think if Ryan got 15 starts he may win more games than any of the other hurlers on this club. The only reason I see Texas winning 71 games is that the division stinks. If this club were in the AL East, I would peg them for 65 wins.
Well, there you have it the AL West preview. I will next handicap the AL Champion and then move along to the NL previews. Stay tuned…..
7 responses so far ↓
1 LauderdaleLegend // Mar 31, 2008 at 5:32 pm
OK. Here we Go: Batista, Silva, Washburn, Hernandez and Bedard. These guys have a far better chance of making it through the season than the ailing old men of LA. I believe you are completely underselling Bedard who will have a 20+ game winning season.
The A’s? You’re kidding. Clearly, your tea leaves have dried way differently than mine. It’s LA vs. Seattle and I’m on the M’s this season as they have a serviceable offensive line-up and a far better pitching staff than LA.
Love Your work, just not with you on this one.
2 Emil Calomino // Mar 31, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Do you watch baseball? Jerrod Weaver is 25, Ervin Santana is 25, John Garland is 28, John Lackey is 29 and Kelvim Escobar is the Angels old man at 31..what are you talking about? You are calling for a guy who has never thrown 200 innings to win 20 games, ok, I’ll even give you that. On the other hand, Miguel Batista who you site for Seattle is 37 and average on his best day. Carlos Silva stinks which is why Minnesota gave up on him and Jerrod Washburn, who is 33, is average on a good day. You call the Angels staff old and Seattle has two guys older than the oldest starting pitcher the Angels will run out their the majority of the year.
Oakland is a flyer but picking Seattle over the LA Angels is a real stretch as far as I am concerned.
3 LauderdaleLegend // Apr 1, 2008 at 11:01 am
Talk to you in October. I hope you don’t pick the Phillies over the Mets in the NL East!
4 Emil Calomino // Apr 1, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Hey I don’t mind if you have a difference of opinion but when criticizing mine, I only ask that you use facts. You said the Angels “have a bunch of old men on their pitching staff” when in fact their entire starting rotation, save Escobar, is under 30 and even he is only 31. You can talk to me in October, I stand behind the predictions and will be willing to “eat crow” should I have to.
5 LauderdaleLegend // Apr 1, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Oliver: 37
Shields: 32
Speier: 34
and yes, Escobar is only 31
6 Emil Calomino // Apr 2, 2008 at 6:54 am
I understand but you’re talking about relief pitchers who throw 1-2 innings max every other day for a total of 50-70 innings a year. Age is not a factor and besides typically relievers are older. In many cases relief pitchers are failed starters etc. The bottom line is that the Angels pitchers who will be relied on to throw 175-225 innings are young while the Mariners starters are older. Washburn (33), Batista (37)
I will wait until October and then remind you after we see Bedard on the DL come July, as usual for him.
7 Emil // Apr 16, 2008 at 7:41 am
Hhm, now where did I say Eric Bedard would end up..the DL? And now, where is Eric Bedard headed to…hmm the DL? You don’t grow apples on a pear tree!
Leave a Comment