American League West Preview
Angels Are Still The Class Of The Division
The big question heading into 2009 in the American League West is can anyone step up and challenge the Angels?
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels won 100 games last year but after losing Teixeira, Anderson, and K-Rod, they are unlikely to do it again. They still have a strong team though. They have a good offense led by Hunter, Guerrero, and the newly acquired Abreu. They have a quality starting rotation led by Lackey, Weaver, and Saunders. They also have a quality bullpen led by Shields, Arredondo, and newly acquired closer Fuentes. While they won't be as strong as last year, they will still have enough to win this division.
Prediction: First Place
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics for years have continued to lose big-time players and yet they somehow manage to stay competitive.They should be improved offensively this year with the additions of Giambi and Holliday, one of the best hitters in the game. If Chavez stays healthy, they will have an excellent middle of the order. They have an ace in Duchscherer and a very good closer in Devine, but the rest of the pitching staff is a little shaky. The Athletics should be around .500, but that won't be enough to challenge the Angels for the division title.
Prediction: Second Place
Seattle Mariners
he Mariners are looking to bounce back from a terrible season last year. They lost closer J.J. Putz in the off-season as well as outfielder Raul Ibanez. They added Griffey, but he is a shell of the player he used to be. In Felix Hernandez, they have a legitimate ace. The rest of the rotation, however, has many questions. Can Bedard stay healthy? Can Washburn and Silva bounce back from terrible seasons last year? The offense is decent at best led by former MVP Ichiro. The Mariners simply do not have enough to escape the cellar.
Prediciton: Fourth Place
Texas Rangers
The Rangers have a solid offense led by Young Kinsler, Murphy and young phenom Hamilton. Hamilton had an MVP caliber season last year and he will look to get even better this year. They will miss Bradley, though, who left as a free agent. Their pitching, as usual, is very shaky. Most of their pitchers had very high ERAs last year. They will once again have to win games 10-9 if they are going to remain competitive. In the end, they just don't have enough pitching to challenge for the division title.
Prediction: Third Place
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