AL West

It is quite fitting that I begin the baseball preview considering I probably won't get any of these right. If my predictions come first, people will forget about them by the time Gaddis and Garcia (who will be referred to as the Gs for the rest of this column) give us their prediction. The rankings of where each of us stand in baseball knowledge goes a little something like this:

1. Garcia (because of his inside experience)
1a. Gaddis
2-32. Other parts of the Gs bodies and their families.
33. Me

That's the list. While I like baseball a lot and have had a revival of my enjoyment of the game over the past 3 years (probably from living with Gaddis), I do not contain the encyclopedic knowledge of the game as the Gs do. However, I wouldn't be a sports columnist if I didn't have and share an opinion on everything, so here is how I see the AL West playing out in 2005.

In what may be the toughest division in baseball; all four teams could be playing for something come August. With the Yankees and Red Sox pretty much each being garaunteed a playoff spot by everyone in the world, the four teams of the West will be in a heated competition all year for the West crown, and as the weather gets hotter, so will the games. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers all have a real shot at winning the division.

The Mariners finished last season in fourth place in the division with a 63-99 record (good enough for third worst in the league). To try and help improve this outcome, the Mariners had an active offseason signing power hitting infielders Adrian Beltre (3rd base) and Richie Sexson (1st base). These power hitters should compliment Ichiro Suzuki nicely, as he is one of the toughest outs in the league and always seems to be on base, and should get Beltre and Sexson more RBIs. Adding Pokey Reese will also help solidify the defense, but having three new infielders may hurt the team early if the chemistry isn't there. Even though the Mariners added two 40-plus home run hitters, the pitching needs to improve from last year. The pitchers allowed 823 runs in compiling a 4.76 era. The team did do a lot to imrove the worst hitting team in the league from last season, but losing top pitching prospect Travis Blackley for the entire season will not help Mike Hargrove in his first season as manager. Other than Blackley, the Mariners didn't do much to improve on last year's starting pitchers. Returning are Jamie Moyer (7-13, 5.21), Gil Meche (7-7, 5.01), Ryan Franklin (4-16, 4.90), and Joel Pineiro (6-11, 4.67), not exactly post season material. If the pitching can improve a little this team could make a run towards the division title; it will certainly improve on its 698 runs scored last year.

The Texas Rangers were one of the most surprising teams in the leagus last season compiling an 89-73 record and being in the hunt for the division crown until the final month of the season. The Rangers of 2005 will look to improve on that record by having a deep bench and have all five starters returning from last year's squad. Texas was fourth in the league in batting and fifth in the league in pitching last season, and has many of the core players returning. If Rogers (18-9, 4.76) and Drese (14-10, 4.20) can anchor this staff as they are expected to, and Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock continue to be two of the best at their respective positions, this team has enough pitching and hitting to challenge the A's and Angeles for the title again this season. Another thing the Rangers have going for them is their bench. Guys like Mark DeRosa, Greg Colbrunn, and Sandy Alomar Jr will help anchor this bench and provide leadership on the team. Adding Richard Hidalgo to the outfield which already has David Dellucci coming off a career year, this team has enough offensive firepower to stay close in games when the pitching falters.

The Oakland Athletics will be one of the most interesting teams to watch this season. We all know that two of the big three on their pitching staff have moved on as Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson have found new homes, but do we have any reason to doubt Billy Beane? Barry Zito is still the number one starter and the staff should be filled out by; Rich Harden (11-7, 3.99), Dan Meyer (rookie), Danny Haren (3-3, 4.50), and Joe Blanton (no starts last season). New addition Juan Cruz should also contend for a starting spot and with Jason Kendall coming in to catch, the A's battery should be solid if Beane is right about these players like he usually is. Other than Kendall, Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, and Mark Kotsay, the A's don't have another "star" quality player on the team, or atleast another recognizable name. Sure the A's have lost players in the past (Giambi, Tejada, and Damon) and still manage to make the playoffs most years, these were all position players. The question will be, can Beane replace two top-tier pitchers and still be a playoff contender? The moneyball philosophy will perhaps get its biggest test with the 2005 Athletics.

Finally, the defending division champions, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be a tough team to knock off. Anytime you can have Vladimir Guerrero in your lineup everyday, you have a chance to win. He is one of the most talented hitters in the league and can truly change a game anytime he is at bat. Remember the game against the Brewers in June when Sheets had the perfect game going in the seventh inning and he basically hit a Sheets curve ball off the ground to left field and ended the perfect game bid? Just an amazing at bat by an outstanding hitter, there is no pitch he can't hit no matter where it is in the strike zone. The Angels were seventh in batting and fourth in pitching in the league last season, led by Guerrero and Bartolo Colon. The outfield is solid with Guerrero, Steve Finley, Garrett Anderson, and Jeff DaVanon. Adding Orlando Cabrera to an infield which has Darrin Erstad, Chone Figgins, and Adam Kennedy already in place will improve a defense which already had the least amount of errors in the league in 2004. The offense is good enough to deal with losing Jose Guillen which they proved at the end of last season by still making the playoffs. The starting pitchers are all back except for Aaron Sele (who was probably their worst pitcher at 9-4, 5.05), who is being replaced by Paul Byrd. The bullpen is solid with Fransisco Rodriguez in place to replace Troy Percival as the closer. Perhaps the biggest question facing the Angels is who will be the team's designated hitter. Tim Salmon has held down that position nicely for the past few years, but switch-hitting Jeff DaVanon may get the chance to DH if he is not playing in the outfield. Not a bad question to have. Not only will this team contend for the AL West title again, but if pitching stays healthy, Los Angeles...er... Anaheim...er...whatever the team is now, may indeed hoist another championship trophy over their heads in October... if only it wasn't for those pesky teams on the other coast.

Season Prediction:

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 87-75
2. Texas Rangers 86-76
3. Oakland Athletics 76-86
4. Seattle Mariners 69-93

I look forward to seeing how the Gs tear apart my analysis and predictions and will be intrigued to see how they see this division play out.

-Until next time...