MLB Predictions: AL West

Ah, the American League West.  The AL West is a league that doesn't have as much talent has many others, but it does have the defending team with the best record (Los Angeles Angels). 

The AL West consists of many different types of teams, like a team that has the best batting in the league, but the worst pitching in the league; and teams that went out this off season and acquired some raw talent.

The AL West is going to be a very interesting league this year, because every other team except for the Angels are expected to have better years.

1. Los Angeles Angels: 92-70

The Angels were the winners of the AL West last year and will repeat this year in 2009.  The Angels aren't going to win 100 games again, like they did last year, but they will break the 90-win mark.

I think the Angels wins will go down for various reasons, one, being that they lost their All-Star closer, Francisco Rodriguez, and their other star Mark Teixeira, both to New York. 

The Mets and Yankees really beat the Angels up, before the season started.  Another reason is that the league has toughened up, the A's acquired Matt Holliday and the Rangers are looking to turn their franchise around.

Let's not forget the Seattle Mariners, who had the worst record in the major's last year, I think they'll do pretty good this year with their acquisitions in the three-way trade.

So, all in all, the Angels will still be the champs of the AL West, but their gonna have to actually give it 200 percent to win the division, if they just loaf around, they'll be in for a rude awakening.

2. Seattle Mariners: 85-77

Last year, I picked the Mariners to win the AL West and I found out I was really wrong.  The Mariners managed to lose over 100 games last year, with their second-to-MLB-worst 61-101 season, behind the Washington Nationals. 

The Mariners were involved in a three-way trade earlier in the off season.  Despite, giving up their All-Star closer JJ Putz, they acquired a great young player in Franklin Gutierrez. 

The Mariners have a great team and they just have to make everything work, with their new manager.

All he has to do is make the players all live up to their potential and if he does that, the Mariners will be a pain in the Angels' side all season long.

3. Texas Rangers: 82-80

The Rangers have, arguably the best offense in the majors, but their pitching is horrendous.  I'm predicting that the Rangers finish with a record slightly over .500.

They are a young team with many young pitchers, and they can bloom into a great team in the years to come.

But, if the Rangers pitchers all have decent years the Rangers won't have to wait, they will have a big chance to make the playoffs and contend in their division. 

So, the Rangers season lies in the management's hands very heavily.  If the management makes the right moves, the Rangers are on their way to playing in late October.

4. Oakland Athletics: 76-85

The Oakland A's acquired All-Star outfielder, Matt Holliday this off-season, but that won't bring them a division crown. 

This team is going to have to trade Holliday at the deadline, if not earlier and they just have to rebuild. 

This team is just too much of a mess and I just can't see them being successful with the team they have.

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