AL West Preview: Upgraded Offenses Should Tighten The West Playoff Race in 2011
Despite being home to the World Series runner-up Texas Rangers, the AL West was one of the worst divisions in baseball in 2010 featuring only one team with a better than .500 record.
The Rangers have upgraded their already stellar offense—a noteworthy attempt to reduce the impact of having lost starting pitcher Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Meanwhile, the Oakland A's have also upgraded their offense and added depth to their roster: in particular, their bullpen.
The Los Angeles Angels hope their trade for Vernon Wells will improve their offense—and last year's mid-season trade for ace Dan Haren has strengthened their pitching rotation. The return of a healthy Kendry Morales will also help the Angels' chances of competing in 2011.
And then there's the Mariners...
Well, while they will likely improve on their 61-win last season, it won't be enough. As the saying goes, there is always next year...
4) Seattle Mariners
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Key Arrivals: C Miguel Olivo, SS Brendan Ryan, OF Jack Cust
Key Departures: INF Jose Lopez, DH Russell Branyan, LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith
Finishing at 61-101, it is safe to say that nothing went right for the Seattle Mariners in 2010. The biggest story line for the Mariners in 2010 was the abrupt retirement of future Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr.
Unfortunately, unless you believe that the Mariners' problems all stemmed from fired manager Don Wakamatsu, 2011 does not promise to be much better. Wakamatsu was responsible for running Griffey out of town, and also feuded with former All-Star Chone Figgins publicly in the dugout. He clearly had lost the team, and did nothing to help build team chemistry.
Team chemistry is something new manager Eric Wedge will likely also have his hands full with should the team decide to retain the services of outfielder Milton Bradley.
The big off season acquisition for the Mariners was the signing of designated hitter, Jack Cust. While Cust had led the Oakland A's in home runs two out of the last three seasons, his overall performance has been less than stellar. Ichiro Suzuki will once again lead the Mariners offense, supported by the always controversial Milton Bradley and former Angel Chone Figgins.
Mariners' pitching boasts reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez, but the rest of their rotation does not stack up against their opponents in the AL West.
Rookie Michael Pineda will be exciting to watch through 2011—he posted an 11-4 record with a 3.36 ERA in a split season Class-AA and AAA last season for the Mariners. Pineda is only 21 years old.
Seattle should improve on their 61 season from last season, but will finish the season below .500 and finish in the AL West cellar again in 2011.
3) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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Key Arrivals: OF Vernon Wells
Key Departures: C/1B Mike Napoli, OF Juan Rivera, DH/OF Hideki Matsui
Enduring a season-long drought of run production and support, the Angels starting pitching was the lone consolation to an otherwise disappointing season. The Angels trade for Vernon Wells is not enough to make up for the combined loss of power from Mike Napoli, Juan Rivera and Hideki Matsui, but a healthy Kendry Morales will provide a boost to the Angels lineup.
The rotation will be strong again in 2011. Led by ace Dan Haren, the remainder of the Angels rotation is as follows: Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Ervin Santana, and Joel Pineiro. The Angels rotation will definitely prevent teams from scoring many runs in 2011, but they will need their offense to provide them with enough run support to improve on their 80-82 record from last season.
If the Angels are to compete in 2011 with division champion Texas Rangers and the improved Oakland A’s, they will need consistent production from their top hitters—Vernon Wells, Bobby Abreu, Tori Hunter and Kendry Morales.
The Angels could still benefit from adding one more bat. Former Angel Vladimir Guerrero remains on the market and is available, however he would need to DH as he can no longer adequately play the outfield. A signing of Guerrero would push Abreu into left field, which the Angels are not likely to want.
The Angels will improve on their 80-82 record, but will likely be playing for second place late in the season (and possibly the Wild Card) against the Oakland A’s.
2) Oakland Athletics
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Key Arrivals: DH/OF Hideki Matsui, OF Josh Willingham, OF David DeJesus, LHP Brian Fuentes, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Grant Balfour
Key Departures: DH Jack Cust, 3B Eric Chavez, OF Rajai Davis, OF Travis Buck, SP Vin Mazzaro, SP Justin Duchscherer
The Oakland A’s 2010 season was more successful than most people with knowledge of the team would have expected. The A’s overcame another injury-riddled season to finish a respectable 81-81, which kept them serious contenders late into the season.
The A’s spent the offseason upgrading their offense. They allowed Jack Cust, Eric Chavez and Travis Buck to depart via free agency and traded Rajai Davis.
They replaced them with Hideki Matsui, Josh Willingham and David DeJesus. All qualify as more consistent and accomplished players. The new outfield acquisitions will be backed up by former starters, Ryan Sweeney and Conor Jackson.
The A’s also strengthened their bullpen with the additions of Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes. These additions provide much-needed depth, should one of their relievers suffer an injury during the season. They join Andrew Bailey, Craig Breslow, Jerry Blevins, Brad Ziegler, Michael Wuertz and a healthy Joey Devine.
The A’s rotation remains solid—Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Dallas Braden and the winner of Rich Harden, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Outman for the fifth starting spot.
2011 has the potential for the A’s to contend for the AL West title behind an improved offense, solid defense, the return of their intact starting rotation, and a very respectable bullpen.
The A’s will improve on their .500 finish from last season and should contend deep into the season for the AL West Crown, however they will be chasing the defending AL Champion Texas Rangers, and may have to settle for the AL Wild Card in 2011.
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1) Texas Rangers
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Key Arrivals: 3B Adrian Beltre, C Yorvit Torrealba, C Mike Napoli, RHP Brandon Webb
Key Departures: DH Vladimir Guerrero, LHP Cliff Lee, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Frank Francisco
It’s hard for the Rangers to improve on 2010, a year in which they made their first-ever appearance in the World Series. The Rangers were forced to watch the Giants celebrate the World Series victory however, and they are poised to make another deep run into the playoffs in the 2011.
Reigning MVP Josh Hamilton will look to maintain his high level of production and lead the Rangers offense in defending their AL West, and AL Championship titles.
The Rangers were unable to re-sign Cliff Lee and will miss his dominance throughout the season and especially in the playoffs, but that loss will not be felt as deeply if newly signed Brandon Webb proves healthy and returns to his own dominant form. CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter will join Brandon Webb along with Derek Holland to round out the Rangers rotation.
The Rangers offense lost the bat of Vladimir Guerrero, but they were able to sign Adrian Beltre who is coming off of a solid season for Boston. The Beltre signing will effectively move Michael Young to the DH spot. The Rangers also flipped Frank Francisco to Toronto in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli who is fully capable of adding to the Rangers potent offense.
The Rangers are the favorite in this division, although a healthy Angels team, and the revamped A’s team will make strong pushes for the division championship as well.
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