Now that the Olympics are over, American sports fans have nothing to do but wait for the baseball season to start. For some of them, it already has. The players are out at spring training in Arizona and Florida, the sun is beginning to peak out (except in the East, where people are too buried to see the sky), and predictions for the upcoming season are reaching their illogical conclusion. It's only a matter of time before we will have a new champion to take the taste of a ringed A-Roid out of our mouths, but before that, we have a glorious 162 game season to watch.
Before the season starts, I'd like to see a preview of each and every division in the MLB, along with individual team snapshots of your favorites.
When games kick off, I'll have a weekly schedule available in the OP, highlighting games of the week. Unlike the NFL version, I don't think we will have an organized game by game predictions section, but if that's something that people really want I suppose its a possibility.
American League West:
Last YearAnaheim Angels (yes, Anaheim Angels) 97-65
Texas Rangers 87-75
Seattle Mariners 85-77
Oakland Athletics 75-87 What Changed
In the off-season, the Angels proceeded to lose 3 of their best players to teams that will be competing for playoff spots. Texas grabbed Vladamir Guerrero, Seattle took slick-fielding Chone Figgins, and Boston reigned in their ace, John Lackey. What did the Angels bring in to replace them? 35 year old Hideki Matsui and perennial journeyman Joel Pinero (for 8 million a year I might add). Anaheim still has some pop in their bats, especially with Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu still around, along with budding star Kendry Morales. The Angels aren't going to freefall this year, but they are going to regress barring an incredible mid-season move.
Texas is going to need a little luck if they want to do any better than their breakout year last year. Their pitching staff performed remarkably well last year, especially in Arlington, where popups become home runs. There has been some turnover on the pitching staff, but it could become a zero-sum result as Rich Harden comes in to spell Kevin Millwood. Harden is easily the better pitcher, but his success will rely on his health, as always. The team could contend, but only if the pitching over-performs again.
When looking over all of the offseason moves in 2009-2010, Seattle is one of the clear winners. Stealing all star Figgins from a division rival and spending nothing on one of the leage's top on-base batters (Milton Bradley) would be pretty good for any contending team, but then the Mariners send a group of low level prospects to Philadelphia for Cliff Friggin Lee! And the most amazing thing is that he will be Seattle's number 2 starter, behind Cy-Young candidate Felix Hernandez. While the club will as always be struggling to find runs, their defense has more gold-glove caliber players than not, and their run producing should actually take a step forward over last year.
Oakland could be called the division's dark horse. The team is so young and talented that it could spark up and take the division whenever they get over that hump. Their pitching staff is the most talented in the league top to bottom, so it will be interesting to see how well they develop this year. They may not fight for a playoff berth this year, but will almost certainly be in the conversation in 2011 or 2012.
2010 projection:
Seattle: about 95 wins
Anaheim: about 90 wins
Texas: about 85 wins
Oakland: about 80 wins
The improvements Seattle has made to a team that lost 100 games in 2008 cannot be ignored. The roster, save for four players, has been completely turned over, and teams are going to be breaking bats in frustration when trying to score against this team. Two of the best pitchers in the game in front of a who's who of defensive playmakers is not only a recipe for success in the regular season, but in the post season as well.
The Angels will regress noticeably in 2010 after being in control of the division for nearly an entire decade. Their aging hitters will struggle to score runs, and their pitching staff will struggle to keep games competitive. It will result in about 10 more losses this year over last, and may cost them a playoff spot.
The Rangers have the potential to take a step forward, but are just as likely to lose some ground. They will be able to hit as always, but their pitching depth is weak, and an injury to Harden could be all it takes to end Texas' playoff dreams.
Oakland will get off to a slow start, but make a strong push at the end of the year that will excite pundits around the league and make them odds-on favorites in the division next year. This year will end the same as last for the Athletics, however.
Log in to comment