Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:
The Angels coming off a nice 2011 where they finished 10 games above .500 with 86 wins made probably the biggest splash this winter, signing prize free agent Albert Pujols to a $254 Million, 10 year contract. Finishing a distant 10 games behind the Rangers in the division was not good enough for a fan base and ownership group that is hungry to get back to the World Series. That's not the only big signing this off season, Pitcher C.J. Wilson signed as a free agent, leaving the same Rangers team that he had been to the World Series with the last two seasons. Granted Wilson's Playoff numbers are not that great (combined 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA in 2010 & 11) He still has the playoff experience that the Angels will covet if they can make it to the post season in 2012. He joins a very good pitching staff of Weaver, Haren and Santana. The Angels offense that we know will be given a huge boost by the power bat of Pujols is very well rounded with great hitters such as Tori Hunter, Eric Aybar and Howard Kendrick. I dont watch many west coast games as they normally start around the time I normally go to bed but this season I may need to tough it out on a Friday or Saturday night to watch what could be a very exciting team in Anaheim. The big question is, will the big off season signings translate into wins and a playoff birth, I say yes, and it might just be enough to over take the Rangers as the class of the Division.
Prediction - 1st AL West
Oakland Athletics:
The Oakland A's are a team that is on the brink, On the brink of what you ask??? Well this team needs a new stadium, and fast. The rumors of the team being granted permission to move to San Jose is expected to be announced by Major League Baseball soon. Therefore I foresee baseball in Oakland being a thing of the past. A team that drew an average of only 18,232 in 2011. In a huge stadium like Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, or whatever its called these days, to the players that must be like playing in front of nobody. This low attendance hurts the team big time. Due to low gate numbers they had to trade star closer Andrew Bailey to Boston this winter and replaced him with Grant Balfour, who is famous for being the guy who pitched both parts of game 5 of the 2008 World Series as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Athletics did make a big signing this off season however, they were able to land star Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. At 26 years old Cespedes will jump right in as the teams center fielder and should make an impact assuming he lives up to the expectations set forth for him. In somewhat surprising news, the A's signed currently suspended Manny Ramirez to a minor league contract for this season. At this point in his career I cant imagine he would be worth anything, but we wont get to find out for fifty games. All in all its gonna be a long season in the American League city by the bay.
Prediction - 4th AL West
Seattle Mariners:
The Seattle Mainers had quite the forgetful season in 2011 losing 95 games a year ago to have them finish in last place in the division a very distant 29 games out of first place. This season might be alot of the same for Seattle. Even with the ace of the pitching staff Felix Hernandez leading the way this team does not really put fear in many teams. Yes Ichiro is still there but at 38 years old just how productive can he be in 2012. I guess only time will tell. The Mariners will get started early this season playing the first two games of the season at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The first game is this Wednesday Morning at 6:10am EST. It will be a good start to the season and I look forward to seeing what happens in those two games in the far east. As for the season of the Mariners. Its going to be interesting to see if they can jump over the A's for 3rd in the division. Honestly I think they will.
Prediction - 3rd AL West
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| Beltre and the Rangers will be trying to get safely back to the World Series in 2012 |
The two time defending American League Champions. Two straight trips to the World Series and nothing to show for it. League Championship rings are nice but that entire team plus coaches want that championship. The Rangers lost starting pitcher C.J. Wilson this off season to division rival Anaheim but still boast a fantastic rotation lead by Colby Lewis and Japaniese phenom Yu Darvish who the Rangers won the bidding for and signed this winter. The Rangers bring a scary lineup to the plate in 2012 with Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrien Beltre, Ian Kinsler and Mike Napoli. This team still has all the tools to make another run at an American League pennant. I fully expect the Rangers to be fighting for the division all year long with the Angels. If the Rangers play up to their potential and are as hungry as ever this team could be back in the World Series again in 2012. I dont see this team winning the division this season but I do see them as a Wild Card team.
Prediction - 2nd AL West
That completes my American League Previews, My official Predictions are as follow's
AL East - New York Yankees
AL Central - Detroit Tigers
AL West - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
With the "NEW" wild card one game playoff round in place for 2012 Here are my Wild Card Teams that will participate in that one game playoff:
Boston Red Sox & Texas Rangers
Next up in a couple days, A very Long National League East Preview
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