2008 MLB season preview - AL West

Mar 05 2008

Posted by Cuzzy as Babes, Fashion, Sports, Sports Betting, baseball, opinions

I recently got a chance to do some freelance writing for Chalk, a sports content provider, and it ended up being listed in the Bodog fantasy section. I figured since it was published by a superpower site like that, it was worth posting on Cuzoogle. To help spice it up I decided to turn to baseball’s resident babe to help preview the upcoming season.

With the help of Alyssa Milano and her MLB clothing line, here is a break down of each division heading into the season. Today we look at the AL West.

AL West

alyssa Milano in an angel’s shirt Los Angeles Angels

The L.A. Angels are legitimate favorites to win their fourth AL West championship in five years, but that won’t be enough to meet the team’s expectations this time. CF Torii Hunter and RHP Jon Garland were the only offseason additions to the roster but both figure to make a significant impact. The Angels could have one of baseball’s best defensive outfields with Hunter, Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero or Garret Anderson. With the signing of Hunter, it gives the team depth in their lineup to help mitigate the lack of a power presence to team with Guerrero in the middle of the order. Even before the addition of Garland, the Angels had one of the strongest rotations in baseball with John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver leading the way. Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis will compete for the starting SS job, with outstanding prospect Brandon Wood waiting for his shot. One concern is Escobar’s sore shoulder. The rotation will only get stronger when he returns from a shoulder problem that should land him on the DL to start the season. Overall the Angels remain a pitching-oriented team unless they do something to improve the team’s need for a more threatening offense.

Alyssa Milano in an A’s shirt Oakland A’s

The A’s began the offseason with thoughts of adding Barry Bonds and making a run at the Angels in the AL West. Instead of that bold move, GM Billy Beane dealt RHP Dan Haren, OF Nick Swisher and OF Mark Kotsay to rebuild, and likely delay any challenge to the Angels. Oakland restocked its farm system with the Haren and Swisher deals but it will take a few seasons to determine whether those moves will translate to wins. The A’s don’t have a lot of their pieces from a year ago. Kotsay, Swisher, Milton Bradley, Jason Kendall, Shannon Stewart and Mike Piazza are all gone. What remains is relatively young and a little light on power. With promising young hitters such as LF Travis Buck and 1B Daric Barton, Oakland manager Bob Geren probably will change his lineup around with regularity. The big questions on the field revolve around the health of RHP Rich Harden, 3B Eric Chavez and SS Bobby Crosby, whose injuries last season helped contribute to Oakland’s first losing season since 1998. Chavez could be back in 30-homer territory and is also expected to regain his Gold Glove status in 2008.

Alyssa Milano in a Mariners shirt

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners spent much of the offseason trying to upgrade the starting rotation and landed Erik Bedard from Baltimore. To get the lefty ace the Mariners had to give up George Sherrill, the Mariners’ best lefty in the bullpen, and outfield prospect Adam Jones. Seattle is obviously trying to win this year, and a rotation of Bedard, Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva gives the Mariners a talented rotation. Manager John McLaren is a big fan of his veterans, so it is a good bet to see the regulars playing every day. That will most likely mean that Brad Wilkerson will win the job in right field and be the regular there. The Mariners are hoping Wilkerson can stay healthy and come close to the numbers Jose Guillen provided last year in right field. 1B Richie Sexson has been working hard to come to camp in top shape and seems to have the complete confidence of McLaren after a poor 2007. RHP J.J. Putz is one of the top closers in the game and should become even better with the addition of new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. The Mariners need to shore up the bullpen and make sure they are covered in right field if they’re going to challenge for the AL West title in 2008.

Alyssa Milano in a Rangers shirt Texas Rangers

One of the biggest additions for the Texas Rangers could be a healthy Hank Blalock. The two-time All-Star says he is feeling great after surgery to have a rib removed from near his right shoulder. The three main areas where manager Ron Washington considered offseason needs were addressed by management, as CF Josh Hamilton, RF Milton Bradley and 1B Ben Broussard were all added to the club. Hamilton, the first overall draft pick in 1999 who nearly ruined his career through alcohol and drug abuse, has a lot to prove. RHP Jason Jennings was added to the rotation after being hampered last season by elbow problems. LHP Eddie Guardado provides a much-needed veteran presence in a bullpen that will be missing RHP Eric Gagne and RHP Akinori Otsuka. Guardado will likely be a setup man and mentor to closer candidates C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit. There are many questions on the Texas roster, and answering all of them in a positive manner is unlikely. It is for that reason why the Rangers are probably not in a contending position in 2008. There are no accomplished cleanup men in the batting order, and it is possible that Bradley, Hamilton or Blalock could end up there.

Cuzoogle’s order of finish