The AL West I predicted dead on last year suprisingly by picking the Texas Rangers to win and go to the World Series. I don't think top or bottom will change but in between I think we'll see a swap in positions.
1. Texas Rangers
Who would thought begininng of last season the Texas Rangers would be going to the World Series...oh wait that was me, but all honestly I just saw a much improved roster and an oppurtunity to look really good by picking them on the off chance they would make it and they did. They resigned hard hitting left fielder Josh Hamilton and that was much needed for this team, young Julio Borbon will be making plays in centerfield, while veteran Nelson Cruz will be in right, Yorvit Torrealba is catching but I would be suprised to see Mike Napoli get his fair share of time behind the plate as well, Mitch Moreland has the starting spot at first base and we'll see how he does in his first full season, Ian Kinsler is one of the best if not the best second baseman right now (he has some competition with Robinson Cano in NY), Elvis Andrus is a young but rising star at shortstop and veteran Adrian Beltre is starting at third, DHing for the Rangers is Michael Young (for now). The rotation is headlined by Colby Lewis but the dangerous part of the rotation comes at the 5 spot with former CY Young winner Brandon Webb. The young Neftali Feliz will be closing, he racked up 40 saves last year.
2. Los Angeles Angles
The Angles were down last season which is unlike the normal contenders but I think they will recover this season, just to celebrate that game winning home run as hard this time. One reason why I believe they will take over the #2 spot is the rotation, it looks pretty good. Starting with Jared Weaver, then Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Scott Kizmar and Joel Pineiro they are looking strong. Their weakness will be the bullpen and Tiger fans will know why closing is Fernando Rodney he is the star of the pen. On the field they have Jeff Mathis behind the plate but doesn't bring a bat to talk about really, Kendry Morales is back at first after his freak broken leg accident after celebrating a walkoff home run, Howie Kendrick is a good second baseman, Erick Aybar is at short hopefully he can pick up his offense this year, Maicer Izturis is at thrid which isn't much but still a decent fielder, in left is young Peter Bourjos who only played 51 games last season, veteran Vernon Wells is in center, and Torii Hunter is back in rightfield, Veteran Bobby Abreu is DHing this year.
3. Oakland Athletics
The A's were up and down last season, I think they have improved but the only reason they even got second last year was because the Angels were injured. Dallas Braden the guy threw a no-hitter on Mother's Day last year is the star now along with the return of Rich Harden. The also have a decent bullpen with Brian Fuentes coming to Oakland. Kurt Suski is manning the plate for the A's and he is pretty good, Daric Barton is also pretty good and he is working at first, veteran Mark Ellis is at second while little know Cliff Pennington is at short, third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff is going to have to step up, David DeJesus is good out in left with vet Coco Crisp is in center, Josh Willingham also needs to step up in right, Hideki Matsui is DHing this season for the A's.
4. Seattle Mariners
They had so much promise going into last season but it just didn't pan out, and they didn't do much to improve this season. Ichiro is the star and he is back in right, DH Jack Cust and third baseman Chone Figgins is pretty much all they have batting, catching is Miguel Olivo who could be good for the Mariners, Justin Smoak is at first, Brendan Ryan is at second, and Jack Wilson is at short, Michael Saunders is in left, and Franklin Gutierrez is in center. The Mariners have a solid number 1 in the rotation Felix Hernandez and that is pretty much it for the Mariners.
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