AL West Divisional Preview

With the MLB season coming up in a couple of weeks, I will be previewing each division as well as the postseason and awards. One division will get covered a week, and the 7th week will consist of postseason predictions as well as regular season awards. 

This week will feature the American League West division.

The Texas Rangers will be on the prowl to hold that top spot not only in the AL West, but the entire American League once again. The Rangers were the surprise winner of the American League last year, but ultimately lost to the San Francisco Giants. With players such as Cliff Lee on different teams this year, the division is wide open for any of the four teams ready to take home the Western crown. 

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-The Angels decided to take a step to the side during the 2010 season (the Angels had won the division 4 of the previous 5 years). After reloading during the offseason by acquiring Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays, that should help an offense that already had a lot of power. The outfield is one of the best defensively with having players like Torii Hunter, Wells, Bobby Abreu and Reggie Willits ready to go at any time. When the offense isn't producing on occasion, the pitching staff is loaded with Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana and Dan Haren while Fernando Rodney will close out the games.

2. Texas Rangers- Cliff Lee unfortunately did not come back for another season for the Rangers, and an at best mediocre pitching staff lost their horse in Lee. Fortunately for the Rangers, defending MVP Josh Hamilton signed a contract that will keep him around until 2013.  Hamilton is a legitimate Triple Crown threat, and last year had a .359 batting average, 32 home runs and 100 RBIs (Runs Batted In).  To join Hamilton, an infield consisting of Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Mike Napoli and Adrian Beltre will help the Rangers win numerous games. 

3. Oakland Athletics- The A's won exactly the same number of games they lost, and posted a record of 81-81 last year. Joining the A's this year is former Yankee great Hideki Matsui. Matsui was the 2009 World Series MVP, and hopes to bring his playoff experience to the A's. At catcher, Kurt Suzuki came off a subpar year, hitting only .242 along with 13 home runs. The Athletics will play a lot of small ball with players like Kevin Kouzmanoff, Coco Crisp and Mark Ellis while Ryan Sweeney and Josh Willingham will be the home run threats. Dallas Braden, who pitched a perfect game last year (no runners reach a base), returns with Brett Anderson as Andrew Bailey will be the 2011 closer.

4.Seattle Mariners- The Mariners remind me of the Houston Texans of the NFL, in which everyone seems to pick them as a dark horse year in and year out, but they don't do anything but disappoint you. Besides Ichiro Suzuki, Felix Hernandez and Franklin Gutierrez, the Mariners really don't have much to offer this year. Suzuki has had 200 hits each year he has been a Mariner since 2001, and baring a major injury, he should be on pace for his 11th consecutive season of this amazing feet. Seattle seems to be in a rebuilding mode, and they should be a team to watch in two or three years.