This is Part Three of Place to Be Nation’s Major League Baseball division previews, focused on the American League West.
To read Part One, the A.L. East, click here. For the A.L. Central, click here.
Two quick catches before we begin. In my A.L. Central preview, I noted that top prospect Miguel Sano could join the big league club sometime this season. I did not remember that Sano is likely out for the season with an elbow injury and surgery.
Also, I neglected to include a “Bold, but unlikely Prediction” for Cleveland, so here goes: Masterson and Kluber combine to win 35 games and the team overtakes Detroit to win the division.
Now, let us Go West … ahem, preview the American League West.
Just as before, teams are listed in predicted order of finish.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
2013: 96-66, won A.L. West
Key additions: SP Scott Kazmir, Luke Gregorson, RP Jim Johnson, OF Craig Gentry, IF Nick Punto
Key losses: SP Bartolo Colon, RP Grant Balfour, SP Brett Anderson, OF Michael Choice
Projected lineup, rotation, bullpen (with key 2013 stats) — Division Rank in [brackets]
|
Lineup [2] |
Rotation [1] |
Bullpen [1] |
|
CF Coco Crisp (S) 93 R, 22 HR, 21 SB |
Sonny Gray (R) 5-3, 2.67 ERA, 67 K in 64 IP |
Jim Johnson (R) 3-8, 2.94 ERA, 50 SV |
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DH John Jaso (L) .271 BA, .387 OBP in 70 games |
Scott Kazmir (L) 10-9, 4.04 ERA, 162 K in 158 IP |
Luke Gregerson (R) 6-8, 2.71 ERA, 64 K in 66 ⅓ IP |
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3B Josh Donaldson (R) .301 BA, 37 2B, 24 HR |
A.J. Griffin (R) 14-10, 3.83 ERA, 171 K in 200 IP will begin season on DL |
Ryan Cook (R) 6-4, 2.54 ERA, 67 K in 67 ⅓ IP |
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LF Yoenis Cespedes (R) .240 BA, 26 HR, 80 RBI, Gold Glove finalist |
Dan Straily (R) 10-8, 3.96 ERA, 124 K in 152 ⅓ IP |
Sean Doolittle (L) 5-5, 3.13 ERA, 60 K in 69 IP |
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1B Brandon Moss (L) .256 BA, 30 HR, 87 RBI |
Tommy Milone (L) /Drew Pomeranz (L) 12-9, 4.14 ERA (Milone); 19 K in 21 ⅔ IP (Pomeranz) |
Dan Otero (R) 2-0, 1.38 ERA, 27-6 K/BB ratio in 39 IP |
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RF Josh Reddick (L) 12 HR, 56 RBI in 114 games, Gold Glove finalist |
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SS Jed Lowrie (S) .290 BA, 45 2B, 15 HR, 75 RBI |
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C Derek Norris (R) .246 BA, 9 HR in 98 games |
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2B Alberto Callaspo (S) /Eric Sogard (L) .252 BA, 13 2B in 86 games (Callaspo); .266 BA, 24 2B, 10 SB in 130 games (Sogard) |
Strengths: Offense, bullpen, starting pitching
Weakness: Lack of speed, defense, starting pitching depth
Best case scenario: The starting pitching clicks like it did last season, when the A’s were second in the A.L. with a 3.72 ERA; Sonny Gray Real Estate builds on (See what I did there?) his strong rookie season and leads the staff in the absence of Jarrod Parker (out all year with Tommy John surgery); the bullpen posts another stellar campaign (3.22 ERA, 3rd in A.L.); the offense sparks behind MVP candidate Josh Donaldson and a healthy Josh Reddick; Brandon Moss builds on his career-best 2013 and becomes a fixture at 1B; Jim Johnson saves 50 for the third consecutive season; the team wins the West convincingly.
Worst case scenario: Moss, Donaldson, and Lowrie all regress; Cespedes continues to swing at anything with half a wrinkle on it; injuries continue to plague the young starting staff; Johnson’s low strikeout rate (6.0/9 for his career) catches up to him in a big way; the rest of the bullpen folds; the team misses a third straight playoff berth by 10 games-plus.
Bold, but unlikely prediction: Josh Donaldson wins the American League MVP award, becoming the first Oakland A’s player to do so since Miguel Tejada in 2002 (who was portrayed by Royce Clayton in Moneyball, which starred Brad Pitt, who was in Sleepers with … Kevin Bacon).
TEXAS RANGERS
2013: 91-72, 2nd in A.L. West
Key additions: 1B Prince Fielder, OF Shin-Soo Choo, C J.P. Arencibia, OF Michael Choice
Key losses: 2B Ian Kinsler, RP Joe Nathan, OF Craig Gentry
Projected lineup, rotation, bullpen (with key 2013 stats) — Division Rank in [brackets]
|
Lineup [1] |
Rotation [2] |
Bullpen [2] |
|
SS Elvis Andrus (R) .271 BA, 91 R, 42 SB |
Yu Darvish (R) 13-9, 2.83 ERA, 277 K in 209 ⅔ IP will begin season on DL |
Joakim Soria (R) 1-0, 3.80 ERA, 28 K in 23 ⅔ IP |
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LF Shin-Soo Choo (L) 107 R, .423 OBP, 21 HR, 20 SB |
Martin Perez (L) 10-6, 3.62 ERA, 84 K in 124 ⅓ IP |
Neal Cotts (L) 8-3, 1.11 ERA, 65 K in 57 IP |
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3B Adrian Beltre (R) .315 BA, 32 2B, 30 HR, Gold Glove finalist |
Colby Lewis (R) Did not pitch in 2013 |
Robbie Ross (L) 4-2, 3.03 ERA, 58 K in 62 ⅓ IP |
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1B Prince Fielder (L) 25 HR, 106 RBI |
Matt Harrison (L) 0-2 in 2 starts will begin season on DL |
Alexi Ogando (R) 7-4, 3.11 ERA in 18 starts |
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RF Alex Rios (R) 33 2B, 18 HR, 42 SB |
Tanner Scheppers (R) 6-2, 1.88 ERA in 76 relief appearances in 2013 |
Nick Tepesch (R) 4-6, 4.84 ERA in 93 IP |
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DH Mitch Moreland (L) .232 BA, 24 2B, 23 HR |
Derek Holland (L) 10-9, 3.42 ERA will begin season on DL |
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2B Jurickson Profar (S) .234 BA, 11 2B, 6 HR in 85 games will begin season on DL |
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C J.P. Arencibia (R) .194 BA, 21 HR |
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CF Leonys Martin (L) .260 BA, 36 SB |
Strengths: Top of the lineup, top of the rotation, bullpen
Weakness: Health concerns, bottom of the lineup, bottom of the rotation
Best case scenario: Everyone gets healthy; new acquisitions Prince Fielder and Shin-Shoo Choo are worth every penny; Yu Darvish strikes out 280+; After coming off the DL, Jurickson Profar becomes the player the Rangers think he can be; Elvis Andrus packs 30 points onto his 2013 on-base percentage (.328) and becomes an elite shortstop; the bottom third of the lineup produces; the bullpen is led by a resurgent Soria, who saves more games than the man he replaced (Joe Nathan); the team topples Oakland for the division title, while the loser settles for a Wild Card spot.
Worst case scenario: The injuries that have hit the team this spring (Profar, second catcher Geovany Soto, pitchers Harrison and Darvish) continue all year long; Fielder’s a bust; Choo’s a bust; Andrus loses 30 points from his 2013 OBP and becomes a liability; the bullpen regresses as a shaky rotation forces the ‘pen into overload; the team fails to win 90 games for the first time in five years.
Bold, but unlikely prediction: Choo scores 150 runs, the first player to do so since Jeff Bagwell (152) in 2000, and the first American League player to hit that mark since Ted Williams (150) in 1949.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
2013: 78-84, 3rd in A.L. West
Key additions: SP Hector Santiago, SP Tyler Skaggs, 3B David Freese, RP Joe Smith
Key losses: OF Mark Trumbo, OF Peter Bourjos, SP Jerome Williams
Projected lineup, rotation, bullpen (with key 2013 stats) — Division Rank in [brackets]
|
Lineup [3] |
Rotation [4] |
Bullpen [3] |
|
RF Kole Calhoun (L) .282 BA, .347 OBP, 8 HR in 58 games |
Jered Weaver (R) 11-8, 3.27 ERA, 117 K in 154 ⅓ IP |
Ernesto Frieri (R) 2-4, 3.80 ERA, 37 SV, 98 K in 68 ⅔ IP |
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CF Mike Trout (R) .323 BA, 109 R, 39 2B, 27 HR, 33 SB |
C.J. Wilson (L) 17-7, 3.39 ERA, 188 K in 212 ⅓ IP |
Joe Smith (R) 6-2, 2.29 ERA, 54 K in 63 IP |
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1B Albert Pujols (R) .258 BA, 17 HR, 64 RBI in 99 games |
Garrett Richards (R) 7-8, 4.16 ERA, 101 K in 145 IP |
Sean Burnett (L) 0.93 ERA in 13 games |
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RF Josh Hamilton (L) .250 BA, 21 HR, 79 RBI |
Hector Santiago (L) 4-9, 3.56 ERA, 137 K in 149 IP (23 starts) |
Kevin Jepsen (R) 1-3, 4.50 ERA, 36 K in 36 IP |
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3B David Freese (R) .262 BA, 26 2B, 60 RBI |
Tyler Skaggs (L) 2-3, 5.12 ERA, 36 K in 38 ⅔ IP |
Michael Kohn (R) 1.4, 3.74 ERA, 52 K in 53 IP |
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2B Howie Kendrick (R) .297 BA, 13 HR, 54 RBI |
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C Chris Iannetta (R) .225 BA, 11 HR in 115 games |
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DH J.B. Shuck (L) .293 BA, 20 2B, 8 SB |
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SS Erick Aybar (S) .271 BA, 33 2B, 12 SB |
Strengths: Mike Trout, Mike Trout, Mike Trout
Weakness: Defense, starting pitching, declining major stars
Best case scenario: Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton party like it’s 2009 (and 2010, respectively); Kole Calhoun and J.B. Shuck build on their impressive first full seasons and give Trout some help in the outfield; David Freese solidifies third base both offensively and defensively; Skaggs and Santiago become the best bottom two starters in baseball; the team contends all year for the West.
Worst case scenario: Pujols and Hamilton cannot rebound; the starters struggle all year long; the bullpen suffers due to a lack of rest; the defense (21st in MLB with a .699 defensive efficiency rating) continues to hurt the team; the team misses the playoffs, finishes under .500 and team owner fires manager Mike Scioscia in the aftermath. Scioscia returns to his acting career.
Bold, but unlikely prediction: Kole Calhoun builds on his 2013 (.354/.431/.617 in Triple-A; .282/.347/.462 in 222 MLB plate appearances) and is one of the five best right fielders in all of baseball.
SEATTLE MARINERS
2013: 71-91, 4th in A.L. West
Key additions: 2B Robinson Cano, 1B/OF Corey Hart, 1B/OF Logan Morrison, C John Buck, SP Chris Young
Key losses: LHP Joe Saunders, RP Carter Capps
Projected lineup, rotation, bullpen (with key 2013 stats) — Division Rank in [brackets]
|
Lineup [4] |
Rotation [2] |
Bullpen [4] |
|
SS Brad Miller (L) .265 BA, 41 R, 6 3B, 8 HR in 76 games |
Felix Hernandez (R) 12-10, 3.04 ERA, 216 K in 204 ⅓ IP |
Fernando Rodney (R) 5-4, 3.38 ERA, 37 SV, 82 K in 66 ⅔ IP |
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3B Kyle Seager (L) .260 BA, 32 2B, 22 HR |
Hisashi Iwakuma (R) 14-6, 2.66 ERA, 185 K in 219 ⅔ IP |
Danny Farquhar (R) 0-3, 4.20 ERA, 16 SV, 79 K in 55 ⅔ IP |
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2B Robinson Cano (L) .314 BA, 41 2B, 27 HR, 107 RBI |
Chris Young (R) Did not pitch in 2013 |
Charlie Furbush (L) 2-6, 3.74 ERA, 80 K in 65 IP |
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RF Corey Hart (R) Did not play in 2013 |
Taijuan Walker (R) 9-10, 2.93 ERA, 160 K in 141 ⅓ IP in Minor Leagues |
Yoervis Medina (R) 4-6, 2.91 ERA, 71 K in 68 IP |
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1B Justin Smoak (S) .238 BA, 20 HR, 50 RBI |
Erasmo Ramirez (R) /James Paxton (L) 5-3, 4.98 ERA (Ramirez)/3-0, 1.50 ERA (Paxton) |
Tom Wilhelmsen (R) 0-3, 4.12 ERA, 45 K in 59 IP |
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DH Logan Morrison (L) .242 BA, 6 HR, 36 RBI in 85 games |
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CF Michael Saunders (L) .236 BA, 12 HR, 13 SB |
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C Mike Zunino (R) .214 BA, 5 HR in 52 games |
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LF Dustin Ackley (L) .253 BA, 18 2B |
Strengths: Top of the rotation, power, a handful of talented youngsters (Miller, Seager, Walker, Paxton)
Weakness: Limited roster flexibility, no star power beyond Cano & King Felix, speed, defense
Best case scenario: Cano continues to hit like he did in New York; Miller builds on his rookie performance; Seager becomes a star; Ackley, Zunino, and Saunders turn in career years; Paxton and Walker both live up to the hype; the team teases contention for most of the season and finishes above .500.
Worst case scenario: Cano pouts early and often about being the only credible offensive threat; the roster inflexibility (3 DH/1B types on a roster that needs fewer) slows everything down; the dysfunction reported in the offseason shows on the field; Walker and Paxton fail to live up to the hype and/or get hurt; Ackley, Zunino, and Miller get worse instead of better; the team finishes last in the division and is the worst team in the league.
Bold, but unlikely prediction: It’s really tough to be positive when looking at this team, so let’s keep things simple: Corey Hart wins Comeback Player of the Year.
HOUSTON ASTROS
2013: 51-111, 5th in A.L. West
Key additions: OF Dexter Fowler, SP Scott Feldman, RP Chad Qualls, RP Jesse Crain
Key losses: SP Jordan Lyles, OF Brandon Barnes
Projected lineup, rotation, bullpen (with key 2013 stats) — Division Rank in [brackets]
|
Lineup [5] |
Rotation [5] |
Bullpen [5] |
|
CF Dexter Fowler (S) .263 BA, 12 HR, 19 SB |
Scott Feldman (R) 12-12, 3.86 ERA, 132 K in 181 ⅔ IP |
Chad Qualls (R) 5-2, 2.61 ERA, 49 K in 62 IP |
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2B Jose Altuve (R) .283 BA, 31 2B, 35 SB |
Jarred Cosart (R) 1-1, 1.95 ERA in 10 starts |
Jesse Crain (R) 2-3, 0.74 ERA, 46 K in 36 ⅔ IP |
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C Jason Castro (L) .276 BA, 35 2B, 18 HR |
Brett Oberholtzer (L) 4-5, 2.76 ERA in 10 starts |
Darin Downs (L) 0-2, 4.84 ERA, 37 K in 35 ⅓ IP |
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DH Chris Carter (R) .223 BA, 29 HR, 82 RBI |
Dallas Keuchel (L) 6-10, 5.15 ERA, 123 K in 153 ⅔ IP |
Matt Albers (R) 3-1, 3.14 ERA |
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3B Matt Dominguez (R) .241 BA, 25 2B, 21 HR |
Lucas Harrell (R) 6-17, 5.86 ERA |
Anthony Bass (R) 5.36 ERA in 24 games |
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LF Robbie Grossman (S) .268 BA, 14 2B, 4 HR in 257 at-bats |
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1B Jesus Guzman (R) .226 BA, 9 HR in 288 ab-bats |
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RF L.J. Hoes (R) .287 BA, 10 extra-base hits in 46 games, 7 SB |
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SS Jonathan Villar (S) .243 BA, 18 SB in 58 games |
Strengths: Rebuilding done the right way
Weakness: Everything else
Best case scenario: Some of the established young talent (Dominguez, Castro) continues to progress, while farmhands (P Mark Appel, SS Carlos Correa, and OF George Springer) see some time with the big club and impress; All five of those guys should be a part of the next good Astros team; the pitching is good enough for a few mid-season deals where GM Jeff Luhnow acquires more young talent; the team finishes in last again, but wins a few more.
Worst case scenario: Injuries and/or growing pains strike the top prospects. There’s really nowhere for this team to go but up.
Bold, but unlikely prediction: OF George Springer wins Rookie of the Year.
We’ll move onto the National League next, so stay tuned for the Senior Circuit!
