AL West Wrap Up

Tough calls, but it looks like we're free of the chalk out east. The west looks like it's going to be up for grabs again, but I can't see the second place team making the playoffs this year. Between Boston/New York/Toronto and Chicago/Cleveland the second place finisher out west is out of luck this year.

That said, Anaheim is weak, and any injury makes them incredibly vulnerable. If that injury comes to one of their front-line players, they are triple-screwed. On the other hand, Oakland has built a team, franchise dogma and reputation on being able to use interchangeable parts to compete. I don't see that resiliency out of the Angels.

Seattle will be better this season, but still lacks the horses to be there at the end. They'll be fine through the middle of the summer, then tail off. Texas is another tough call, but someone has to be last and their pitchers are non-existent after Millwood and Eaton.

Defense may win championships, but pitching will keep you in it from day to day. They'll win shootouts and a few games when their top hurlers are up, but I can't see them holding up... then again, they weren't supposed to keep up last year, either. They get a pulse from one, maybe two other pitchers and they could be a contending team - they're a weird situation.

All told, I'm pretty comfortable with Oakland over the Angels, but Seattle and Texas are a toss up. Texas makes a move for another arm or pick one up in June or July and they're a different team entirely.

American League West
1.) Oakland Athletics
2.) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3.) Seattle Mariners
4.) Texas Rangers