AL West Preview

1st place. Oakland A's. (90-70).
I am fully aware that this is a big limb to go out onto, given the success of the Angels, however, Oakland added some huge bats this winter: Matt Holliday (in a trade from Colorado), Jason Giambi (Free Agency), and assuming he comes back healthy (if there is such a thing with him) Eric Chavez. Their starters have nothing but upside. A solid top of the rotation with Justin Duchscherer (2.54 era. 1,00 whip), a quality and improving 25 year old lefty in Dana Eveland (if he cuts down on his walks), and 23 year old Sean Gallagher (54 k's in 56.2 innings). The team has a top tier middle infield defensively with Mark Ellis and Bobby Crosby, possibly the best fielding 3b of the last 20 years in Chavez, and an outfield that is at least above average in Center (Ryan Sweeney) and Right (Travis Buck). The additions of Holliday and Giambi give them the first lefty-righty combo in the middle of their lineup since 2001, when Giambi and Miguel Tejada were in town. The bullpen is unarguably top 5 in the AL, as it is every year, with Brad Ziegler (7 er, 59.2 ip, 1.16 whip), followed by Santiago Casilla, Joey Devine, and Jerry Blevins. The team did lose Huston Street in the Holliday trade but he was not longer as effective as in years past and the emergence of Ziegler made Street very available. The A's were last in the Al in batting average, hits, doubles, RBI's, OBP, and slugging, and near the bottom in everything else. But the additions of high OBP guys like Giambi and Holliday will no doubt move the A's near the middle of the pack offensively so the key is the young pitchers emergence, which I expect to happen from any 2 of their young starters.

2nd place. Los Angeles Angels (88-74)
The Angels window may have shut last year, they added Mark Teixera (54 games, 409 OBP, 13 hrs, 43 RBI's, and a 368 BA) for the stretch run, had the all time single season saves leader in Francisco Rodriguez (62 saves), both of whom have left for New York (Yankees and Mets, respectively). The loss of Teixera leaves a huge hole in front of Vlad Guerrero (363 OBP, 27 hrs), whose best years are in the rear view mirror. The team chose not to resign career Angel Garrett Anderson, and while he was not what he used to be, he was certainly a quality lefty. In his place, Juan Rivera (246 BA, 12 hrs) will try to stay healthy for an entire year, something that is fairly unlikely. Guerrero should be a full time DH at this point, he has trouble getting to any balls over his head and often lets balls go under his glove as well. Rob Quinlan replaces Texiera at first and, while a good fielder, Quinlan isnt in Texiera's league in any facet of the game. The teams closer becomes FA signee Brian Fuentes, who is generally as consistent as the 2008 Dow Jones industrial Average. The Angels still have the best starters in the west, with John Lackey (12-5, 1.23 whip), and Ervin Santana (16-7, 1.12 whip), but Joe Saunders will almost certainly fall off after his all star year in 08. The Angels made no offseason moves or upgrades at any position so its very hard to see them winning 100 games again. A division title is very very possible, but the team has very little offense once again, though that hasn't stopped them in the past.