"Please God, let me hit one. I'll tell everybody you did it." Reggie Jackson
AL West
With all due respect to my National League counterparts I'm more than a little happy to be finished with the Senior League and safely back where I belong both geographically and existentially; the American League. At one time, if you can recall, Montreal's Expos represented Canada in the NL. With the Expos serving as only a memory as a Canadian I'm bound, by proximity and television contracts, to watch American League baseball. Not only do I love the DH (I've never had the urge to watch Roy Halladay wiff at three and sit down, give me the Big Hurt) but I also enjoy the high octane offense that enables me to bring my mostly disinterested friends to ballgames with me to enjoy the over-priced beer and the home runs. That aside, the AL West is looking to be a one team race in 2008. That doesn't mean it will always be that way. Oakland, with firesale'n Billy Beane smartly disassembling his underachieving 2007 roster, will compete sooner than later with a young talent base (as usual). Texas is quickly building a young, powerful team that may bring them back to the playoffs in the next 3-5 (not as usual). Seattle, unfortunately, has a number of highly talented players nestled between an underachieving rotation and a few overpayed, unskilled dinosaurs (nee. Richie Sexson).
The League's Best: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Stupid name, great team. The Angels added John Garland and dropped the slumping and injured Bartolo Colon to improve their already stellar pitching staff. They have a very good bullpen and a bizarrely stacked outfield that will compliment their speedy/defensive infield. One must wonder why they didn't add a big offensive bat to the infield, but upon a review of the available options this year one realizes that they were slim. Expect the Angels to run away with the race early on.
Key Players:
K-Rod: Excitement is mounting in Los Angeles and Anaheim. K-Rod is well aware that he's pitching for a contract this year and he's hoping to cash in, big time. He'll want the ball often and he'll want to mow down batters with his dominating combination of pitches. Fear this man.
Vladdy Guerrero: Vlad needs to do what's required of him to stay healthy and play 150+ games. That may mean that, much to his chagrin, he plays the bulk of his games at DH. With nagging leg injuries just around the corner Vlad needs to come to term with the fact that a .325+, 40hr, 125 rbi season is much more valuable than outfield assists when the Angels have ample talent to spell him in the field.
Chone Figgins: I enjoy writing Chone's name for obvious reasons. The super utility man will need to keep his offensive/defensive numbers high while he mentors the younger members of the squad.
The League's Worst: Oakland A's
After the fire sale Oakland stands to be blown out in 2008. That's more than acceptable considering the draft picks and young talent that Beane managed to secure may provide Oakland with their next renaissance. Expect the A's to be a team to watch in the future, that is if their fans would show up to the ballpark.
Key Players:
Eric Chavez: Let's hope that Chavez really is back at full strength and can provide the fans with something to watch this year and can mentor the youth of Oakland.
The Youth: Both those that are already and those that are to come are key to Oakland's success from here on in.
Watch Out For: Seattle Mariners
It's not as though I expect the Wild Card to be won here. In fact I would be shocked if it wasn't won in the East. Not that I'm doubting the Central's quality, just that there are more competitors in the Central with the Orioles and the Rays playing in the East that will equate to inflated win totals. The Mariners have a good combination of talent. They're not good enough to make the playoffs but they'll provide quality games and fans shouldn't be terribly disappointed. I'm frustrated with the Mariners because they blow money on big name players who fail to succeed. If they could capitalize on some young talent and shed some of their dead weight they would easily compete with the Angels. In 2008, however, this is not a reality.
Eric Bedard: Don't think I'll write about the Mariners without discussing Bedard. Let Adam Jones go. Bedard in Seattle makes a lot of sense. Way more than Brad Wilkerson and slightly more than Carlos Silva (who may prove to be a real asset).
Ichiro: McLaren has said it; its time for Ichiro to step up! Baseball's best for-average hitter has the potential to lead his team back to the playoffs if he really wants to.
Raul Ibanez: With the low-average joes that drag Seattle down Ibanez has to combine with the settled Beltre and the promising Betancourt to get on base and knock in the likes of Ichiro. Only then will the team possess the sort of balance that Suzuki has been talking about this offseason.
DB
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