Los Angeles Angels, defending division champions (100-62 in 2008)
Key additions: Bobby Abreu (OF), Brian Fuentes (P)
Key subtractions: Francisco Rodriguez (P), Garret Anderson (OF), Mark Teixeira (IF), Jon Garland (P)
The Angels will be sporting a bit of a new look in 2009, sans their old closer and their 15-year veteran outfielder. Former Yankee Bobby Abreu will be patroling left, Kendry Morales takes over for current Yankee Mark Teixeira at first, and Brian Fuentes, formerly the Rockies closer, will now close games in Orange County. The Angels were far and away the AL West's best last season despite their difficulty scoring runs (except when facing the Yankees), and they will probably continue in that regard in 2009. Power bat Mark Teixeira isn't there to help anymore, meaning Vlad Guerrero (again) is the unquestioned main threat in their lineup. He and his teammates can and will do damage, but it is at least apparent that Angels pitching has taken a little step back: Fuentes is good, but he's no K-Rod. The Angels played way over their heads in any case (they were a dozen games ahead of their Pythag w-l) and may shed some of those wins this year.
BP prediction: AL West champions (tied for 1st)
My prediction: AL West champions
Texas Rangers (79-83 in 2008)
Key additions: I didn't notice any
Key subtractions: Ramon Vazquez (IF)
It needs to be said: If this team had ANY pitching at all last year, they would have been in a pennant race in September. THIS was the offense people thought Detroit was going to be, except for one striking problem elsewhere on the team: they gave up a stroke-inducing 967 runs. The Rangers have mostly kept their 2009 squad in tact, which is both good and bad news. The good news is that their 900-plus run offense is essentially all in one piece except with some minor changes. The bad news is that so is the pitching staff. The last time the Rangers allowed fewer than 750 runs was 1995. Texas has the hitting, but will they ever have the pitching? Probably not this year either.
BP prediction: 4th in AL West
My prediction: 4th in AL West
Oakland Athletics (75-86 in 2008)
Key additions: Matt Holliday (OF), Jason Giambi (IF), Orlando Cabrera (IF), Nomar Garciaparra (IF)
Key subtractions: Huston Street (P)
When's the last time we saw Oakland buying since this past offseason? It's clear that the A's want to compete this year, and they've done so by upgrading their offense considerably over the seriously pathetic lineup they fielded last year. Jason Giambi returns to Oakland while Matt Holliday comes over from Colorado to be the biggest offensive weapon on the team. There is a problem, however: the best starting pitcher currently on their roster is having surgery and is likely to begin the season on the DL. Without Duchscherer (for an undetermined amount of time), the A's average pitching staff looks more like mediocre than anything else. The bullpen is fine, but if they're going to make waves, 1) they need Duchscherer back and healthy ASAP and 2) their new offensive pieces better produce.
BP prediction: AL West champions (tied for 1st)
My prediction: 2nd in AL West
Seattle Mariners (61-101 in 2008)
Key additions: Russell Branyan (IF), Ken Griffey (OF)
Key subtractions: Raul Ibanez (OF), JJ Putz (P)
The Seattle sports season of 2008 was an unmitigated disaster on virtually every level imaginable. The Seahawks sucked, the Huskies football team sucked, and the Sonics got the hell out of there faster than you can say "team under new management." The Mariners started it all with a 100-plus loss season that few people saw coming on the heels of their playoff race contention in 2007. This is a team that has some nice players, and is probably better on paper than a last place team, but not by much. The M's best run producer last year, Ibanez, is now playing for the world champs. The pitching varies between "meh" and "highly suspect."
My prediction: 3rd in AL West
Last but not least: the NL West
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