2008 Major League Baseball Preview
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST DIVISION
1. Los Angeles: There is a lot -- a lot -- to like here, but early word that Kelvim Escobar has a sore shoulder should worry even the most optimistic Angels fan. Injuries unraveled the team last October, and while Mike Scioscia should have enough to win the AL West, the Angels have built such a solid organization and incredible fan expectations -- to their credit -- that they really need to find a way to get back into another World Series. They've reached the point where anything less is a disappointment. Sounds downright Dodger-esque, doesn't it? Times have changed. The acquisition of Jon Garland (for shortstop Orlando Cabrera) suddenly looks highly intelligent in the wake of the Escobar news. On the other hand, Cabrera leaves big shoes to fill at shortstop, and though the Angels are high on Erick Aybar, he did not fare well in winter ball. Having both Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews will allow more DH time for Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson, both of whom are more brittle than they once were.
2. Seattle: One conclusion after the trade for Erik Bedard and the free-agent signing of Carlos Silva: The Mariners are coming to play this year. GM Bill Bavasi has done an impressive job in beefing up a rotation that finished 10th in the AL with a 4.73 ERA last summer. AL West rival Los Angeles ranked fifth at 4.23. The Mariners finished only six games behind them in the standings. Think pitching wasn't the difference? Silva's contract (four years, $48 million) likely will come back to bite the Mariners eventually, but you can make the argument that that's the cost of doing business and the Mariners' only hope of closing the gap with the Angels is to improve their rotation. Bedard and Felix Hernandez have a chance to be an exquisite 1-2 punch. What the M's need is Richie Sexson to either produce or somehow go away at first. A .205 average, .295 on-base percentage, 21 homers and a piddling 63 RBI isn't nearly what the M's need from the big donkey.
3. Oakland: Few folks had a busier winter than Athletics GM Billy Beane, and Athletics fans at camp this spring not only will need a scorecard to identify the players, but copies of Baseball America and notes from Baseball Prospectus will help, too. Beane shipped pitcher Danny Haren and outfielders Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay for prospects, and he still might deal pitcher Joe Blanton, too. The A's can't compete financially with the Angels or Seattle in the AL West, and Beane thinks the best way to avoid a prolonged slump -- say, four or five years -- is to kick-start a retooling process. The A's are hoping to move into their new ballpark in 2010 (doubtful) or 2011 (more likely), and the plan is to be strong by then. Based on Beane's returns for Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder a few years ago -- Haren, who started the All-Star Game for the AL last year, was one of the pieces -- it's entirely plausible.
4. Texas: If the Rangers were adding Nolan Ryan to their rotation instead of as president, it sure would have been more interesting. Same ol' spring story for the Rangers: They report to camp in Surprise, Ariz., in desperate need of some pleasant surprises on the mound. You know what you're going to get from Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla (ERA's north of 5.00 for each last year) and then the others who fall into line, guys like Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard and Kameron Loe, are projects. After a rift between manager Ron Washington and several key players last summer, the Rangers are taking several risks. Can starter Jason Jennings come back strong from elbow surgery. Was outfielder Josh Hamilton's comeback in Cincinnati last year a mirage? Can Milton Bradley keep his inner volcano from blowing? If the Rangers go 3-for-3 with those guys, Washington's club could surprise and become a player this summer. If they don't, Tony Romo will be back on the front pages of the Dallas newspapers by June.