AL West Predictions
With the official Opening Day a mere three days away it is time to fire up the round table panel here at BSI. The writers sat down individually and came up with who they think will excel this year and who will stumble, only to crash and burn. It’s prediction time!
We will start with the AL West today and do one division over the next three days (sorry NL fans, we only did the AL). Below is a break out of everyone’s predictions for the AL West and who they think will be the division MVP and Cy Young front runners. You’ll notice that Albert Pujols is not surprisingly the overwhelming favorite to be a MVP front runner. Aside from that there are some interesting takes on who will win the division with consistency between either the Angels or Rangers.
As always, we encourage the comments and let us know if you agree or disagree with any of them. Here we go…..
Conor:
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics
The Angels had an offseason much resembling the Red Sox’ 2010-2011 offseason where they went out and improved their team tremendously after missing the playoffs. They acquired star first baseman and three-time MVP winner Albert Pujols and starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.
The A’s, meanwhile, traded away franchise cornerstones in Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, and Andrew Bailey and should dip to last in 2012. The Rangers and Mariners didn’t do a whole lot this offseason, however the Rangers are still a great team and should contend for the division title.
MVP – Albert Pujols
Cy Young – Felix Hernandez
Steve:
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. A’s
Yu Darvish will prove to be the real deal. Yes, the Rangers paid a lot of money for Darvish as Boston did for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Here are the differences. Dice is listed as 6 feet tall (that’s generous), 185. He debuted for the Sox when he was 27 after some legendary 200 pitch performances in Japan. Darvish is 26, 6′ 5″, 215. He’s the real deal. Pop him into the Rangers staff and you’ve got a recipe for success. If – and it’s a big if – Joe Nathan returns to form the Rangers roll all the way to the World Series again.
MVP – Albert Pujols
Cy Young – Dan Haren
Derek:
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. A’s
The Rangers still have a great pitching staff and if Yu Darvish can prove he’s worth $50 million then the division should once again go to Texas. I expect the Angels to be right there all season long with the title up for grabs come the last series of the year. Both clubs have explosive offenses and both are extremely well managed, begging that a coin flip be used to decide the winner. In the end I fell Ron Washington’s ability to pull through in the clutch will be the difference.
MVP – Albert Pujols
Cy Young – Jered Weaver
Stephanie:
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Mariners
4. A’s
It is all about Pujols, and new GM Jerry DiPoto. The Angels are due some glory and I think this is their year. Also CJ Wilson might give them the extra advantage to ace up the pitching department. When I think about the Rangers I think about all the time they put into pitchers and still have not won the World Series in two years. I am excited about Darvish. But do I believe he is enough to get the Rangers back to the World Series? Not so much. Could the Angels hold them down, call me cocky but I think so. Here is my thing with the Mariners. They have a few new guys, and a few young guys. Ackley is a talented young guy so in theory if all the Mariners do this year is figure out what and who is working for them get the rotation right, a worthy opponent then to take the third spot. Oh, A’s. Between injuries and not being able to get the rotation right the A’s just keep missing the season. I would love to say different but with Ramirez not being able to play the first fifty games, it is hard to expect very much at all.
MVP – Albert Pujols
Cy Young – C.J. Wilson
Rick:
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. A’s
4. Mariners
This division is going to be as much fun to watch as the AL East. The Angels and Rangers are so close. I think the Angles pitching is the difference between division winner and wild card. Except from the Tampa Bay Rays this is the most complete rotation. When you can have CJ Wilson as your fourth starter, you’re in good shape. Albert Pujols brought his game to LA where he will be even more of a star than he was in St Louis. Texas will be hot on the Angels heals all year. They may have lost WIlson’s 16 wins but there is a lot of excitement surrounding Yu Darvish. If Derek Holland can pick up where he left off last year than watch for a new all star int he making. Oakland and Seattle are after thoughts, I am excited to see how Josh Reddick performs as an every day starter in Oakland.
MVP – Albert Pujols
Cy Young – Dan Haren
Tomorrow we examine the AL Central.
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