American League West (Last Year's Record) Projected 2009 Record

1.  Los Angeles Angels (100-62) 98-64

Added:  Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes

Lost:  Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, Garrett Anderson, Jon Garland

The buzz around town is the Angels' rotation is the best in the game.  And no one seems to believe this more than the Angels themselves. However, Kelvim Escobar's confident (and humorously short-sighted) enthusiasm is fun to read, but the Angels will need a more realistic and hard-fought effort from their starters this season.  With the loss of 14 game winner Jon Garland, the staff will have some slack (and almost 200 innings) to pick up.  However, with perennial Cy Young contender John Lackey anchoring the staff, Ervin Santana seemingly developing into the co-ace the Angels always hoped he would (barring this current elbow problem), and a hopefully healthy return of Kelvim Escobar, they should be fairly capable of doing so when (and a big IF) all their pitchers are healthy.

What is far more interesting to me with this team is their offense.  With the addition of Bobby Abreu, the Angels finally have some legitimate protection for Vladimir Guerrero in this previously pitiful lineup.  Granted, this has yet to happen, but can you imagine what this lineup would look like if they could stay healthy for an entire year, or even with just a couple of limited trips to the DL?  Speed demon Chone Figgins leading off, Howie Kendrick batting second, and some sort of combination of Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Tori Hunter in the 3-4-5 spots?  Throw in a power-hitting (albeit .250ish hitting) catcher in Mike Napoli and a speedy shortsop in Eric Aybar or Maicer Izturis (who knows which one, and more importantly who cares?) and you've got yourself one of the better lineups in the entire game.  The problem, of course, is that darned health issue.  Howie Kendrick has averaged a half-season in each of his three major league seasons, Chone Figgins has missed almost 50 games in each of the last two seasons, and for Bobby Abreu and Vladimir Guerrero, 35 and 34, respectively, good health is no guarantee either.  

All these health concerns aside, the Angels are a deep, dangerous team (as usual), and have enough pitching talent and offensive firepower to run away with this division again.  Mike Scioscia will put together another masterful run as the Angels win their third straight division title.

2.  Texas (79-83) 81-81

Texas was suspiciously motionless during the off-season, keeping almost their entire roster intact from last season.  Unfortunately for them, that's not a good thing.  That is unless they were aiming to pay homage to the early 2000's versions of their teams where offensive potency was valued at the cost of an ugly rotation.  On paper, the lineup is fantastic.  Ian Kinsler (sure-fire MVP last season until injuries prematurely ended his campaign), rising stars David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Chris Davis, Michael Young, and Josh "Hopefully not a Flash in the Pan" Hamilton could strike fear into the hearts of most starters in this league.  However, the pitching staff is something less awe-inspiring.

Start at the top, with staff ace Kevin Millwood.  Last season in just under 169 innings, Millwood allowed almost 4 runs, and lasted less than 6 innings per turn.  Posting a 5.07 ERA and a WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched) of 1.59, he failed to reach .500 over the course of the season.  Not exactly the type of performance a team would like to see from its "ace."  Throw in decidedly average "#2 starter but should probably be a #5 or long reliever" Vicente Padilla and a few other inexperienced young guys and a dash of another team's outcast, and we have the 2009 Texas Ranger pitching rotation!  In what might be the worst division in baseball, a great offense and horrendous pitching staff just may lead to a perfectly balanced .500 record as well.

3.  Oakland Athletics (75-86) 72-90

Added:  Jason Giambi, Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera, Nomar Garciaparra

Lost:  Huston Street, Rich Harden, Carlos Gonzalez

The A's had such a wild offseason, I have no idea if they're assembling a one-year, all-in run at the world series, building for the future, or attempting some sort of "Major League 2" plot to build hatred amongst the fans so they don't care when the team is sold and moved to Portland, Oregon for no reason.

Recent additions Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi will certainly add some firepower to the lineup, but adding two players with power to a lineup with absolutely no power equals... well I'm not exactly sure but it sure as hell isn't enough to compete against the likes of the Angels or even the Rangers.  

Note to Oakland Management:  Next time you come up with a plan to "Go for it all" including trading away your best young offensive talent (Carlos Gonzalez), make sure you have a pitching staff (the projected 5 of which had a combined 30 wins last season) that includes something more than a reformed 8th inning guy, another guy who was lousy in the NATIONAL league, and two nobodies named Dana and Dallas.  Oh, and try not to lose your closer in the process and hand the job to a completely unproven rookie, as well.

4.  Seattle Mariners (61-101) 59-103

Added:  Aaron Heilman, Ken Griffey, Jr.

Lost:  J.J. Putz

Ken Griffey Jr.'s return to where his career got its start could be ruined by a lack of pitching, hitting, bullpen help and a variety of other major shortcomings that are all but certain for this Mariners team this season.  After trading its best arm in closer J.J. Putz, the Mariners have been auditioning a few candidates for the open closer's job including Miguel Batista, Roy Corcoran and Mark Lowe with hilariously disasterous results.  By the time one of these guys separate themeselves from the pack in early June, it may be a moot point as Chad Cordero could be healthy enough to take the job, and the Mariners will probably be 105 games behind the Angels at that point anyway.

With neither free agent help nor the presence of minor league-level talent, Seattle coudl be in for one of the longest regular seasons in baseball history.  If you happen to be a Mariner fan reading this article and are looking for a silver lining, look no further than young fireballer Brandon Morrow, who could be one of the better stories in the majors this season.  Unfortunately, he could be one of the better pitchers in the American League this season and not reach the 12 win plateau due to a lack of run support and bullpen help.  But hey, chin up... Ken Griffey Junior's back in town!