Over the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at each division in baseball and gazing into the future for each club.
Now, we are not experts like the people over at SI. We’re not in locker rooms, not being flown out to spring training facilities to see how prospects and injury recoveries are progressing. So why should you read our preview?
1) It will be funnier (at least I hope)
2) We will make wild, crazy predictions that legitimate sources won’t dare make
3) We’ll talk a little fantasy baseball
4) Pro wrestlers. That’s right, we’ll compare each team to its 90’s pro wrestling counterpart. Spoiler alert: get ready for a Doink the Clown reference, Pirates fans!
We’re finally into my backyard as we take a look at the teams out west. Even though I am a Doyer fan, I have a direct pipeline into the AL West because my family has had Angel’s season tix since the stadium opened (the first one, not the redo). That means that at every family gathering I have to hear my family’s thoughts and opinions on things. So, with all that given, I will replace my normal ‘crazy predictions’ with ‘crazy aunt’s take’. Enjoy!
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 2009 finish: 1st, 2010 prediction: 1st
The Rub: Maybe it’s my family’s homerism, but I think the Angels have one more year of winning this division for sure. They are the most complete team (Texas still needs pitching, Seattle needs hitting, Oakland needs everything) and have one of the best managers in the game. Sure, they will see some drop off from losing Figgins and Lackey (and replacing them with uber-prospect Brandon Wood and Jason Marquis Joel Pineiro) but I don’t think the rest of the division has gotten as good as everyone is saying.
Crazy Aunt’s Take: “We should have signed Troy Glaus. He won us a World Series! How many World Series’ has this Brad Wood character won us?”
Fantasy Scoop: I have had one draft already this year, and ended up taking Angel’s 2B Howie Kendrick as my starter. At first, I was upset about missing out on a surer thing (Uggla went to picks before me when I had him all q’d up) but the more I think about it, the more I’m okay with it. The guy has the potential to be a batting champ (so I hear) and could even see an uptick in power numbers should he remain healthy all year. For the low price he’s going for, it’s not a bad gamble. Also, pick up Fernando Rodney late in the year. People in AngelLand don’t trust Brian Fuentes as far as they can throw him.
90′s Wrestler – Jeff Jarrett
No one realizes how good the Angles really have been since they turned a corner in the early 00′s, just like no one realizes just how many titles Jarrett has held. According to his Wikipedia: 21 major championships. Damn!
Texas Rangers – 2009 finish: 2nd, 2010 prediction: 2nd
The Rub: I actually think Texas will challenge the Angels more than the Mariners will. Their lineup is just so dangerous and Nolan has that staff whipped into shape…well, better shape. They rolled the dice a bit by jettisoning Milwood and bringing in the electric, but injury prone Harden, but when you’ve been behind the Angels this long, you’ve got to try something. The only thing I don’t like is the Vlad Guerrero signing. Dude is breaking down hardcore, but the Rangers have been getting killed by him forever. Only problem with that is that he was hitting off THEIR PITCHING!
Crazy Aunt’s Take: “Oh, we [she means the Angels] kill Texas every year.”
Fantasy Scoop: Don’t overvalue Elvis Andrus. I see him going before Jason Bartlett in some leagues and that’s crazy to me. Draft the kid from Milwaukee (Alcides Escobar) 5+ rounds later and revel in the similar stats.
90′s Wrestler – Ahmed Johnson
There is definitely some power there, and a little charisma depending on how much Josh Hamilton has had to drink that night, but that’s about it.
Seattle Mariners – 2009 finish: 3rd, 2010 finish: 3rd
The Rub: People are so enamored with the 1-2 punch of King Felix and Clifford Lee, plus the ‘stealing away’ of Chone Figgins, that they fail to see how this team is going to score runs. Yes, it will be nice to have Ichiro and Figgins at the top, but who’s going to hit them in? But trading for a 1-year rental of Lee is an “all in” move, and I don’t think the rest of this squad supports that type of play.
Crazy Aunt’s Prediction: “I can’t believe they stole Figgy [Ed. note: Ugh!] from us. He was the heart and sole of this team!”
Fantasy Scoop: I know Aardsma is penciled in as the closer right now, but who knows how long that is going to last. Keep an eye on this situation as the season begins so you can be the first to grab the new closer should Aardsma get hurt, be ineffective, or get moved to the rotation, or any combination of the three.
90′s Wrestler – The Giant
Some good pieces, but way too young to carry the belt.
Oakland A’s – 2009 finish: 4th, 2010 prediction: 4th
The Rub: I’m going to talk Moneyball for a second, so old guys, earmuffs. I know Billy Beane gets all this credit for thinking outside the box and finding a way to compete with his lower payroll, but don’t you also think he just got lucky on hitting the jackpot with THREE pitchers (Harden, Hudson, Zito)? I mean, I know his philosophy has been subsidized by every club out there, but it really isn’t working in Oak-Town anymore. And if he’s such a wiz, where is his next jump of the learning curve?! Probably sitting there and waiting until three young studs come along again…
Crazy Aunt’s Take: “Wait, Eric Chavez is still seen as a feasible option at 3B? Even I think that’s crazy!”
Fantasy Scoop: I’m in a very deep (15 team) league that has a bunch of people who know what they’re doing. That means my normal strategy of grabbing Rajai Davis very very late for steals probably isn’t going to work. But it will in your league. Do it!
90′s Wrestler – The Red Rooster
Terry Taylor was a well respected wrestler in the south in the 80′s. Then Vince McMahon signed him to the WWF, and gave him one of the worst gimmicks ever: The Red Rooster. Many say this was because Vince had a grudge with Taylor. Either way, that mohawk is ridiculous.
Up next: NL West!