By Robert McIntosh
Baseball’s most exciting games were played in the A.L. West by the end of the regular season. After a season that literally came down to the final day to determine a division winner, the Oakland A’s stole the crown away from the Texas Rangers in the season’s last game. There could be more excitement in store for this year. Both the Rangers and Angels have retooled to make a strong push to overtake the A’s.
There are some changes after an active offseason. This division is all about movement. First, the most obvious, is the addition of the Houston Astros that requires Major League Baseball to play interleague games every day of the regular season. The other big story of this division is the cash that was thrown at players to play within the division. The Angels offered Josh Hamilton big money to change his allegiance and make them the early favorite for a World Series appearance. Then you have Felix Hernandez being paid $175 million to spend the remainder of his career with the Mariners, the team he started his career with. These stories headlined the off-season, but now going into Spring Training, the play on the field will speak for itself.Upstart A’s (Oakland Athletics)
2012 Record: 94-68
Raise your hand if you expected the Oakland Athletics to finish with 94 wins and go on to become winners of this division last year? No one? I thought so. Led by a talented group of young pitchers and outfielders, this team exceeded all expectations and made their way into the playoffs after what would seem to be a rebuilding season given their off-season. The previous winter saw the trades of one of the best pitchers in baseball in Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals (which nabbed 13 game winner Tommy Milone) and Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox (receiving Josh Reddick and his 32 homeruns in return). That same winter, the A’s signed Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes to a four year deal. The return looks good so far as the 27 year old belted 23 home runs and added 16 stolen bases, showing a blend of power and speed. The team now has a target on its back, so the question is, can their young players do it again?
Missing Gunslingers (Texas Rangers)
2012 Record: 93-69
After losing mainstays Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and power hitting catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli during the winter, the Rangers enter Spring Training with a completely different look to their lineup. To help make up for the loss of these players, the Rangers signed Lance Berkman, who looked revitalized coming off of the 2011 season but followed that up with an injury plagued 2012. If he reverts back to 2011 form, when he hit 31 homeruns, the Rangers will hardly feel the sting of Hamilton’s loss. The visions of the Rangers back-to-back World Series appearances are still fresh in fans’ minds. After last year’s let down, can the Rangers bounce back from a disappointing finish?
Angel in the Outfield (Anaheim Angels)
2012 Record: 89-73
In what is perhaps the biggest move in the division, the Angel’s netted the biggest fish in the free agent pond. Josh Hamilton was signed to play alongside the outstanding Mike Trout in the outfield and hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup next to Albert Pujols (last year’s big off-season acquisition) and Mike Trumbo. To say the least, the middle of this lineup is scary. But, as is always the case with established players of their ilk, can Pujols and Hamilton stay healthy and live up to their contracts? After a slow start, Pujols finally came on last year. Will Hamilton succumb to the pressures of his big contract, just as King Albert did? A slow start by either of these players cannot be covered up if the Angels hope to win the division.
King Felix’s Reign (Seattle Mariners)
2012 Record: 75-87
The Mariners are looking forward to big things in the 2013 season despite finishing in last place in the division in 2012. Their headlining move this offseason was locking up their young Ace for at least the next seven years. This contract ensures that King Felix will anchor the Mariners pitching staff for the better part of the next decade, but this was not the only move they made. On paper, it looks as though the Mariners have made great strides to improve their lineup, particularly the additions of Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales. Along with these two players, the acquisitions of Jason Bay and Raul Ibañez provide experience and leadership, but if either of these players could revert back to the halcyon days of their career, then the Mariners could possibly be a force in the West.
Moving Westward (Houston Astros)
2012 Record: 55-107 (National League Central)
Moving to the A.L. West could be the fresh start that the Houston Astros need. With a young developing team, a lot has to break right for the Astros to make an impact in the division this year. But they do have a great starting point in José Altuve. The All-Star second baseman broke out in his first full season to the tune of .290/.340/.399 with 33 stolen bases. In addition to Altuve, the Astros signed free agent slugger Carlos Peña to fill their newfound designated hitter role. This man can hit home runs with the best in baseball, but can he raise his batting average enough to justify his power?
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