The Angels' pitching will lead them to a 5th AL West title in six years.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have won the AL West four out of the last five seasons.  There's little reason to believe they won't do it for a fifth time in six seasons as Mike Scioscia enters his tenth season as the Halos' skipper. 

The Angels' starting rotation is second to none with John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver.  Imagine how much more dangerous they would be if Kelvim Escobar, who missed all of 2008 with a shoulder tear, should return. 

Yet the Angels begin the season with both Lackey and Santana on the 15-day disabled list with elbow troubles. However, the Angels had similar problems at the beginning of 2008 and it did not deter them.  In 2009, the likes of Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux and Nick Adenhart are waiting in the wings.  Both Lackey and Santana should be back by May 1^st.

Others will note that the Angels no longer have Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez. Lost to free agency, K-Rod saved a major league record 62 games. Former Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes won't save 60-plus games but has saved 30-plus games three of the last four seasons.  The Angels bullpen is very deep with Scot Shields, Justin Speier, Darren Oliver and Jose Arredondo. Look for the young Arredondo to get a shot at the closer's job should Fuentes falter. Arredondo does remind some in the Angels organization of another K-Rod. Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis make for a solid platoon behind the plate.

Chone Figgins, Macier Izturis and Howie Kendrick are back in the infield.  Of course, the Angels did not re-sign Mark Teixeira in the off-season. In retrospect it might not have been so wise to trade Casey Kotchman in mid-season. However, the Angels are eager to see what Kendry Morales can do at first base. 

The Angels outfield is very deep with Vladimir Guerrero, perennial Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews, Jr. and ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu. One familiar face, however, is not back.  After 15-plus seasons the Angels declined to exercise their option on veteran Garrett Anderson, who will toil for the Braves in 2009.  However, the Angels still have Juan Rivera and the versatile Reggie Willits in the mix. 

Simply put the AL West is the Angels' to lose. 

The most significantly improved club in the AL West if not the entire AL is the Oakland Athletics. General Manager Billy Beane decided to spend some money this off-season.  It probably won't be enough to overtake the Angels or win the AL Wild Card but they are an undoubtedly improved team and will firmly ensconce manager Bob Geren. 

The Athletics still have a young starting rotation with Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland, ex-Cub Sean Gallagher, Gio Gonzalez and Josh Outman.  It doesn't help that Duchscherer will start the 2009 season on the 15-day disabled list with elbow troubles.  So Dallas Braden will get a chance to start in his place. However, the Athletics have a strong bullpen. Brad Ziegler succeeds Huston Street as the Athletics closer and is supported by veteran relievers Michael Wuertz and Russ Springer. Jerry Blevins and Santiago Casilla were also impressive out of the bullpen last season. Kurt Suzuki is gradually emerging as one of the better catchers in the AL. 

After seven seasons in a Yankee uniform, Jason Giambi returns to the Bay Area. He'll supply the power that Daric Barton lacks at first base. The addition of ex-Chisox shortstop Orlando Cabrera will give the Athletics a fire under their belly. It will likely move Bobby Crosby to third base which could make Jack Hannahan the odd man out.  That is, unless, Eric Chavez is healthy enough to play. Mark Ellis is solid at second base. One time Red Sox superstar Nomar Garciaparra will contribute off the bench even if he can avoid injuries.    

The Athletics obtained the services of power hitting outfielder Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies. Holliday and Giambi will join designated hitter Jack Cust as a triumvirate of power the Athletics have lacked in recent years. The outfield is otherwise an open question.  Ryan Sweeney seems to be answer in right field but can Rajai Davis be an every centerfielder? Look for Ben Copeland and Travis Buck to compete for playing time.

With some of these questions still unanswered the Athletics will likely start the 2009 season slow but will make their presence known after the All Star Break.

The Texas Rangers are not known for good pitching. Perhaps playing in 100-degree heat outdoors isn't conducive to it.  Veterans Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla are at the top of the rotation with lefty Matt Harrison at number three and Scott Feldman at number four.  The fifth starter is anyone's guess. Brandon McCarthy, Tommy Hunter and even Dustin Nippert are options. So is Kris Benson who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2006. The bullpen isn't much better with C.J. Wilson mustering only 24 saves in 2008. But the other options aren't much better with Josh Rupe, Frank Francisco and Joaquin Benoit.

The Rangers do, however, have hitting in abundance. Josh Hamilton had a sensational season hitting .304 with 32 homeruns and 130 RBIs. Milton Bradley is now with the Cubs but Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, David Murphy and Chris Davis can swing the bat.  Could Andruw Jones experience a renaissance in Arlington after two horrible seasons with the Braves and Dodgers? If Hank Blalock can be healthy for the entire 2009 season it will be of help as well. It would be nice if Nelson Cruz were to live up to his potential. Taylor Teagarden and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will platoon behind the plate.  Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Byrd are helpful off the bench.

Manager Ron Washington will have a typical year in Texas with good hitting and poor pitching.  But it will probably be enough to keep the Rangers out of last place. 

In 2008, the Seattle Mariners had their worst season in a quarter-century.  So new Mariners skipper Don Wakamatsu figures there is no where to go but up.  But is Ken Griffey, Jr. really the answer?

Don't get me wrong, Griffey, Jr. will bring fans to Safeco Field and it will be nice for him and the game to go on a farewell tour.  But the Griffey, Jr. of 2009 is not the Griffey, Jr. of 1999 and will likely be of limited help to the team.

While Felix Hernandez continues to progress both Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva were major disappointments in their first seasons in a Mariners uniform. Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista weren't much better. So the Mariners appear to have succumbed to the temptation of converting Brandon Morrow into a starter. But now that J.J. Putz is with the Mets it would be crazy not to have Morrow as the team's closer. Either that or one is left with David Aardsma or Tyler Walker in that role. The Mariners should leave Morrow in the bullpen and give either Ryan Rowland-Smith or ex-Oriole Garrett Olson a chance to start.

Ichiro Suzuki will get his usual 200 hits and Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt are solid up the middle at second and shortstop, respectively.  In four seasons with the Mariners, Adrian Beltre has never regained the form of his 48 home run season with the Dodgers in 2004.  Russell Branyan has some power but strikes out way too much.  He is a poor man's Richie Sexson. 

The outfield will be interesting to watch with Wladimir Balentien as well as ex-Met Endy Chavez and ex-Indian Franklin Gutierrez in the mix. Hopefully they will have the good sense to use Griffey, Jr. as a designated hitter. I have a gut feeling that Gutierrez is going to have a breakout season with the Mariners in 2009.  Otherwise it is going to be long year in the Pacific Northwest. 

Other AL Predictions

AL Rookie of the Year – Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

AL Cy Young Award - Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox

AL Most Valuable Player - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

Tomorrow: the NL East.