AL West Preview

Time to head to the American League, and to start things out here on a Tuesday, a look at the AL West.

For the record, the top two teams in this division are as safe of playoff bets as they get, and the bottom two don't have a chance in hell in my book.

JQ's Preseason Picks:
1. LA Angels
2. Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland A's

1. LA Angels

CJ Wilson helps LA

Sure, they get the biggest free agent prize of the century in Albert Pujols, but CJ Wilson might be the more important pickup for the Halos.  He's not a bona-fide ace, but the Angels didn't need one - they already had a great 1-2 punch in-house with Jered Weaver and Danny Haren, who is the most underrated player in the bigs in my opinion.  Add CJ Wilson at #3, and Ervin Santana at #4, and you've got a dynamite rotation.  While I think Wilson was overpaid (but who's not these days), he adds the strength to the middle of the rotation that LA has been lacking.  With a lineup that includes Pujols, LA will be a sure bet to make the post season.

2. Texas Rangers
Texas won't be far behind LA when it's all said and done, but their pitching depth just isn't quite what the Halos' have.  I don't blame Texas for taking a chance on Yu Darvish, but he miserable track record of Japanese pitchers speaks for itself.  Every sign points to Darvish being the exception, but I'll take the "wait and see" approach.  The Rangers boast an impressive lineup with Josh Hamilton being somewhat of an injury risk, but he's a top 10 player when he's healthy.  Not much else has changed for the Rangers, and I have no reason to think they'll see much of a fall-off this year.  The only difference in the Angels out-spending them this offseason and making the leap.

3. Seattle Mariners
Take your pick 3-4 in this division.  It won't much matter, as neither team is playoff worthy this season.  The Mariners are probably closer than the A's are this year - prying Jesus Montero away from the Yankees was a huge victory for the M's.  They still have Ichiro, and are hoping to get major-bounce back efforts from Justin Smoak and Chone Figgins.  Dustin Ackley has shown a lot of promise, and Miguel Olivo is coming off a decent season behind the dish.  But, once you get past King Felix in the rotation, there's just not much there.  When you list Kevin Millwood as your #3 starter, you've got a problem.

4. Oakland A's
Well, we're still waiting for the Moneyball philosophy to net a World Series title in Oakland, and it 'aint gonna be this year.  The lineup is a patchwork-affair, headlined by newcomers Yoenis Cedpedes and Josh Reddick, and a bunch of guys that a probably past their prime (or never really had one) - Coco Crisp, Kurt Suzuki, etc.  Really, it's the same story as Seattle: when Bartolo Colon is your #2, even coming off a great year, you've got a suspect rotation.

Coming soon to a blog near you: A look at the AL Central.