Jake's 2009 Arbitrary Spring Training Preview - AL West

[Giants]

Alright everyone, the wait is over. Without further ado it's time for the Arbitrary Spring Training Preview Grand Finale. The division, the AL West. The song, Broadway, as performed my new shortstop Omar Vizquel.

On to the teams:

Los Angeles of Anaheim

Strengths: Strasburg probability. Also, plenty of depth in good fielding third basemen with bad backs. All kidding aside, slowly but surely there is a rebuilding process taking shape here. Dave decided that Homer Bailey was a better bet than Brian Matusz (a decision which netted me Buster Posey and also got Dan Haren out of the division), and he's joined by fellow high risk high reward types in Nick Adenhart, Jeff Samardzija, and Deolis Guerra (looking more risk than reward these days). Power bats Matt LaPorta, Logan Morrison, Adam Lind, and Hank Conger are also on the way, though only Lind is going to start the year as a major league regular.

Weaknesses: Major league talent.

Final Word: There's finally some direction on this roster, though Pedro Feliz and Joe Crede aptly fill the waste of space role handled by Kevin Millar and Doug Mientkiwiecz last year, and if there was ever a year to really suck it's this one.

Oakland

Strengths: Hell yeah I'm doing my own writeup this year. Just like last year the strength of this team is going to be defense. With Omar Vizquel aboard we're looking at lineups with EX at both middle infield spots and VG with Bill Hall at 3rd against lefties, as well as VG in both corners in some configurations. The bullpen, with Brad Ziegler, Huston Street, Dennys Reyes, Chad Cordero, Chad Qualls, and the left handed Mark DiFelice should provide many solid worry free innings. Also have the market cornered on aging former MVP left handed hitting designated hitters who Dan Szymborski seems to think will be worse at baseball this year than Micah Hoffpair, Joe Koshansky, or the Japan bound Dan Johnson.

Weaknesses: Consistency/Versatility. We're looking at having a whopping 7 platoons in the A's lineup this year, with only Ryan Doumit and JD Drew playing against everyone as it stands now. Rotation is also an issue, as the top four of Meche, Myers, Holland, and the right handed Mark DiFelice is probably one spot in the rotation higher than each should be and Steve Garrison needs to be improved upon as a 5th starter.

Final Word: This looks like another year of smoke and mirrors for the gritty gutty A's.

Seattle

Strengths: The lineup with Delgado, Ethier, and Ankiel is surprisingly potent, and the defense should be solid with DeRosa and Adam Jones VG and everyone else but Delgado (or whoever plays 1B with Delgado DHing) at AV. Tim Alderson's projection was a nice bonus to a nice looking rotation with Burnett/Galarraga/Sanchez/Sanchez, though sadly Zips seems to be the only projection system not to buy into Jonathan Sanchez completely, the PR durability is a killer.

Weaknesses: Bullpen. Who's the closer? Percival is the only one with K rate to be solid, but he's looking hittable. Jim Johnson projects the best ERA but doesn't strike anyone out. George Sherrill is a fake closer, but he might work. Lots of pretty good but nothing shut down. In fact...

Final Word: Lots of pretty good but nothing shut down is a good way to describe this team. Ropers needs a few more picks like Alderson to hit and add some All-Stars to what is a solid team.

Texas

Strengths: Seth looks to be calling his shot this year, with a top of the rotation of Harden and Santana, and he's doing his best to recreate the 2009 Sim All star squad. Loney/Lee/Uggla is a strong heart of the order, and obviously that top of the rotation is solid. Kerry Wood should be a strong closer throughout the year.

Weaknesses: Santana is already out for the month of April at least with a sprained elbow (and we all know what that leads to), and Harden is Harden, I don't think anyone expects him to make it through the year without at least one DL stint. After those two, we're looking at sim pickup Justin Cassell (who?), Jame Moyer, Kevin Millwood and Wandy Rodriguez. Anyone believe in any of those guys in front of a defense that includes Uggla (Fr), Nix (Fr) and Lee (Pr), with no VG's unless Juan Pierre is prominently involved in left field (yes I'm assuming we won't get anything out of Eric Byrnes or Josh Anderson, because really they both suck anyway, sorry Eric ya big Jim Rome wannabe)?

Final Word: The projection boys just weren't there this year, and Cassel/Watson/Nix doesn't come close to measuring up to DiFelice/Hessman/Van Every/Hammock/Mazone.

Last Word on the Division: Yuck.

[Tigers]

The AL West "where crap still stinks". Yeah, we're a fugly bunch this season.


Bullpen by committee in Seattle. Sherrill, Thatcher and Hamulack against the lefties and Meridith, Johnson and Cameron versus the righties. Mix and match and see what shit sticks to the wall. Course, the lack of pitching splits puts a bit of a damper on that strategy......kind of dumbs it down a bit, but hopefully still somewhat affective.

[Athletics]

I will always have 2 aging vets at one position just so you have something to write about. You can thank me later.

[Rockies]

Moyer will be the first player to collect social security and post a sub 4 era, mark it down.