Predictions, part IV: American League West preview and predictions

Part four, and I'm already bracing for the backlash of Yankees fans who think their team is far better than a fourth-place finish...

Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim, or parts nearby, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...)
The long name notwithstanding (and I enjoy poking fun, mainly because the squabble was so petty and yet took up so much of my computer screen), the Angels have a strong team for the upcoming season. John Lackey has finally come into his own and will anchor the Angels' rotation, whose only question mark seems to be a rookie fifth-starter (Dustin Moseley, who gave up 11 ER in 11 IP last year in a late-season audition). The lineup is a little shakier in appearance, with a center fielder (Gary Matthews, Jr.) surrounded in controversy, as well as a quasi-rookie 2B (Howie Kendrick, with a promising start last year in limited action) and a loose cannon at DH (Shea Hillenbrand, whose problems with Toronto Blue Jays' management last year are well-documented). The lineup questions notwithstanding, the bullpen appears solid, including key acquisition Darren Oliver (6 IP without giving up a run in the 2006 NLCS).

Oakland Athletics
An essentially unchanged Oakland A's team will take the field looking to repeat as AL West champions. Barry Zito departs the team, leaving Rich Harden as the top pitcher in a deceptively deep rotation. Five star outfielders will rotate among the three positions leaving the A's as the deepest outfield in the American League. Dan Johnson is the main question mark, batting only .234 while seeing only limited action in 2006. The A's bullpen will be hard-pressed to duplicate the successes of 2006, but will need to do so in the event the relatively unknown rotation names cannot deliver. Third-starter Esteban Loaiza needs to return to his form of 2003 and 2005, where he posted more than 170 K's in each campaign. While Mike Piazza (acquired from SD) will be asked mainly to DH (with Jason Kendall and Adam Melhuse the staff catchers), it would not be a big surprise to see Piazza behind the plate at some point this season.

Seattle Mariners
Seattle could be the surprise, or the bust, of the 2007 season. Felix Hernandez is quickly becoming the new face of this franchise and has the stats to match. Jarrod Washburn and Jeff Weaver are the other cornerstones of a rotation that must improve in order to have any shot at contesting for the division crown against the two giants of the division, Oakland and Los Angeles. A largely disappointing bullpen from 2006 will be asked to improve in order to get to the team's breakout closer, J.J. Putz. The infield corners are mainstays of the Mariners; the middle infield will have to play strong and protect CF Ichiro Suzuki as a hitter in order to produce runs. Jose Guillen is the only weak outfielder in the starting lineup - an improved batting average might be the difference between wins and losses in key games.

Texas Rangers
The story of the year might be Sammy Sosa making the team, but the Rangers have a lot of other bright spots in their lineup. The entire infield might be one of the best in the Majors, with four potential All-Stars in Blalock, Young, Kinsler, and Teixeira. The outfield is slightly behind the star power, with RF Nelson Cruz only on tenuous footing after spring training (and Sammy Sosa waiting in the wings should Cruz falter early in the season). Brad Wilkerson will need to bat better than .222 and Kenny Lofton will have to lead an outfield unit that could make or break this Rangers squad.
Acquisition of Brandon McCarthy is a definite upgrade for the rotation, but Texas will still need production out of pitchers other than Vicente Padilla. Akinori Otsuka has proven that he can hold down the fort while the Rangers wait for Eric Gagne, but if Gagne falters, Otsuka could easily be the full-season closer.

Predictions:
1. Los Angeles
2. Texas
3. Oakland
4. Seattle