AL West central preview
The wild-wild-west is cluttered with stars, crafty veterans, the best player in baseball, dang-good-managers, and teams thinking this could be "the year." last seasons division champs, the Texas Rangers, hope to take home a third straight league title in 2017. Challenged by the Houston Astros who spent the offseason retooling following an 84-win year that saw them miss the playoffs. The Astros hope to prove sports illustrated correct, back in 2014 SI wrote that the Houston Astros would be your 2017 World Series Champions. Way out in Seattle, the Mariners have been saying "next year" for years now, and they're running out of time. The A's are destined to bottom-dwell, while the Angels play host the best player in baseball.
The Texas Rangers will take home their third straight AL West title. Although many are down on the Rangers, and have fallen into a trances of the flashy offseason moves from the aforementioned Astros. However, down in Arlington, the Rangers still have Cole Hammels atop the rotation followed by YU Darvish. Darvish, in a contract year, hopes for a bounce back year following a down 2016 campaign. The question remains with the depth in that rotation. The Rangers brought in veteran flyers like Tyson Ross, and Andrew Cashner both of which find themselves on the shelf to start 2017. Martin Perez and AJ Griffin preformed nicely last season, and hope to build on that coming into 2017. Chi-Chi Gonzalez who has spent time bounces back-and-forth between the show and the minors, looks to take the next step and develop into an every-fifth-day-starter. The Rangers may have lost Mitch Moreland this offseason to the Boston Redsox, but, they did bring in slugger Mike Napoli for his third go around in Arlington, his previous two stops with Texas (2011-2012, and 2015) saw him club 59-homers, driving in 141-runs, and hitting for a .277-average. Mike Napoli will find himself playing first base for Texas, however, do not be surprised if the Rangers try to move a log-jammed prospect over to first base and allow Napoli to DH. The DH spot as of now, is up-in-the-air, and could be used as a spot to get guys rest taking time off.
The Houston Astros, whom many predict to not only win the division but also take home the World Series have a lot of questions in my opinion. The Astros have a lack in pitching, not only in the rotation but also in the bullpen. Lead by their ace Dallas Keuchel the rotation plummets from there. Keuchel, who like YU Darvish is longing for a bounce-back year, will have to lead a lack-luster rotation without the ability to strike fear into opponents. Many teams have an average to below average rotation, however, they compensate it with a stellar bullpen. Not the Astros, headlined by Ken Giles (Who also needs to return to his once dominate form) the bullpen falls off into Will Harris, Luke Gregerson, and Tony Sipp. on top of the many pitching questions, the Astros are still searching for a first baseman, and have been for awhile. After running through guys like Jon Singleton, Tyler White, and AJ Reed, Houston now moves on to Yulieski Gurriel. Gurriel, originally a third baseman, tried to fill a need for Houston and complete the already stacked infield. Outfield and catching depth are huge plusses for the 'Stros entering 2017. Will they compete for a wild card spot? Find out right here, (BaseballwiththeRoyals.sportsblog.com) March 28th.
The Seattle Mariners, who for years have sold us on "This is the year", or "Next year, trust me!" have to put-up-or-shut-up. A solid squad headlined by guys like Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, and Nelson Cruz and not without questions. Like the Astros, the M's pitching staff is a big question mark. Their best bullpen arm, Steve Cishek will start the year on the Disabled list. Although you can not win the division or clinch a wild card spot in April, you sure can lose one. Another way the Seattle Mariners are like their divisional foes the Houston Astros, they both have holes first base. Daniel Vogelbach aims to take hold of that everyday first base gig. in a small sample size of 12-AB's in 2016 there was not much to write home about. So far this spring Vogelback is hitting .345, and has clubbed 10-homers. Another question is with Mitch Haniger. By no means is in a "Old guy" in the normal-everyday-sense, but in the baseball world, it is make-it-or-break-it-time for the 26-year-old who was drafted in 2012. With a .229-average getting on base at a .309-clip, Haniger has to take a huge step in 2017. If Haniger can become the player he was once projected to be, that could solidify the Mariners outfield when paired with Jarrod Dyson, and Leonys Martin. Will the Mariners find themselves finally breaking through and making the postseason for the first time since 2001, Snapping the longest active postseason drought in the majors? Find out...March 28th.
The Angels will finish above the A's and not be sentenced to the basement of the AL West, but are still without any pitching in the bullpen, or the rotation, along with holes at first base, and catcher. Saved by superman himself, Mike Trout, the Angels will still draw the eye of baseball diehards tuning in to see the best player in the game. The A's have the most holes in the division as they find themselves in need of starting pitching, bullpen help, a DH, a right fielder, and a first baseman. However, A's fans have a few pitching prospects to look forward to in 2017, Sean Manaea, and Jharel Cotton.
