Betting on Baseball: MLB American League West Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Mar 6 2008
In the American League West the Angels are the runaway favorite but the Mariners feel they have enough to slow their run to the AL West title.
Los Angeles AngelsOdds to win the 2008 AL West Division Title 2/5The Angels were big favorites to win the AL West but after adding Torii Hunter and Jon Garland they are huge favorites. The team can hit with the ball and score runs; while they don’t have the power of some of their American League counterparts, they’ll do enough to run away with the West. Chone Figgins had a monster year in the leadoff spot last season and looks to repeat in 2008. Garrett Anderson and Vladdy Guerrero are both getting old but still have some power and should hit at or above .300. The rotation is good but the bullpen is awesome. Led by Francisco Rodriguez, the Angels relievers can shut the door from the sixth inning onwards. The American League West title is the Angels’ to lose; Seattle will keep it close but L.A. should take it.
Ace: John Lackey
Fantasy Stud: Vladimir Guerrero/Chone Figgins
Seattle MarinersOdds to win the 2008 AL West Division Title 2/1They were leading the wild-card race until they collapse from the pressure and missed the playoffs. Another year wiser and the addition of a young fireballer named Erik Bedard to follow King Felix Hernandez in the rotation gives the Mariners the parts and pieces they’ll need to not only challenge for a wild card but upend the Angels’ hopes for the division title. The batters can score enough runs, led by the other-worldly Ichiro Suzuki and Adrian Beltre. Richie Sexon has been a disappointment in Seattle; while not worth his contract, he can still be a very productive part of the Mariners lineup. If any team has a chance to beat out the Angels for the National League West title, it’s the Seattle Mariners.
Ace: Felix Hernandez
Fantasy Stud: Ichiro Suzuki
Texas Rangers Odds to win the 2008 AL West Division Title 10/1Last season the Rangers traded Eric Gagne, Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay for eight prospects. The Rangers have only had one winning season since 1999 and 2008 appears to be no different. The Rangers are in full rebuilding mode this season; they will play their prospects, trot out any number of pitchers behind No. 1 Kevin Millwood and No. 2 Vicente Padilla and the fans will hope for next year. The offense has three very good hitters in Michael Young, Hank Blalock, and Marlon Bird but they won’t be enough to keep the Rangers in a lot of games. They will be in a dog fight with Oakland to avoid finishing last in the division.
Ace: I guess Kevin Millwood?
Fantasy Stud: Michael Young
Oakland Athletics Odds to win the 2008 AL West Division Title 12/1Billy Beane did it again: He traded away the most talented players for prospects in order to keep his salary at an acceptable (read cheap) level. On the mound they traded their best pitcher from 2007; the 2008 team is lead by Joe Blanton and Rich Harden with the exceptional Huston Street closing out games. The offense is going to suffer from the loss of Mark Kotsay, Mike Piazza, Shannon Stewart and most notably Nick Swisher. In Beane’s defense, his Moneyball strategy put the A’s in the playoffs five of the last eight years but with both the Angels and Mariners spending money and improving their teams, the A’s could finish last for the first time this decade.
Ace: Joe Blanton
Fantasy Stud: Eric Chavez is as close as it gets
