Post by Rockies GM (Alex) on Dec 23, 2012 13:07:33 GMT -5
2013 American League West Division Preview
1. Los Angeles Angels
2012 Record: 16-3
Weeeee are the championsssss.... of the world! Hail Halos! The Los Angeles Angels are the champions of Base Knock Dynasty Baseball for 2012. It came down to two close finishes in the post-season, but the players came through and in the end the Angels were the victors. Now, comes the rude awakening that the world didn't end yesterday, so the Angels do have to prepare to defend their title. But hey, how hard can it be? The Angels have a tenacious offensive attack. First and foremost, they have the best fantasy player and AL MVP, Mike Trout (685 PTS). Surrounding the young superstar, Justin Upton (463 PTS), Hanley Ramirez (479 PTS), and Ian Desmond (440 PTS). If you thought that was it, up and coming players Mark Trumbo (410 PTS) and Jesus Montero should continue to improve this season. On the hill, the Angels have two aces in Jered Weaver (526 PTS) and Hiroki Kuroda (521 PTS). After those two, the team hopes that the aging Jake Peavey (489 PTS) can continue to dominate. The bullpen is tough to crack with a bunch of proven arms: Storen, Reed, Walden. All in all, the Angels are set to repeat as champs in this division and will be tough to take down in the AL.
Grade: A
2. Seattle Mariners
2012 Record: 11-8
Two straight years of being the last team out of the post-season is tough for any team. The Mariners finished with the 5th, and then 7th best record in the American League in consecutive years leaving them at the mid-point of the draft, but out of the post-season picture. Needing to make improvements to make that final jump into the playoffs, the Mariners had to get busy in free agency, and they did. Some could say they overpaid, but there's no doubt of the improvement. The team signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski (393 PTS), Kyle Lohse (538 PTS), and Jeff Francoeur (293 PTS). These players should fit well with the pieces already in place. On offense, the team will rely on the emergence of third baseman Kyle Seager (430 PTS) and hopefully an improvement from the young Dustin Ackley (372 PTS). The real strength with this team lies with the pitching. Now with Lohse, the team has a dynamic one-two punch with Felix Hernandez (560 PTS). Jason Vargas had his coming out party last year with 476 PTS, and Bruce Chen (374 PTS) and Doug Fister (367 PTS) are also reliable arms. Michael Pineda will also return after being on the shelf most of last year with an injury. What could make this team unhittable are the prospects that are near arrival in the farm system: Gerrit Cole, Taijuan Walker, and Jarred Cosart. The depth could be crazy if all three joined the majors during the year. All in all, the Mariners made moves this off-season to improve their chances, but it will be a fight to make it into the post-season.
Grade: B
3. Texas Rangers
2012 Record: 13-6
The Rangers were once again a team to be reckoned with during the 2012 season, and it lead to another post-season birth. However, their fortunes could not continue against Baltimore in Round 1 of the post-season, and Texas was sent packing for the second season in a row. Well, let's make a few tweaks and take another crack at it next year, right? Wrong. Meet new GM: Jeff. Under new leadership, the team was perhaps the most active this off-season signing players and wheeling and dealing from team to team. Whether or not they have ameliorated from these deals is a personnel opinion, but complacency was not an option this off-season. On offense, the Rangers acquired first baseman Ike Davis, second baseman Martin Prado, and third baseman Pedro Alvarez to revamp the infield along with Ian Kinsler. In the outfield, Texas traded for young star Austin Jackson from New York and up-and-coming Alejandro De Aza. Along with Andre Eithier, this offense should be able to win some games. In the staff, Texas was agressive in free agency and signed Ryan Dempster, Andy Pettite, and Fausto Carmona. In an early off-season move, the team swapped ace Zack Greinke for another ace in C.C. Sabathia. The Rangers also hope that young southpaw Clay Bucholz will return to his 2011 ways. In the pen, the Rangers may be one of the strongest in the league with closer Chris Perez and relievers Jonny Venters and David Phelps. Look for the speedster some call "flash" named Billy Hamilton to also make an appearance this season either at short or in the outfield. He's proven consistently in the minors that he can swipe bases with the best of them. The Rangers made a lot of changes this off-season. The question is: were they worth it?
Grade: B
4. Oakland Athletics
2012 Record: 1-18
The word: win. Definitions: 1. to finish first in a race, contest, or the like. 2. to succeed by striving or effort. 3.to gain the victory; overcome an adversary. Well, at least the Athletics understood the word on the smallest of levels, but you can't get much worse than 1-18. But what just happened? Is Oakland this bad? The answer was: yes. The answer is: no. The GM who some call "Noah the Kid" could have made one of the biggest turn arounds in league history, but it has yet to be seen. The team made lots of moves in the off-season whether in trades, signings, draft picks, and hopefully they will pay off. The Athletics started off free agency by signing outfielder Nick Swisher to one of the largest deals in league history, worth a total of 157.5m. They hope he can be a slugger in the middle of the lineup for years, and I mean years to come. Along with Swisher, the team also brought in mashers Nelson Cruz and Carlos Quentin to send even more balls over the fences in the Colosseum. After these three vets, the young pups will get there chances. Yasmani Grandal and Tyler Flowers will battle for the starting catcher position, Yonder Alonso will try to hold down the first base job, Wil Middlebrooks should only improve at third, and Zack Cozart and Jean Seguera will fight over short. On the pitching staff, Oakland brought in vets Mark Buerhle, Chris Carpenter, and Wandy Rodriguez to greatly improve the rotation. Competing for the other spots will be youngsters Anthony Bass, Joe Kelly, Tyler Skaags, Nathan Eovaldi, and Casey Kelly. If they can't get the job done, look for a few of the prospects in this still relavent farm to reach the majors. In the bullpen, the A's signed Jason Motte to a long-term deal this off-season to be the closer for now and the future. The team also signed Jose Valverde and Ryan Madson to create a talented line to finish off games. To improve, the team had to trade away most of the farm system, however, with such a bad record, they will have plenty of chances to improve via the MiLB and Amateur drafts. The A's are improved, but the playoffs are out of reach in the tight American League.
Grade: C+
Final 2013 AL West Division Projections:
1. Angels
2. Mariners
3. Rangers
4. Athletics
1. Los Angeles Angels
2012 Record: 16-3
Weeeee are the championsssss.... of the world! Hail Halos! The Los Angeles Angels are the champions of Base Knock Dynasty Baseball for 2012. It came down to two close finishes in the post-season, but the players came through and in the end the Angels were the victors. Now, comes the rude awakening that the world didn't end yesterday, so the Angels do have to prepare to defend their title. But hey, how hard can it be? The Angels have a tenacious offensive attack. First and foremost, they have the best fantasy player and AL MVP, Mike Trout (685 PTS). Surrounding the young superstar, Justin Upton (463 PTS), Hanley Ramirez (479 PTS), and Ian Desmond (440 PTS). If you thought that was it, up and coming players Mark Trumbo (410 PTS) and Jesus Montero should continue to improve this season. On the hill, the Angels have two aces in Jered Weaver (526 PTS) and Hiroki Kuroda (521 PTS). After those two, the team hopes that the aging Jake Peavey (489 PTS) can continue to dominate. The bullpen is tough to crack with a bunch of proven arms: Storen, Reed, Walden. All in all, the Angels are set to repeat as champs in this division and will be tough to take down in the AL.
Grade: A
2. Seattle Mariners
2012 Record: 11-8
Two straight years of being the last team out of the post-season is tough for any team. The Mariners finished with the 5th, and then 7th best record in the American League in consecutive years leaving them at the mid-point of the draft, but out of the post-season picture. Needing to make improvements to make that final jump into the playoffs, the Mariners had to get busy in free agency, and they did. Some could say they overpaid, but there's no doubt of the improvement. The team signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski (393 PTS), Kyle Lohse (538 PTS), and Jeff Francoeur (293 PTS). These players should fit well with the pieces already in place. On offense, the team will rely on the emergence of third baseman Kyle Seager (430 PTS) and hopefully an improvement from the young Dustin Ackley (372 PTS). The real strength with this team lies with the pitching. Now with Lohse, the team has a dynamic one-two punch with Felix Hernandez (560 PTS). Jason Vargas had his coming out party last year with 476 PTS, and Bruce Chen (374 PTS) and Doug Fister (367 PTS) are also reliable arms. Michael Pineda will also return after being on the shelf most of last year with an injury. What could make this team unhittable are the prospects that are near arrival in the farm system: Gerrit Cole, Taijuan Walker, and Jarred Cosart. The depth could be crazy if all three joined the majors during the year. All in all, the Mariners made moves this off-season to improve their chances, but it will be a fight to make it into the post-season.
Grade: B
3. Texas Rangers
2012 Record: 13-6
The Rangers were once again a team to be reckoned with during the 2012 season, and it lead to another post-season birth. However, their fortunes could not continue against Baltimore in Round 1 of the post-season, and Texas was sent packing for the second season in a row. Well, let's make a few tweaks and take another crack at it next year, right? Wrong. Meet new GM: Jeff. Under new leadership, the team was perhaps the most active this off-season signing players and wheeling and dealing from team to team. Whether or not they have ameliorated from these deals is a personnel opinion, but complacency was not an option this off-season. On offense, the Rangers acquired first baseman Ike Davis, second baseman Martin Prado, and third baseman Pedro Alvarez to revamp the infield along with Ian Kinsler. In the outfield, Texas traded for young star Austin Jackson from New York and up-and-coming Alejandro De Aza. Along with Andre Eithier, this offense should be able to win some games. In the staff, Texas was agressive in free agency and signed Ryan Dempster, Andy Pettite, and Fausto Carmona. In an early off-season move, the team swapped ace Zack Greinke for another ace in C.C. Sabathia. The Rangers also hope that young southpaw Clay Bucholz will return to his 2011 ways. In the pen, the Rangers may be one of the strongest in the league with closer Chris Perez and relievers Jonny Venters and David Phelps. Look for the speedster some call "flash" named Billy Hamilton to also make an appearance this season either at short or in the outfield. He's proven consistently in the minors that he can swipe bases with the best of them. The Rangers made a lot of changes this off-season. The question is: were they worth it?
Grade: B
4. Oakland Athletics
2012 Record: 1-18
The word: win. Definitions: 1. to finish first in a race, contest, or the like. 2. to succeed by striving or effort. 3.to gain the victory; overcome an adversary. Well, at least the Athletics understood the word on the smallest of levels, but you can't get much worse than 1-18. But what just happened? Is Oakland this bad? The answer was: yes. The answer is: no. The GM who some call "Noah the Kid" could have made one of the biggest turn arounds in league history, but it has yet to be seen. The team made lots of moves in the off-season whether in trades, signings, draft picks, and hopefully they will pay off. The Athletics started off free agency by signing outfielder Nick Swisher to one of the largest deals in league history, worth a total of 157.5m. They hope he can be a slugger in the middle of the lineup for years, and I mean years to come. Along with Swisher, the team also brought in mashers Nelson Cruz and Carlos Quentin to send even more balls over the fences in the Colosseum. After these three vets, the young pups will get there chances. Yasmani Grandal and Tyler Flowers will battle for the starting catcher position, Yonder Alonso will try to hold down the first base job, Wil Middlebrooks should only improve at third, and Zack Cozart and Jean Seguera will fight over short. On the pitching staff, Oakland brought in vets Mark Buerhle, Chris Carpenter, and Wandy Rodriguez to greatly improve the rotation. Competing for the other spots will be youngsters Anthony Bass, Joe Kelly, Tyler Skaags, Nathan Eovaldi, and Casey Kelly. If they can't get the job done, look for a few of the prospects in this still relavent farm to reach the majors. In the bullpen, the A's signed Jason Motte to a long-term deal this off-season to be the closer for now and the future. The team also signed Jose Valverde and Ryan Madson to create a talented line to finish off games. To improve, the team had to trade away most of the farm system, however, with such a bad record, they will have plenty of chances to improve via the MiLB and Amateur drafts. The A's are improved, but the playoffs are out of reach in the tight American League.
Grade: C+
Final 2013 AL West Division Projections:
1. Angels
2. Mariners
3. Rangers
4. Athletics
