The Texas Rangers had a very interesting off-season when they let their star player Josh Hamilton leave in free agency and sign in their own division with the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers have been consistent this season with good pitching and good hitting. They have had a nice surprise this season at the designated hitter position in Lance Berkman, who thought he would never play again after having a season ending injury but the "Big Puma" as he is nicknamed has played well this season. They also have good players at second base in Ian Kinsler, at shortstop in Elvis Andrus, and at third base in veteran Adrian Beltre. Their pitching has been outstanding this season led by Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish who was an all star last season. They have many players that are contending for a starting position in the all star game for the AL team.
Oakland Athletics (37-25)
The Oakland Athletics continue to impress with their moneyball ways. Their General Manager Billy Beane continues to impress with the players that he brings in with limited funding. Billy Beane's way of moneyball has payed off for the Athletics because they have some really good veterans in Center Fielder Coco Crisp and in young players Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick. They have a really good infielder in Jed Lowrie. They are the defending American League West division champions and so far the way they have been playing they have lived up to the way they played last season. Their starting pitching and relief pitching continue to be good despite having many unknown names pitching.
Los Angeles Angels (26-34)
The Los Angeles Angels have been the biggest disappointments so far this season despite making a splash in free agency by signing power hitting outfielder Josh Hamilton. They have the most talent in the division but just can not seem to put it together. They have many good players on their team including the best pure hitter in baseball in first baseman Albert Pujols. They also have a good young player that emerged last season in Mike Trout. They recently got their ace pitcher, Jared Weaver back last week after he had been on the disabled list with an injury. If the Angels play like they are capable of playing they can emerge to the top of the division but if not it will just be another team that overspent in the off-season, similar to other teams like the Blue Jays and the other Los Angeles team, the Dodgers.
Seattle Mariners (26-35)
The Seattle Mariners are not that great of a team and they are forced to have a good draft and develop players because they do not have the money to spend that other teams do and it cost them on the field. There have been a couple of bright spots this season for the Mariners as there have a couple of veterans who have been able to resurrect their careers in Seattle such as Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez. There is also a local tie to the Seattle Mariners as their third basemen Kyle Seager is from North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina and he is from the Charlotte area, he is from Concord. He has been a very good player for the Mariners this season.
Houston Astros (22-39)
The Houston Astros are making history this season as they moved from being a National League team to being an American League team. The Houston Astros are a very young team and they are very bad with a couple of bright spots on their team. One of their bright spots is Starting Pitcher Bud Norris who is very good and he might be a player that is traded to a contending team that needs Starting Pitching at the trade deadline. Bud Norris could really help a contending team because he is very good. The Astros will be competing with the Marlins for the worst team in the Major Leagues if they do not improve the way they are playing currently.
This is local product Kyle Seager who plays for the Seattle Mariners. He is from Concord, NC.
It is great to read your blog. It shows that you are very passionate about baseball. That's why you have excelled in it!
ReplyDelete