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The AL West unclaimed

In recent years the Division American League West has been reigned by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a team that reached the postseason in five seasons and ended the first time below 500.

Last year the American West experienced a shift in power, as the Texas Rangers reached the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, the Oakland Athletics , was one of the leading exponents of this division, thanks to the talents of several players this year painted to be the new surprise, due to various movements, Seattle Mariners, still in a limbo where there are few stars who will have to manage to bid for better jobs.

Without a clear favorite, Oakland seems more imminent election, Anaheim went under despite adding a bat like Vernon Wells, meanwhile Texas must demonstrate the necessary parts to return to repeat the championship and go to a World Series again, but first they must resolve the situation with Michael Young who asked not to be a player game and the bench, while Seattle survives the talent of Felix Hernandez and Ichiro ...

That's the wild west of the American League in this third installment the respective analysis of major league teams:

Oakland Athletics (81-81, 2 nd place in the division in 2010)

major additions: Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, Brian Fuentes, Grant Balfour and Hideki Matsui

Major losses: Justin Duchscherer, Jack Cust, Eric Chavez Vin Mazzaro and

Venezuela: No representatives

A team that wants back in style in 2011 is Oakland, the last time they were in a play off was in 2006, when they fell in the championship series against the Detroit Tigers, in fact in this decade Oakland has had five appearances in October and have not won a World Series since 1989, ie, twenty years without knowing the title.

Oakland moved into the market and was one of the assets in search of good players, while some had the luxury to reject contracts profit, so the computer to ask what happened and why no one accepted his money. Lance Berkman, Adrian Beltre and Hisaishi Iwakuma chose to go with other teams they signed with Californians.

Despite these situations, not declined and the Athletics general manager Billy Beane and assistant David Forst, followed other hitters to improve a offense that scored in eleventh place in the league with 633 touchdowns.

David DeJesus, Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui, completely change an offense that did not have any prominent figure, the contribution of this trio will be crucial for Oakland scale back positions.

pitching in the acquisition of Brian Fuentes ($ 10.5 milion) and Grant Balfour ($ 8.1 million), strengthen a bullpen that was already solid with Andrew Bailey, Craig Breslow, Jerry Blevins, Michael Wuertz and others. In the rotating parts proven as Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill and Dallas Braden. While low-cost add pieces as Rich Harden and Brandon McCarthy.

Figure: With 36 years behind and no longer the offensive reference was before, Hideki Matsui come to Oakland as the most experienced bat an offense that wants to be among the most offensive of the tournament.

Last year, spent his first season outside the New York Yankees, Anaheim when batting with 274, 21 homers and 84 RBIs, plus a record of 361-base percentage and has an OPS of 815 in 136 appearances in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

On paper as it was dubbed Godzilla in Japan, while ensuring a bat that can create offense with a $ 4.25 million, we can say that is a bargain next to the $ 8 million with Baltimore Vladimir Guerrero.

The manager: In his fourth year at the helm of Athletics, Bob Geren improved his record to 81 victories, topping his two previous performances, in fact Oakland finished in second place in their division behind Texas who won 90.

Geren is credited 232-340, in front of Oakland, options to improve this year are greater if we consider that they have items to return to them in October.

Texas Rangers (1990-1972, American League Champion, 1 st place in division 2010)

major additions: Adrian Beltre Arthur Rhodes, Mike Napoli, Brandon Webb and Yorvit Torrealba

Major losses: Cliff Lee, Vladimir Guerrero, Bengie Molina and Jeff Francoeur

Venezuela: Elvis Andrus, Andrés Eloy Blanco and Yorvit Torrealba

2010 A dream for a few Rangers who did everything possible to secure their first World Series, but San Francisco was higher and for the year 2011, the reasons remain the same, especially after of taste that he played a classic.

During the summer did everything possible to retain Cliff Lee, who eventually marched to Philadelphia, so that the pitching will have to CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Tommy Hunter, while Brandon Webb back after a year away from injuries to be that pitcher who once won the Cy Young.

In the relay are the names of Rhodes, Neftali Feliz and Darren Oliver to stand out among the rest of his teammates, for that Mike Maddux, pitching coach Texans hopes to surprise again with this group of players.

On offense the addition of Adrian Beltre, it is certainly beautiful, but also results in that Michael Young does not have a fixed place in the lineup, they should therefore resolved before the start of the season so that the situation is not a distraction.

The MVP of the season Josh Hamilton, will be the reference for the Texas offense and is expected to campaign again similar to that experiment in 2010 (359 birds, 32 homers and 100 RBIs). It will also be input from a player who Nelson Cruz to the quiet is the way to be a superstar.

Much is expected of Elvis Andrus is season where he could confirm what was done last year and be a Gold Glove candidate

Figure: Josh Hamilton proved last year the conditions under which the seller signed. He was struggling all year for the Triple Crown Batting with Miguel Cabrera, but eventually his back injuries decreased their performance.

The player now has three appearance is the All-Star and two silver bats, besides winning the batting title last year and the RBI in 2008. What to expect on this wall, now in left field, decrease its pressure to be the captain in the gardens and avoid injury when fielding, by so this year may be the definitive consolidation of Hamilton.

The manager: ratified in 2010 which is a winning manager, after taking them in 2009 to second place, 2010 was the consolidation, it is expected that once again Texas is in the race and Washington is the catalyst for this group of young talent.

331-317, is the record of Washington in four years as coach of the Rangers, again must prove that last year was no fluke its appearance in the World Series for that must have their players ready to sacrifice everything to accomplish the task, in addition to dealing with Michael Young and its location on the computer.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (80-82, 3 rd place in the division in 2010)

major additions: Vernon Wells, Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi

Major losses: Hideki Matsui, Mike Napoli, Scott Shields and Juan Rivera.

Venezuelan : Bob Abreu, Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis

Kendry Morales' injury was a blow to the aspirations of Anaheim to access the playoffs last year. With the Cuban around the ring, Anaheim will try again to be the dominant team since 2007, no champion was crowned in the division.

celestial rotation in Dan Haren, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro and Scott Kazmir, guaranteed at least ten to fifteen wins, so it must be supported by an outstanding bullpen where the names of Scott Downs, Kevin Jepsen, Takahashi, Francisco Rodriguez and Fernando Rodney, will ensure the triumph of heaven.

The Anaheim offensive attempt by all means to get to Carl Crawford and thought they had done when the fish caught, left Boston and took away the food. But also add a proven bat Vernon Wells, a player who obviously its clause "No Change" to go to a competitor and which team will Anaheim responsible for the remainder of your payment. Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Kendry Morales are the other three gunners who will join Wells in the production of which is expected to run much this year.

also have the valuable contribution of Peter Bourj, young man who came late last year and seized the center field and now have two generals as Wells and Hunter the corners to help and they were both Golden Gloves in center field. Maicer Izturis will handicap Mike Sciosia and is expected to take ownership in any position.

Figure: Since coming to Anaheim in 2008, Torii Hunter has maintained its average and is expected to continue his torrid hitting in 2011, which expected 30 or more home runs (something that has not made) and a hundred RBIs (last time I did was in 2007).

As right fielder, the hunter hopes to beat other players who have been in that position as Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu, thus hitting third and receiving supported by Wells and Morales may be that these aspirations will materialize.

The manager: Mike Sciosia has nothing to prove since his arrival in Anaheim in 2000, when he received his first opportunity to direct, is credited with two awards Manager of the Year, achieved in 2002 and 2009, but also has the honor of being the first strategist who gives the franchise its first World Series, achieved in 2002.

has 980-802 record and career of eleven years Anaheim has won the division five times, while that on two occasions have come in second four other times and came third. They have never come last and how many times have arrived after the first place the difference was relatively short.

Has knowledge of his players and knows how to move their parts so well that the battle will go back to a play off.

Seattle Mariners (61-101, 4 th place in the division in 2010)

major additions: Miguel Olivo, Jack Cust, Nate Robertson, Brendan Ryan and Adam Kennedy

Major losses: Russell Branyan, Jose Lopez and Ryan Rowland -Smith

Venezuela: Franklin Gutierrez, and Felix Hernandez

Last year the only good thing was the fans of Seattle were the performances of Felix Hernandez who the final won the Cy Young and Ichiro Suzuki, who continued their usual pace again batting.

In fact still remember Jack Zduriencik as general manager of the club assemble a team around his pitching that Hernandez and Lee formed as a one-two in the deadliest higher, but in the end, neither the pitching and defense that boasted excelsa did not work and for the second time in the last three years ended with a hundred defeats.

An offense that was last in RBIs with 513, can not produce results for which the Seattle winter was modest, invested $ 7.5 million over two years with Miguel Olivo, who returns to the team after discrete seasons. Another that comes to the ship is Jack Cust will be the designated and which is expected to take-off final.

On paper Seattle needs its parts if they are to survey Bateen ntros as two players named to join the names of Franklin Gutierrez, Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders to run production and still none of them have experienced periods of ninety races.

the only pitching in the Lone Star will continue Felix Hernandez who was built with the Cy Young last year, becoming the first pitcher to win the prize with less than 15 wins. Jason Vargas will accompany you and Erick Bedard who guaranteed at least ten wins, the rest is unknown. The relay also raises many questions which only David Aardsma is positive note.

Figure: Felix Hernandez is the star team, won his Cy Young, won the award confirms that in 2009, when they lost to Zack Greinke. In fact 13 wins was a lower amount to pitchers who won 18, 19 or 20 wins in 2010 and were more competitors than the King of Seattle.

But Hernandez proved to be a winner and was tapping several pitching categories shipping and again stands as the largest piece in the rotation, waiting for let his team win more games and thus again confirm the award.

Hernández is perhaps one of the last pieces of hierarchy is in this team and that any moment may be news if it comes out of this team.

The manager Eric Wedge get this team to take the vacancy left by Don Wakatmasu and Daren Brown, who headed the team last year.

Wedge was not at the forefront of any team last year, his only experience was with the Cleveland baseball with which copilot 561-573 record, with an advance to the playoffs in 2007, where they stayed within one game of going to the World Series.

That experience is what you want Seattle who in 34 years of history have only four appearances in the playoffs and everyone was at the time that Lou Piniella was manager. In fact in 2001, Seattle was in its last playoff appearance in conjunction with the debut of Ichiro.

@ beisboladentro