Baseball Mid Year Report Card (AL West)

(Records as of June 30)

 

AL West

1. 1.       Texas Rangers (48-34)

With the losses of key offensive players in Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young, the Rangers are more in the middle of the pack in terms of offense rather than an elite hitting team. Adrian Beltre has been great for the Rangers since he signed with them and is their best player. Nelson Cruz has had a comeback season and has already hit 20 homeruns. Ian Kinsler has given elite production when he has been on the field. He has missed significant time due to injury back has just returned and should be a big factor the rest of the way. Young centerfielder Leonys Martin has also given a spark with 18 stolen bases. Nevertheless, the Rangers have continued to win mainly because their pitching has stepped up. Yu Darvish has stepped up as the ace of the staff (8-3/ 1.01 WHIP/ 2.78 ERA/ 151 Ks in 113.1 innings). While Darvish had poor control when he first joined the Rangers, it has improved and he only has 37 walks. Derek Holland has also improved and emerged as the clear number 2 option. They also have a great bullpen anchored by Joe Nathan, who looks as dominating as ever (0.80 WHIP and 1.43 ERA with 28 saves). The Rangers are definitely buyers. As their signing of Manny Ramirez indicates, they will be looking for hitting. While Cruz has been great, he could be potentially suspended due to his ties to the Miami BioGenesis lab. They could also use a veteran pitcher to solidify their rotation.

Grade: A

1. 2.       Oakland As (48-35)

I have to give Billy Beane credit. He is significantly constrained by payroll in Oakland but is able to rebuild a young team over and over again. While winning the division last year was ahead of schedule and unexpected, they have continued to win with expectations. They have found a way to score runs and their pitchers have done well as their run differential of +55 is the best in the division. On offense, they are led by Josh Donaldson, Jed Lowrie, and Coco Crisp. Donaldson has emerged as their best player (.314 AVG/ .382 OBP/ 14 HR/ 55 RBIs). Cespedes had a solid rookie year but has been bad this year batting only .221 but still has 15 homeruns. Josh Reddick broke out power last year but has been bad and only has 3 homeruns. Those two players will have to perform in the second half. Their pitchers have done well. While it may have been due to performance enhancing drugs, Bartolo Colon has been the veteran leading the staff at 11-3 with a 2.78 ERA. Youngsters Tommy Milone, AJ Griffin, Jarrod Parker, and Dan Straily have all held their own. Brett Anderson might be their most talented pitcher. However, he has not been good and will be sidelined due to injury until August. If he can come back and pitch well, it will give an additional depth in the rotation and he also has the ability to be the ace they need. The As also have an excellent bullpen anchored by veteran closer Grant Balfour who has a 1.85 ERA and 21 saves. Their closer of the future, Ryan Cook, has also been great as the primary setup man. The As are always constrained by money but they could definitely use a veteran hitter to add to their lineup.

Grade: A

1. 3.       Los Angeles Angels (39-43)

The Angels’ starting pitching has been bad. Their overall offense has not been bad but has not been at the elite level they were expecting and need to make up for their pitching. They have spent a lot of money but they have not spent it wisely. They gave Albert Pujols a 10 year $240 million contract. He is in the second year and looks like he is breaking down. They decided to go for another big hitter again this past offseason and gave Josh Hamilton $125 million for 5 years. He has been a complete disaster this year. Their best player is second year centerfielder, Mike Trout, who makes a few hundred thousand and is proving that he is the real deal. If Pujols and Hamilton were anything close to their best, the Angels would have an elite offense. Nevertheless, their problem is starting pitching. Ace Jered Weaver missed a significant amount of time due to injury. CJ Wilson is a solid veteran and Jason Vargas has been adequate. However, they had no ace without Weaver and their 4^th and 5^th starters are Joe Blanton (2-10 with a 5.14 ERA) and Tommy Hanson (5.10 ERA). While their bullpen hurt them early last year, it has been very good this year. Ernesto Frieri has taken control of the closer role and has shown signs of dominance lately striking out 19 while walking 3 in June. The Angels are 9 games back so it is highly unlikely they will make the playoffs. While resurgences from Pujols and Hamilton would help, they do not have the starting pitching to make up that ground. With that starting pitching, I do not think they would have a chance to beat out the As and Rangers for the division even if they were tied with them in record right now instead of being far back. One of the two Wild Card spots are an option but it will be very difficult to beat out the AL East teams for the spots as well. Nevertheless, they will try to be buyers and try to get a couple of veteran starters. Regardless, they are a complete waste of money now and it does not look good for the future as they will be financially strapped by those ridiculous, long term contracts.

Grade: D

1. 4.       Seattle Mariners (35-47)

The Mariners added veteran hitters Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse, and Raul Ibanez in the offseason. Morales has played well and Ibanez surprisingly has 21 homeruns. Nevertheless, their offense is still at the bottom of the league. Young third basemen Kyle Seager has shown he is a decent hitter. However, they were hoping for production from youngsters Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero. Both were terrible and sent to the minors. There is some hope. Prospect Nick Franklin was called up from the minors and has looked promising. The Mariners also called up shortstop prospect Brad Miller, who was doing very well in the minors. While Felix Hernandez is great as usual and Hisashi Iwakuma is having a sensational second year (7-4/ 0.88 WHIP/ 2.60 ERA/ 103 Ks in 121.1 IP), the starters behind them have been terrible. However, their bullpen has some pretty good pitchers although closer Tom Wilhelmsen has been inconsistent and lost his job for a little bit. The Mainers are clearly sellers again. Raul Ibanez is an older player and not part of the long term future. As such, he will be coveted by teams as he is a veteran bat with power and hit some big homeruns for the Yankees last year. Contending teams, such as the Yankees, will definitely ask the Mariners about Ibanez. The Mariners also have attractive relievers to trade. Oliver Perez has remade himself as a setup man. With a 1.44 ERA and 43 Ks in 31.1 innings, he is a lefty reliever that teams covet at the trade deadline. Despite Wilhelmsen’s struggles, he has power stuff and an arm that can definitely help another team with bullpen problems. As they have other good relievers and a some power arms in the minor leagues, they will be willing to trade Wilhemsen.

Grade: D

1. 5.       Houston Astros (30-52)

The Astros are not even trying to win as they are going with the strategy of finishing at the bottom to get high draft picks they can rebuild around. In their first year in the American League, they have the second worst record in baseball and the worst run differential at -112. Obviously, they are sellers. While they do not have much, they still have some attractive pieces for potential playoff teams. Starter Bud Norris has pitched adequately with a 3.22 ERA. He is definitely someone that a contending team can use to solidify the back of a rotation and the Astros should be able to get some value for him. Closer Jose Veras has also pitched well and someone I definitely see being acquired to be a setup man for a contending team.

Grade: F

 

NL Central

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