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Rays/MLB
AL West outlook
By Times Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2006
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
2005: 88-74, 2nd.
MANAGER: Ken Macha.
PAYROLL: $68-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Esteban Loaiza, DH Frank Thomas, RF Milton Bradley.
KEY LOSS: 1B Scott Hatteberg.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Mark Ellis .316, 13 HR, 52 RBIs.
CF Mark Kotsay .280, 15, 82.
RF Milton Bradley .290, 13, 38.
3B Eric Chavez .269, 27, 101.
DH Frank Thomas .219, 12, 26.
1B Dan Johnson .275, 15, 58.
SS Bobby Crosby .276, 9, 38.
LF Nick Swisher .236, 21, 74.
C Jason Kendall .271, 0, 53.
ROTATION: LHP Barry Zito, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Esteban Loaiza, RHP Dan Haren, RHP Joe Blanton.
CLOSER: RHP Huston Street.
BOTTOM LINE: The A's didn't lose anyone of consequence and added some impressive pieces. If they pay off, Oakland will be tough to beat.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
2005: 95-67, 1st.
MANAGER: Mike Scioscia.
PAYROLL: $98-million.
KEY ADDITION: RHP Jeff Weaver.
KEY LOSSES: C Bengie Molina, RHP Paul Byrd, LHP Jarrod Washburn.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
3B Chone Figgins .290, 8 HR, 57 RBIs.
SS Orlando Cabrera .257, 8, 57.
RF Vlad Guerrero .317, 32, 108.
LF Garret Anderson .283, 17, 96.
DH Juan Rivera .271, 15, 59.
CF Darin Erstad .273, 7, 66.
1B Casey Kotchman .278, 7, 22.
C Jeff Mathis .276, 21, 73 (AAA).
2B Adam Kennedy .300, 2, 37.
ROTATION: RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP John Lackey, RHP Jeff Weaver, RHP Kelvim Escobar, RHP Ervin Santana.
CLOSER: RHP Francisco Rodriguez.
BOTTOM LINE: The Angels needed offense to put them over the top and didn't get any but still have solid pitching.
TEXAS RANGERS
2005: 79-83, 3rd.
MANAGER: Buck Showalter.
PAYROLL: $78-million.
KEY ADDITION: RHP Kevin Millwood.
KEY LOSS: LHP Kenny Rogers.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
RF Brad Wilkerson .248, 11 HR, 57 RBIs.
SS Michael Young .331, 24, 91.
1B Mark Teixeira .301, 43, 144.
3B Hank Blalock .263, 25, 92.
DH Phil Nevin .237, 12, 55.
LF Kevin Mench .264, 25, 73.
CF Gary Matthews .255, 17, 55.
C Rod Barajas .254, 21, 60.
2B Ian Kinsler .273, 23, 94 (AAA).
ROTATION: RHP Kevin Millwood, RHP Adam Eaton, RHP Vicente Padilla, RHP Kameron Loe, RHP Josh Rupe.
CLOSER: RHP Francisco Cordero.
BOTTOM LINE: The rotation is completely new but Cordero has been inconsistent this spring. And he's the best part of a bullpen that last season was unreliable.
SEATTLE MARINERS
2005: 69-93, 4th.
MANAGER: Mike Hargrove.
PAYROLL: $95-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: DH Carl Everett, LHP Jarrod Washburn.
KEY LOSS: C Dan Wilson (retired).
PROJECTED LINEUP:
RF Ichiro Suzuki .303, 15 HR, 68 RBIs.
3B Adrian Beltre .255, 19, 87.
LF Raul Ibanez .280, 20, 89.
1B Richie Sexson .263, 39, 121.
DH Carl Everett .251, 23, 87.
C Kenji Johjima .309, 24, 57 (Fukuoka, Japan).
2B Jose Lopez .247, 2, 25.
SS Yuniesky Betancourt .256, 1, 15.
ROTATION: LHP Jamie Moyer, RHP Joel Pineiro, LHP Jarrod Washburn, RHP Gil Meche, RHP Felix Hernandez.
CLOSER: LHP Eddie Guardado.
BOTTOM LINE: Guardado is pitching with a torn rotator cuff. 'Nuff said.
[Last modified April 2, 2006, 01:24:20]
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