Bookmaker odds on which team will win the American League West this season are very close. The Los Angeles Angels are the slight favorite in offshore betting at +140. Right behind the Angels are the Seattle Mariners at +185 and the Texas Rangers at 2-1.
Bookmaker numbers list the Oakland A’s as the 8-1 longshot to win the American League West this season. The Angels are the favorite to win the West this season but just barely. The Angels suffered a lot of losses but all they do is win. They lost Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey and Chone Figgins in the off-season and did little to replace them. This is a team that won 97 games a year ago and made it to the American League Championship Series. The have averaged 95 wins over the past five years.
They have an excellent manager in Mike Scioscia and should never be underestimated. The Angels did add Joel Pineiro but he is no John Lackey. Los Angeles will have to hope that Scott Kazmir and Ervin Santana start pitching up to their abilities or they are in trouble. The Angels did add Fernando Rodney and he should solidify the bullpen. The Angels did add Hideki Matsui and it will be interesting to see how he does outside of New York.
It seems every bookmaker in the world is in love with Seattle. The Mariners made some changes in the off-season but they still have weaknesses. The brought in Cliff Lee, Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins and a lot is expected from Seattle in offshore betting. Lee can be great but he is starting the season with injury concerns and you never know when Bradley is going to implode. Seattle still has Felix Hernandez and that means they are going to win some games. Whether they have enough to win the division is in question.
Texas might be the better bet with the bookmaker. Texas continues to improve their pitching staff and their hitting is always solid. Club president Nolan Ryan expects this team to win the division and he may be right. The rotation is young and talented with Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland. If they can get good years out of Brandon McCarthy and Rich Harden they can win the West.
The A’s are the longshot and really don’t have much of a chance. They picked up Ben Sheets but he may be through. They have very few power threats and not many quality hitters. It could be a long year for Oakland.
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