Fuck it, I’m doing this again this year. I’ll be doing each division over the next week, giving projections, best players and potential busts, and little team previews. Let’s start in the West.

The West isn’t very strong this year, but will definitely be one of the most fun divisions to watch in 2010.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers are a team on the rise, as evidenced by their strong 87 win season last year. They have a stud in Ian Kinsler, and stars on the rise in Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, Julio Bourbon, and Neftali Feliz.

Best Player: 2B Ian Kinsler

 Kinsler is as talented as Chase Utley, but as much as the great one has dealt with injuries to his hip over the last 2 years, Kinsler has missed 50 more games since 2008. If he can stay on the field for 150 games then he could put up MVP numbers. 

Potential Bust: OF Josh Hamilton

   Hamilton was very good in 2008, but not as good as his giant RBI total would suggest. As it usually is, it was more a product of luck and the team around him. 2009 saw his health deteriorate and his personal life hit a low again, which impacted his on the field performance and eventually cut his season to just 89 games. Reports say he is feeling as good as ever and that he is clean once again, so a return to a 2008 level is possible for this troubled star, but I would bet against it.

Seattle Mariners

I think the Mariners have made giant leaps with their organizational overhaul, and with the addition of Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, and Milton Bradley could take this team over the top. They will miss Beltre’s glove at third and Branyan’s power, but Cliff Lee’s health and Milton Bradley’s behavior will be the difference between making the playoffs or sitting at home in October.

Best Player: P Cliff Lee

I think Lee will have a Cy Young quality season in his walk year in Seattle, a team with a large pitcher’s ball park and the best defense in the league, including the vastly underrated Franklin Gutierrez in CF.

Potential Bust: 2B Jose Lopez

Jose Lopez had a very good year in 2009, but his secondary statistics point to a regression in his output for 2010. The Mariners can live without his pop, but need him to get on base. Having Lopez as your #3, 4, or 5 hitter is not a good idea for being a great team.

Anaheim Angels

The Angels lost a lot of pieces this offseason. Even worse so, they lost some of them to their division rivals. Chone Figgins, their best player last year, moved to Seattle; while the greatest Angel of all-time, Vlad Guerrero, is now DHing for the Rangers. They also lost their #1 pitcher as John Lackey signed a hefty contract with the Boston Redsox. Those are giant hits to a team that was already playing over their heads. But hey! At least Gary Matthews Jr. is gone!

Best Player: 1B Kendry Morales

   Last year, Kendry Morales finally exploded like so many had hoped, and at 27, we should be looking at his career peak in the next 2-3 years. His power is unquestioned, but if he wants to move into the top tier of 1st basemen, he will have to improve his plate discipline.

Potential Bust: P Joel Pineiro

   Lackey’s departure led to the arrival of Joel Pineiro who probably had the craziest transformation of 2009, going from a terrible arm to a worm-killing machine and one of the best sinkers in the game. Can that last? I doubt it, and leaving St. Louis and Dave Duncan will have a negative effect on the Puerto Rican hurler. Expect a regression, but he will certainly be better than he was pre-2009.

Oakland Athletics

The A’s are a young team that has plenty of talent, but I don’t believe they have enough offense to go along with their pitching and defense to compete with the rest of the division.
This is a team that has potential and is building for the future. Don’t fret A’s fans, Oakland will be back much sooner than later.

Best Player and Potential Bust: P Ben Sheets

   Sheets is the big offseason move for Billy Beane’s boys and this guy has the kind of stuff that is only seen in the aces around the league. His problem, of course, is his durability which has been an issue since the pitcher came into the league. If he is healthy, look for Sheets to be dealt for a nice little package at the trade deadline as he is only on a one-year contract.