Will the AL West be MLB's best division?

[NorCal Halo]

"Astros will be surprise team of 2015."

[Angel Oracle]

They will certainly test the following inside the article.

"The Astros will be the latest team to test the theory that all outs are created equal, that an out is an out, and it really doesn't matter whether you slap a ground ball to second base or strike out."

Edited January 21, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[Guest]

The Astros will be much tougher this season, but they're still extremely young. To say they'll make the playoffs is quite a stretch (i.e. batshit crazy).

[ELEVEN]

They will certainly test the following inside the article.

"The Astros will be the latest team to test the theory that all outs are created equal, that an out is an out, and it really doesn't matter whether you slap a ground ball to second base or strike out."

Beats a GIDP

[Guest]

They will certainly test the following inside the article.

"The Astros will be the latest team to test the theory that all outs are created equal, that an out is an out, and it really doesn't matter whether you slap a ground ball to second base or strike out."

This quote sums up how clueless ESPN is.

[Angel Oracle]

Beats a GIDP

This is true.

[nando714]

NL West

[Ohtaniland]

Kinda why I said that we are not going to be a 98 win team this season. We are the best but the other teams will be gunning for us. Every team in the AL West will be better this season. Yes that includes the team that Billy threw over the Oakland Bay Bridge.

[Troll Daddy]

Astros are currently 60-1 odds to win the WS. Angels were 60-1 back in 2002 ... which happens to be the last time I bet on baseball.

 

The West is the best division in the game.

[tomsred]

Virtually everybody always looks better at this time of year.  We've been bombarded for several months now about how great signing, or trading for so and so helps each team.  Starting in April the pretenders get weeded out from the real deals, slowly but surely.

[ten ocho recon scout]

NL West

my dna inatantly wants to argue this, but thats actually a good point. No odea if sf can repeat, they seem to catch fire at the end vs a full year of being good. The dodgers are obviously still very good, though i think they take a step back. But the pads have definetely improved and might be a solid to very good contender.

[Second Base]

I think if your definition of surprise team is an 80-win squad, then sure, the Astros are a surprise team. You gotta figure the Rangers will be a little better, maybe 75 wins, the A's will always be competitive with that pitching, so 80-85 wins, the M's improved, possibly into 90 win territory.

The fun thing is, everyone is so quick to dismiss the Angels as worse because they lost Kendrick. Yet bringing in Joyce, Trout and Calhoun's progression and Freese in a contract year are all dismissed.

I think the Angels will be just as good offensively and will be even better on the mound. I think they can win 95+ again.

So 80 wins in the AL West gets you a distant 4th place finish.

[Inside Pitch]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pre-spring-training-divisional-outlook-al-west/

 

Solid article.

[Angel Oracle]

Halos and Seattle will likely win at least close to 90 games.

The other 3 teams are all capable of playing at least close to .500 baseball.

No gimmes in the bunch, even at home

[AngelsLakersFan]

Astros are currently 60-1 odds to win the WS. Angels were 60-1 back in 2002 ... which happens to be the last time I bet on baseball.

 

The West is the best division in the game.

 

Too bad the Dodgers couldn't come through for you.

[HeavenlyHalos]

Yes it is, in large part because of the Angels.

[Troll Daddy]

Too bad the Dodgers couldn't come through for you.

 

I could say the same about your Lakers.

[ELEVEN]

Halos and Seattle will likely win at least close to 90 games.

The other 3 teams are all capable of playing at least close to .500 baseball.

No gimmes in the bunch, even at home

Thats how I see it too.

[ELEVEN]

The West is the Best.

The West is the Best!

[ettin]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pre-spring-training-divisional-outlook-al-west/

Solid article.

One thing is for sure: The Angels can not get off to a bad start this year. Any misstep or long slump in this Division will have that team on the outside looking in come playoff time.