Tagged: Mariners
10 Things I’m Watching In 2015: American League West
As we count down to Spring Training, here’s the sixth installment of my ’10 Things I’m Watching In 2015′ series. Today’s topic: the American League West.
Ultimately the Angels ran away with the AL West in 2014, but things could be very different this time around. Yes, the Angels have another great squad, but several AL West teams made big moves over the off season and it looks as if this may be the best division in baseball. The NL Central will rival the AL West for that title, but either way the race out West will be fun to watch and will likely come down to the season’s final days.
Angels:
After posting a 98 win season in 2014, it was not all that surprising that the Angels didn’t go out and completely retool their roster over the off season. The Angels 2015 lineup will look a lot like the one that ended the 2014 season.
A healthy Garrett Richards will be a welcomed face to the rotation, but it also looks like the Angels may start the season without Josh Hamilton.
Although the Angels didn’t make a ton of big moves over the off season, the team did trade Howie Kendrick to the Dodgers, so second base will be a position to watch both offensively and defensively.
A’s:
The A’s got off to a strong start last season and looked like they would easily win the division, but ultimately struggled down the stretch.The late season collapse was followed by a whirlwind of an off season and now the 2015 season will begin with an Oakland roster that hardly resembles that of 2014.
Across the infield the A’s began 2014 with Brandon Moss, Eric Sogard, Jed Lowrie and Josh Donaldson, but this season the projected Opening Day lineup consists of Ike Davis, Ben Zobrist, Marcus Semien and Brett Lawrie, with Billy Butler at DH.
Billy Beane completely changed the makeup of the team over the off season, but the A’s have been to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons so it’s hard to count them out.
Also, it’s important to note that the Athletics will once again feature a strong pitching staff – a fact that will keep them in a lot of games.
Despite losing Jon Lester (not that anyone thought he’d resign or stay in Oakland) and trading away Jeff Samardzija, the A’s will still have a rotation that consists of Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Jesse Chavez, Jesse Hahn and Drew Pomeranz.
Oakland’s rotation may be impressive, but it might not even be the best in the division.
Mariners: With arguably the best pitcher in the American League in Felix Hernandez, it’s quite possible the Mariners have the best rotation as well. Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma are a nasty 1-2 punch and will win the Mariners in a lot of games.
While the pitching was there last season, Seattle often struggled to score runs in 2014 – a problem the teams hopes will be solved with the addition of Nelson Cruz.
Cruz hit 40 home runs a season ago and will make the top of the Mariners line-up, along with Austin Jackson and Robinson Cano, a lot more potent than it was just a season ago.
Astros: Just as the A’s made several changes, so did the Astros. The 2015 Astros will look a lot different than the 2014 version – including new manager A.J. Hinch – and appear to be in a much better position to compete.
To bolster the offense, the Astros added Evan Gattis, but most of the reshuffling happened in the bullpen as the Astros added Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek.
Gregerson and Neshek – both right-handers – are coming off some of the best seasons in their careers. Gregorson posted a career-best 2.12 ERA last season while Neshek posted a 1.87 ERA and was selected to his first All Star game.
Jed Lowrie will also be a nice addition to the middle of the infield as he returns to Houston after a productive two seasons in Oakland.
Rangers: Every team deal with injuries, but the amount the Rangers faced last season was crazy.
First and foremost Rangers fans have to be excited about starting 2015 with a healthy Prince Fielder. That fact alone should be a boost to the offense, but regaining Fielder is not the only significant move the Rangers have made.
Late in the off season the Rangers made perhaps their most significant off season move when they traded for Yovani Gallardo.
Gallardo figured to fit into the middle of the Rangers rotation and has started 30 or more games in six straight seasons – a good sign for a team that has struggled with injures and had a hard time keeping players on the field.
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Felix Hernandez Is Must Watch TV
Just because something is the best doesn’t mean it is the most entertaining.
Peyton Manning may be the best quarterback in the NFL, but I’d much rather watch Colin Kaepernick roll out of the pocket and make a play with either his legs or his arm.
It’s more exciting.
Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, but if Felix Hernandez is pitching in Seattle, I’m watching.
It’s a party.
Hernandez picked up the win against the Braves on Tuesday night as he threw eight innings and allowed one run on four hits while striking out eight.
It was his 15th consecutive start of seven or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs – the longest streak in Major League history.
The American League Cy Young Award frontrunner is 12-3 with a 1.97 ERA, but this is not all about the numbers.
Although the numbers are really, really good.
Whenever Hernandez takes the ball the Mariners wish their fans a “Happy Felix Day!”
The Mariners also have a section of fans devoted to Hernandez known as the “Kings Court,” which collectively wears the same yellow shirt, waves “K” signs and always gets nice and rowdy when King felix gets two strikes on a hitter.
If Hernandez finishes that hitter with a punch out, the party continues.
There are plenty of great players that are exciting to watch in baseball, but the way the Mariners have marketed and promoted Hernandez makes all the difference.
Every fifth day there seems to be a certain electricity around Safeco Field and the Mariners organization. It is present in the fans wearing the shirts, in the team’s social media accounts and in Hernandez’s demeanor on the mound.
The Mariners concluded play Tuesday just one game back in the Wild Card and if they continue to stay in the hunt late into the season, I can only imagine the party will continue to grow.
There are a lot of great players in various playoff races worth watching over the next two months, but make sure you tune into the Mariners game next time it’s Felix Day in Seattle.
Boor on Baseball 