MLB: Predicting who will win each division
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
The ongoing war between the Oakland A’s and LA Angels has captivated a new generation of baseball fans. Many of us grew up with the Red Sox and Yankees trading blows like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed; others still recall historical bouts between the Giants and Dodgers. Yet, nowadays, West is best in many people’s estimation, and it’s hard to disagree.
In every way, the A’s-Angels rivalry encapsulates modern baseball. Here, we have the game’s best player, Mike Trout, regularly facing-off with one of it’s premier starting rotations. We have the analytical Front Office of Oakland competing with the definitive aggression of Anaheim. We have two teams craving, yearning, pining for a championship.
Oakland, holders of a priceless three-and-a-half game lead, are 40-21 at the Coliseum, and, in displaying complete mastery of platoon splits, has twenty-five different guys who can beat you at any moment.
Los Angeles, chasing shadows with relentless gusto, scores a ton of runs, plays solid defense and, in Jeff Weaver and Garrett Richards, possesses a fine 1-2 punch atop a workmanlike rotation.
Ultimately, this absorbing race may simply come down to arms. The A’s have a rotation glistening with elite talent, whilst the Angels rely on maximum effort guys to keep them close and allow the offense to drop timely bombs.
Both teams are ticketed for the postseason, but the battle for divisional supremacy will continue long into the night.
PREDICTED DIVISION WINNER: Oakland Athletics
Lester. Samardzija. Gray. Kazmir. Hammel. That’s a very deep, very talented, very experienced rotation which will likely power Oakland to success. Each starter can be considered a true stopper, meaning any prospective losing streaks will be short-lived and, by extension, that the Angels, no matter how hard they try, will struggle to put a dent in the divisional deficit.
The A’s would like to play a little better defensively, and the loss of Yoenis Cespdes as an eminent, everyday threat may worry some, but this is a team finally primed to win it all for Billy Beane. A fifth division title in ten years will be only the first step on a potentially historic journey towards glory.