AL WEST PREVIEW 2K13...A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report "Division by Division Winners"...HALOS stacked as they pull from Rival RANGERS again...what will the Swingin' ATHLETICS do for an Encore...M's have Kid FELIX then what...STROS join the JUNIOR Circuit and the AL WEST...Is the AL WEST Between the HALOS n A's?

The Houston Astros join a Division that is Top-Heavy and the Halos, Rangers, and A's will all be vying for the AL West or the AL Wild Card. The M's signed Kid Felix o a long-term deal but they are  more than a Texas Leaguer away from making any noise in the West. The A' came real close and they have a loaded outfield and the Pitching is nice but what will they do with expectations? The Rangers missed out on keeping "the Natural" Josh Hamilton as they overlooked Hamilton being greedy going after another Prized Free Agent and didn't get him either. Do the Rangers have enough left in the Tank to keep overcoming losses on the Roster to the Rival Angels? The Halos take from their Rival and load up as they add Hamilton from the Rangers to go with all that Power already in the Line Up.

The AL West will be won in late September as I see the Halos and Athletics dueling it out as the Rangers I think have just lost too much. Will one of the AL Wild Cards come out of the AL West is the next question?

the AL WEST 2K13 Projections (in order)

x-Division Winner y-AL Wild Card Winner

1. x-L.A. ANGELS of ANAHEIM #Halos...Expectations are not the word in Orange County as the Halos at least within the Organization expect to get to the 2013 Fall Classic. They tell now Tigers OF Torii Hunter they have hardly any money to spend and then go their Farm System in Arlington Texas and pick up OF Josh "the Natural" Hamilton. I know what your thinking Bluedude that is a Shot below the Belt well Rangers get your Checkbook out and get to spending on your own. Hamilton will be in the Line Up with 2012 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP Runner-Up in CF Mike Trout. Then you add Mike Trumbo and "El Hombre"...Albert Pujols the Halos are loaded in the Line Up. The Concern will be where it always is as Jered Weaver is the Ace but can they find at least Two Arms in that Rotation that can rise up with him? CJ Wilson (Free Agent Pick Up from the Rangers in 2011) and Tommy Hansen have had arm problems. Vet Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas must step up. The Halos look like the Team to beat not only in the AL West but possibly on the whole Junior Circuit.

2. y-TEXAS RANGERS #Rangers...maybe I am dead wrong not thinking the Rangers can at least get the AL Wild Card. But looking at that Line Up without Josh Hamilton where are they going to get that kind of production Hamilton brought? They go get Vet and oft-injured Lance Berkman and can you trust him for 162 or even 100 games? They add Vet Catcher AJ Pierzynski from the Pale Hose to go along with Andrus, Kinsler, Adrian Beltre (pictured left), Murphy, and Nelson Cruz but is that enough collective pop to consistently score runs. The Staff is led by Japanese Import Yu "Smoke One" Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando, and Martin Perez. This Staff on paper at least is better than the Halos and A's but its the Offense. I still think with Skip Wash they might be able to get the Wild Card.    

3. OAKLAND ATHLETICS #SwinginAs...We will sure see soon if 2012 was a fluke or was it real as the Oakland Athletics came from out of nowhere in the 2nd half to make a run for the ages and run down the Texas Rangers. They didn't go out and get a Big Name Free Agent as that's not been the A's way of doing things. They add for D-Backs OF Chris Young for Depth in an Outfield that is led by Cuban Sensation Yeonis Cepedes. CoCo "Cuckoo Cuckoo for CoCo" Crisp is manning Center and Josh Reddick (pictured right) in Right. Cepedes and Reddick are also anchors in that Line Up and they will do damage in 2013. Can the Pitching Staff with all those Young Arms along with Vet RHP Bartolo Colon be consistent enough to stay in the hunt and make a run for the AL West Crown?

4. SEATTLE MARINERS #Ms....there biggest Off Season Moves were signing RHP and Ace "Kid Felix" Hernandez to a long-term deal. The Second Biggest Move if you want to call it that was getting Halos Expendable 1B/DH Kendrys Morales in that Line Up that needs more than "Pop Pop Fizz Fizz Oh what a Relief it is not". Can the M's Offensively score Runs to top the A's or Rangers or even stay out of the AL West Basement and join Newcomer the 'Stros? The Staff led by Kid Felix also has RHP Joe Saunders among others. The M's are going to have to start spending Cash sooner rather than later to get inn the Race.

5. HOUSTON ASTROS #Stros....before even looking at the Line Up the Rangers, Halos, and A's are very happy to add the Less-Talented Astros to the Mix and all three of those Teams get 19 cracks at the 'Stros. Now having said that the AL East in which the other Wild Card will come out of has to yelling at MLB for not putting the "Stros in the Pacific Coast League AAA or keeping them in the NL Central. Bud Norris (11-11 in 2012) will lead the Staff then after that check Career Builder or Linked In for Pitching Try Outs. Believe it or not the shortest Man in the Show..Stros 2B Jose Altuve  (pictured left) led the Team in 2012 in hits, runs, two baggers, three baggers, and thefts and the "Stros are building around that Short Stick of Dynamite. The Two Outfielders are keepers in J.D. Martinez and Justin Maxwell as they will also get their Lions Share of the Work Load in the Line Up for the 'Stros. Can the "Stros stay out of the AL West Basement and away from losing a Hundo in 2K13?