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AL West division

Ichiro Suzuki, in the final year of his M's contract, will move to center field. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review
Ichiro Suzuki, in the final year of his M's contract, will move to center field. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

WEST DIVISION

In order of 2006 finish

Oakland Athletics

2006: 93-69, first place.

Manager: Bob Geren (first season).

Projected lineup: C Jason Kendall (.295, 1, 50), LF Shannon Stewart (.293, 2, 21), RF Milton Bradley (.276, 14, 52), DH Mike Piazza (.283, 22, 68), 3B Eric Chavez (.241, 22, 72, 6th Gold Glove), RF Nick Swisher (.254, 35, 95, 106 runs, 97 BBs, 152 Ks), SS Bobby Crosby (.229, 9, 40), 1B Dan Johnson (.234, 9, 37), 2B Mark Ellis (.249, 11, 52, 2 errors, record .997 fielding percentage for 2B).

Rotation: RH Dan Haren (14-13, 4.12, 176 Ks, 31 HRs), RH Rich Harden (4-0, 4.24 in 9 starts), RH Esteban Loaiza (11-9, 4.89, 8-4 after All-Star break), RH Joe Blanton (16-12, 4.82, .309 BA against), LH Joe Kennedy (4-1, 2.31 all in relief).

Key relievers: RH Huston Street (4-4, 3.31, 37/48), RH Justin Duchscherer (2-1, 2.91, 9), RH Kiko Calero (3-2, 3.41, 2), LH Alan Embree (4-3, 3.27).

Overview: Following Barry Zito’s departure, Harden takes over as the No. 1 starter. He has the stuff to be an ace, but injuries limited him to 28 starts the past two seasons. The rest of the rotation could be hit or miss. Crosby is also trying to stay healthy at shortstop, and Piazza would be hard-pressed to duplicate Gorman Thomas’ big year at DH. Center fielder Mark Kotsay (back surgery) is expected to miss the first two months of the season.

Los Angeles Angels

2006: 89-73, second place.

Manager: Mike Scioscia (eighth season).

Projected lineup: CF Gary Matthews Jr. (.302, 19, 79 with Texas), SS Orlando Cabrera (.282, 9, 72), LF Garret Anderson (.280, 17, 85), RF Vladimir Guerrero (.329, 33, 116), 1B-DH Shea Hillenbrand (.277, 21, 68), 2B Howie Kendrick (.285, 4, 30), 1B Casey Kotchman (.152, 1, 6, a viral syndrome spoiled his season), C Mike Napoli (.228, 16, 42), 3B Chone Figgins (.267, 9, 62; out at least a month with two broken fingers).

Rotation: RH Bartolo Colon (1-5, 5.11, shoulder problems plagued 2005 Cy Young Award winner), RH John Lackey (13-11, 3.56, topped staff with 217 2/3 innings, logged 190 strikeouts), RH Kelvim Escobar (11-14, 3.61), RH Ervin Santana (16-8, 4.28 in 33 starts), RH Jered Weaver (11-2, 2.56, got off to 9-0 start to tie Whitey Ford’s A.L. rookie record for starters).

Key relievers: RH Francisco Rodriguez (2-3, 1.73, led league with 47 saves), RH Scot Shields (7-7, 2.87, two saves), RH Justin Speier (2-0, 2.98 with Toronto, held opposing batters to .235 average), LH Darren Oliver (4-1, 3.44 in 45 appearances for New York Mets).

Overview: One of the Angels’ strengths is depth on the pitching staff, which makes it possible to absorb the injuries to Colon and Weaver for a while. With closer Rodriguez and rubber-armed setup man Shields, the bullpen is always outstanding – perhaps the best in baseball. The addition of Speier makes it better. Guerrero needs help on offense. Juan Rivera, productive last year, broke his leg playing winter ball and is expected to miss much of the season. Maybe a few of the kids are ready to break out at the plate.

Texas Rangers

2006: 80-82, third place.

Manager: Ron Washington (first season).

Projected lineup: CF Kenny Lofton (.301, 79 runs, 32 SBs, .360 OBP with Los Angeles Dodgers), LF Frank Catalanotto (.300, 7 HRs, 56 RBIs with Toronto), SS Michael Young (.314, 14, 103, 93 runs, 52 doubles), 1B Mark Teixeira (.282, 33, 110, 99 runs, 45 doubles), DH Sammy Sosa (.221, 14, 45 with Baltimore in 2005, out of baseball in 2006), 3B Hank Blalock (.266, 16, 89), RF Brad Wilkerson (.222, 15, 44) and Nelson Cruz (.223, 6, 22), C Gerald Laird (.296, 7, 22), 2B Ian Kinsler (.286, 14, 55).

Rotation: RH Kevin Millwood (16-12, 4.52 ERA, 157 Ks in 215 IPs), RHP Vicente Padilla (15-10, 4.50, 156 Ks in 200 IP), RHP Brandon McCarthy (4-7, 4.68, 53 games, including 2 starts, for White Sox), RHP Robinson Tejeda (5-5, 4.28), RHP Jamey Wright (6-10, 5.19 with San Francisco).

Key relievers: RH Eric Gagne (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1/1 save in 2 games with Dodgers), RH Akinori Otsuka (2-4, 2.11, 32/36 saves), RH Joaquin Benoit (1-1, 4.86 in 56 appearances), LH Ron Mahay (1-3, 3.95 in 62 appearances), LH C.J. Wilson (2-4, 4.06), RH Kameron Loe (3-6, 5.86), RH Scott Feldman (0-2, 3.92 in 36 appearances).

Overview: Young, Teixeira and the Rangers rarely have trouble scoring runs. Now, Sosa slides into the middle of the lineup after sitting out a year. He’s 12 homers shy of 600. It sure looked as though he could still hit in spring training, but the regular season should be a tougher test. If youngsters Tejeda and McCarthy come through, the pitching staff might be better than expected. The key could be star closer Gagne, coming off two injury-plagued seasons with the Dodgers. He’ll start the year on the DL, but the team says he’s not hurt – he just needs more time to get ready. Blalock looks for a bounce-back year.

Seattle Mariners

2006: 78-84, fourth place.

Manager: Mike Hargrove (third season).

Projected lineup: CF Ichiro Suzuki (.322, 9 HRs, 49 RBIs, 224 hits, 45 SBs, .370 OBP), 3B Adrian Beltre (.268, 25, 89), DH Jose Vidro (.289, 7, 47, 48 strikeouts in 126 games for Washington), LF Raul Ibanez (.289, 33, 123 – both career highs), 1B Richie Sexson (.264, 34, 107, 40 doubles, 154 strikeouts in 158 games), RF Jose Guillen (.216, 9, 40 in 69 games with Washington), C Kenji Johjima (.291, 18, 76), 2B Jose Lopez (.282, 10, 79), SS Yuniesky Betancourt (.289, 8, 47).

Rotation: RHP Felix Hernandez (12-14, 4.52 ERA, 195 hits in 191 IP, 23 HR in 31 starts), LHP Jarrod Washburn (8-14, 4.67), RHP Jeff Weaver (3-10, 6.29 with Angels and 5-4, 5.18 with St. Louis before winning World Series clincher), RHP Miguel Batista (11-8, 4.58 with Arizona), LHP Horacio Ramirez (5-5, 4.48 in 14 starts with Atlanta).

Key relievers: RHP J.J. Putz (4-1, 2.30, 36/43 saves), RHP Chris Reitsma (1-2, 8.68, 8/12 saves in 27 games before elbow surgery with Atlanta), LHP Arthur Rhodes (0-5, 5.32, 4 saves, 48 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings for Philadelphia), LHP George Sherrill (2-4, 4.28 in career-high 72 games).

Overview: World Series star Weaver joins a retooled rotation led by Hernandez, who is in much better shape this year. Ichiro moves from right field to center and enters the final year of his contract. The Mariners are counting on Vidro and his creaky knees at DH. Ibanez is coming off a big season. The bullpen is a major concern, partly because of injuries. Manager Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi are under pressure because of three consecutive last-place finishes.

Associated Press