Mariners and Angels

Hello again, as the song goes "And here I go again on my own, going down the only road I've ever known...." One of my favorite songs, and just happens to be stuck in my head right now. Tonight I tackle the Seattle Mariners, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, two teams that made me scratch my head last year, and probably will continue to. You have the Mariners who had no expectations, but have to turn it around sometime with the talent that they have on their roster. Then you have the Angels, a team that went out and spent big money last offseason, and definitely didn't live up to their expectations.

Seattle Mariners

2012 Record: 75-87

Manager: Eric Wedge

2013 Projected Starters: Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Joe Saunders, Blake Beavan, Erasmo Ramirez

2013 Projected Fielders: C Jesus Montero, 1B Justin Smoak, 2B Dustin Ackley, SS Brendan Ryan, 3B Kyle Seager, LF Mikey Morse, CF Franklin Gutierrez, RF Michael Saunders, DH Kendrys Morales

2012 Review: Talk about a tale of two teams, not just one part of the season to the other, but one game to the next for the Mariners. In April they had a perfect game against them, and a couple months later they had a combined no hitter, you literally didn't know what you were going to get from them. Surprisingly they traded Ichiro Suzuki, the man who has been the face of the team since he came into the league, by trading him to the Yankees who they were playing that same day. They haven't been stellar in recent years, but their division is probably among the toughest in baseball, even 75 wins isn't that bad in this division.

2013 Outlook: I can't honestly see them getting much better with the Rangers A's and Angels still in their division, but they could add a few wins playing the Astros.  Felix Hernandez got a monster deal this offseason, but they noticed some elbow issues so that will be something to watch with this team, along with if they'll stay consistent instead of two different teams from one day to the next.  While I can't see them competing for the division just yet, I can see them right around .500 this year, with the possibility of them getting over the hump.

2013 Projected wins: 78

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2012 Record: 89-73

Manager: Mike Scoscia

2013 Projected Starters: Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson, Jason Vargas, Tommy Hanson, Joe Blanton

2013 Projected Fielders: C Chris Ianetta, 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS Eric Aybar, 3B Alberto Callaspo, LF Mike Trout, CF Peter Bourjos, RF Josh Hamilton, DH Mark Trumbo

2012 Review: After the big splashes they made in the offseason, the Angels not making the playoffs is disappointing, even though they did win 89 games which most teams would be happy with. Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson certainly didn't produce to their expected numbers, or to their contract expectations, but thats not a usual trend for either player. I have to believe that they will bounce back, especially having Mike Trout the AL Rookie of the Year for the whole year, which people could argue that he should've been brought up earlier last year. 

2013 Outlook: This is easiest the hardest division to predict the winner in, because you have 3 teams that could win this division, and claim the two wildcard playoff spots in it. This team will be among the top teams once again, and having Trout for the whole season, plus Josh Hamilton, will do nothing but improve this team. However, the Hamilton could be a risky move, Pujols and Wilson certainly didn't produce to their expectations last year, and theres no telling whether or not Hamilton will do the same this year. 

2013 Projected wins: 95