AL West Predictions

AL West:

Team Carlin:

What’s To Like: Any discussion of Team Carlin has to start with the Big Three the same way as any talk of the 1927 Yankees starts with Ruth/Gehrig. It has become the great debate of the league: What is the right penalty for a team that comes in with, by the most conservative estimates, two “1s” and a “2”? Most people, including myself, feel the penalty is too light especially by taking a look around the league. Having what is essentially two “13s” isn’t far too different from what many teams already have. I count at least eight teams whose bottom two players either performed like 13s last year or were drafted in the 13th round in 2011. It’s a philosophical argument but I’d always take a team that has three guys who are as good as Brad, Mark, and Ron even if their bottom of the lineup is especially weak.

It is to Ron’s credit as a great captain that the bottom of his lineup isn’t even that week compared to other teams. Anybody who starts and ends their discussion of Team Carlin with their “Big Three” is ignoring how solid the rest of Team Carlin looks to be. Lehman, Freeman, Weinstein all provide solid pop throughout the lineup. This is a team that can hit, field, and pitch as well as any team in the league.

Team Questions: Hmm. Let’s see. . . If you are a contrarian thinker and believe Ron is a .500 hitter then he is due to bat under .300 this year. If Brad Goldstein has the same season this year as he had in 2011 then he’ll have 0 runs and 0 RBI. They’ll also get nothing out of their 4th pick of the draft.

Best Draft Pick: Ron as a three is pretty damn good. Seriously though, if Darren Freeman can have the season he had in 2010 then he’ll be a bargain in the 6th round. Bickoff hits a lot better than any other 13th round pick.

Prediction: 16-6


Team Harris:

What’s To Like: It was very surprising to see the league MVP traded at the draft, but Justin Callow is a first rounder who will most likely improve on his rookie of the year numbers. Kushner has a chance to make an immediate impact at the plate which would give Team Harris a solid heart of the lineup.

Team Questions: I’m always cautious about projecting rookies to succeed in their first year, and this is a team that is not only relying on one to provide a lot of power, but also to handle pitching duties. If things don’t work out, this could be a very tough year for Harris.

Best Draft Pick: I don’t see any true bargains, so if Kastner can prove to be a dominant pitcher this year, he’ll prove to be a very undervalued 8th rounder.

Prediction: 10-12



Team Lapine:

What’s To Like: This team is built around solid defenders. Roland is one of the best defensive outfielders in the league and Phil Lipomi has a chance of being one of the top 2 or 3 shortstops this season. Mike Perloff may miss a bunch of regular season games but besides from an off year in 2011, he’s been one of the most underrated players in the league. But the real key to this team is the man on the mound. You can’t win in this league without pitching and they have one of the best in Drapkin.

Team Questions: While there are solid hitters all over this lineup, this is definitely not a team built for Union Hill. Defense will have to prevail during stretches of the season.

Best Draft Pick: Jordan Krant will hit .500 this season. You heard it here first! I think Perloff is a great player and to avoid picking the last player in the draft by getting Stu Krauss included as a 13 was a very nice move. Phil Lipomi may have gone in the second round, but I have very little doubt he’ll still be there as second round option in 2013.

Prediction: 12-10


Team Sarcona:

What’s To Like: The Preisses are among the biggest winners in the league. Despite taking a year off, expectations are sky high for Jordan to establish himself as one of the top players in the league. Jordan may not hit for tremendous power, but with Lenny, and Eric Golden behind him, he won’t have to.

Team Questions: They are expected to miss a combined 16-18 games from the Preisses and Eric Golden(3 out of their first 4 picks). Although they’ll be there for the playoffs, they might have to face a difficult road to the finals if regular season games have to be sacrificed.

Best Draft Pick: Despite the missed games, Eric Golden was the perfect pick in the third round to give this team much needed power.

Prediction: 9-13