Quarter Point
Posted by Jason A. Churchill on May 21, 2006
It's the worst division in baseball. What is it about baseball west of the Mississippi? Last year, the National League West Champion won 82 games. This year, the leaders in the American League West are tied with 22 wins against 21 losses. One measly game over .500.
At the quarter mark, instead of league-wide awards, we'll take a look at the best – and worst in the AL West.
All-Division Team
1B – Mark Teixeira – .287/.376/.439, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 25 BB, 37 SO
2B – Jose Lopez – .304/.330/.511, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 4 BB, 25 SO
3B – Eric Chavez – .281/.373/.548, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 BB, 21 SO
SS – Michael Young – .328/.380/.437, HR, 28 RBI, 18 BB, 26 SO
C – Kenji Johjima – .288/.348/.439, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 8 BB, 13 SO
DH – Carl Everett – .265/.350/.445, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 19 BB, 24 SO
OF – Ichiro Suzuki – .314/.367/.382, HR, 14 RBi, 13 BB, 18 SO, 15 SB
OF – Vladimir Guerrero – .313/.356/.536, 11 HR, 37 RBI, 11 BB, 20 SO
OF – Nick Swisher – .287/.385/.613, 13 HR, 34 RBI, 23 BB, 37 SO
SP – Barry Zito – 3-3, 3.27 ERA, 55 IP, 43 H, 23 BB, 37 SO, .223 BAA
SP – John Lackey – 3-3, 3.70 ERA, 58.1 IP, 45 H, 21 BB, 47 SO, .212 BAA
RP – J.J. Putz – 1-0, 1.96 ERA, 6 Svs, 23 IP, 6 BB, 33 SO, .190 BAA
RP – Scot Shields – 1-3, 1.14 ERA, 1 Sv, 23 IP, 3 BB, 19 SO, .181 BAA
MVP – Chavez
ROY – Johjima
MOY – Ken Macha, Oakland
Best Free Agent Hitter – Everett over Frank Thomas
Best Free Agent Pitcher – Tie: Jarrod Washburn [2-5, 3.81ERA, .236 BAA], Kevin Millwood [5-3, 4.26 ERA, .280 BAA]
Most Disappointing Hitter: Richie Sexson [.201/.279/.348]
Most Disappointing Pitcher: Esteban Loaiza [0-3, 8.35 ERA]
Most Disappointing Team: Los Angeles [17-27, 4th]
AL WEST STATS
TEAM ERA
1. Oakland – 4.41
2. Seattle – 4.53
3. Texas – 4.63
4. Los Angeles – 4.83
BATTING AVERAGE
1. Texas – .286
2. Seattle – .263
3. Oakland – .248
4. Los Angeles – .247
HOME RUNS
1. Oakland – 50
2. Texas – 49
3. Los Angeles – 37
4. Seattle – 36
OBP
1. Texas – .352
2. Oakland – .330
3. Seattle – .317
4. Los Angeles – .301
SLG
1. Texas – .458
2. Seattle – .411
3. Oakland – .400
4. Los Angeles – .380
prospectinsider.wordpress.com 
David Josef Clark said
I feel better now, thank you.
Goose said
Bwahahaha, the Angels SUCK.
That brings a smile to my face regardless of what we do.
dnc said
I like the format, Jason. I was a big time Everett basher, and I’m still not sure I want him on the team next year, but I must say he’s been a great purchase so far.
johnb said
Crazy Carl was a safe bet to finish with his career average numbers this year. He is a crafty veteran, even when he wasn’t hitting it well he was still figuring out how to get on base. All in all he has been a decent low risk aquisition.
Jerry said
I still hope the M’s trade him.
Does anyone see this club as a contender? I don’t. I think that team is actually worse than its spot in the standings (well, at least in terms of GB right now). But they aren’t that far back.
What do you guys think?
marinerswinws said
I see we are since we can only get better in this bad division.
Marinerhomer said
They may not win 88 games but the M’s are definetly a contender in the west. If Sexson and Beltre start contributing at all they will be in the race the whole year.
It is good for M’s that Everett is playing well but I was hoping to see Doyle in the big leagues again sometime soon.
Willmore said
Nothing new really. The Ms are a bad team in a bad division, making them average as compared to the competition. Doesn’t really inspire much confidence.
Willmore said
By the way, Jason. How long does LaHair have to destroy the Texas League before he gets a promotion. He had another 3-5 night with a homer. He’s not developing there anymore, he is not facing the competition and adversity that a prospect needs to improve.
JasonAChurchill said
Ha!
If he was hitting .400 with 15 homers, then you might be able to say he can’t develop anymore in AA.
It’s May 22, he’s yet to see that full second or third round against the same pitchers – who will make adjustments.
He doesn’t belong in AAA yet.
Goose said
Willmore.The M’s are 17-11 against teams that are not in the AL West.
Willmore said
Goose. I counted a 14-15 records against teams outside the AL West. And that is boosted by the Padres series. We are belowe average. We have played Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Baltimore.
Willmore said
Also, Jason I wanted to ask you, is the organization trying to make Lowe a starter again ? He was a dominating setup/closer type, why mess with that ? He showed nothing last year as a starter, so why try that again.
And by the way, there is a good example of a pitcher doing far better as a reliever than a starter, something that Meche might be good at, once he hits the crapper again and collapse in the next few starts. Lowe improved across the board with control, stuff, etc. Something you said doesn’t happen in the starter-reliever conversion.
JasonAChurchill said
He’s not going to start, he was just on a rehab outing today.
And Lowe didn’t have bad command AS A STARTER. He was nails at UTA before being drafted in 2004.
Willmore said
4.25 BB/9 last year in 22 starts.
JasonAChurchill said
So yer going to take 22 pro starts and ignore his entire college career?
Lowe didn’t have command problems. Period.
He’s excelling now in relief because in shorter stints he’s pitching at max velo.
With Meche, he’s been a starter for 9 pro years, and his control has been mediocre the whole time.
Lowe showed mediocre control for 22 whole starts.
In college, he was 3.87 as a starter 3 games) in year 1, 4.48 in relief (8 games).
In year 2 he started three games and relieved 18 and posted a combined 3.23 BB/9.
He started four postseason games and walked 5 in 24.2 innings, too.
And it’s far too early to say Lowe’s walk totals are that much better anyways. It’s May 22 for crying out loud.
Also, you are laying walks into this far too deep. Control and command are about more than walks. And Meche has a problem in both areas. Too many walks, and when he does throw strikes he often catches too much of the plate – that’s bad command.
Willmore said
Meche’s stats were very similar to Lowe’s in the minors. Anyway, I just thought I’d bring Lowe up. I doubt I’ll be able to convince you of anything. Seeing is believing. Unfortunately, Meche will never be a reliever with the Mariners.
Goose said
Ok your right.I have no clue were I got 17-11.Must of pulled that stat out of my ass.
JasonAChurchill said
Comparing Meche to Lowe makes no sense.
Meche was a prep draftee, Lowe went to a four-year college and was a reliever in college except for 10 games.
Meche made all of 14 relief appearances in his entire minor league career.
To suggest that Meche has a good chance to be an effective reliever based on ANYTHING Mark Lowe has done or is doing is ridiculous.
Meche has issues throwing the ball over the plate on a 3-0 pitch when he knows the batter won’t be swinging. Lowe has never had that sort of problem. His walks come from trying to nibble, fatigue in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings…
He only started last year to get him some innings. He’s a relief arm and the M’s are going to use him that way should he reach the bigs.
JasonAChurchill said
Why does it matter what the M’s record is in any situation, including their overall tally?
The only number that matters is 122.
That’s the M’s Magic Number, baby!
Salty Dog said
How can you *not* see this team as a contender? The AL West is wide open.
JasonAChurchill said
It is indeed. If Harden and Thomas weren’t both so injury prone, I’d feel differently. But they are and the Rangers are the Rangers, so…
PositivePaul said
Wow. Esteban Loaiza as the most disappointing pitcher. I’d’ve put my money down on the more expensive Jeff Weaver.
With Weaver, Beltre, and so many other of Boras’ clients totally sucking at ridiculous contracts, you gotta wonder how much longer teams are going to pad his bank accounts.
PositivePaul said
Oh, and Chavez for MVP? Over Swisher? Over Vlad? I can see some argument for Chavez playing a more premium position. But it’s interesting you’d pick him over Swisher.
JasonAChurchill said
Loaiza was more expensive than Weaver.
And Chavez is the unquestionable leader of the A's and plays mucho defense, too. And look where he bats in that lineup. He's the anchor.
Vlad is on a last place team, too.
PositivePaul said
Okay, yeah, I’m an idiot. 3/$21 is more expensive than 1/$8 — when salaries (as they are in MLB) are guaranteed. I was comparing the two salaries for this season.
Yeah, with how well he’s doing, I’d certainly give some points to Chavez. But I’d also give quite a few to Swisher, who’s throwing his coming out party.
I’d almost trade Felix for Chavez, though. He’s that good, and likely will be for awhile yet.
marc w. said
WHAT? Say it ain’t so, Paul! Chavez is a good player, but years like his 2005 have to give you pause. I’m still not sure his new-found ability to hit lefties is for real…