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AL West Mid-Term Report Card

AL West Mid-Term Report Card

This week marks the 80-game point of the regular season, which is about half of the MLB season. That means it’s time for some mid-season grades for the teams of the AL West.

Here’s my thoughts on how each team in the AL West has done so far this season.

Houston Astros (30-49, Last in AL West)

Hitting: D

Pitching: F

Fielding: F

Overall: D

The Houston Astros went into 2013 knowing they’d be the worst team in the AL and that’s the only expectation they’ve met. Offensively, their numbers are anemic, landing in the bottom 5 of every major offensive category. They’re also on pace to strikeout more than any other team in MLB history. As a team, they average over 9 Ks a game. Their pitching is also just as terrible, finishing dead last in ERA, WHIP, and second to last in AVG against. The Astros are no better at fielding, leading the AL in errors and finishing dead last in fielding percentage and defensive efficiency. For the first 40 games of the season, they finished 10-30 and were in the conversation for the worst team of all time. Their lone saving grace has been the last 39 games, in which they’re 20-19.
Los Angeles Angels (35-43, 3rd in AL West)

Hitting: B

Pitching: D

Fielding: F

Overall: D

What originally began as a slow start has now evolved into a full blown catastrophe for the Angels. They were expected to score in bunches and compete for the AL West crown. The offense has been there, even with career worst years from Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. They score well enough to be sixth in runs scored, but their pitching and defense give runs back as quickly as they’re scored. The lone bright spot pitching-wise has been Jerome Williams, who is finally in the starting rotation (as I said he should’ve been here). Meanwhile, C.J. Wilson continues to underwhelm and Joe Blanton is an absolute nightmare to watch. Combine that with the AL’s second worst defense (see Astros, Houston for #1) and you get a team that is currently 12 wins below their current expected win total. At this pace, the Angels will finish 71-91 and win the title of Most Talented Team to Waste a Season.

Oakland Athletics (46-34, T-1st in AL West)

Hitting: C

Pitching: A

Fielding: B

Overall: B

The A’s have been this season’s most mercurial team. They have huge swings between winning streaks and losing spells, with the winning streaks having lasted longer. Offensively, they’re in the middle of the pack with one exception: they draw walks. The extra basemen allow them more opportunities to score and when they get a lead, it’s tough to take it back from their pitching staff. The A’s lead the AL in AVG against and WHIP, and are third in ERA. Their pitching is aided by having the AL’s best defense in terms of efficiency. The A’s have perfected the formula to stay near the top of the standings: play .500 ball on the road, crush everyone at home. They’re an AL best 24-12 at home and 22-22 on the road.

Seattle Mariners (34-45, 4th in AL West)

Hitting: D

Pitching: D

Fielding: B

Overall: C

You’re probably wondering why a team 11 games under .500 would get a grade of C, but the answer is quite simple; they had low expectations. Considering this team is devoid of talent offensively, they still manage to rank around the middle of the pack in most categories, except for runs scored. If Felix Hernandez or Hisashi Iwakuma could start every game, pitch eight innings and give the ball to closer Tom Wilhelmsen for the ninth, the Mariners would have a top tier pitching staff. When you add in the remainder of the pitching staff, they are decidedly below average. The Mariners can take solace in having the AL’s third best team in fielding percentage to offset the bad pitching. What the Mariners lack is an identity; they have no idea what they do best and how to maximize it. 80 games into the season is a poor time to start figuring that out. (EDITORS NOTE: Don’t forget that they traded an All-Star for a slugger who got demoted to AAA.)

Texas Rangers (45-33, T-1st in AL West)

Hitting: B

Pitching: A

Fielding: C

Overall: A

Texas has played like the top echelon team that it is all season long, and are pretty much the standard-bearers of the division. The fighting Ron Washingtons score most often via the prettiest way possible: the long ball. Texas is in the top five of most offensive statistics, including OPS, slugging percentage, and batting average. When the power dries up though, they are average offensively. Their pitching is among the best in the AL, anchored by Cy Young-candidate Yu Darvish and a host of flamethrowers behind him. Texas gets the nod over Oakland in my grades due to one key statistic…while Oakland is the AL’s best home team, Texas is the AL’s best road team at 23-18.

 

Chris is an Indy based writer who thinks grades are overrated…except these.

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