2020 MLB SHOWDOWN SET --- AL WEST

 It is officially World Series Week, and I for one a hyped, the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers are going to have an awesome series with lots of showdown star power in the series. In this post were going to look at the AL West and if it wasn't for Tampa Bay, we may have had the worst World Series Showdown team ever. Not because of them being a bunch of cheaters, but because the regular season version of the Astros was not very good... all the averages and on bases dipped from the last couple years (since they must now see how hard it is to hit like every other team in the league when you don't know what is coming). Okay, I have gotten all my Astros bashing out of the way, so let's BANG on through the AL West and see what the studs (and duds tbh) will be joining the set of stars and that have already been released. 

                                               

5. Texas Rangers (22-38)

Batters: This team is bad, and you will see them struggle if they don't get their own charts. With four 5 OB cards, it will be tough to get their own charts... but crazy things have happened before! Dietrich is fun as he can play anywhere in the infield; in fact, the three top players for the rangers all have positional flexibility. Not much to write home about for this offense, or team in general, but they have a beautiful new stadium getting to host the NLCS and World Series.

Rotation: Lance Lynn puts together a decent season again for Texas, sadly Kluber got hurt and they traded Mike Minor, so after Lynn..... this rotation is straight up terrible. Maybe print out and use that PR Kluber. 

Bullpen: Three bullpen options for this team... and if you draft or use Jesse Chavez you deserve everything that happens to you 😉

4. Los Angeles Angels (26-34)

Batters: Will Mike Trout ever make the playoffs again???? The big investment in Anthony Rendon this year provided extra pop in the order, as he had another Anthony Rendon year.... but Mike Trout had a down year at the tune of "ONLY" an OB 9, 520 pt card. David Fletcher is a draft league dream, +4 defense with flexibility and only out through 2 at a very good price. Jared Walsh has a 50% chance at a triple or better if he gets the advantage, so he's a true risk reward worth gambling on. Jo Adell made his MLB debut and sadly his card isn't good but maybe next year he will be fully comfortable and not drop HR balls over the wall.... honestly, he feels like a fun throwback to the sub-150 point foils of the 01 PR set!

Rotation: The Angels are always being said by analysts they need to improve their starting rotation. Points wise, they have the second best rotation in the AL West, only 20 points behind Oaklands top 4 starters. This could be a silver lining going forward as they hopefully can continue to improve. In particular, mad shout out to Peter's favorite perpetual prospect Dylan Bundy for putting together a strong Tier 3 card!

Bullpen: Mike Mayers is a stud reliever with two good options behind him in Noe Ramirez and Felix Pena, then closing games if you choose with their actual closer Ty Buttery will get your heart pounding every bounce of the dice. 

3. Seattle Mariners (27-33)

Batters: An average lineup. Ty France is the most expensive at 370 pts and provides a decent 2B to the team. The futures card to look out for is Kyle Lewis, who was on pace for a 10 OB card before falling off at the end of the season. He's still a frontrunner for ROY. After Seager, who they may get good value for if they seek to trade him this offseason, the team really falls off and pitchers will be able to coast for the most part as long as they get their charts against the top 3 batters of the Mariners. However, help is on the way from the minors and expect to see Seattle challenging for the AL West title in 2022.

Rotation: An improved rotation from last season, as Marco Gonzales continues to have ace level cards for this Seattle team. However, the rest of the rotation falls into the average and below average category. Just as I have seen from other AL West rotations, they are not very deep. But, that shade of green on these cards has made a deep impact on me and I'm a "hue"ge fan of this card backing!

 

Bullpen: Yohan Ramirez is a nice closer if you feel like living dangerous with a 3 control finishing off your opponent. But with this bullpen that is the highest control you can even get. Ends of games against this team will probably get pretty nerve wracking. 

2. Houston Astros (29-31)

Batters: In a crazy season, this Astros team snuck into the post season as the only team under .500, and in typical fashion got extremely hot and played their way all the way to game 7 of the ALCS where most the baseball world was rooting against them. In all seriousness they played incredible this post season, and while I wasn't rooting for them, they showed some true heart before falling to the Rays. This team is a reflection of the regular season, and if they would have somehow would have won the World Series, this year it would have been hilarious considering how bad their cards are. Kyle Tucker did burst onto the scene this year, and I think Michael Brantley is extremely draftable.

Rotation: No Cole, No Verlander, No Miley... in steps Framber Valdez, with an average pitcher card, but watching him in the post season, I think he will have some good cards coming up. That curve ball he throws sure looks nice as it drops off the plate. Not the Houston rotation we are used to, but in divisional play, this team could do all right. They will need some hot post season rolls to win the big games though (just as they got IRL). 

Bullpen: The Astros bullpen lost some arms this offseason as well, but put together a really nice season in relief. A couple of 200 point relievers and two others that are useful. Snead is a punt that you probably hope to only use in mop up duty in blowout games.

1. Oakland Athletics (36-24)

Batters: The Oakland lineup is a very interesting one for a first place team. The Most expensive player is 390 points, but they have tremendous depth of average players. 5 players in the 300 point range followed by a 290 and 270 at least gives the lineup some depth to get to the starting pitchers from the other team, but the lack of an impact player may be their downfall as it has been for the last couple years. Down seasons from their awesome corner infielders Olson and Chapman made this line up somewhat mediocre, especially since Chapman is an all or nothing OB 6 hitter.

Rotation: This rotation could be solid. Chris Bassitt sets the tone as the ace, and brings a true Tier 2 Ace card to the table, followed by three tier 4 starts. This isn't a light outs rotation, but the hope is to keep the game close when it becomes bullpen time.

Bullpen: The absolute strength of this team, Liam Hendriks has proven over the last couple of seasons that he may be the best closer in all of baseball, but a Jake Diekman Tier 0 card, three tier 1 relievers and a single tier 2 card from Joakim Soria as the "weak" bullpen arm. If the starters make it through 5 innings, this pen is coming to kill all your hopes and dreams.

That is the AL West, and probably the worst division that we will see from the six divisions, can you believe were 4 divisions in already, and only have 2 divisions left??? What are your thoughts on the teams and players? Have a favorite?

Had to get in one more mockery at Houston's expense!!