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| (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) |
Despite having the fewest teams in the majors, the AL West does not lack in potential All-Stars and dominant starters. So we decided to take the premier players from the west and create our own super team. Our version of the All-AL West team isn’t just the division’s best, but rather the group who would work best as a team. Shockingly, none of the Los Angeles Angels, second in the division, made the cut.
We followed a few guidelines: Players could not change position, there had to be a balance between righties and lefties, and potential star power could be taken into account (although no prospects could be chosen). So, without further ado, here are your 2011 All-AL West team.
Leading off: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, RF
Ichiro had a down year, batting less than .300 and recording less than 200 hits for the first time in his 11-year MLB career. But the right fielder did have 26 more hits than any other leadoff hitter in the division and played in all 162 games. We’ll take Ichiro’s consistency, production, and defense in our lineup any day.
Second: Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers, SS
The Texas speedster stole 37 bases and drew 56 walks. His .347 OBP fits nicely in the second spot of the order. Andrus also makes our “AL West Best Names” team, but that’s beside the point.
Third: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers, 3B
Beltre’s 32 home runs and 105 RBIs is all the explanation we need for why he should be the number three hitter. For critics who say those numbers come from Beltre swinging at everything, he hit .296 with only 53 strikeouts in 124 games.
Cleanup: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, CF
Having Hamilton in the lineup is academic. The only question is where to put him? We thought about setting his .298 batting average, 25 homeruns, and 94 RBIs third in the order, but we wanted to space out the team’s three lefties.
Fifth: Josh Willingham, Oakland Athletics, LF
The lone Athletic on the All-AL West team was the only bright spot for the third place A’s this season. The Hammer hit 29 homeruns and 98 RBIs.
Sixth: Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers, DH
Napoli hit 30 homeruns in only 113 games. We thought about having Oakland’s Hideki Matsui in this position since he hits from the left side, but Napoli’s numbers were too good to ignore.
Seventh: Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners, 2B
Potential played heavily in our selection of the former number two overall pick. In just 90 games, the left-handed rookie hit six homeruns and 36 RBI while batting .273. Of course, Texas’ Ian Kinsler could have easily received the nod, but we see batting titles and All-Star appearances in Ackley’s near future.
Hitting eighth: Michael Young, Texas Rangers, 1B
Young has dabbled in every infield position over the course of his career, but he fills in as our first baseman. His .338 average and 106 RBI come only a year after hitting just .284 and 91, respectively.
Batting ninth: Miguel Olivo, Seattle Mariners, C
The starting catches across the division are fairly even. Olivo gets the nod because of his reputation as a great defensive catcher and his camaraderie with our pick for starting pitcher.
SP: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Hernandez won more than 20 percent of the Mariners games this season. Even with one of the worst teams in baseball, the 2010 Cy Young Award winner still notched 14 wins.
RP: Mike Adams, Texas Rangers
Adams finished sixth in the major leagues with 32 holds.
Closer: Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
The Texas flamethrower had 32 saves and a 1.16 WHIP. The combination of Feliz and Adams is practically lethal.
News and notes around the division:
- Texas Rangers: The Rangers advances to the ALCS with a 3-1 series win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
- LA Angels: General Manager Tony Reagins announced on September 30 that he has resigned. He will remain with the club as an assistant to Dennis Kuhl, the club’s chairman.
- Oakland Athletics: Bench coach Joel Skinner, pitching coach Ron Romanick, and hitting coach Gerald Perry will not return next season. First base coach Tye Waller and third-base coach Mike Gallego will return, and bullpen coach Rick Rodriguez will be considered for the same position.
- Seattle Mariners: Second baseman Dustin Ackley is nominated for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best overall hitters in each league.
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