Los Angeles Angels
2008: 100-62, first place
Manager: Mike Scioscia, 10th year
Projected lineup: 3B Chone Figgins, 2B Howie Kendrick, LF Bobby Abreu, RF Vladimir Guerrero, CF Torii Hunter, 1B Kendry Morales, DH Juan Rivera, C Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis, SS Erick Aybar
Rotation: RH John Lackey, RH Jered Weaver, LH Joe Saunders, RH Ervin Santana, RH Kelvim Escobar
Closer: LH Brian Fuentes
Hot spot: Starting rotation. Lackey has arm problems. Santana is expected to miss at least the first week with a sore elbow. Escobar is still working his way back from surgery. In the meantime, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux are potential fill-ins.
Texas Rangers
2008: 79-83, second place.
Manager: Ron Washington, third year
Projected lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton, RF Nelson Cruz, DH Hank Blalock, LF David Murphy, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus
Rotation: RH Kevin Millwood, RH Vicente Padilla, LH Matt Harrison, RH Brandon McCarthy, RH Kris Benson
Closers: RH Frank Francisco, LH C.J. Wilson.
Hot spots: Crowded outfield, DH. Having Blalock as the primary DH creates a logjam in the outfield. Ex-All Star Andruw Jones made the team as the fifth outfielder, and the Rangers want to play Marlon Byrd.
Oakland Athletics
2008: 75-86, third place.
Manager: Bob Geren, 3rd year
Projected lineup: CF Ryan Sweeney, SS Orlando Cabrera, 1B Jason Giambi, LF Matt Holliday, 3B Eric Chavez, DH Jack Cust, C Kurt Suzuki, RF Travis Buck, 2B Mark Ellis
Rotation: RH Justin Duchscherer, LH Dallas Braden, RH Trevor Cahill, LH Dana Eveland, LH Brett Anderson, LH Josh Outman
Closer: RH Brad Ziegler
Hot spots: All around the infield. Ex-Yankee Giambi seems revitalized, but Daric Barton will push for more time. Cabrera is penciled in at SS, but Nomar Garciaparra will get chances there and at 3B, where Chavez is returning from another injury. Bobby Crosby could see time at 2B.
Seattle Mariners
2008: 61-101, fourth place
Manager: Don Wakamatsu, 1st year
Projected lineup: RF Ichiro Suzuki, 2B Jose Lopez, DH Ken Griffey Jr., 1B Russell Branyan, 3B Adrian Beltre, C Kenji Johjima, CF Franklin Gutierrez, LF Endy Chavez, SS Yuniesky Betancourt
Rotation: RH Felix Hernandez, LH Erik Bedard, RH Carlos Silva, LH Jarrod Washburn, LH Ryan Rowland-Smith
Closer: RH Brandon Morrow
Hot spots: Closer. Rotation. Left field. Catcher. Shortstop. Second base. DH. Griffey is coming off knee surgery and can’t play LF every day, squeezing at-bats from Mike Sweeney. Chad Cordero may be closer when he returns from injury.
