Who will win the AL West in 2012? (ESPN, race, records)

[Ridgerunner]

The Rangers are a strong club, but except for a series with Detroit their schedule has not been very difficult. Their other opponents, the Twins, Mariners, White Sox and Red Sox, are a combined 24-35.

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

The Rangers are a strong club, but except for a series with Detroit their schedule has not been very difficult. Their other opponents, the Twins, Mariners, White Sox and Red Sox, are a combined 24-35.

Yes, but a major reason they have such a lousy record is that the Rangers have been beating them. Remove the games against the Rangers and they are 22-24, vaulting from .406 ball to .478 ball.

[Huge Foodie 215]

Well, its going to be a long year, and there are still 146 games to be played. Maybe the Rangers are peaking too early this season, but it does seem like they are playing with a mission.

Let's see what happens when they play the Yankees for this next series.

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

Yes, but a major reason they have such a lousy record is that the Rangers have been beating them. Remove the games against the Rangers and they are 22-24, vaulting from .406 ball to .478 ball.

If the Rangers played the whole season against the aforementioned clubs they might clinch the division in August.

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by Huge Foodie 215

Well, its going to be a long year, and there are still 146 games to be played. Maybe the Rangers are peaking too early this season, but it does seem like they are playing with a mission.

Let's see what happens when they play the Yankees for this next series.

As a Yankee fan, I'll be happy if we win one of the three.

[Cali BassMan]

The A's are playing better than expected

[case44]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

Sooner or later we'll see a .500 club winning the World Series. You cannot reward mediocrity without punishing accomplishment.

If they keep adding playoff berths, RR, that's exactly what we'll get. We had enough of that last season. That's the big problem in all sports. Such an idea may add to the excitement from a fan's perspective, but it's sending the wrong message.

Originally Posted by filihok

No. You've confirmed that, after the fact. We only know that they haven't got it done, not that they can't.

Who cares how I worded my opinion?? It is what it is. They (the Rangers) haven't won the Big One yet, and they are still a cursed franchise. My opinion still stands, so just deal with it, please.

Originally Posted by Huge Foodie 215

What's up with the Angel's slow start?

There's a lot of baseball left to be played. It will certainly come down to the Rangers and Angels battling for the division crown by September. Pujols may be in a slump, but I am confident he will come out of it.

[filihok]

Originally Posted by case44

IThey (the Rangers) haven't won the Big One yet

True.

Originally Posted by case44

and they are still a cursed franchise

Almost assuredly not true.

My opinion still stands, so just deal with it, please.

Your opinion is almost certainly incorrect. If you are ok with that, I'm ok with.

[malfunction]

Los Angeles Angels. I picked them at the start of the year, and I'm still standing by them. They'll come back.

[filihok]

Coolstandings.com has the Rangers in a blow out. 105 wins to 75 for LA (and 76 for Oakland). They give Texas a 90% chance of winning the division.

I had Texas and LA close to even before the season began. Texas' hot start and LA's slow start all but assures Texas will take the division if the two teams are similarly talented and win at an even rate from here on out.