AL West Update

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Inside the Numbers: Mark Trumbo continues to have an impressive spring leading the Angels in virtually every offensive category: runs (12), hits (16), doubles (5), home runs (5) and runs batted in (13). Howie Kendrick leads the team in steals with 5 and is batting .364 (12/33). Catcher Bobby Wilson has 12 hits including 4 doubles and is hitting .480. Vernon Wells is 8 for 29 with a home run and a pair of stolen bases.Joel Pineiro leads the staff in innings this spring with 13 and is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA over 4 starts. Jered Weaver has a team high 11 strike outs in 9 innings of work.

Of Note: Brandon Wood is hitting just .189 this spring with 7 hits in his first 37 at bats. He does have a pair of home runs but has also struck out 9 times versus just 1 walk. The one time minor league offensive player of the year (43 home runs in 2005) has yet to pan out at the major league level, and now having just turned 26, the questions are starting to arise as to whether or not he ever will. Wood has spent part of each of the last 4 seasons with the Angels, but in 450 at bats, he has managed just 76 hits for batting average of just .169. Last year was particularly bad as he managed to bat just .146 in 226 at bats while striking out 71 times against just 6 walks. In fact, Wood has struck out 145 times in his 450 at bats, so nearly 1 in every 3 while drawing just 13 walks. Wood did have a strong season in the Arizona Fall League this year batting .341 over 21 games with 7 walks against 16 strike outs, so there is hope, but he needs to put it all together soon because his window is closing.


OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Inside the Numbers: Coco Crisp has been the star for the A's offensively this spring leading the team in hits (16), runs (10), triples (2) and runs batted in (10) while batting a team high .471. Kevin Kouzmanoff is also having a solid spring hitting .429 with 12 hits in 28 at bats. Conor Jackson and Hideki Matsui meanwhile have combined for 6 hits in 66 at bats with 17 strike outs. Jai Miller has a team high 5 steals and is tied with Chris Carter for the team lead in walks with 9. Brett Anderson leads the team in innings this spring with 14 over his 4 appearances. He also leads the team in strike outs with 15. Gio Gonzalez has allowed 1 run on 4 hits in his 3 starts and has struck out 13 in 9 1/3 innings. Josh Outman has not lived up to his name giving up 18 his, 7 walks and 10 runs in 7 2/3 innings.

Of Note: Andrew Bailey, the 2009 rookie of the year and a 2 time all star already in his brief career gave the A's a scare this week when he experienced discomfort in his right elbow and forearm during his second appearance of the spring. Reports, however, state it's just a right forearm strain meaning no structural damage or need for surgery. This is a huge relief for the A's as Bailey has 51 saves over the past two seasons and has posted a 1.70 ERA over 115 career games. Opposing hitters have batted just .178 against him and the A's are counting on his continued dominance out of the bullpen as they look to compete in the West.


SEATTLE MARINERS

Inside the Numbers: Jack Wilson leads the M's with 10 hits in 21 at bats this spring. Alex Liddi leads the team with 2 home runs and 8 runs batted in despite just 13 at bats. Ichiro has 9 hits in 28 at bats and a pair of steals. Jason Vargas has tossed 7 scoreless innings in his two starts. Erik Bedard has tossed 5 2/3 innings over 3 starts and allowed just 1 run on 3 hits. Felix Hernandez went 2 2/3 innings in his first start and allowed 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 3. Doug Fister leads the Mariners this spring with 13 1/3 innings over 4 starts.

Of Note: 22 year old Italian born Alex Liddi hit .281 last year in AA and looks to be headed to AAA Tacoma to start 2011, but the Mariners are happy with what he's done so far this spring. The 6'4" 230 lbs third base prospect hit .281 with 37 doubles, 15 homers and 92 runs batted in last season, and despite a rough go in the Venezuelan Winter League (.218 in 110 at bats), he's produced in his limited action this spring.


TEXAS RANGERS

Inside the Numbers: 9 different Rangers have posted double digit hits already this spring: Elvis Andrus (11/40), David Murphy (14/40), Julio Borbon (14/38), Mitch Moreland (13/36), Chris Davis (12/34), Ian Kinsler (13/34), Andres Blanco (12/31), Mike Napoli (10/28) and Michael Young (11/27). Kinsler has a team high 5 home runs and Borbon has a team high 4 stolen bases. Davis and Moreland each have 5 doubles while Nelson Cruz has just 5 hits in 35 at bats with 0 home runs. Cruz hit 55 home runs over the past two major league seasons.

Of Note: Neftali Feliz, last year's rookie of the year as a closer (2.73 ERA 40/43 SVs) is trying to extend himself and become a starter this spring. And so far the results have been positive. In 3 games (2 starts) Feliz has thrown 9 innings and allowed just 1 run. If Feliz ends up moving into the rotation, that means the Rangers will be in need of a closer. Mark Lowe and Alexi Ogando are listed as the most likely options to take his spot if they go with an in-house solution, so don't be surprised to see the Rangers make a move if Feliz isn't the guy. Neither Lowe (5.40 in 5 innings) or Obando (5.19 in 8 2/3 innings) has been particularly strong this spring.