I want to see predictions with records for the AL West Division and 3 notiable stats/scenerios that are bound to happen...

Here are mine

AL West

Texas Rangers -- 91-71
Los Angeles Angels -- 84-78
Oakland A's -- 81-81
Seatle Mariners -- 70-92

1.) Nelson Cruz will be AL League Leader in HR's
2.) Derek Holland will start Game 1 in the ALDS for the Texas Rangers
3.) Michael Young will rekindle his old form, hitting .325 with 26 HR's and 101 RBI

Lets see your thoughts... Be bold not status quo...

AL West

Oakland *** 90-72
Texas *** 88-74
LAA *** 87-75
Seattle *** 68-94

1) Harrison\Hunter\Holland will combine for >38 L's this season
2) Kinsler will hit exceed .290 with >20 HR
3) Taylor Teagarden and Eric Hurley will be permanent fixtures on the 25 man ML roster before the ASB

Oakland - 85 - 77
LAA - 82 - 80
Texas 80 - 82
Seattle 69 - 93

1) Our pitching staff combines for a 4.80 ERA.
2) We score 850 runs.
3) 13 different pitchers start games for us this year due to injuries and failure.

I hope I'm wrong.

Texas 88 - 74
Oakland - 86 - 76
LAA - 84 - 78
Seattle 75 - 87

1. Webb becomes a solid #4.
2. Lewis outperforms Wilson.
3. Holland is replaced in the rotation.
4. Cruz has a monster season while Hamilton has a more human season.
5. Kinsler will do "just okay" at leading off and grumblings about his performance will arise.
6. Mason Tobin will be average.

Oakland - 94 - 68
Texas - 92 - 70
LAA 86 - 76
Seattle 66 - 96

1) We deal for Chris Carpenter at the deadline as CJ and Colby are our only two reliable starters
2) Feliz is stretched out in mid relief and transtioned to a starter mid season as the back of our rotation falters and Ogando, Strop and Scheppers step up
3) Hamilton and Cruz combine for 80 HRs.

x-Texas 88 - 74
LAA - 84 - 78
Oakland - 83 - 79
Seattle 68 - 94

1.) MY gets injured playing 2B.
2.) Matt Treanor is the PTBNL in the Whittleman trade after Lowe is a disaster and a roster spot is opened up.
3.) Harrison is solid with an ERA around 4.05.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview/2011/news/story?page=11expertpicks

Here's how the wonderful minds at ESPN picked the West.

43 total votes

Rangers - 28
A's - 10
Halos - 5
Mariners - 0

I'm honestly surprised that more people aren't picking the A's. Then again, this is ESPN, so I don't rely too heavily on what they have to say.

Texas 87-75
Oakland 84-78
Angels 78-84
Seattle 69-93

Rangers pick up a #2/#3 type rotation guy at the break (like John Burkett in 1996.)
Rangers get swept by Red Sox in the ALDS
Nelson Cruz wins AL MVP
Webb is a non-factor.
Harrison does better than we expect.
Holland continues to frustrate us but has a decent season.
Beltre shines and becomes huge fan favorite.
Young IS NOT traded. He is ours forever (or until we release him and eat his contract in 2013.)

Texas (92-70)
Oakland (89-73)
LAA (83-79)
Seattle (68-94)

1.) Nelson Cruz will post MVP-caliber numbers
2.) Despite not being an every-day player, Mike Napoli will hit 25+HR's
3.) C.J. Wilson will fall off a little from last year, but Colby Lewis will repeat from last year and Derek Holland will finally start to show consistency and prove to be a viable #3 starter

Rangers will win 85 and come in 2nd, but it will be close all season - that's my gut feeling. But honestly, I find it hard to judge this team, since so many of their players are young and unproven. I'm happy though - young & exciting is usually fun baseball to watch.

(X) Texas 95-67
(Y)Oakland 91-71
Angels 79-83
Seatle 62-100

1. Lewis wins 18 games
2. Nelson Cruz will hit 40+ HRs with a .320 avg and 120 Rbis
3. JD trades for Zack Greinkie after the Brewers fall out of the race
4. Adrian Beltre hits .340 with 100+ Rbis 30+ HR
5. Rangers have the best offense in the league and score 1000+ runs
6. Engel Beltre comes up after Borbon struggles and hits .280/.340/.425
7. CJ beats Cliff Lee in the WS 5-3 and the Rangers win it all in 6

Texas 94-68
Oakland 88-74
Seattle 75-87
Angels 75-87

1) Holland, Lewis & Wilson combine to win 45 games.
2) Borbon steals 35 bases.
3) Kinsler stays healthy and hits 25 HR's & steals 25
4) Napoli hits 25 HR's
5) Webb comes up in mid-May and bolsters the staff, going 10-4.

No need to be gloomy on March 31st!

Oakland 88-74
Texas 86-76
LAA 85-77
Seattle 63-99

1.) CJ takes a step back, while Colby stays steady
2.) Holland wins 13 games, while Webb wins 8
3.) Kinsler and Cruz put up MVP type numbers but get injured along the way
4.) Beltre locks down third defensivley but doesn't excel offensivley
5.) Borbon once again can't hit, so Murphy gets plenty of PT

Texas - 91-71
Oakland - 88-74
LAA - 82-82
Seattle - 70-92

1) Oakland's young pitching struggles out of the gate, but comes on strong around the allstar break, then struggles in September as they slowly fall out of first place
2) Chris Carpenter leads the way as Texas moves past Oakland in the final 2 weeks of the season
3) Nellie and Josh finish 1-2 in MVP voting
4) CJ finishes 2nd in CY voting
5) Martin Perez pitches well as a september call-up, all but solidifying a starting spot in 2012
6) Texas tears up interleague play with an overall record of 15-3, including wins over Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay in Philly

1. Texas 95-67
2. Oakland 93-69
3. LAA 81-81
4. Seattle 62-100

1. Lewis wins 20, Holland 13.
2. David Murphy hits 25 hr
3. Trade Perez, Scheppers, Beltre & Olt for Felix Hernandez.

1. Texas 94-68
2. Oakland 89-73
3. LAA 82-80
4. Seattle 72-90

Predictions:

* Party like it's 1999...Rangers' offense #1 in MLB with 925 runs scored
* Kinsler, Cruz, Hamilton all remain free of major injury
* Unforeseen circumstance opens door for return of Chris Davis, surprise of the year
* Wilson, Lewis, Holland and Ogando all average around 15 wins, Webb chips in 12
* Scheppers steps in to solidify pen, allowing Ogando to remain a starter
* Feliz again reaches 40 saves
* Texas again eliminates Yanks in ALDS and nips the Red Sox in a thrilling ALCS, 4-3
* Texas-Philly in the WS, with Rangers taking it 4-2

Oakland 88-74
Texas 86-76
LAA 82-80
Seattle 69-93

1) Harrison, Ogando, Holland, Hunter and Bush will combine for 27 L's by the ASB
2) By the ASB, Ogando will still be in the rotation, will have a 4-6 win-loss record and having pitched 90 innings will blow out his arm and will be out for the season
3) Feliz will finish the season with a 2.30 ERA, 41 saves in 60 innings of work

x- Texas 91-71
y- Oaland 88-74
L.A. 85-77
M's 62-100

1. The rangers will have the best defense in baseball
2. Ogando will win 14 games with a 3.90 era & throw 190 innings
3. Mike Napoli will hit 28 hrs
4. Derek Holland will post a 2-6 record in 11 starts with a 5.75 era before Hunter replaces him in the rotation
5. Mark Lowe will be optioned to AAA before the end of April
6. Matt Harriosn will start 32 games with a 14-10 record & a 3.75 era

TEX - 95
LAA - 84
OAK - 83
SEA - 66

Old school Rangers offense returns to the midcities - 940 runs leads AL
Old school Rangers defense nowhere to be found - one of top defenses in MLB
Cruz AL HR champ with 43
Kinsler healthy all season and finishes top 6 in MVP voting
Ogando puts up a solid season and settles into the #3 role

I am very high on the team this season.

Rangers win West by 5-1/2 @ 92 Wins
Rangers snag (2) Big Arms (probably 2's) + CF'r at ASB Break