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2006 Season Preview: Wee Willie Hits Another Time Zone - The West
March 26, 2006
by Frank (Mudville)

AL West

1) Compton

2005 Finish: 95-61, 1st in AL West, lost in World Series

Pitching: In Pedro we trust. Martinez leads a staff that posted the lowest ERA in the AL last year. Recent acquisition Kevin Appier is poised to repeat his past Compton success, as is another old face Jim Hearn. Monty Stratton and Tim Hudson zipped the mouths of the skeptics last year. Can Stan Coveleski do the same after escaping the disaster in Mudville? If he does...then those skeptical mouths will stay shut one more time.Troy Percival strengthens a bullpen already featuring Francisco Rodriguez.

Offense: A huge turnover has given a new face to the offense. Lou Boudreau and Adrian Beltre form the new left side of the IF after the trades of Mike Schmidt and Robin Yount. Jim Gentile brings his slugging bat back at 1B, but Jackie Robinson takes over at 2B and Gary Carter replaces Darren Daulton behind the plate. Luis Gonzalez and Manny Ramirez are also gone. Roberto Clemente and Bobby Veach join the 2005 surprise of Andy Slyke in OF.

Outlook: Last year owner Jeff Nyveen put together a roster featuring quite a few platoons, but this year there appear to be more first-stringers. The pitching, after performing very well in 2005, looks even stronger. The division rivals just don't appear to have improved enough to shorten the gap with the Crips. Compton's run at a second title begins now!

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