We are just about 1/3 of the way through the 2008 Major League Baseball season.  The Tampa Rays are still in first place in the American League East and has the second best record overall in the Majors.  The top team is the Chicago Cubs, who were picked by many to be the representative for the National League in the World Series this year.

However, the most comical prediction made by so many experts was the Seattle Mariners winning the American League West.  Time and time again I said “With who will they be winning that division?”

The team traded for Erik Bedard, which was the right move, but now Bedard is getting hit around.  The lineup isn’t that good, they don’t have much offense behind Ichiro who is still one of the best lead-off men in the game.  Their defense is average, the bullpen is alright but not great by any stretch.  Yet, so many analysts had them winning it over the Los Angeles Angels who are the clear class of the division.

A team with a burnt-out bulb (Jose Vidro) currently hitting third, the irrelevant Richie Sexson hitting clean-up and one-hit wonder Adrian Beltre sitting fifth in their lineup was chosen by experts to go to the playoffs.  You can’t dig much deeper in the desperation well than counting on those three to carry your offense outside of Ichiro.

The rotation isn’t a whole lot better.  Bedard is an ace, but isn’t pitching like one.  Felix Hernandez, once a can’t-miss prospect, has been ruined by being rushed to the majors, Jarrod Washburn was once effective, but is just about finished and Miguel Batista is just flat-out mediocre.  Carlos Silva is young enough that if he lands on a good team he could become a nice middle-of-the-rotation guy, but not on this team.

I’m not the best prognosticator in the world, but I thought it was absurd that I was laughed at when I picked the Angels to win the division.  But they are the class of the West barring a multitude of injuries.  They’ve already come so far without John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, there’s no reason to think they can’t go the rest of the way with them.  Escobar, at last word, is soon to re-join the team and will likely pitch against after the All-Star break, barring a setback.  Imagine this team when Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar return from their injuries.

Tell me again why this team didn’t have enough to win the West?