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| The Angels won 92 games last year despite losing hundreds of games to injury. Guerrero, signed away from Montreal as a free agent, was the main reason, looking like a guy who spent his entire career in the A.L. After slumping 22 games following their World Series win in 2002, the Angels have rapidly reversed course and seem poised to make another run this year.
Bartolo Colon, Kelvim Escobar and company are not going to scare anyone, but with the Big Three dismantled in Oakland, the Angels can boast of the division's best rotation ifor the first time in years. Also on the plus side, Dallas McPherson and Casey Kotchman bring a much-needed injection of youth. |
American League Action |
American League East |
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The 2005 World Series Champions rearm themselves with ex-New York Yankee David Wells after the free agent departure of Pedro Martinez to the New York Mets. Their offense remains potent. "They can all crush you, one through nine." ... "Their nine -hole hitter ( Mark Bellhorn ) had 57 extra-base hits." ... "They have such a relentless offense, it takes real mental toughness to get them out. It isn't the most talented [pitchers] who stop them. It's the toughest." Find tickets for all home games at Fenway Park at Tickets.cc |
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Randy Johnson's the latest superduperstar brought to the $200 Million Order of the Pinstripes, and if it were anybody but the Big Unit, you'd have to make a big deal about the fact that he's 41 years old. Given the sort of support he lacked in Arizona last year, Johnson could be a 30-game winner in New York. Attend Yankees games with seats from Tickets.cc. |
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Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, teammates on Panel No. 3 in the congressional hearings into steroid use, have combined for a career 1,125 home runs. They're complimented by Melvin Mora and Javy Lopez and a dependable bullpen. Tickets are available from Tickets.cc |
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Ownership recently committed $210 million to payroll over the next three years. Future focus lies on the Hawaiian kid named Brandon League, a 100-mph plus fire baller currently in the Jays minor league system. Find your seats to Blue Jays home games at Tickets.cc |
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The Red Sox weren't the only ones who pulled off the major upset last year. The Devil Rays actually did Not finish in last place, a feat of historic proportion in Tampa Bay and a tribute to native son Lou Piniella, a superb manager who actually predicted that the Rays would not end up in the cellar and made it happen. Search through the Tickets.cc inventory for seats to all Tropicana Field home games. |
American League Central
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It's difficult to imagine the Tribe without the marvelous Omar Vizquel, gone to win more Gold Gloves in the other league and replaced at shortstop by young Jhonny Peralta, but youth is being served and served nicely in Cleveland. Tickets, schedules, information on Jacobs Field and the Indians available at Tickets.cc |
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No team in the majors hit more home runs last year than the 242 struck by the Sox. Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee are gone, so Manager Ozzie Guillen is trying to reformat his club for speed, hence the acquisition of major league stolen base leader Scott Podsednik and the signing of Japanese Tadahitu Iguchi to bat behind him in the No. 2 spot. Find seats to any home game at U.S. Cellular Field from Tickets.cc |
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Among less-printable names, the Twin's ballpark is called the Homerdome, yet Minnesota hasn't had a guy hit 30 home runs in a season since 1987. That should change this year with first baseman Justin Morneau, who hit 19 after joining the twins for the last half of 2004. Tickets.cc is a provider of ticket sales for all Minnesota Twins games. |
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The lovably goofy Jose Lima is back in town, plugged into the No. 1 starter's role, ready to put a little fun back into the AL's worse pitching staff of 2003. Tickets are available for any game at Kauffman Stadium at Tickets.cc |
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No longer a laughingstock, the Tigers mean business. A year after luring perennial All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez to the Motor City, the Tigers have added proven vets in outfielder Magglio Ordonez and closer Troy Percival. (Last year the Tigers bullpen blew 28 of 63 save chances). Let Tickets.cc be your source for tickets for Comerica Park home games. |
American League West
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If Barry Zito and Rich Harden end up with Cy Young-tyoe seasons and Eric Chavez is MVP-ish, the A's should off-set the losses of Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. Youngsters such as Joe Blanton, Dan Meyer, Dan Haren, and Huston Street join the pitching staff along with rookie outfielder Nick Swisher. Tickets.cc is your one-stop ticket source for Oakland Athletics tickets. |
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One hundred million dollars may buy you two sluggers - namely, Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson - but not enough security to suggest that the Mariners area ready to return to their top form. However with Batting Champion Ichiro Suzuki and his record setting 262 hits and starter Joel Pineiro healthy, the M's should be a good bet for success in 2005. Safeco Field tickets for home games are on sale at Tickets.cc |
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The Texas bullpen lead the league in earned run average (3.46), save percentage (.788), winds (34), and winning percentage (.694) in 2004. With that home ballpark and baseballs searing off the bats of Hank Blalock, Alfonso Soriano, Michael Young, and Mark Teixeira, the Rangers could mash with anybody. Let Tickets.cc put you in the stands throughout the season. |
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With a combination of power and ability to hit for average, Casey Kotchman has as much offensive upside as any prospect in baseball. |
He takes a controlled cut through the strike zone, with pole-to-pole power. His hits have a lower trajectory, accounting for an inordinate amount of doubles last season (33 in 313 at-bats), but he should eventually turn those into home runs. Between the Class AAA and AA levels last year, he hit .371 with eight home runs and a .553 slugging percentage.
Kotchman is a disciplined hitter, and isn't afraid to take a walk, as evidenced by a solid .428 on-base percentage in 2004. His defense at first base is Gold Glove-caliber, as he possesses incredibly soft hands and agility. Persistent injuries hit him once again last season, as he suffered through wrist and shoulder problems. The Angels carried Kotchman on their postsea-son roster as a pinch-hitter last October, and should find a starting spot for him in 2005. |
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Major League Baseball Tix |
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They Said It: Vladimir Guerrero |
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"Just when we thought we knew how good this guy is, he shows he can hit in the clutch. He never had to deal with a pennant race in Montreal. This team wouldn't have been very good without him last year because of all the injuries. He basically carried them through stretches.
He's always had the rocket arm, but he's a smarter player defensively, makes fewer errors. Having Finley in center will make him even better. Usually it's the pitchers who have an advantage switching leagues, but Guerrero played last year like he already knew the A.L. He's a tough guy for pitchers to adjust to because he swings at everything and is capable of hitting balls way out of the zone. He's also become more disciplined at the plate, which makes him an even tougher out." |
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