2023 MLB Preview Series: The AL West

The first edition of our six-part 2023 MLB Preview Series is out now! Join chief meteorologist of Newswest 9 in Odessa, Texas Anthony Franze and Jack Vita rousing discussion on the American League West, as we approach Opening Day.

 

They share their projected win totals for all five AL West teams.First, Anthony and Jack discuss the new rules and changes coming to Major League Baseball in 2023, such as the pitch clock, restrictions on defensive shifts, and the 'ghost runner' extra innings rule that is now here to stay permanently. Anthony and Jack share their thoughts on the new rules (0:00 - 11:00).

 

Then, they put Anthony's beloved Texas Rangers under the microscope. The Rangers had a very active offseason in which they entirely made over their pitching staff, signing Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney and Jake Odorizzi. The Rangers finished 68-94 in 2022, after spending big on free agents Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Jon Gray. Will they turn a corner and return to the postseason in 2023? (11:00 - 33:15).

 

Next up, the Oakland Athletics. The A's finished 60-102 in 2022. It was the first time the A's lost 100 games since 1979. Jack and Anthony provide an outlook for the A's, after the club traded away star catcher Sean Murphy (33:15 - 46:50).

 

The Los Angeles Angels have greatly disappointed in recent years, failing to finish above .500 in each of their last seven seasons. Can 2023 be different, after the club added Tyler Anderson, Hunter Renfroe, Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury? (46:50 - 1:01:30).

 

The Houston Astros are the reigning 2022 World Series champions. The Astros have won the AL West in every full, 162-game season, since the start of 2017. After Justin Verlander departed as a free agent, and the Astros signed Jose Abreu, will the Astros continue to reign supreme in the West? (1:01:30 - 1:10:15).

 

Finally, the Seattle Mariners, on paper, appear to present the greatest challenge to the Astros in the division. The Mariners led the Astros in Game 1 and Game 2 of the ALDS last October, and took the Astros to 18 innings in Game 3, but still were swept by the Astros. The Mariners appear to be closing the gap. Will they win their first division title since 2001, in 2023? Anthony and Jack discuss (1:10:15 - 1:29:15).

 

Then, The Funny 115's Mario Lanza shares his Mariners outlook for 2023. Mario, our unofficial Seattle sports guy, has submitted a Mariners preview for the AL West preview show for three straight years now. Find out where Mario projects the M's to finish this season (1:29:15 - END).

 

You can follow Anthony (@AnthonyFranzeWX) and Mario (@MarioJLanza) on Twitter.