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Baseball Odds: American League Preview, Part 3

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In the third part of the season preview we take a look at the AL West, which should be a close battle between the Seattle Mariners and the Anaheim Angels, says Mike Robb...

The AL West is the weakest of the three Divisions this year and I cannot see any of the four teams having much impact in post-season. Nevertheless, the Seattle Mariners have brought in a big player in the shape of Erik Badard from the Orioles, who joins the impressive Felix Hernandez at the top of the pitching order to offer a far improved rotation. This could well be Seattle's year but they are second favourites on Betfair at [3.0] to win the Division.

The LA Angels are the hot pre-season favourites at [1.4] to win out West. They have added Jon Garland, though losing Orlando Cabrera the other way, and the defence remains strong. At [1.4], however, I think the LA side are too short and worth taking on, as is the [7.0] in the American League outright market.

The rest of the Division looks poor. Oakland have brought in a lot of young players and if there are some unexpected surprises in there then you never know. They should finish third, however, and are [14.0] to back them for the AL West.

The Texas Rangers have once again failed to put together a strong enough pitching roster to give me any reason to think they will do anything different to last year - last place in the AL West. Saying that, the Betfair market currently makes the Rangers third favourites at ([10.0]) ahead of Oakland, so it is up to you to decide which of these teams will be the least bad in 2008.

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