# Who's gonna win the A.L. West? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813 "2002-09-10T16:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/1 "2002-09-10T16:37:05Z")
We’re going down to the wire here… The Oakland A’s have been monsters of late and have a three game lead. The Anaheim Angels won ten in a row up until last night and have stayed in contention the entire year. And you never, EVER count out the Mariners. With nine (?) games left, who’s taking? With Seattle running hot and cold and being six games out (with all due respect to my beloved Scotticher), I think it’s down to the A’s and Halos. With Anaheim’s history of choking down the stretch, I’m leaning towards Oakland, but… DAMN! Will my Angels _ever_ get to the World Series? Does anyone think Anaheim has a serious chance?? ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/2 "2002-09-10T18:21:24Z")
I like the A’s myself. I think they’re a team of destiny. Anaheim’s been doing good but like you say, they’ll choke. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/3 "2002-09-10T18:22:53Z")
[biased NYY fan] Hoping Oakland chokes. That outrageous winning streak, thanks in part to the lame AL central teams was a flash in the pan. I counted out the M’s a while ago (Ichiro who?). I’ll take your beloved Anaheim, the longer shot, 20 times. [/biased NYY fan] ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/4 "2002-09-10T21:49:52Z")
I’m a Mariners fan, and I think – sadly – that their season’s over. Baseball is as mental as it is physical, and right now the Mariners are playing without any sort of consistency or confidence. As of a few weeks ago, they can’t even take two of three against Detroit, so they no longer show up to the ballpark with that “champion mentality.” In other words, they’re beating themselves – they go to the plate expecting to ground out, and their pitchers, Moyer and Pineiro excepted, expect to struggle – and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon. I think Oakland will take the division; they’ve got the champion mentality pouring out of them right now. 23 wins in 24 games? The mind boggles. Anaheim will struggle, mostly due to their amazingly inconsistent pitching, but will manage to hold the wild-card slot (sorry, Boston). Whoever plays Anaheim in the first round will knock them out without trouble. You didn’t ask, but I’ll go on and say I think it’ll be the Yankees in the Series again. Neither Oakland nor the Twins has the chops to stand in the way of the Bombers this year; the Yankee mystique is just too intimidating. Whether the Yanks will face either the Diamondbacks or the Braves, it can be viewed as something of a rematch, either from last year or from '99. The Braves are a better team now, obviously, so whoever’s the NL champ, it should be a good Series. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/5 "2002-09-10T22:06:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > **Whoever plays Anaheim in the first round will knock them out without trouble…I’ll go on and say I think it’ll be the Yankees in the Series again.** In the event that the Halos hang on to win the wild card spot and meet up with the Yanks, they actually stand a better chance than anyone else to put down NY. IIRC, Anaheim has the best record against the Yankees in the past few years. So if that match up takes place, it’s a flip of the coin. No, the path to the World Series is going through Oakland. ('course, being a Chicago Bears, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, L.A. Kings and Chicago Cubs fan, I have to have an incredible fantasy life regarding possible championships 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/6 "2002-09-10T22:07:04Z")
As a longtime A’s fan, I really can’t speak objectively. They are on a roll. Yeah, that streak came against lame teams, but good teams are suppose to beat up the weak teams. And they did in a way no other team in many a year! And until they beat the Yankees in the playoffs, I just have to keep my mouth shut. The Oakland A’s since 1968 – 4 WS, 6 AL, 10 Div, 1WC ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/7 "2002-09-10T23:59:25Z")
So what if it came against lame teams? No one else has ever swept a streak of lame teams like that. As an Angels fan, it saddens me to say that the A’s will take the division and get to beat up the Twins. The Angels will probably take the wild card, and if they don’t, it will be because they lost it not because someone won it. I’m still holding my breath waiting for the collapse, however. Bah. I hate being an Angels fan. I don’t think the Yanks are going to the World Series this time. They have offense, but the pitching isn’t stellar. And we all know what happens when good offense meets good pitching in the playoffs. No, the road goes through the A’s…and has for some time now. Some freak circumstances have carried NY past them the last few times and Arizona broke the mystique last year. Yanks are meat. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/8 "2002-09-11T23:56:10Z")
BTW–How about Jared Washburn? I wonder how many “Give him the phone number for Mark Chmura’s lawyer!” emails Jim Rome got today. Best response I saw to that situation (on FARK): “Was he cheating on his wife? Probably. Did she say she was 18? Probably. Did he hit it? Probably. He is probably in trouble.” ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/9 "2002-09-12T01:05:46Z")
Screw that! They just announced that no charges will be filed! Not to say he didn’t do it, after all he IS a baseball player… Although you would think that after what happened to Luis Polonia while he was here, there would be a sign in the clubhouse reminding everyone to “please check ID.” Angels win the division. Pleasepleaseplease! But not the wild card, I think the wild card sucks and should be done away with. I have been an Angels fan my whole life, I went to my first game when I was 3 weeks old, but I do NOT want them in the playoffs that way. If you can’t win your division, you have no right at a shot at the pennant, let alone the Series. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/10 "2002-09-12T04:20:17Z")
Bullshit. I’ll take the damn wild card. Get them into the post season anyway you can. By the way, the A’s can die anytime now. God, why won’t they go away. Just die! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/11 "2002-09-12T05:23:55Z")
Well, its between the A’s and the Angels for sure. Both are red hot and it could go either way. In such cases you always refer to the Ex-Cub factor. The A’s have 2 Ex-Cubs Mark Fyhrie and Micah Bowie The Angels have just 1 Jose Molina While the A’s are under the magic number of 3, they still will probably come up short. Especially since they have 2 ex-Cub pitchers. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/12 "2002-09-12T06:36:11Z")
I believe the D-Backs ended the ex-Cub curse. They had several (Grace, Gonzalez, Morgan, Batista.) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/13 "2002-09-12T11:48:08Z")
Angels all the way, baby!!! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/14 "2002-09-12T19:23:44Z")
Anybody at the game last night? I know **deb2world** was planning to go. We missed it but caught it on TV. My heart can’t take much more of this. We’re going on Friday, should be the glorious start of a three game ass kicking of Texas before we have to play another four in Oakland. And as far as the ex-Cub thing goes, Jose Molina probably won’t even play, so no curse! I gave Stoneman a very hard time early on, but I’m shutting up now. Every trade and move he mad has worked out incredibly well. Hell, we hardly look like the Angels! Oh, by the way- did anybody notice that we got jinxed when they let that bitch Jackie Autry into the booth with Steve and Rex? As soon as she left her box, we were down 4-0! Thank God she sat back down so we could pull out a win! PS- have you noticed that when the Angels play the Dodgers, the coaching staff of both teams adds up to the 1987 Dodgers? LOL. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/15 "2002-09-13T06:10:22Z")
Spiezio just hit in the game-winning rbi in the bottom of the ninth as the Halos down the A’s to take three out of four in the series to tie up the A.L. West lead…woooo-hoooo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/16 "2002-09-13T07:19:08Z")
I’m going to sunday’s Angel game with **deb2world**. Woooohooo!!! Go Halos!!! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/17 "2002-09-13T18:43:52Z")
But **spooje** , Saturday’s game has the Mark & Brian Angels floppy hat giveaway! 😃 The Rangers could decide the division, unfortunately, as they could be spoilers for the Angels and the A’s. It’s a nice change, though- historically it’s been the Angels who are 20 games out in September and spoiling everybody else’s party! Last night was classic Angels- come from behind, Spezio knocks in Erstad. I love this game! ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/18 "2002-09-15T23:17:46Z")
Sorry it took me so long to weigh in with my opinion, but I have been sitting in the corner…sulking…for a few weeks now. Well, mentally, anyway. 😃 So…since my M’s have evidentally decided not to show up on a regular basis and are almost certainly out of the post-season, I will have to go with the Angels. Just because they are **poopah chaulpa** ’s team, and if _I_ can’t be happy, I’d like my friends to be happy. So…this one’s for you, hon. GO ANGELS!!! Happy now? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/19 "2002-09-16T08:07:11Z")
The Halos opened up a can of whup-ass on the Rangers tonight!!! Troy Glaus hit **3 homers** , Spezio went yard, too. It was the 94th win, setting a franchise record, that will fall tommorow. **EJsGirl** , **deb2world** has playoff tickets. If we start sucking up now, maybe she’ll take us with her. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813/20 "2002-09-21T04:20:37Z")
Ok kids, it’s 8-1 good guys vs. Seattle! I guess **deb2world** didn’t have to camp out with all those people at Edison tonight! I still can’t believe Erik & I are going to miss the playoffs! We have waited 16 years for this! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-gonna-win-the-a-l-west/127813.md?page=2)