Pros and Cons: A look at the 8 AL wild card contenders
So far, so good -- especially in the American League.
There are currently 8 AL teams that either occupy one of the two wild card spots or are within three games of the second one.
Each team has its own pros and cons that have landed it in this spot. Here's a look at a pro and con for each of those teams. After going through, take your best stab at picking which two teams will play in the inaugural wild card playoff in October. (NOTE: Stats through Tuesday's play.)
-- David Selig
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Los Angeles Angels
PRO: Mike Trout
You may remember some talk about the Angels signing Albert Pujols for $254 million this offseason, but somehow he's become a secondary storyline in Anaheim. Mike Trout -- who hit his first career homer here in Baltimore last year and may have had the catch of the year at Camden Yards last month -- has lived up to all the expectations. Through Tuesday he led the AL in batting (.355) and stolen bases (30), and the Angels have been a different team with him in the lineup. |
Comments (1)
Add / View comments | Discussion FAQI think the O's should dangle Weiters for a pitcher. Here is a guy that isn't going to live up to all the hype and he has trade value. He is the king of leaving runners in scoring position with two outs and a top flight GIDP guy. In today's game alone he's already crushed two possible rallies in just three innings and that's what he seems to excel at. He couldn't buy a hit if he was Elvis Weiters. It appears he's topping out at a .250 average per season with perhaps 15 HR's and 60 to 80 RBI's. Very poor for a catcher batting in the middle of the lineup. He's really killing the team with his penchant for leaving runners on. Dangle him for Greinke or Dempster and that puts him squarely in the national league and out of harms way although every opposing team loves this guy for his GIDP stat. He could probably bring a Greinke or Dempster nearly straight up and he's doing the O's absolutely no good whatsoever. It will also eliminate his upcoming extension headache. Use those bucks to extend Greinke or Dempster. Weiters can go along with about another 15 trading chips at AA and AAA as well as several at the show. There is also that #4 compensation draft pick that is extremely valuable as a trading piece. The Orioles must make a top pitching trade and get a big bat as well if they are to stick around even for another week or so. DO IT!
