I think a lot of people are putting a lot of stock in Gary Matthews Jr.'s year last season not being a byproduct of using HGH and Shea Hillenbrand all of the sudden becoming a great guy.  They are going miss Juan Rivera more than they realize.  He was the only guy you had to respect in their lineup outside of Vladimir Guerrero.  

The A's lineup top to bottom will be better than the Angels and it is mainly due to guys just being healthy.  Chavez played hurt the entire season.  Milton Bradley and Bobby Crosby both missed half the season.  Yeah we lost Thomas, but I think Mike Piazza puts up at least 85% of those numbers.  Toss in the fact that Shannon Stewart is apparently looking like the old Shannon Stewart and Nick Swisher is only getting better and the lineup is going to be deep.

When you look at the staffs, the bullpens are a wash.  I think our middle relief is superior but I would rather have K-Rod at closer.  In terms of the starters, I think if Harden is healthy he is better than anyone Anaheim has.  If I had to rank the ten starters both teams trot out, I'd go:

Harden
Haren
Lackey
Santana
Colon
Weaver
Loaiza
Escobar
Blanton
Kennedy

"No, cause it ain't sh*t. Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand to me? Ain't sh*t ... Next time I might shake my d*ck." --Randy Moss
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