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The past four years in the NL West, the question was: How much effect would the other teams let Giants slugger Barry Bonds have on the division race? Would they pitch to him or not?

This year, that principle applies to the AL West and Vladimir Guerrero. That's the big question -- how much impact will the division's other teams let the Angels' right fielder have on the AL West race?

Last week, Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha walked Guerrero intentionally with no one on base in the ninth inning of a tie game. Guerrero hit a home run and drew three intentional walks overall in that game, as the A's refused to let him beat them. Oakland scored in the bottom of the ninth to win 5-4 and took two of three in the series.

In the Angels' next series, the Seattle Mariners decided to pitch to Guerrero -- and he went 8-for-14 with three home runs and seven RBI in the Angels' three-game sweep.

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