For the NL East preview, click here.
For the AL West preview, click here.
For the NL West preview, click here.
We're coming down to the home stretch of the previews of each division in baseball, having covered both coasts and now coming back to the center of the country, where I know a lot more about the teams involved.
The AL Central is probably top to bottom one of the weaker divisions in baseball (not as bad as the NL Central though), though there are some contenders for winning the World Series coming out of this division. However, I've already predicted both wild cards from the American League, so there can be only one playoff team from this division.
I get the feeling this team will have one of the best run differentials in the majors this season. Despite losing Victor Martinez for the year due to a torn ACL, they will still put up runs in bunches with Miggy Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Delmon Young provides good stability at the 5 spot in the order behind them as well. He won't wow anyone, but he'll do his job. While they're scoring runs, the Tigers won't give up a lot thanks to some tremendous pitching. The bullpen is still solid, and the rotation is pretty darn good with guys like Scherzer, Fister and Porcello backing up the MVP in Justin Verlander.
After years and years of being the laughingstock of the division (and even the entire AL), the Royals finally put all that losing to good use through drafting and development. They have a solid rotation led by Luke Hochevar and Jonathan Sanchez, and John Broxton will be a good 9th inning man to replace Joakim Soria. I don't see them into the playoffs, but they should manage a winning record for only the 2nd time in 19 seasons.
Minnesota had a down year last year, which is unusual given their string of success in the 2000's, but injuries had a lot to do with that. Unfortunately, they won't be as good this year either. Having Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau for hopefully a full season will do some good, but the rotation isn't very good. Pavano has been underrated, but beyond him, there really aren't any standout pitchers on this squad. Yet through some Ron Gardenhire voodoo magic, they'll be fairly close to the thick of things again.
This team was right in the hunt last year, but they don't really scare me anymore. The Artist Formerly Known as Fausto Carmona (Roberto Hernandez Heredia) isn't going to be much of a factor this year by some accounts, and even with Ubaldo Jiminez and Justin Masterson, I'm still not sure I trust this team. The offense has its question mark. Shin Soo Choo should hit better, and Travis Hafner is a good hitter, but I just don't think this team will be a factor late in the season.
I don't know who will be worse this year out of the two Chicago teams, but these guys will have a long season. No disrespect to John Danks, who is a solid pitcher, but when he's your #1 starter, you're in trouble. He and Gavin Floyd will have to pick up the slack for departed veteran Mark Buehrle. The offense should be better this year than last though; I mean, Adam Dunn can't possibly have more strikeouts (177) than his batting average had points (.159) again... right? My resident Sox expert Geoffy agrees:
"This is the first year in a long time that expectations are universally low. However, if the right guys bounce back from last year, this group could make a run."
Five down, one more to go. Tomorrow night I will have a writeup for my home division in the NL Central and sad news for my comrades.
Any sad news will be balanced by your White Sox prediction. As Bananarama told us, it's gonna be a cruel, cruel summer
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