2021 AL Central Preview

Day two of my set of previews for the upcoming MLB season is underway!

Yesterday I covered both East divisions, and I'm working my way west over the next couple days. Since our champion came from out west, I'm saving them for tomorrow, which means I'm staying close to home today.

Starting things off, let's look at the American League Central.

2019 MLB Tournament of Champions: Quarterfinals

We're down to the final eight teams as the 2019 MLB Tournament of Champions rolls on!

We've finally moved beyond the confines of group play, as the 90 round robin games and three playoff rounds were enough. We now have group "champions" as we move on to the tournament's quarterfinals.

There was a good blend of chalk and upsets through the first three rounds, as only three round robin group winners have advanced to this stage alongside a two, three, four, five, and six seed apiece. Some of the most legendary teams are included in this group, including a playoff team from the 2017 tournament as well as the defending Champion of Champions.

At this point, for all intents and purposes, seedings based on finish in group play are being dropped and home field advantage will go to the team with the better record from group play. For this round, the higher "seeds" did have better records, but I'm making this change for this round onward because I think the sample size speaks for itself. For the remainder of the tournament as well, we're expanding the rounds from best of five to best of seven to be played in a 2-3-2 format as used in Major League Baseball's postseason. We have one series that this will impact in this round, but since the 1984 Detroit Tigers played in the DH era, all of their home games will be played with a designated hitter. All other games will have the pitcher batting ninth.

You can view the updated bracket, as well as scores and standings from group play, here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's play ball!

2019 MLB Tournament of Champions: Group Finals

I'm breaking from football again for a little bit because the 2019 MLB Tournament of Champions is still rolling on!

We've managed to narrow the field down to 16 teams from the original 128, including every World Series champion. It's a little amazing when in other sports that I've done Tournaments of Champions for it's all more modern teams, while here, half the remaining field is from before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Our two highest seeds from group play, as well as our defending Champion of Champions from 2017 are all still in contention.

So today I'm going through the third round, which is the last set of series that will be played within the confines of the groups I set up at the beginning of the tournament. It's also the final round of a best-of-five. Home field advantage goes to the higher seed based on group finish in a 2-2-1 format. This is only a factor for three teams and thus three series, but any home games for American Leagues from 1973 onward are played with a designated hitter; all other games have the pitcher batting ninth.

You can view the bracket so far, as well as go back to see how group play went, here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's set up the Elite Eight!

2019 MLB Preview: AL Central

We're halfway through the MLB preview series for 2019! Thursday everyone except the Mariners and A's open the season (since they played a pair in Japan already), so I'm working my way through the league early this week to be ready for Opening Day.

Earlier today I touched on my home division in the NL Central, so this afternoon we flip leagues and head over to the American League to see how the Central shapes up.

2018 MLB Preview: AL Central

We're onto the second preview of the day as we pass the halfway point of a look at the 2018 Major League Baseball season. I've condensed the process down this year to three days instead of six, going through two divisions a day. Tomorrow I'll look at the west coast.

I got a look this morning at my most familiar division. Today, I go to my second most familiar division as we stay in the Midwest and take a look at the AL Central.

2017 MLB Preview: AL Central

After four days out towards the coasts, we're finally back in the nation's heartland as I continue my series of MLB previews. Sunday night sees the start of the Major League season, while Monday is the beginning of the MLB Tournament of Champions, my very ambitious project for the year.

As we make our final geographic move, let's swap leagues again and take a look at the AL Central. Let's note though, that both wild cards are taken.

2016 MLB Predictions: AL Central

Happy Opening Day! All of the doldrums from winter can fade away now with the beginning of another spring and summer at the ballpark.

I've previewed five divisions, following my practice of saving the division with the World Series champion for last. I've also handed out all four wild card berths for my set of predictions, so only one team today is making the playoffs. Without further ado, here are my predictions for the AL Central.

2015 MLB Preview: AL Central

We're onto Day 3 of the series of MLB previews. In the last two days we've been out east, and now we're moving west towards the center of the country.

Today we're back in the American League looking at the Central division.  If you want to refer back to last year's predictions, which, overall, weren't too shabby for the division, you can find them here.

Let's take a look.

2014 MLB Preview: AL Central

Happy Friday! We're onto the fourth of six division previews now, and I'm through with projecting another sad year for my Cubs team. But what about the other Chicago baseball team and the rest of their division?

Detroit saw its pitching staff lead the way to the postseason again, while the postseason saw something of a surprising entrant in the Indians as a Wild Card. The rest of the division might not really be in a position to make a run, but you never know. I was way wrong about Cleveland last year. Hopefully I won't be as wrong this time around.

Fall Classic Preview

I'm cutting it about as close as I can get to previewing the World Series. Really, this has been about a good a year for the playoffs as there has ever been, with 5 of the 6 series going the distance so far. It's teams that have been in the Classic fairly recently, and two great teams that have absolutely earned their way to this point so far. Given that we're just minutes from the start of Game 1, I'm going to throw this into quick preview mode.

Starting Pitching
Tonight the Tigers are probably going to win, if for no other reason that one Justin Verlander taking the hill. But I think top to bottom of the playoff rotation, I think the Giants are a little better. That's not a knock and guys like Scherzer or Fister, but more so a credit to the Cain/Lincecum/Baumgarner/Zito quartet. Slight edge: Giants.

Bullpen
The Tigers had some troubles during this postseason with closing, but they seem like they've figured things out. Meanwhile the Giants have had Sergio Romo fill in nicely for Brian Wilson in the 9th. Could go either way. Edge: push. 

Offense
You have the Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera being protected by Prince Fielder. On the other side... just sheer balance up and down the lineup with the presumed NL MVP in Posey, and a guy with fire coming out of his rectum in Marco Scutaro. This could be fun. Edge: push.

Intangibles
In 2006, I said the Tigers were going to beat the Cardinals based on their rest and home field. They don't have home field this time, but got a lot of rest from the Yankee sweep. Meanwhile the Giants have played against the wall all postseason long it seems. The Giants seem to have "Nobody Believes in Us!" on their side based on the MLBtv guys. Edge: Giants.

Final Prediction
This is going to be a fun series. The pitching on both sides is great, and both teams have really good offenses. I think it comes down to depth in the rotation. Giants in 7.