Sunday, April 01, 2007
AL Central Preview
The AL Central figures to be a dog fight. The defending American League champion, Detroit Tigers, are loaded with young pitching. The Minnesota Twins have an ace that is better than any of Detroit's cats, as well as the AL MVP, and the batting champ. The White Sox, two years removed from a World Series victory, can hardly be overlooked. And we haven't even gotten to the Clarion's pick for the division winner, the Cleveland Indians. The Royals are excreable.
The Indians every day line-up is stacked. Led by all around talent Grady Sizemore, ably backed by Travis Hafner and the fellas. Newly added Josh Barfield is an upgrade. C.C. Sabathia is a legitimate number one starter.
1st place, over 83.5, ends in first round playoff disappointment for the Tribe faithful.
The Twins are tough and fundamentally sound. Justin Morneau was a deserving MVP, Jeter was right there but Morneau by no means, stole the award. The rest of the regulars are great. Perhaps the most underrated among them is the super quick, gritty, second baseman Luis Castillo. He makes all the small plays offensively, hitting behind the runner, taking the extra base and is terrific defensively.
2nd place, over 85.
The Tigers figure to come back to earth a little bit this year. They will be lucky if they don't have a hangover from losing the World Series the way they did. Kenny Rogers greasing the ball? Pitchers making errors every game?? U-G-L-Y. That's what baseball gets when they start letting the team with the 13th best record [St. Louis] back into the playoffs. Crappy playoffs. Duh. As for this year, the questions for Detroit are will Monroe, Inge and Granderson come close to last year's numbers? Who will join Kenny Rogers on the D.L. first, Magglio Ordonez, Ivan Rodriguez or the Mayor, Sean Casey? If the Tigers can say none of the above by mid-August, they will be in the thick of the race.
3rd place, under 89.
The Chicago White Sox clubhouse may not be a pleasant place this Fall. Manager Ozzie Guillen is a volatile guy, even when his team is winning. G.M. Kenny Williams is no shy, retiring flower, either. They have lost too much pitching in the last few years to make a playoff run. They still have the guns to hit dingers. Thome is enjoying D.H.ing his old age. Konerko and Dye have taken their careers to new highs in Chicago. Crede and Podsednik are timely contributors. The Clarion keeps thinking Bobby Jenks is imminently about to melt down. However, there is nothing that makes that likely. We have been looking at him and thinking that his whole career. When does he go Rob Dibble? Momentarily? Right?
4th place, under 88.
How do the Kansas City Royals sell any season tickets? Warren Buffett should negotiate a deal to buy all their extra box seats and give them out to local students. Surely they're available and cheap. Supply and demands says they out to be all but free. Seriously what Royals fan isn't excited? Four out of five seasons with 100+ losses. Breaking the team record for worst single season record, ever, three out of four years running. Twenty-one straight years and counting out of the playoffs. But wait, they signed, Gil Meche!! The Royals have too much tradition to be contracted. They should be relegated, English Premier League style, to the American Association.
The Indians every day line-up is stacked. Led by all around talent Grady Sizemore, ably backed by Travis Hafner and the fellas. Newly added Josh Barfield is an upgrade. C.C. Sabathia is a legitimate number one starter.
1st place, over 83.5, ends in first round playoff disappointment for the Tribe faithful.
The Twins are tough and fundamentally sound. Justin Morneau was a deserving MVP, Jeter was right there but Morneau by no means, stole the award. The rest of the regulars are great. Perhaps the most underrated among them is the super quick, gritty, second baseman Luis Castillo. He makes all the small plays offensively, hitting behind the runner, taking the extra base and is terrific defensively.
2nd place, over 85.
The Tigers figure to come back to earth a little bit this year. They will be lucky if they don't have a hangover from losing the World Series the way they did. Kenny Rogers greasing the ball? Pitchers making errors every game?? U-G-L-Y. That's what baseball gets when they start letting the team with the 13th best record [St. Louis] back into the playoffs. Crappy playoffs. Duh. As for this year, the questions for Detroit are will Monroe, Inge and Granderson come close to last year's numbers? Who will join Kenny Rogers on the D.L. first, Magglio Ordonez, Ivan Rodriguez or the Mayor, Sean Casey? If the Tigers can say none of the above by mid-August, they will be in the thick of the race.
3rd place, under 89.
The Chicago White Sox clubhouse may not be a pleasant place this Fall. Manager Ozzie Guillen is a volatile guy, even when his team is winning. G.M. Kenny Williams is no shy, retiring flower, either. They have lost too much pitching in the last few years to make a playoff run. They still have the guns to hit dingers. Thome is enjoying D.H.ing his old age. Konerko and Dye have taken their careers to new highs in Chicago. Crede and Podsednik are timely contributors. The Clarion keeps thinking Bobby Jenks is imminently about to melt down. However, there is nothing that makes that likely. We have been looking at him and thinking that his whole career. When does he go Rob Dibble? Momentarily? Right?
4th place, under 88.
How do the Kansas City Royals sell any season tickets? Warren Buffett should negotiate a deal to buy all their extra box seats and give them out to local students. Surely they're available and cheap. Supply and demands says they out to be all but free. Seriously what Royals fan isn't excited? Four out of five seasons with 100+ losses. Breaking the team record for worst single season record, ever, three out of four years running. Twenty-one straight years and counting out of the playoffs. But wait, they signed, Gil Meche!! The Royals have too much tradition to be contracted. They should be relegated, English Premier League style, to the American Association.
Labels: baseball, Predictions, sports
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