MLB Preview: American League Central
by Dave Ruffo Sports Writer
March 30, 2007
The American League Central looks to be the most competitive division in baseball once again with four teams all having a legitimate shot at winning the division.
The Detroit Tigers will try to rebound from their disappointing performance in last year’s World Series. The Chicago White Sox will look to return their World Champion ways of 2005. The Indians boast two of the game’s up-and-coming superstars in Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana will be back to stake claim on a repeat performance.
Then, of course, we have the lonesome Royals who will once again have the Kansas City faithful counting down the days until Chiefs’ training camp opens up.
Chicago White Sox:
The White Sox arguably have the best 3-4-5-6 hitters in the game in Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede. All three have 35-homerun, 100 RBI power, but the key will be getting the people in front of them to consistently get on base. Right now Chicago seems to be leaning towards Scott Podsednik and free agent Darin Erstad at the top of the lineup. However, Podsednik is coming off of groin surgery (possibly the worst thing for a player whose only real asset is his ability to run), and Erstad has only played in 59% of the Angels’ games in his previous four years due to injury.
As far as pitching goes, the White Sox have four proven starters who can eat up innings. The biggest question mark will be their bullpen, and in particular Bobby Jenks. Jenks closed out the 2005 World Series for Chicago and looked like the next Francisco Rodriguez, but then struggled mightily last season with his control as well as his weight. Jenks went out over the winter and got into shape, but his struggles have still continued into spring training this year. It’s pretty hard to say a guy who saved 41 games last season will have a short leash, but with Ozzie Guillen making the calls, anything can happen.
Cleveland Indians:
The Indians youth movement was in full effect this off-season as they brought in Josh Barfield from the Padres to be their everyday second baseman and cleared room to make first baseman Ryan Garko and third baseman Andy Marte everyday players. Victor Martinez will battle Joe Mauer of the Twins for years to come to see who the best catcher in the league is. The two bats that will carry this offense, though, are designated hitter Travis Hafner and centerfielder Grady Sizemore. The Indians offense will go as far as these two take them.
Pitching will be the sore spot for the Indians. C.C. Sabathia was hit on the forearm Wednesday in his final tune-up and now looks questionable to start on opening day just adding to the pitching woes for the Indians who have already lost starter Cliff Lee for possibly all of April. Add in an extremely shaky bullpen and Joe Borowski as the closer and you have the recipe for a disastrous first month. The hitting will have to carry Cleveland until they can get Lee and Sabathia both back.
Detroit Tigers:
The Tigers entered the off-season kicking themselves after basically giving away the World Series with horrendous fielding from its pitchers. A new season brings about no real changes in the pitching staff as all five starters return including the ever-crafty Kenny Rogers and up-and-comers Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander. As for most teams in the AL Central the closer’s situation will have a huge impact on where the team finishes. 39-year-old Todd Jones still looks to be the guy while the hard-throwing Joel Zumaya waits in the wings.
The Tigers brought in the big bat of Gary Sheffield to add more power to the lineup. Going from Yankee land to Comerica Park will definitely hurt Sheffield’s numbers, though. Last year’s catalyst, Placido Polanco, and shortstop Carlos Guillen will be back to form the most underrated middle infield tandem in the game. Manager Jim Leyland has decided to move Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez around in the lineup to take advantage of his great ability to make contact so only time will tell if the change pays off.
Kansas City Royals:
The Royals tried to make a splash in the off-season with the signing of Gil Meche to a 5-year, $55 million deal. There’s just one problem: Meche is awful. In four full seasons he has never had an ERA under 4.58 and has only won more than 11 games once, four years ago. Their best pitcher, Zack Greinke, almost got sent down to the minors this season, but management finally got a clue and decided to make him the No. 3 starter.
Third baseman Alex Gordon and first baseman Ryan Shealy will finally get their chance to play full time which can only help in the long run. Gordon is already drawing comparisons to a young George Brett before ever stepping to the plate. The most consistent player you have never heard of, David DeJesus, will be back patrolling the outfield alongside Mark Teahen who put up decent numbers last year in 2/3 of a season.
Minnesota Twins:
The Twins will start with the best starter in the game and arguably the best closer nowadays in Johan Santana and Joe Nathan. The problem will be who else starts for the Twins with the absence of Brad Radke. Minus Santana, the starters boast an average ERA of 5.23 which doesn’t suit them well in such an offensive-minded division.
First baseman Justin Morneau will try to prove that his MVP award last year was no fluke. The batting champion, Joe Mauer, will be behind the plate once again looking to perform at an MVP level while Michael Cuddyer and Torii Hunter will look to once again put up All-Star like numbers. The most important thing this season, though, might be how well the rest of the infield performs. Nick Punto will move over to third base full time to make room for Jason Bartlett at short and Luis Castillo will once again oversee second.
Prediction:
I love the Indians young offense. I love the middle of the White Sox lineup. I love Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Alex Gordon will be AL Rookie of the Year. But when it comes down to it, I see the Detroit Tigers, led by manager Jim Leyland, taking the division in a close race over the Chicago White Sox.