It is no secret that my most hated franchise in professional sports is the Chicago White Sox. That's why it kills me to say that they have assembled a team that can make a deep run into the playoffs. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf opened his wallet to keep longtime Sox firstbaseman Paul Konerko on the South Side and sign Adam Dunn to hit the ball out of the too small craphole that sits next to the Dan Ryan. They join a lineup with the ever-improving Alexei Ramirez, the rejuvenated Alex Rios, and the healthy Carlos Quentin. All jokes aside on the joke that is the Cell, this is a dangerous lineup that can use speed and the long ball to beat you into the ground. Dunn is a great addition to a lineup that already had a bunch of power (and Sox fans, don't talk to me about "Ozzieball." It never existed to begin with). The pitching staff is solid as well, as John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Mark Buehrle, and Edwin Jackson will silently put together one of the better rotations in the league. The embattled Bobby Jenks is gone as closer, replaced by a capable reliever in Matt Thornton and the young beanpole Chris Sale. The Sox are a great team up and down and have a good shot to make it back to the World Series, which they won in 2005. I can only hope that Satan's child Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams kill each other via Twitter. Otherwise, fans of the lesser Chicago team are in for a fun season on the South Side, as long as the injury bug stays away.
 |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera's most recent DUI mugshot |
The Minnesota Twins are a wonderfully consistent team. They make the playoffs year in and year out, even when everyone in the league counts them out. However, they just can't seem to get out of the first round, alot like the Oakland A's of the early 2000's. Ron Gardenhire is a great manager who builds his team the right way - solid pitching and defense. A good lineup doesn't hurt either. Lead by Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, the Twins can hit with any team in the AL. Unfortunately, Morneau has had some injury trouble in the past few seasons, including a concussion he still is getting over. Last season, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young, who finally looked like the player they traded Matt Garza for, stepped up and led the Twins into the playoffs. New second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka has come on nicely in spring and should be able to provide some power if Morneau is missing at the beginning of the season. On the pitching side, the rotation is led by Francisco Liriano. It was great to watch him have an excellent season in 2010 after he was riddled with injury following an incredible rookie season. Minnesota will look for Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey to keep eating up innings and holding down the back end of the rotation. My concern is that resigned pitcher Carl Pavano will have a disappointing season, as he pitched way above his previous level in 2010. Joe Nathan is back in the closer's spot, and though that may not last long, Matt Capps can step in as he did last season. While injuries are a concern for any team, they can especially kill the Twins this year. Morneau is still battling concussion symptoms, Mauer has had back issues, and Liriano and Nathan have notorious histories with injury. A healthy Minnesota squad could finally make it into the ALCS, but the injuries have me backing off this team.
 |
| 3B prospect Mike Moustakas should find his way into the MLB in 2011 |
The Cleveland Indians have done an excellent job taking on the image of Cleveland sports. Just like the Browns (one trip to the playoffs since 1999) and the post-LeBron Cavs, the Tribe have succeeded in toying with the hearts of Cleveland fans. 2 pitchers who won Cy Young's with the Indians (CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee) are now aces on other, much more successful teams, and former catcher and fan favorite Victor Martinez has returned to the division with the Tigers to torture the Tribe. Worse, the prospects the Indians received in all those trades have not panned out as they had hoped. As for 2011, the Indians will be giving a lot of time to developing that young talent into a team that can return to the top of the Central. Catcher Carlos Santana should continue to improve after a good 2010, though it was shortened by injury. CF star Grady Sizemore will hopefully be able to put in a full season, while Shin-Soo Choo also looks to come back as the Indians' best hitter. LF Matt LaPorta, prize of the Sabathia trade, and Michael Brantley will be given every opportunity to finally fulfill the promise they have. Up and down starting pitcher Fausto Carmona will lead a young rotation, which does have some good young arms in Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco, and Mitch Talbott. Since they are my dad's favorite, I really hope that a new front office can right the ship that has allowed a ridiculous amount of great players to leave town (or traded them away). The Indians will spend 2011 preparing for the future, but can really only hope to battle the Royals for fourth in the division. On the bright side, the Marlins aren't a desirable destination, so no Indians will be taking their talents to South Beach.
This will be a 3 team race in 2011 and will go down to the wire, as it has done for the past few seasons. Don't be surprised to see 2 AL Central teams playing a game 163. As for a winner, I think the White Sox improved the most over the offseason. The addition of Adam Dunn and the continuing development of their pitching staff will carry them into the postseason. If they can't come through, it will probably (God-willing) end Ozzie Guillen's reign of Terror in Chicago. The Tigers are my wildcard pick for the AL. While many think that the wildcard team will come out of the East, I think that the Tigers have the ability to stick with any other team in the AL. The Twins have a shot, but as I said, injuries will keep them out of the postseason. My Pick for the AL Central: The Chicago White Sox, with the Detroit Tigers winning the AL Wildcard.
No comments:
Post a Comment