Division a Day III: AL Central
If you want a wide-open division, the AL Central might be it. Every team has a reason to like them and every team has some big holes. The Indians are poised for another odd-numbered year run and having Kerry Wood as their closer might be enough to take them over the top. But Travis Hafner's comeback from shoulder trouble is still going poorly, Cy Young winner Cliff Lee has been brutal this spring and those are major worries for ex-Bisons manager Eric Wedge.
The Twins' final year in the Metrodome has been marred by Joe Mauer's mysterious back ailment and they can't have him out for any extended period. (An aside: The new ballpark, Target Field, is open-air and a retractable roof was cut out of the plans. Minnesota in April. Nice thinking there). The Royals could be the game's surprise team. They have some nice bats (Alex Gordon), nice arms (Gil Meche, Zach Greinke) and a top closer in Joakim Soria combined with a heady manager in Trey Hillman
The White Sox are the defending champions but seemed to stand pat over the winter. But they still have a tough lineup and Bobby Jenks at the back of the bullpen. The Tigers have overpriced talent on the downside (think Gary Sheffield and the baffling Dontrelle Willis). Maybe things turn around, likely they don't.
So my picks are: 1-Indians; 2-Royals; 3-White Sox; 4-Twins; 5-Tigers.
Choose your AL Central winner below. Next: NL Central.
---Mike Harrington
Stick a fork in the Indians-they are done for this year
Posted by: Pat Kelly | May 16, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Couldn't agree more about this being a wide open division. My pick assuming the Carmona's, and Hafner's, and V Martinez's stay healthy then I think the Indians are the best team. Grady Sizemore is a great ball player that seems to bring all the intangibles with him. Don't expect Cliff Lee to repeat 2008 but then who thought he could do it last year. After Sabathia and Teixeira to the Yankees, I think Wood to the Indians was the best off season move.
After that it's wide open. The Royals have a lot of good young talent but are probably not quite ready this year. The Tigers are good on paper but the pitching is questionable. I'd like the Twins to make a run but not with any injuries.
So I guess the Indians biggest threat is the White Sox. They have holes but they also have experience winning and I really do believe that counts for something.
My prediction....the Indians.....with the White Sox possibly the wild card (still probably coming from the east)!?! No, neither one of these teams are better then the Red Sox, Rays, or Yankees. But they also don't have 80 games against the best division in baseball either.
Posted by: beatcanisius | April 01, 2009 at 12:51 PM