AL recap: All-star selection edition

AL CENTRAL

After a setback versus the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox have defeated the other hottest team, the Texas Rangers, two out of three, and they have taken the first two games against the Angels.

Their resurgence took a setback with Jake Peavy’s injury, however. The Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins are winning and coming out of slumps. If Peavy has to go on the disabled list, the White Sox could be in trouble.

Notable All-stars: Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are starters, and they are the reason the Twins are always so good every year. Matt Thornton of the White Sox deserves the nod. He has 2.78 ERA and 49 strikeouts and has been key at the back end of the bullpen. Miguel Cabrera is the lead power guy for the Tigers.

AL EAST

The injury to Dustin Pedroia can be used as an excuse for the subpar week, but the Boston Red Sox cannot fall too far. The Tampa Bay Rays are breaking out of their slump with six wins in the last seven games, including three vs. the Red Sox.

The Yankees and Rays are the first two teams to 50 wins on the season, and they have the pitching and offense to go for 100. The Red Sox cannot afford to lose against the Rays, or it will be lights out.

Notable All-stars: Robinson Cano deserves the nod, and Derek Jeter is an annual selection by the fans. Evan Longoria is a beast for the Rays, and Boston only has David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre as players due to the injuries of Pedroia and Victor Martinez. C.C Sabathia could be the starter.

AL WEST

The Rangers, who lost a series to the White Sox, are getting a little help from their new friends. The Los Angels Angels have dropped two straight to the White Sox, and the Rangers are one win away from becoming the third team to 50 wins.

Although neither team had a stellar week, the Rangers are 4½ games in first with the All-star break looming. I didn’t see that coming, but the Rangers have had good pitching with a dangerous lineup. They really only needed that, and a premier starting pitcher at the trade deadline could make them a World Series contender.

Notable All-stars: Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton are the Rangers bombers, but they also get a pitcher, Neftali Feliz, who has taken the closer role and aced it. The disappointing Mariners’ debacle can at least be in the back of fans minds watching Ichiro Suzuki and soon-to-be ex-Mariner Cliff Lee represent them. The Angels only get Torri Hunter and has to watch Guerrero in a first place uniform.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS June 7:

1.) New York Yankees - The first to 50 wins will always sow up the top spot in my rankings.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays – They won three of four from the Twins and three of four from the Red Sox in the last seven eight games.

3.) Texas Rangers – They are slumping, but they still will be the third AL team to 50 wins.

4.) Boston Red Sox– They were jumped, because they lost to the Rays. However, they still are in both the division and wildcard races.

5.) Detroit Tigers – They are in first for now, so they get the nod. The Twins and White Sox may be in line to take it next week, however.

White Sox and Red Sox surging towards first

AL CENTRAL

The Central division has suddenly become a race with three teams within 1½ games of first place. The Chicago White Sox are in third at the moment, but the team ERA has been 2.56 since being 9½ games back on June 9.

It will be anyone’s division with the White Sox playing the Detroit Tigers 14 more times and the Minnesota Twins 13 more times. Plus, the Tigers and Twins play 10 more times, including finishing up a three game set tonight in a rubber match.

The Tigers are 8-6 since June 15, and they have allowed 75 runs. The Twins are 6-8 in that same stretch, and they have allowed 71 runs. The White Sox are 12-2 during that stretch, and they have only allowed 38 runs.

AL EAST

What happened to the Tampa Bay Rays? They were the best team in baseball by six games. They had an ERA under three. They scored the most runs. They had a five game lead on the Yankees.

Now, they have the best ERA in the American League, and they are fourth in runs scored. Wait … How can they now be three games back and losers of seven of the last 10 games?

One reason, two of the three teams ahead of them in runs scored are the Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the first favorite to pull a winning streak off. Second, the Rays have lost by three runs or fewer in eight of the last nine losses.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers joined the White Sox with an amazing winning streak, and they moved 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels. But the West division always has a catch.

The only other team that can win the division is the Angels, and they are not losing, because the Rangers only gained four games in an 11 game win streak. 7-4 is not a bad record to have in 11 games.

The series in Los Angeles this week should be an indicator of things to come. The Angels have already taken the first game, and a series win could put a damper on the Ranger celebration. However, the hitting and pitching has been there for both teams, but Texas has been hitting better.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS June 7:

1.) New York Yankees - The Yankees are winning, and the teams behind them have injuries and bad luck.

2.) Boston Red Sox – They have scored the second most runs, but the Dustin Pedroia injury will hurt them.

3.) Texas Rangers – The 11 game winning streak was well deserved. They hit and, yes, they also pitch.

4.) Tampa Bay Rays – The slump continues, and they still have the best ERA and score the fourth most runs in the American League.

5.) Minnesota Twins – Struggling, and they may actually be dethroned by the Tigers or, dare I say, the White Sox.

The East is a free-for-all; Rangers, Tigers and White Sox have great weeks

CENTRAL

The Chicago White Sox have suddenly surged to a .500 record with sweeps to the teams they should beat, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals. They have slowly crept only 5 and a half games back of the Minnesota Twins.

How did the White Sox do this with an offense struggling to find consistency? They had their few games of power, and when they didn’t hit they only allowed a run and beat Steven Strasburg (who may be the best rookie pitcher I ever saw) in two games.

The Detroit Tigers also had a big week, but they need to string two or three together before I believe they’ve turned it around. The Twins are still the top team in the division until they are dethroned.

AL EAST

The best division in baseball keeps getting better. The New York Yankees are back on top, but the Boston Red Sox have surged to only one game back.

The struggling Rays are also one game back, but they need to turn their fortunes round soon. The Yankees and Red Sox are built to handle pressure. The Rays have only had to deal with it once.

The Red Sox offense scored 37 runs last week, and their starting pitching is beginning to come around, led by Clay Buchholz. They will be a force in the second half of the season.

Watch out for the Toronto Blue Jays as well. I don’t think they have the weapons to finish on top, they will play spoiler to one or two of the teams ahead of them.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers have finally showed a little consistency on top of the West. An eight game winning streak will do that. The thing making Texas dangerous is the pitching.

They are still great on offense – third in average (.277) and fourth in runs scored (355) – but they can now pitch – fifth in ERA (3.97). In fact, the Rangers are one of only five teams in the American League with an ERA under four.

The Los Angeles Angels have slowed down a bit, but they are still dangerous. They will win, and the Rangers only gained two games during a long winning streak.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS June 7:

1.) New York Yankees - The defending champions have pitching and offense, despite Derek Jeter’s slump.

2.) Boston Red Sox – They lead the AL in runs scored, and Buchholz has been dominant.

3.) Tampa Bay Rays – They may be in third place if they don’t snap out of their team slump.

4.) Minnesota Twins – The Twins are still doing well, but they need to watch out for the Tigers and White Sox who are slowly creeping closer.

5.) Texas Rangers – They can hit, and should I dare say it? The Rangers can pitch now? Look out for this team if it continues.

Rays are miles above rest; Tigers and Twins battle it out

AL CENTRAL

The Minnesota Twins continue to win with pitching, defense and stringing singles together. They are a complete team, with the tools to stay consistent. The Tigers had a few good weeks, and they stand at two games back. However, they haven’t showed us the consistency.

The offense hasn’t been the problem for the Tigers lately. They have moved up into fourth in the AL in batting average, and they are moving up the ranks in runs scored. Thanks in part to scoring over forty runs in the last two weeks. However, they backed up impressive series wins over the Yankees and red Sox by losing a game to the White Sox (the other game was postponed) and a series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The pitching may be the big reason for the inconsistency. They have given up 191 runs, only a +6 run differential. The Twins have a +42 run differential. To be consistent, a team must be able to outscore opponents in a series. It becomes very difficult if the offense needs six runs every night.

AL EAST

What can we say about the Rays? They hit; they run; they pitch; they play defense; they don’t beat themselves; they have a lot of different ways they can beat you. They not only hold the leagues best ERA at 2.80, but they hold the best record in the MLB at 32-12. What’s even bigger for them is the six game lead over the New York Yankees.

They swept them in New York last week, and they have everything a club needs to sustain the lead. The Yankees are still the team to beat until the season is over; they aren’t defending champions for losing ballgames or giving up. The problem with them has to come with the injuries and the inconsistency of the bottom of the rotation. Javier Vasquez must pitch well. The Rays staff is miles above theirs if he doesn’t.

AL WEST

The Mariners are an anomaly. It is always shoved down our throats that good pitching wins championships. The Mariners are second in the AL in ERA (3.76). How can they possibly hold the third worst record in the league?

For starters, they have 31 errors which is at the bottom third of the AL. The big reason is the lack of run support, however. They are dead last in the AL with only 152 runs. The stellar pitching we talked about has given up 174 runs, which gives a run differential of -22. No team will ever win games without scoring enough for their pitchers.

The Texas Rangers have taken advantage of the poor play of the division, and they are suddenly looking like the team to beat. They can hit, and they have just enough pitching to survive the season.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS May 24:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - They have a +102 run differential, and they
lead the Yankees by six games.

2.) Minnesota Twins– They still don’t beat themselves, and they have
shown a better road presence than the Tigers.

3.) New York Yankees– They have many injuries to key players, and
they were swept by the Rays.

4.) Texas Rangers – They are 10-4 in their division, which is why
they hold a three game lead.

5.) Detroit Tigers – The +6 run differential is not enough to pass
the Twins for an entire season.

Rays leading AL; Tigers and Blue Jays surprising

AL CENTRAL

Detroit and Minnesota continue to trade shots again, but this time they do it without playing each other. Minnesota has trouble versus the Yankees, and the Tigers handle the Red Sox. The only difference becomes the quality of team. The Yankees are miles above the red Sox at the moment, and the Twins still hold the division lead.

The White Sox continue to disappoint, despite their rear win in Minnesota. The Royals top moment came when Zack Greinke finally won a game.

AL EAST

The Rays and Yankees are clearly the class of the East. They are one and two in almost every major baseball category. If the Red Sox doesn’t turn their season around, I highly doubt the Toronto Blue Jays will be as good as they have been for the entire season.

With two power pitchers, a lefty and a righty, the Rays have a little edge over the Yankees staff. However, the Blue Jays are very good at the moment, and they will be dangerous to face.

AL WEST

The Rangers respond to the Athletics with a great series win. They are the top team in the West at the moment, but no team has really shown any signs of consistency.

The Angels finally had some good signs with a series win over the A’s. However the other disappoint of the division, the Seattle Mariners, still can’t score. The Rays win 2-1 over Cliff Lee yesterday and keep them at the bottom of the American League.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS APRIL 26:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - They have a 2.70 ERA and lead the Yankees by

two games.

2.) New York Yankees– They now lead the league in runs scored, but

the pitching hasn’t dominated the league.

3.) Minnesota Twins – They had a rough week, but they still hold the

Central Division.

4.) Detroit Tigers – They went 5-1 the past week, including a sweep

against the Yankees. Could this be the sign of a

good team?

.

5.) Toronto Blue Jays – They swept the West leading Rangers and are

looking very good in a tough division. I

can’t give the West a nod this week.

Tigers moving up; Rays still the best

AL CENTRAL

Look out Minnesota. The Detroit Tigers have won five in a row, and the offense is not the only reason for the sudden surge. The fifth starter, Dontrelle Willis, only gave up four hits without yielding a run in a big win over the first place Twins.

With a big three game series starting tonight, the Tigers may jump ahead of Minnesota in the standings and my power rankings. Magglio Ordonez was a huge question mark for the Tigers after a horrible season last year, but he is hitting .293 with four homeruns and 18 RBIs.

The rest of the Central is very inconsistent, with the Chicago White Sox still seriously under achieving. They really need to have a few good weeks soon, or the Tigers and Twins will both have huge leads with very good teams. It may be a two-team race if a change doesn’t happen soon.

AL EAST

The Tampa Bay Rays are still a top the division, and they have shown they have the pitching to go toe-to-toe with the Yankees. However, New York is still playing well, and they are one of the best teams in the American League.

For the Rays, they ended another good week with a 1-0 win over Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals. The great baseball must be a worry for Yankees fans. Both teams are nearly identical in batting average, but the Rays lead the league in runs scored, with 146, and ERA, 3.14.

The worst of the East is the Boston Red Sox right now. They can’t pitch. They can’t hit, and the Baltimore Orioles just swept them. The Red Sox are in the same situation as the White Sox. If they don’t have a few good weeks soon, they will find themselves too far behind the Rays and Yankees.

AL WEST

As expected, the Oakland Athletics have dropped off a bit. Where did the pitching go? They gave up 43 runs in five losses last week. The one game they didn’t give up more than six runs; they won.

With the freefall of the Athletics, the Texas Rangers have snuck into first place. However, the West is extremely inconsistent. The Mariners and Angels are both under five hundred, and the Rangers are only one game over.

All the teams in the West are at the bottom half in runs scored. There was a bright spot for the Mariners, however. Cliff Lee won 1-0 in his first game. If he is the pitcher Seattle thought they were getting when they signed him, the Mariners will have a great one-two punch.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS APRIL 26:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - They lead the league in runs scored and ERA.

2.) New York Yankees – They continue to win series, and the bottom

half of the rotation is playing well..

3.) Minnesota Twins – They struggled with a mediocre week and lost a

series to the Tigers. Next week is big for them.

4.) Detroit Tigers – With the offense clicking and Dontrelle Willis

looking decent, they will be hard to beat.

5.) Texas Rangers– They are the best in the West, for now.

Twins looking sharp; Rays pitch themselves into first

AL CENTRAL

The first two weeks of baseball in the central division has told us a numerous amount of what we should expect and what teams need to do for improvement.

The Minnesota Twins are the best team in the American League right now. Why? Because, the Twins don’t waste good pitching and defense with poor situational hitting. The Chicago White Sox cannot say the same. In their nine losses, they lost six by two runs or less.

The other contender, the Detroit Tigers, have struggled with consistency in their first two weeks. The reason? Pitching. The ace Justin Verlander has given up 13 runs in 17 innings. Jeremy Bonderman has given up 11 runs in nine innings. The fifth starter, Dontrelle Willis, has five walks and opponents are hitting .348 against him. Max Scherzer is the only pitcher pitching well, and the offense cost him a win already.

AL EAST

The New York Yankees are batting .286 as a team, and they are tied for first in the American League with 64 runs scored. They also have a 3.79 ERA, which is enough for their potent offense to win.

The Tampa Bay Rays have quickly moved up the standings with the awful play by the Boston Red Sox. They won the first three games of a four-game series with the Red Sox, and they also have beaten up on Baltimore. The six-game winning streak is needed when chasing the Yankees. The Rays pitching is the reason for the climb.

Matt Garza has 19 strikeouts with seven walks and David Price has 14 strikeouts while only walking five. Opponents are hitting .179 against Garza and .204 against Price. They have also only allowed a combined seven earned runs in 38.2 innings.

AL WEST

The one true surprise in April is the Oakland Athletics. They lead the major league in ERA, and they have won some close games. The problem signs are beginning to point towards the evening out of their record, however. The offense has no power, and they shouldn’t score many runs on the year.

Plus, the Seattle Mariners are beginning to play much better, winning four in a row against Oakland and Detroit. The Mariners have done it with their pitching, and they have also scored some timely runs during the streak. The reason they started slow was due to the lack of run support.

The Los Angeles Angels have struggled with pitching, but they were able to get a quality start by Ervin Santana in a 3-1 win over Toronto yesterday. They have begun to score some runs, so if the pitching comes around, they should also climb up the standings.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS APRIL 19:

1.) Minnesota Twins - They pitch, play defense and are tied for first

with 64 runs scored.

2.) New York Yankees – They have the best offense in the AL, and they

have beaten the division rivalries.

3.) Tampa Bay Rays - They have the two best pitchers in the AL so

far in Garza and Price.

4.) Oakland Athletics – They have pitched well, but the offense lacks

pop.

5.) Seattle Mariners – They had a great week, and they look to

continue their improvement.

Toronto and Oakland; early surprises in AL

The American League has had a few oddities in the first week of play. With a week into the season, there are many teams out of rhythm, including most of my picks. However, the struggling teams weren’t doing what they were capable of, and it hurt.

The Central division has the Tigers and Twins doing well, which was what most expected. The White Soc can’t say the same thing. After winning the opener, they lost four straight. The main reason was the offense. Out of 94 men who reached base safely, they only scored 10 runs. It is fifth to last in the American League, and many of these base runners were in scoring position.

The East division has the Yankees and Red Sox looking far from perfect, unless you count the CC Sabathia performance versus the Rays, but they are not in rhythm yet. The pitching is looking stellar for both clubs, and the new comers are fitting in well. The Blue Jays had the best start in the league so far.

The West is all out of sorts after one week. The Mariners and Angels, my picks for one and two in the division, are 2-5 and looking far from good. The Athletics are pitching better than expected, and the Rangers have been winning games against Seattle. If the Mariners and Angels want to be back in rhythm, they need to score runs. It is looking a little dismal early on.

So here are the top five for the week:

1.) Toronto Blue Jays- Great pitching and Vernon Wells has four homeruns and seven RBIs.

2.) Minnesota Twins- They may not be in first, but they are winning with pitching and timely hitting

3.) Oakland Athletics- They have won many close games so far, and they are doing it with a roster full of names most haven’t heard of.

4.) New York Yankees- The pitching is coming around, and the rest of the league should worry.

5.) Detroit Tigers- They are in first, but the pitching has struggled.

Tigers going with Willis as fifth starter; Vindication or bust?

The Detroit Tigers have traded Nate Robertson to the Marlins, which allows Dontrelle Willis to return the major leagues. Willis may be one of the worst busts in the history of the MLB, but the Tigers have decided to give him one more shot at vindication.

He currently is making 10 million dollars a year, and he is 1-6 with an 8.34 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched. Reportedly, he has battled an anxiety disorder as well as minor injuries, and his control has suffered due to these factors. In his CY Young years with Florida, he had a three to one strikeout to walk ratio. With Detroit, he has just under double the walks, 63, than strikeouts, 35.

Although he has shown some promise this spring, one must wonder if he can handle the everyday pressure of a full season. He still makes a lot of money, and the Detroit fans aren’t too pleased. If he struggles early, can he survive? Every pitcher has a rough stretch. How can Willis comeback mentally from a low point.

With the trade, there is much pressure on the ex-20 game winner. The Tigers need him to be consistent, even as a fifth starter. If he does well, he can be enough to propel Detroit to the top of the division. If he fails, however, the Tigers may be even worse than having Nate Robertson. Robertson is 51-69 for his career with a 4.92 ERA, but he does have 712 strikeouts to 378 walks.

The trade shows the Tigers are trying, but will it be enough to top the Twins and the White Sox? Only time will tell.

Pitching will be strong in AL Central; White Sox lead the way

Cleveland Indians

2009: 65-97 tied for last place

Key Players

Grady Sizemore- CF .248 18 Hrs 64 RBIs

Travis Hafner- DH .272 16 Hrs 49 RBIs

Shin-Soo Choo- RF .300 20 Hrs 86 RBIs

Fausto Carmona- SP/RH 125.1 IPs 5-12 6.32 ERA 79 Ks 70 BBs

Key Additions

Jake Westbrook- SP/RH (Injured all of last season).

The Indians only addition was already on the team. However, Westbrook missed all of last season with Tommy John surgery. He will be the ace of the staff with Cliff Lee gone.

Key Subtractions

Cliff Lee- SP/LH (traded last year)

Victor Martinez 3B (traded last year)

The Indians began the sale last year. Lee was the ace, and Martinez was a key player in the middle of the order. Both players will be missed dearly.

Stats breakdown

Pitching 1

Offense 2

Defense 3

Overall 6

The Indians are rebuilding this year, and they won’t be a contender. They don’t have an ace or a second starter. They don’t have protection for Travis Hafner. They don’t have the guys to drive in Grady Sizemore. The best player on the team is Shin-Soo Choo is the only positive at this point.

Kansas City Royals

2009: 65-97 tied for last place

Key Players

Zack Greinke SP/RH 229.1 IPs 16-8 2.16 ERA 242 Ks 51 BBs

David DeJesus RF .281 13 Hrs 71 RBIs

Billy Butler 1B

Jose Guillen DH .305 3 Hrs 48 RBIs 41 SBs

Key Additions

Scott Podsednik LF

Rick Ankiel CF

Jason Kendall C

Podsednik adds a great leadoff threat to the Royals offense. If he plays like he did last year for the White Sox (.304 30 SBs 75 Runs), they will be much improved. Ankiel struggled last year, but he can be a nice addition if he returns to his form from two years ago and strikes out less. Kendall is a veteran catcher who mmay make the pitching staff better.

Key Subtractions

Miguel Olivo C

John Buck C

Mark Teahen 3B

The Royals lost their key power hitter in Olivo, and they lost catcher depth by losing him and Buck. It will be interesting to see if Kendall can replace Olivo, and if the lack of depth hurts them in the long run. Teahen is a big loss in the infield. It will be hard to replace his skills.

Stats breakdown

Pitching 3

Offense 3

Defense 3

Overall 9

The Royals are an interesting team. They have one of the best pitchers in the MLB. They added key pieces to the lineup, and they have some young players starting to bud, like Billy Butler and Alex Gordon. The problem lies with the rest of the pitching staff. They will need more consistency after Greinke, a potential 20 game winner. They can be a surprise team if Gil Meche and Brian Bannister come through with some wins.

Detroit Tigers

2009: 86-77 2nd place

Key Players

Magglio Ordonez RF .310 9 Hrs 50 RBIs

Justin Verlander SP/RH 240 IPs 19-9 3.45 ERA 269 Ks 63 BBs

Miguel Cabrera 1B .324 34 Hrs 103 RBIs

Carlos Guillen DH .242 11 Hrs 41 RBIs

Rick Porcello SP/LH 170.2 IPs 14-9 3.96 ERA 89 Ks 52 BBs

Key Additions

Johnny Damon LF

Jose Valverde Closer/RH

Damon will be a replacement for Granderson. Damon’s power numbers were blown up because he played in a park that placated his swing. He also is a defensive downgrade in the outfield. However, he can still hit, and he will provide a spark at the top of the order. Valverde will replace Rodney, and he will need to give quality innings.

Key Subtractions

Curtis Granderson CF

Fernando Rodney Closer/RH

Placido Polanco 2B

Granderson’s trade was the beginning and end of the Tiger’s fire sale. They will miss his bat and defense, but Damon should do a decent job at replacing him. Rodney was a decent closer, but he had trouble with walks, so the Tigers shouldn’t miss him as much as some think. Polanco is a lost bat, but the Tigers have plenty of bats to replace him.

Stats breakdown

Pitching 4

Offense 4

Defense 3

Overall 11

The Tigers have very good pitching, and they have offensive weapons. They need someone to join Verlander and Porcello, and they need Ordonez and Guillen to play better. If they get these players going, they will be a contender in the division. They came close to winning last year, but they had some problems at the end. They cannot have distractions, and Cabrera needs to get his life in order. The race will be tight, and the Tigers cannot struggle at any point this season.

Minnesota Twins

2009: 87-76

Key Players

Joe Mauer LF .268 10 Hrs 54 RBIs

Justin Morneau 2B .253 31 Hrs 86 RBIs 101 Runs

Denard Span 3B .322 22 Hrs 68 RBIs

Scott Baker SP/RH 200 IPs 15-9 4.37 ERA 162 Ks 48 BBs

Joe Nathan Closer/RH 47 Svs 2.12 ERA (injured and may be out for season)

Key Additions

Carl Pavano SP/RH

Orlando Hudson 2B

Jim Thome DH

Pavano is a veteran joining a young staff. He should provide more balance, and he must win more games. The Twins need their pitchers to do well if they want to chase the Tigers and White Sox. Hudson is a key piece to the infield. He makes the dfense better, and he will be a nice adition to the top of the order. He batted .283 and scored 74 runs for the Dodgers last year. Thome adds left-handed power, and he should have some decent numbers.

Key Subtractions

Orlando Cabrera SS

Joe Crede 3B

Cabrera is a big loss at shortstop, but the Twins picked up Hudson to take his spot in the order. Crede was injury prone, with back problems. When he is healthy, he is a big loss to any team. However, the injuries were too plentiful to take a chance.

Stats breakdown

Pitching 3

Offense 4

Defense 5

Overall 12

The Twins do not look like a division contender on paper, but they always find a way to win. The pitching must be really good this year though. The Tigers and White Sox have better staffs on paper. However, the Twins play great baseball behind Ron Gardenhire. They have a great defense, and they score runs in many different ways. Look for the Twins to be near the top in September.

Chicago White Sox

2009: 79-83 3rd place

Key Players

Gordon Beckham- 2B .270 14 Hrs 63 RBIs

Carlos Quentin- RF .236 21 Hrs 56 RBIs

Paul Konerko- 1B .277 28 Hrs 88 RBIs

Mark Buerhle- SP/LH 213.1 IPs 13-10 3.84 ERA 105 Ks 45 BBs

Jake Peavy- SP/RH 101.2 IPs 9-6 3.45 ERA 110 Ks 34 BBs

Key Additions

Juan Pierre- LF

Mark Teahen- 3B

J.J. Putz- RP/RH

Pierre is a player the White Sox have wanted for a while. He batted .304 and stole 30 bases. He will give added speed at the top of the lineup, and he will easily fill the void left from losing Podsednik. Teahen is a key acquisition from the Royals. He is very good defensively, and he has been coming along at the plate. He should be solid at the bottom of the order. Putz will be the replacement for Octavio Dotel. He will need to keep the walks down, but he should be a decent late inning reliever.

Key Subtractions

Octavio Dotel- RP/RH

Jermaine Dye- DH

Scott Podsednik- LF

Dotel will be missed at the back end of the bullpen, and the White Sox are hoping Putz can fill his void. Pierre should replace Podsednik, but Podsednik was one of the best players for the White Sox last year. Dye was a great player, and he will still be good when a team picks him up. However, the White Sox needed to move on. They will miss his power though.

Stats breakdown

Pitching 5

Offense 4

Defense 4

Overall 13

The White Sox made the big move picking up Jake Peavy last year. They have the best pitching staff in the division, and the offense has some added pieces to strengthen their past weaknesses. They do have some questions with Jermaine Dye and Octavio Dotel gone, but they will be contenders in September.

Final AL Central breakdown

Champion: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox pitching will take them far. The Twins and Tigers have good teams that will not make it easy, but the White Sox have a decent defense and great pitching. They should win over 90 games, and they should be able to win in their division. The race will go to the end, however. The Twins are always in it, and Verlander and Porcello can take the Tigers far. By the end, the White Sox should be the ones on top. It should be one of the better races in the MLB.