Consistently one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, the American League Central will not disappoint in 2011. The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox both added power to their line-ups. The Minnesota Twins had very little off season activity and have basically the same look as last year. Yet, most experts still consider the Twins to be the favorite. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals will once again be battling it out for fourth place.
*Teams listed in order of predicted finish.
The Detroit Tigers
The Tigers possess a tremendous mix of young talent and proven veterans on both sides of the ball. The Tigers worked quickly in the off season to re-sign fan favorites, perennial .300 hitter, Maggilo Ordonez and defensive specialist, Brandon Inge. They also brought in free agent bat of Victor Martinez at $50 million over four years. Martinez is expected to share time behind the plate with young catcher Alex Avila and he will DH on days he doesn't wear the armor.
Detroit also added to their already impressive pitching staff, signing flame thrower, Joaquin Benoit to a three year deal. Benoit will be the setup man for the charismatic and now healthy closer, Jose Valverde. Joel Zumaya, whose fast ball has reached 104 MPH, says he too is healthy. Hopefully he can make it through the year without a trip to the DL, a feat he has been unable to accomplish in the first four years of his career. The Tigers were also able to add depth to the starting rotation, signing veteran starter and former World Series Champion, Brad Penny, who will anchor the staff as the fifth starter. We already know Justin Verlander is a stud and will continue to dominate hitters in 2011. The rest of the starting rotation should be solid assuming three things. First, Rick Porcello bounces back from a sophomore slump. Word is, he has added a curve ball and a sinker to go along with his effective change-up, if true, Porcello should be back to the winning form that allowed him to finish third in his rookie of the year voting two seasons ago. Second, that at age 26, Max Scherzer continues to strike guys out and keeps improving.
Lastly, and possibly the biggest if of all, can Phil Coke transition from the bullpen into the starting rotation. Coke throws hard, he also plays with a lot of emotion. Emotion works in the bullpen because a pitcher will only throw for an inning or two. Starters are expected to pitch between 5 and 7 innings every fifth day. If he can pace himself, good things are in store for the flamboyant Coke.
Their line-up looks to be the best, 1 thru 9 among the AL Central. Their pitching staff could rank with the elite if everything goes perfect. If the Tigers can stay healthy and if Miguel Cabrera stays off the sauce, the Detroit Tigers are the team to beat in the division.
The Chicago White Sox
Of course, Alex Rios disagrees with me on who the team to beat in the central is, as he was quoted saying, "Oh yeah, definitely, we're the team to beat." Can't argue with his confidence. The White Sox did sign slugger Adam Dunn in the off season. Dunn should be good for at least 40 home runs and probably more since he is moving to U.S Cellular Field, which is more conducive for left-handed hitters than his previous home in Washington.
The Sox signed young outfielder Lastings Milledge, who has yet to live up to expectations, but at age 25 there is still plenty time. A change of scenery and playing for a team that can actually contend may prove to be just what the young man needs to get motivated and play to his potential.
The White Sox pitching is intriguing. Matt Thornton takes over in the closers role, with Bobby Jenks moving to the Boston Red Sox. This is a case of addition by subtraction for the Sox. Jenks was shaky at best last season recording a career low in saves and seeing his ERA balloon to 4.44. Thornton has a powerful arm that just strikes people out, 81 strikeouts in 60.2 innings a year ago. He should be ready for the challenge of being an everyday closer. The starting rotation is good, not great. It will be interesting to see how former Cy Young candidate, Jake Peavy returns from surgery. He hasn't pitched since July and hasn't been dominate since 2008, it's doubtful he'll ever be the lights out pitcher he once was.
The White Sox lack depth, it will be difficult to contend if they lose guys to injury. GM Kenny Williams is always wheeling and dealing around the trade deadline, so you can never rule out a trade. It will be a question of how many prospects are left in their farm system if it were to come to that. The White Sox spent many of their resources over the past few years and may be running out.
The Minnesota Twins
The Twins have more red flags than a Thanksgiving sale at Macy's. At the top of the list of concerns is Twins first baseman and 2006 MVP, Justin Morneau. Morneau missed half of last season and hasn't played since suffering a concussion while sliding into second and taking a knee to the dome on July 7th, 2010. Spring Training is underway and doctors have yet cleared Morneau to participate in game activity - seven months later! That's one hell of a concussion. Minnesota should be worried that this may be perminate.
The injury concerns continue with $184 million, 2009 MVP catcher, Joe Mauer. Mauer has tried to down play his nagging knee issues and the recent reports that he received a lubricant shot, designed to help cushion the joints. All catchers go through knee troubles and this is not uncommon, but with 7 years left on that contract, it could be a cause for concern. Mauer has said he wants to remain a catcher and wouldn't want to change positions to say, first base. If the Twins want to keep the four-time all-star in their line up, something has to give.
Francisco Liriano made an improbable return to the mound last year after a dismal season in 2009, in which many thought his days as a big league pitcher were over. In 2010, Liriano racked up career highs in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. Carl Pavano also made a surprising comeback in 2010, recording 17 wins and an ERA of 3.75, best totals since 2004 when he played for the Florida Marlins. The Twins will need Liriano and Pavano to prove that 2010 was no fluke and they will need their MVPs to get and stay healthy, if they plan on keeping up with the Tigers and White Sox.
The Kansas City Royals & The Cleveland Indians
The last time the Royals made the playoffs, Justin Bieber was negative ten. 26 years later and the Royals still aren't going to make the playoffs anytime soon. Especially since they traded their top pitcher, former Cy Young award winner, Zach Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects. With the addition of those prospects the Royals have become the number one ranked farm system in baseball, which means they are loaded with young talent. Hopefully the organization can develop and keep their stable of youthful players, so that in four to five years from now, the action on the field will be just as entertaining to watch as the waterfalls found beyond the outfield walls at Kauffman Stadium.
The Cleveland Indians are another young team with not much to look forward to in 2011. The brightest note for the Indians this offseason was learning that the South Korean government granted military exemption to their best player, Shin Soo Choo. South Korea requires all male citizens serve two years of military duty before they turn 30. Choo, who turns 30 in 2012, helped South Korea win a Gold Medal at the 2010 Asian Games, as a reward South Korea dismissed his military obligations.
Indian fans will also see Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner returning to the line-up as they have healed from their respective injuries, for now that is. Nonetheless, even with Choo, Sizemore, and Hafner, the Indians have little hope of being a realistic contender in 2011.
The AL Central will come down to Detroit, Chicago, and Minnesota. As for Cleveland and Kansas City, there is always next year.
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