Full disclosure: I started this post before the baseball season started. I will try to finish it while keeping the first couple of weeks out of my mind. I'm going to break this up into two posts because I want to.
We are about to embark on a grand journey that starts next month and will conclude in October. The MLB season is upon us! As always, let's take a look at the AL Central. It wasn't that long ago that the division was a bit of a joke. That was when the Twins and White Sox were running the show. The rest of the teams (Detroit, Kansas City, and Cleveland) were kind of wandering around in circles trying to find their identities. Those were dark times. So very, very dark. But now, the teams are stronger and one could make an argument that the AL Central is one of the strongest divisions in all of baseball. Looking at the other divisions in baseball, the NL West looks to be stacked as well.
The Detroit Tigers. Four time divisional champ. They've been running the show in the division for the past six years or so. The other teams have been making steps towards the top, but with the Tigers spending big money on free agents and locking up their top players for extended contracts, it'll be tough for any other team to topple Detroit. The exit of Max Scherzer leaves a big hole to fill. Also, the trade of Rick Porcello (in my mind a guy who is just coming into his prime) hurts the rotation. The batting lineup improved and will depend on the health of Cabrera and Victor Martinez. Everyone knows that. Just like last year, the big question mark, and rage inducing part of the team, is the bullpen. If a team wants to beat the Tigers this year, they have to get the starting pitcher out of the game. I still think that they Tigers will win the division this year. The Royals, much like last year, will make it interesting all the way to the end of the season. And it's going to be glorious. Also, please Dave Dombrowski, resign David Price. I'll even throw in a couple bucks if it'll help. Strengths: batting lineup, starting pitching. Weaknesses: bullpen, base running, defense
The Kansas City Royals. Defending American League champions. One well struck ball away from being World Series champions. A young, athletic, talented team that scares the ever living daylights out of me. All those years of being basement dwellers is paying off as the high draft picks are coming to their own. It seems like just a few years ago, Alex Gordon was being sent back down to the minors because he was struggling at third base. Now, he is the veteran leader and a gold glove defender in the outfield. Speaking of the outfield, if a hitter doesn't put the ball over the fence, chances are the defense out there is going to run it down. They combine speed on the bases with solid contact to produce runs, but can also hit the ball out of the park. Watching them last year, they seem to be a streaky team. When everyone is hitting well, the team can be unstoppable (look at their playoff run last year), but if they get into a funk, everyone seems to get in that funk at the same time (but then again, most teams are like that). The departure of James Shields will put a hurt on the starting rotation, but what they lack in a big name they make up for in solid pitching. Their bullpen is the complete opposite of the Tigers. It's amazing to watch their relief pitchers come in, you know the game is all but over. The big question will be, what happens if the starter doesn't make it to the sixth inning? Do they have a middle relief, long inning guy that can bridge the gap? Strengths: defense, bullpen, base running. Weaknesses: back end of the rotation, streakiness.
The Chicago White Sox. Last AL Central team to win a World Series (gross). They had about a three to four year run in the mid-2000s. Ever since, they have fallen off. They are a team that you kind of forget about, which makes them dangerous. They are also dangerous because outside of Jose Abreu and Chris Sale, you can't name a player on that team. Seriously, I had to look up the team roster. Okay, I guess I forgot about Jeff Samardzija. But I think he is one of the more overrated starting pitchers in the game right now. Just hasn't ever impressed me. Other than Sale and Samardzija, they don't have a rotation. Jose Qunitana is another young talent that they have, but has not come into his own. They have players that you can't name up and down the lineup. Their players are young and talented. The veterans on their team will help out their younger players. A few years from now, once their farm team players make it to the bigs, they will be contenders. Their fan base just has to be patient. Much like the Kansas City Royals, outside of their fans, many people don't know them. Yet. Strengths: Chris Sale, Dave Robertson, Jose Abreu. Weaknesses: rest of the team.
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