I took a look at the top of the AL Central earlier this month, now let's look at the rebuilding projects. Very rarely do you have an entire division that will compete throughout the year. There are some years when you will see four teams make the division really competitive and fun to watch. Teams changing places and every series is even more important because of it. Other years, well, there are just teams that will do nothing but create pain for your favorite team. That team that is going to lose ninety games, but still find time to sweep your favorite team at a critical part of the season. That's the fun part of baseball (but also the most aggravating).
The Cleveland Indians. The 2014 Cy Young pitcher resides there. They have that annoying drum that is kinda racist. Speaking of racist, Chief Wahoo. For some reason, baseball talking heads are expecting something out of this team this year. Early in the season, they lost their primary catcher which hurt their batting lineup, but it also hurts their young pitching staff. I think that defensive first catchers are underrated. I would rather have a catcher bat .220 and be able to handle a pitching staff well enough that they pitch above their level. Their catcher, Yan Gomes, both hit well and controlled the pitching staff. They do have a few pieces, but not enough to get anywhere near Detroit, Kansas City, or even Chicago. Just like Minnesota, Cleveland is in a spot where they are waiting for their farm system to develop. It seems like a lifetime ago that this organization had players like Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, and Victor Martinez. How far they have fallen.
Strengths: Corey Kluber, young and talented players. Weaknesses: Just about everything else.
The Minnesota Twins. The nice guys of MLB. A team that if they did not play in the same division as the Tigers, I would root for. They have a lot of young players that will help turn the organization around. There are a few problems though. A lot of them have been rushed and have not had time to develop. So, while they are heralded as future stars, they are taking their licks in the big league. This is the problem when you don't have time for them to develop. Then, while they are figuring the game out, the analysts wonder if they really were going to be stars or if they are duds. Then the fanbase starts to think that. Then maybe even the players themselves. The Twins fans have to be patient while the players who have not been called up yet develop. But how long are they going to wait? Being a small market team, they cannot draw many big name players. They have pieced together a starting rotation that was going to win them some games until Ervin Santana was suspended for half the season. Now, they are back to having one decent pitcher and some that are not so good. They will have to rely on their batting lineup to win them games because they cannot depend on the rotation. And their batting lineup is not going to give opponents nightmares. They'll fight with Cleveland for last place again this year as both teams wait for the future.
Strengths: farm system, veteran leadership. Weaknesses: Management, pitching staff, players not named Mauer.
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