MLB Previews-AL Central

Steve the Hammer Predictions

AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox- May be a bit of a surprise to pick them to win their division, but this team has enough pitching to do it. Edwin Jackson, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd along with Chris Sale and Jake Peavy if he stays healthy is one hell of a staff with those guys. Let’s not forget about John Danks either. Decent bats in the lineup between Adam Dunn and Carlos Quentin and some good young infielders with Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez. Look for them to have a very, very good season.

2. Minnesota Twins- I’m taking them second because all I see is Francisco Liriano, followed by a bunch of guys who pitched way over their head last season. I really do not think their pitching is going to be good enough to win this division. Mauer and Morneau will do the usual when healthy, but Cuddyer is getting up there in age and I’m still not sold on Jason Kubel. They’ll compete for a wild card, but will not win the division.

3. Detroit Tigers- Other than Verlander I actually hate their pitching. Brad Penny will get hurt, Porcello still needs to develop and there are question marks everywhere else. The lineup though will hit with the addition of Victor Martinez to Miguel Cabrera (assuming he stays sober) and Austin Jackson should have a nice year. The rest of that lineup is just way too old for this team to really compete for a division title, three years ago I would have them higher than third but not now.

4. Kansas City Royals- So how bad is Cleveland that I think the Royals are going to finish ahead of them? I want to lie and tell you that this team isn’t that bad, but you would know I’m bullshitting you. They one starter that I’ve heard of by the name of Jeff Francis and Joakim Soria is filthy. Other than that, this team is awful.

5. Cleveland Indians- If you’re finishing behind the Royals, you suck. After Fausto Carmona I have no idea who is pitching for this team. Travis Hafner is on his way out and Orlando Cabrera is like 80. Yes they have Orlando and Asdrubal Cabrera as confusing as that sounds. Oh my bad, I forgot about the savior Shin-Soo Choo. Trade Grady Sizemore to a good team and get him out of there please. They might win 70 games this year at best.

Johnny Baseball Predictions

1. Detroit Tigers - Many people don't realize how good Victor Martinez really is. Combine him with Magglio, Cabrera, Guilen, Inge, and Jackson and you have a solid line-up. Also, they have some great pitching...Verlander, Schlereth who was a nice little rookie last year, Porcello, Penny, and Scherzer starting. Their bullpen impresses me. Jose Valverde..beast and they still have Zumaya along with Phil Coke. The outlook should be good for Detriot fans.

2. Chicago White Sox - Great pitching, but Buehrle is getting a bit old. Peavy is a question mark, but Jackson, Gavin Floyd, and Sale are good pitchers. The addition of Adam Dunn is huge (he is predicted to have 45 homeruns by ESPN fantasy rankings) and ALEXIIIIII! is a beast. Carlos Quentin goes deep and Gordan Beckham is a good young solid ball player. Will make a serious wild-card run but their pitching won't hold up for a divison title.

3. Minnesota Twins - Overrated (clap clap clap clap clap). And also have the most overrated manager in the MLB. How many times have they made the playoffs? Look that one up yourself but I can tell you how many times they've beaten the Yankees...NONE! So they make the playoffs almost every year and lose to the Yankees cause they stand their with the bat on their shoulders afraid to play. Go out there and play your game and maybe you'll actually win a playoff series. But this year you have to make it there first. Other than Liriano (who I thought pitched over his head last year) they don't impress me. Nathan coming off arm surgery that's always a roller coaster ride and Mauer and Morneau seem to be a little injury prone. I don't think they have the stuff this year.

4. Cleveland Indians - Well I'm putting them in4th in honor of the great Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn aka Charlie Sheen..Figured I'd do him a favor other than trying to ruin his life by cancelling his shows. They have a decent lineup with Sizemore (who had to be on juice) both Cabreras , Hafner and Choo. Their pitching is just awful. Carmona is the only one worth even looking at MLB.com. Hopefully Carlos Santana can come back strong after that gruesome leg injury last year...never wanna see that happen to any player especially ones with a lot of potential.

5. Kansas City Royals - Well, they suck. Frenchy is a bum and the only person worth mentioning on the roster is Joakim Soria. Getting rid of Grienke will net them probably anywhere from 50-65 wins this year. Another awful one in KC...it's a shame they have such nice uniforms. OH WELL