L Central odds: Can the Twins hold off the Sox and Tigers?
Oddsmakers have made their feelings known; the Central Division should be a hotly contested race. A quick peek at the MLB futures odds board will tell the story.
Minnesota, the defending champion, lost a few pieces but will have Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau returning. Chicago spent a lot cash to improve its offense and is a definite contender. Detroit upgraded its lumber department too and believes a first-rate bullpen will compliment its starting pitchers.
There is a large chasm from the top three to Cleveland and Kansas City. The Indians have gaping holes on the field as well as the pitching staff and the Royals best talent is in the farm system and not quite ready for The Show.
Chicago White Sox
Last season record: 88-74
Projected season win total: 85.5
Odds to win: +191
Biggest losses: RP Bobby Jenks, RP Scott Linebrink
Biggest additions: 1B Adam Dunn, RP Jesse Crain
White Sox Outlook: At the end of last season Paul Konerko thanked White Sox fans, figuring he would be playing somewhere else this year. Instead, Konerko is not only back but is joined by Adam Dunn with his 40 home runs and 100+ runs batted in. With Juan Pierre leading off and Carlos Quentin, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham part of the supporting cast, Chicago’s offense appears extremely formidable.
On the presumption Jake Peavy is 80 percent the hurler he was in San Diego; the Pale Hose might send five quality starters to the mound with regularity. John Danks is the ace of the staff and Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd are expected to get their earned run averages back below 4.00 this season. Adding right-hander Jesse Crain (career 2.82 ERA vs. Central division foes) to complement lefties Matt Thornton and Chris Sales gives the White Sox a staunch look heading into the late innings. Duplicating last season’s 44 comeback victories (second best in AL) might be a stretch, even with an improved offense.
Season win total pick: Over 85.5
Cleveland Indians
Last season record: 69-93
Projected season win total: 71
Odds to win: +2461
Biggest loss: IF Andy Marte
Biggest addition: OF Austin Kearns
Indians Outlook: In 2007 the Cleveland Indians were one game away from the World Series, but with this current crop of players, the only way they will go to the Fall Classic is with a purchased ticket. Gone are the days of continual sellouts (Cleveland was 30th in attendance in baseball last year) and a fruitful farm system. Grady Sizemore, at 28 years old, should be in his prime, but off two injury-marred campaigns, his stock as an elite player has fallen. If Sizemore can return to pre-injury form, the Indians outfield will at least be above average with Michael Bradley and Shin-Soo Choo. The infield is a definite weakness, but Carlos Santana is a keeper as catcher.
For better or worse, Fausto Carmona is the Tribe’s best pitcher with 22 quality starts among the 33 times he toed the rubber. Carmona’s heavy sinker induced 30 double plays last year. The rest of the pitching staff could be charitably described as pedestrian. Manager Manny Acta has a knack for stressing the positive; he will have to look long and hard to find the right words this season.
Season win total pick: Under 71
Detroit Tigers
Last season record: 81-81
Projected season win total: 83.5
Odds to win: +228
Biggest losses: C Gerald Laird, RP Jeremy Bonderman
Biggest additions: C/1B Victor Martinez, RP Joaquin Benoit
Tigers Outlook: General manager Dave Dombrowski is bullish on his team’s chances to win the division. The addition of Victor Martinez adds another stick in the batting order to go along with Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and exciting CF Austin Jackson. Cabrera is a once in a decade slugger and has to pull his life together for himself and his teammates. Though there are weak gloves at a few positions, others will feature some of the best in the American League like Jackson and Brandon Inge.
Justin Verlander is the best starting pitcher in the division and if Max Scherzer (2.46 ERA last 23 starts) and Rick Porcello make the expected progression of young pitchers, Detroit has reason to be giddy. Adding Joaquin Benoit from Tampa Bay is a perfect match with closer Jose Velverde, giving the Tigers the appearance of a water-tight bullpen.
Season win total pick: Over 81
Kansas City Royals
Last season record: 67-95
Projected season win total: 69.5
Odds to win: +2927
Biggest losses: SP Zack Greinke, OF David DeJesus
Biggest additions: OF Melky Cabrera, OF Jeff Francoeur
Royals Outlook: The Kansas City franchise lost an average of 96 games in the last decade and Royals fans have witnessed only one winning season since 1994. Why then would there be sense of optimism in the land of beef and barbeque? Well, because the Royals’ farm system, by all accounts, is oozing with talent on nearly every level. Of course that doesn’t help this year’s club which oddsmakers have projected for 93 setbacks.
With the trade of Zack Greinke and the retirement of Gil Meche, a wafer-thin starting staff is what K.C. is left with, having Luck Hochevar and Vin Mazzaro at the top of the rotation, presumably followed by Kyle Davies and Sean O’ Sullivan. At least the combination of setup man Robinson Tejada and closer Joakim Soria is major league level.
Doubles machine Billy Butler (96 two-baggers the last two seasons) is unquestionably the Royals’ top hitter. The rest of the everyday lineup is a collection of average ballplayers who would likely be utility players on winning teams.
Season win total pick: Under 69
Minnesota Twins
Last season record: 94-68
Projected season win total: 86
Odds to win: +159
Biggest loss: RP Jesse Crain, RP Matt Guerrier
Biggest addition: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Twins Outlook: Minnesota fans from year to year know what to expect from their Twins: A good team that has managed to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox without having anywhere near their payroll. This season will be different, with real excitement on the field and not just a new ball park. Manager Ron Gardenhire has a new double play combination in 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka and SS Alexi Casilla, who are both 26 years old and born just a week apart. With the return of Justin Morneau, the M&M boys are back, giving Joe Mauer his running mate. Baseball’s most fundamentally sound team also boasts an outfield that can hit and field.
Six different pitchers notched 10 wins for Minnesota last season, but Gardenhire wants to raise the bar for the Twins starters. He expects Francisco Liriano, Brian Duensing and Carl Pavano to rack up loads of quality starts, mixed with domineering performances. One of three holdovers (Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey) needs to lower their ERA’s by a run and throw like a No. 3 starter. Joe Nathan is a bit of a mystery at 36 coming off elbow surgery; nonetheless the rest of the bullpen has good arms.
Season win total pick: 86
Oddsmakers have made their feelings known; the Central Division should be a hotly contested race. A quick peek at the MLB futures odds board will tell the story.
Minnesota, the defending champion, lost a few pieces but will have Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau returning. Chicago spent a lot cash to improve its offense and is a definite contender. Detroit upgraded its lumber department too and believes a first-rate bullpen will compliment its starting pitchers.
There is a large chasm from the top three to Cleveland and Kansas City. The Indians have gaping holes on the field as well as the pitching staff and the Royals best talent is in the farm system and not quite ready for The Show.
Chicago White Sox
Last season record: 88-74
Projected season win total: 85.5
Odds to win: +191
Biggest losses: RP Bobby Jenks, RP Scott Linebrink
Biggest additions: 1B Adam Dunn, RP Jesse Crain
White Sox Outlook: At the end of last season Paul Konerko thanked White Sox fans, figuring he would be playing somewhere else this year. Instead, Konerko is not only back but is joined by Adam Dunn with his 40 home runs and 100+ runs batted in. With Juan Pierre leading off and Carlos Quentin, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham part of the supporting cast, Chicago’s offense appears extremely formidable.
On the presumption Jake Peavy is 80 percent the hurler he was in San Diego; the Pale Hose might send five quality starters to the mound with regularity. John Danks is the ace of the staff and Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd are expected to get their earned run averages back below 4.00 this season. Adding right-hander Jesse Crain (career 2.82 ERA vs. Central division foes) to complement lefties Matt Thornton and Chris Sales gives the White Sox a staunch look heading into the late innings. Duplicating last season’s 44 comeback victories (second best in AL) might be a stretch, even with an improved offense.
Season win total pick: Over 85.5
Cleveland Indians
Last season record: 69-93
Projected season win total: 71
Odds to win: +2461
Biggest loss: IF Andy Marte
Biggest addition: OF Austin Kearns
Indians Outlook: In 2007 the Cleveland Indians were one game away from the World Series, but with this current crop of players, the only way they will go to the Fall Classic is with a purchased ticket. Gone are the days of continual sellouts (Cleveland was 30th in attendance in baseball last year) and a fruitful farm system. Grady Sizemore, at 28 years old, should be in his prime, but off two injury-marred campaigns, his stock as an elite player has fallen. If Sizemore can return to pre-injury form, the Indians outfield will at least be above average with Michael Bradley and Shin-Soo Choo. The infield is a definite weakness, but Carlos Santana is a keeper as catcher.
For better or worse, Fausto Carmona is the Tribe’s best pitcher with 22 quality starts among the 33 times he toed the rubber. Carmona’s heavy sinker induced 30 double plays last year. The rest of the pitching staff could be charitably described as pedestrian. Manager Manny Acta has a knack for stressing the positive; he will have to look long and hard to find the right words this season.
Season win total pick: Under 71
Detroit Tigers
Last season record: 81-81
Projected season win total: 83.5
Odds to win: +228
Biggest losses: C Gerald Laird, RP Jeremy Bonderman
Biggest additions: C/1B Victor Martinez, RP Joaquin Benoit
Tigers Outlook: General manager Dave Dombrowski is bullish on his team’s chances to win the division. The addition of Victor Martinez adds another stick in the batting order to go along with Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and exciting CF Austin Jackson. Cabrera is a once in a decade slugger and has to pull his life together for himself and his teammates. Though there are weak gloves at a few positions, others will feature some of the best in the American League like Jackson and Brandon Inge.
Justin Verlander is the best starting pitcher in the division and if Max Scherzer (2.46 ERA last 23 starts) and Rick Porcello make the expected progression of young pitchers, Detroit has reason to be giddy. Adding Joaquin Benoit from Tampa Bay is a perfect match with closer Jose Velverde, giving the Tigers the appearance of a water-tight bullpen.
Season win total pick: Over 81
Kansas City Royals
Last season record: 67-95
Projected season win total: 69.5
Odds to win: +2927
Biggest losses: SP Zack Greinke, OF David DeJesus
Biggest additions: OF Melky Cabrera, OF Jeff Francoeur
Royals Outlook: The Kansas City franchise lost an average of 96 games in the last decade and Royals fans have witnessed only one winning season since 1994. Why then would there be sense of optimism in the land of beef and barbeque? Well, because the Royals’ farm system, by all accounts, is oozing with talent on nearly every level. Of course that doesn’t help this year’s club which oddsmakers have projected for 93 setbacks.
With the trade of Zack Greinke and the retirement of Gil Meche, a wafer-thin starting staff is what K.C. is left with, having Luck Hochevar and Vin Mazzaro at the top of the rotation, presumably followed by Kyle Davies and Sean O’ Sullivan. At least the combination of setup man Robinson Tejada and closer Joakim Soria is major league level.
Doubles machine Billy Butler (96 two-baggers the last two seasons) is unquestionably the Royals’ top hitter. The rest of the everyday lineup is a collection of average ballplayers who would likely be utility players on winning teams.
Season win total pick: Under 69
Minnesota Twins
Last season record: 94-68
Projected season win total: 86
Odds to win: +159
Biggest loss: RP Jesse Crain, RP Matt Guerrier
Biggest addition: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Twins Outlook: Minnesota fans from year to year know what to expect from their Twins: A good team that has managed to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox without having anywhere near their payroll. This season will be different, with real excitement on the field and not just a new ball park. Manager Ron Gardenhire has a new double play combination in 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka and SS Alexi Casilla, who are both 26 years old and born just a week apart. With the return of Justin Morneau, the M&M boys are back, giving Joe Mauer his running mate. Baseball’s most fundamentally sound team also boasts an outfield that can hit and field.
Six different pitchers notched 10 wins for Minnesota last season, but Gardenhire wants to raise the bar for the Twins starters. He expects Francisco Liriano, Brian Duensing and Carl Pavano to rack up loads of quality starts, mixed with domineering performances. One of three holdovers (Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey) needs to lower their ERA’s by a run and throw like a No. 3 starter. Joe Nathan is a bit of a mystery at 36 coming off elbow surgery; nonetheless the rest of the bullpen has good arms.
Season win total pick: 86
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