The first pitch of the 2008 Major League Baseball season is just a few days away and that means it's time for me to use my extra sensory perception and predict the upcoming events. I've busted out the Ouija board, communicated with the Baseball Gods and feel I've uncovered the winners and losers for the AL this year. Let's see if you agree.
AL East1. Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox*
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles
*
Wild CardThe defending champion Red Sox still feature a powerful lineup, post-season hero Josh Beckett and up-and-comers Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia. But Curt Schilling will be out until at least the All-Star Break, Manny Ramirez is coming off his worst season in ten years and I don't expect Mike Lowell to put up the same numbers he did last year. As for the Yanks, Alex Rodriguez is back in pinstripes after flirting with free agency in the offseason, Joba Chamberlain will reprise his role as Mariano Rivera's set-up man and new skipper Joe Girardi has brought a feisty new attitude to the Bronx. On the flip side, the Yanks will be counting on two talented, but unproven pitchers in Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to toe the rubber every fifth day, an aging Mike Mussina to stabilize the rotation and can't expect players like A-Rod and Jorge Posada to equal their offensive totals of 2007. I gotta admit, I was torn between picking the Yanks or the BoSox for the top
spot in the division. But my allegiance is with the Bombers and I'll
be damned if I choose Boston in a toss-up. The Blue Jays picked up former Redbirds Scott Rolen and David Eckstein during the winter, but their season will depend on the health of A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan. The Jays are knocking on the door, but still haven't closed the gap on the Yanks and Red Sox.
AL Central1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals
From top to bottom, the Tigers possess the most lethal lineup in baseball. The off-season acquisitions of Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria helped round out an already potent offense. With hard-throwing ace Justin Verlander leading the way, Dontrelle Willis won't have to be The Man in the Motor City. It's never a pretty sight with closer Todd Jones, but the 39-year-old righty always seems to get the job done. The Tribe came within one game of advancing to the World Series last year, but failed to close out the Red Sox. Cleveland's offense can keep up with any team in the league and they still have C.C. Sabathia to take the ball every fifth day (for this season, anyway), but they need Fausto Carmona to prove that 2007 wasn't a fluke if they want to snatch the top spot away from the Tigers. The ChiSox added Nick Swisher to provide some pop to their lineup and the arrival of Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera should strengthen their team defense, but it won't be enough to win in the competitive Central.
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Athletics
Seattle's trade for lefty ace Erik Bedard was one of the best moves of the offseason and while a starting rotation featuring Bedard, Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista isn't spectacular, it should be enough to give the M's their first division title since 2001. The Mariners offense still boasts hit machine Ichiro Suzuki and if Richie Sexson can improve on his putrid .205 average last season then Seattle could be the team nobody wants to play come October. The Halos are one of the league's best when they are at full-strength, but the loss of starting pitchers John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar until at least May will hurt. The addition of Torii Hunter should give Vladimir Guerrero some protection in the lineup, but it won't be enough to get the Angels to the postseason. The Rangers had only one pitcher reach double digit wins last season (Kevin Millwood, 10-14), but they'll still finish ahead of the A's.
AL Champ: Detroit Tigers
I'll usually shy away from a team with a powerful offense and suspect pitching, but I'm going to pick the Tigers anyway. Manager Jim Leyland always gets the most out of his guys and I think he guides Detroit to the Fall Classic for the second time in three years. As much as I would love to pick the Yanks, I don't think everything will fall into place for them to reach the Series. And even though I predicted them to finish atop the division, I wouldn't be shocked if they failed to make the playoffs this year -- the competition will be that intense. But then again, the Baseball Gods are a deceitful bunch and who knows what direction their whims will take us.
Leave a comment
