** This thread discusses the Content article:
AL Central Preview **
This is the fourth in a series of six Major League Baseball divisional previews.  Check them all out right here.  Today’s featured division, the AL Central, had the most parity of any division in baseball last year...
2008 Standings
Team
W
L
Chicago
89
74
Minnesota
88
75
Cleveland
81
81
Kansas City
75
87
Detroit
74
88
2008 Summary
I’ve already stated that in 2008, this divisional was the closest in baseball, top to bottom. There was only a 15 game difference (win column) between the division winner (White Sox) and the last place team (Tigers).  This is incredible for two reasons: (1) the Royals didn’t finish last and (2) every other division had around a 30 game difference. For our purposes today, this means this division will be incredibly hard to predict.
The White Sox and Twins faced off in a one-game playoff to decide who would win the divisional crown.  Personally, I disagreed with this rule, as the Twins had the better head-to-head record and should have been awarded the playoff spot.  The White Sox prevailed, and then proceeded to lose to the (don’t call ‘em Devil) Rays in the ALDS.  The Indians faded a lot more than anyone thought they would (from their ’07 showdown with the Red Sox), but I think we’re seeing late playoff runs wear on teams more and more- Boston and Cleveland had injury problems a year ago, and the Rockies sucked.  Back to the AL Central: the Tigers took a high-priced nose dive and the Royals qualified as ‘feisty’ for the first time in 84 years.
Projected Rosters
Postion
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
Catcher
A.J. Pierzynski (L)
Kelly Shoppach (R)
Gerald Laird (R)
Miguel Olivo (R)
Mike Redmond (R)
First Base
Paul Konerko (R)
Victor Martinez (S)
Miguel Cabrera (R)
Mike Jacobs (L)
Justin Morneau (L)
Second Base
Chris Getz (L)
Asdrubal Cabrera (S)
Placido Polanco (R)
Mark Teahen (L)
Alexi Casilla (S)
Third Base
Josh Fields (R)
Mark DeRosa (R)
Brandon Inge (R)
Alex Gordon (L)
Joe Crede (R)
Shortstop
Alexei Ramirez (R)
Jhonny Peralta (R)
Adam Everett (R)
Mike Aviles (R)
Nick Punto (S)
Left Field
Carlos Quentin (R)
Ben Francisco (R)
Carlos Guillen (S)
Jose Guillen (R)
Delmon Young (R)
Center Field
Dewayne Wise (L)
Grady Sizemore (L)
Curtis Granderson (L)
Coco Crisp (S)
Carlos Gomez (R)
Right Field
Jermaine Dye (R)
Shin-Soo Choo (L)
Magglio Ordonez (R)
David DeJesus (L)
Denard Span (L)
DH
Jim Thome (L)
Travis Hafner (L)
Marcus Thames (R)
Billy Butler (R)
Jason Kubel (L)
Bench
Brian Anderson (R)
Josh Barfield (R)
Josh Anderson (L)
Alberto Callaspo (S)
Michael Cuddyer (R)
Bench
Brent Lillibridge (R)
Ryan Garko (R)
Ryan Raburn (R)
Ryan Shealy (R)
Brendan Harris (R)
Bench
Jerry Owens (L)
Dave Dellucci (L)
Ramon Santiago (S)
John Buck (R)
Matt Tolbert (S)
Starting Pitcher
Mark Buehrle (L)
Cliff Lee (L)
Justin Verlander (R)
Gil Meche (R)
Scott Baker (R)
Starting Pitcher
John Danks (L)
Fausto Carmona (R)
Jeremy Bonderman (R)
Zack Greinke (R)
Francisco Liriano (L)
Starting Pitcher
Gavin Floyd (R)
Carl Pavano (R)
Edwin Jackson (R)
Kyle Davies (R)
Kevin Slowey (R)
Starting Pitcher
Bartolo Colon (R)
Anthony Reyes (R)
Armando Galarraga (R)
Sidney Ponson (R)
Nick Blackburn (R)
Starting Pitcher
Jose Contreras (R)
Scott Lewis (L)
Zach Miner (R)
Brian Bannister (R)
Glen Perkins (L)
Relief Pitcher
Octavio Dotel (R)
Jensen Lewis (R)
Fernando Rodney (R)
Kyle Farnsworth (R)
Jose Mijares (L)
Relief Pitcher
Scott Linebrink (R)
Rafael Betancourt (R)
Joel Zumaya (R)
Juan Cruz (R)
Jesse Crain (R)
Closer
Bobby Jenks (R)
Kerry Wood (R)
Brandon Lyon (R)
Joakim Soria (R)
Joe Nathan (R)
Predicted 2009 Standings
Team
W
L
Minnesota
89
73
Cleveland
86
76
Kansas City
81
81
Detroit
74
88
Chicago
72
90
Individual Team Previews
Chicago White Sox -  Carlos Quentin was a breakout player a year ago, and without his late season injury could have been the AL MVP.  Dewayne Wise, Alexei Ramirez and Josh Fields are young talents with upside.  John Danks continues the tradition of Texas Rangers pitching prospects pitching well for other teams.  AJ Pierzynski, I believe an Orlando-area native, continued to wear Gator hats.
So why do I have them so low? Let me qualify all of this by saying I can never figure out GM Kenny Williams.  But he’s doing something right.  For one, I never have had much confidence in Bobby Jenks.  I think he’s begging to get dealt, as Linebrink and Dotel are better relievers. I also think their age (Thome in particular, but the backend of their rotation is Big Fat Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras) will catch up to them.  Jermaine Dye debuted with the Braves and was teammates with Sid Bream, I’m pretty sure.  I see this as a transition year for them, and I think Kenny Williams takes advantage of a few teams in “win now” mode and dumps the vets.  As presently constituted, this is a better than 72 win team, but something about this roster does not feel right to me.  They are not good enough to make a serious World Series run, so I think the best thing for them to do is the “Billy Beane deals Mulder, Hudson before anyone thought they’d actually be in rebuild mode” thing.  Or maybe I’m bitter they wrongfully went to the playoffs last year.
Cleveland Indians -  The Indians are probably most people’s favorite for the division title.  The lineup is led by (favorite of the ladies) Grady Sizemore, and C/1B Victor Martinez.  Former Boston farmhand Kelly Shoppach showed some pop last season, and the ESPN depth charts I grabbed has him listed as the starting catcher, giving Martinez more time to concentrate on his prolific offensive talents.  Travis Hafner is probably done, but there’s always the threat he regains some of his old magic.  Ryan Garko is serviceable, but between he and Hafner… there’s a reason I projected (Gator) Matt LaPorta to be this division’s ROY.  Shin-Soo Choo is my breakout candidate, in his last season’s worth of games he has 17 HRs and 93 RBI, and should hit near .300.  He’s turning the magical 27 this summer, and is featured in a lineup where he can be productive, so I think .300/25/100 is reachable.  And I’ll take that for the $1 I gave up for him in the fantasy auction.
Cliff Lee won the AL Cy Young Award last season, but I can’t shake the memory of those previous FIVE YEARS where he sucked more often than not.  No matter what your opinion of him, a regression from last year’s statistics is likely.  He’s not going 22-3 again.  And Fausto Carmona has not convinced me 2007 was anything more than a lightning-in-the-bottle scenario.  Both are still young, so anything is possible.  But I don’t like anyone in the rest of their rotation, and I’d have a difficult time getting anyone to believe Kerry Wood will stay healthy all season. They peaked at 96 wins two years ago.  Last year, they won 81.  I’ve split the difference and got them at 86 wins, which puts them in the division hunt but leaves them home come October.
Detroit Tigers -  I covered this a little in the AL East preview, but I have Detroit pegged as a seller before the trading deadline.  The big offseason moves before 08 had them labeled a contender by virtually everyone, which of course resulted in a last place finish.  Miguel Cabrera is an incredible talent, but he’ll be playing for a contender (hopefully my Red Sox) in August.  We’ve already seen a little bit of a youth movement, as the Gary Sheffield move makes playing time for Josh Anderson a real possibility.  Look for the economy to impact this team in a big way, and for guys like Magglio Ordonez to go to some of the teams in better financial situations.
Kansas City Royals -  Yes, I said the Royals have the best lineup in the division.  Sure, everyone is probably tired of waiting on Alex Gordon to breakout, but this lineup is riddled with under the radar talent.  Guys like Mike Aviles, David DeJesus and Jose Guillen. Also, I like both newcomers Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs.  Word on the street (well, word in the ‘burbs, I’m not exactly street-wise) is that Mark Teahen will find a place for his bat by claiming the starting gig at second, and ESPN’s depth charts (and my fantasy team) already reflect this speculation.  He doesn’t have to replicate his stellar 2006 campaign, but regular playing time could be the difference maker, and it won’t take a lot of offense to be a top option at 2B.  This Royals team isn’t going to the playoffs or anything, but I’ve got them projected at .500- and Kansas City fans would probably sign up for that immediately.
Minnesota Twins -  Minnesota has a very good rotation.  Easily the best from #1 to #5 in the division.  Scott Baker is my breakout candidate, and everyone knows what Francisco Liriano could be now that he’s healthy.  Joe Nathan has quietly been (arguably) the best closer in baseball, and they’ve got many young arms in that bullpen (I am intrigued by Jose Mijares).  About the only downside, pitching wise, is no one has really been that dominant 25 game winner before.  And Pat Neshek is out for the year.  They’ll also play excellent defense, as we’ve come to expect out of Minnesota teams.  Don’t sleep on them, this is the best team in the division, and it starts with that pitching.
Offensively, Justin Morneau is a stud.  Joe Mauer has been hurt this spring, so no one is sure what he will contribute for the entire year.  Looking at the injury reports today, Morneau, Young, Crede, and Cuddyer are all listed as ‘day to day’.  I think the offense will be good enough that it won’t let down the stellar pitching.
Divisional All-star Team
If I was to make an all-star team with the best players at each position (including the bench and bullpens) it would look like this:
 
Best Player
Team
C
Kelly Shoppach (R)
Indians
1B
Miguel Cabrera (R)
Tigers
2B
Placido Polanco (R)
Tigers
3B
Alex Gordon (L)
Royals
SS
Mike Aviles (R)
Royals
LF
Carlos Quentin (R)
White Sox
CF
Grady Sizemore (L)
Indians
RF
Magglio Ordonez (R)
Tigers
DH
Billy Butler (R)
Royals
B
Mark Teahen (L)
Royals
B
Marcus Thames (R)
Tigers
B
Ryan Garko (R)
Indians
SP
Francisco Liriano (L)
Twins
SP
Cliff Lee (L)
Indians
SP
Scott Baker (R)
Twins
SP
Fausto Carmona (R)
Indians
SP
John Danks (L)
White Sox
RP
Scott Linebrink (R)
White Sox
RP
Octavio Dotel (R)
White Sox
CL
Joe Nathan (R)
Twins
Team Superlatives
Best Lineup
Royals
Best Fielding
Twins
Best Bench
Indians
Best Starting Five
Twins
Best Bullpen
Twins
Best Manager
Rod Gardenhire, Twins
Individual Player Superlatives
Divisional MVP
Justin Morneau, Twins
Divisional CY
Francisco Liriano, Twins
Divisional ROY
Matt LaPorta, Indians
Breakout Hitter
Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
Breakout Pitcher
Scott Baker, Twins
Let me know your thoughts on my predictions, or man up and tell me how you think it’s going to go down differently.
Chris’s NL West Preview is coming tomorrow.
