AL Central Breakdown

Winston-Salem, NC – In today’s breakdown, we’ll take a look at the toughest division to predict, the AL Central. There are two powerhouses at the top, the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox may be the most difficult team to predict where they’ll finish. With the Twins regressing to the bottom with the losses of Johan Santana and Torii Hunter, coupled with the major strides made by the Kansas City Royals, this division is a toss-up in stacking order. I’ll take my best shot here:

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals
   

The Tigers, with quite possibly the best lineup in the majors, appears to be the team to beat. Check out this stacked lineup:

1. Granderson, CF
2. Renteria, SS
3. Sheffield, DH
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Cabrera, 3B
6. Guillen, 1B
7. Polanco, 2B
8. Rodriguez, C
9. Thames, LF

I think their pitching staff is underrated. It didn’t match their performances of the 2006 season when they made an appearance in the World Series. Still, I’d take Verlander, Rogers, Bonderman, Willis, and Robertson any day of the week.

The Indians came within one game from winning the AL pennant. Their lineup is very balanced with speed at the top – Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera – and power in the middle – Hafner, Martinez, and Garko. The Indians also possess a powerful 1-2 punch in their pitching staff with reigning AL Cy Young Winner C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. With Westbrook, Byrd, and Lee, the Indians have a well above-average staff.

I’m not sure what to expect out of the White Sox this year. Clearly, they need pitching and they’ll be fine. A trio of Buerhle, Vazquez, and Contreras is formidable, but what are they going to get out of John Danks and Gavin Floyd? A lineup featuring Swisher, Dye, Konerko, Crede, Orlando Cabrera, and Thome will have no problem scoring runs.

I can never count out the Twins because of their front office proficiency. However, with the retirement of talented GM Terry Ryan and the botched trade of Johan Santana to the Mets, I’m unsure where this team lies. Delmon Young can flat out rake. Cuddyer, Mauer, and Morneau will be pumping runs across the board all season. But take a look at their current staff: Liriano (didn’t pitch last year), Bonser (8-12, 5.10 ERA last year), Baker (9-9, 4.26 ERA last year), and rookie Kevin Slowey. That rotation spells a .500 season.

The Royals definitely have a game plan thanks to the mastermind GM Dayton Moore. Who would’ve thought that Gil Meche would be the stalwart starter that only Moore predicted? Greinke, Bannister, and De La Rosa are learning on the job. The lineup is full of young players in Gordon, Buck, Butler, Teahen, Pena, and Gload waiting to breakout. Their new manager, Trey Hillman, is a players’ coach. Read his biography if you get the chance and see how he performed managing in Japan during the past couple of years. I think this team is one year behind the Rays in terms of development and waiting to make some noise in the division.