Pelletier's Perspective 4.08.08: American League Preview Edition
Posted by Justin Pelletier on 04.08.2008
The Perspective is back for round two of its three part MLB preview. Can the Tigers bounce back? Will Texas and Baltimore each lose 100 games? Will it be New York or Boston in the East? Join 411's Justin Pelletier as he examines these questions, and more, in the lattest addition of Pelletier's Perspective.
One league down and one to go. Yesterday, we here at The Perspective discussed the National League team-by-team in a preview that come only one-week into the regular season.
Although we are confident that those predictions will be spot on, we are even more sure of the following American League picks as we now have one week and one day upon which to reflect. They don't call me the smartest working man in journalism for nothing.
AL EAST
Gold: The Boston Red Sox - How one can compare the Sox to the Yanks and believe that New York will win the division defies logic. NY's young starters (Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy) are unproven commodities while Clay Buchholz has tossed a no-hitter. The rest of the rotation doesn't compare either. Jacoby Ellsbury only adds to an, already, great line up. The possibility to trading, the no longer needed, Coco Crisp for someone who might actually help the squad only strengthens the Bo Soxs' case.
Silver: The New York Yankees - The Bombers will continue to score runs in bunches. But its pitching staff, which calls Chien-Ming Wang its ace and relies heavily on aging Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte means NY won't be able to keep pace with Boston.
Bronze: Toronto Blue Jays - Toronto has, not only, the top pitching staff (top to bottom) in the majors this year but one of the top staffs that MLB has seen in quite a few years. Offensively, Alex Rios has emerged into a star and Vernon Wells is poised for a bounce back year. Those two all stars, however, won't be enough to lead this aging offense into the post season.
Tin: The Tampa Bay Rays - Tampa is loaded with young talent all over the field. Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza give the Rays the top, young staff in the game. BJ Upton, Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria give Tampa four future MVP candidates in the order. Unfortunately, these young studs are still, at least, two years away from forming a playoff contender.
Scrap Metal: The Baltimore Orioles - The long awaited rebuilding process has begun in Maryland. Gone are both Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard and Brain Roberts is sure to follow closely behind. What's left is a cast of young, unproven talent, as well as a last place finish.
AL CENTRAL
Gold: The Cleveland Indians - Even with Detroit made its huge move to acquire Miguel Cabrera the Indians didn't panic with some knee-jerk reaction. Instead Cleveland stay confident that its core of Sizemore, Hafner, Martinez, Sabathia and Carmona would continue to improve. See look a good plan now.
Silver: The Detroit Tigers - See how a little patients pays off. Two weeks ago I, just like every other prognosticator, would have selected Detroit to win the division. Seeing has how the Tigers are playing like a bunch of dying dogs, second place seems like a bit of a gift.
Bronze: The Chicago White Sox - Chicago is dangerously close to becoming a team which needs to be blown-up. The staff is average (at best), the middle of its order is aging. And precious few prospects are on the way for relief.
Tin: The Minnesota Twins - I asked yesterday how a team could gain Johan Santana and not win its division. Well today I ask how a team can lose Santana AND Torri Hunter and not finish last. The answer is quite simple. Minnesota's cupboard is far from bare. Joe Mauer is still one of the top three catchers in the bigs, Justin Morneau is still an MVP, Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young give them great talented youth and Francisco Liriano is back to anchor the rotation.
Scrap Metal: The Kansas City Royals - Billy Butler and Alex Gordon will be central figures in the Royals offense for a long time and Joakim Soria give them a lockdown closer so the future looks bright (or at least not pitch black) in KC. The future, however, is not now.
AL WEST
Gold: The Los Angeles Angels - Injuries to the Angels staff has opened up a lot of room on the LA bandwagon. Chone Figgins, Vlad Guerrero, Torri Hunter and Howie Kendrick, Jered Weaver, Jon Garland and Francisco Rodriguez (not to mention the pending returns of John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar) give this believer a reason to stay aboard.
Silver: The Seattle Mariners - Seattle's clean-up hitter (Richie Sexson) batted .205 last year. That's all that really needs to be said regarding the Mariners offense. The acquisition of Erik Bedard is huge but not even he, King Felix and J.J. can offset this anemic offense.
Bronze: The Oakland Athletics - Oakland's yearly fire-sale will finally catch up with the A's in 2008. Oakland has no one of consequence on offense (Jack Cust, come on!) and its pitching staff will be left ravaged when Rich Harden makes his yearly trip to the DL. But there's always somebody less fortunate. Right Rangers fans?
Scrap Metal: The Texas Rangers - The Rangers are the AL's anti-Giants, capable at the dish but absolutely no pitchers. The Giants boast aces Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. The Rangers, on the other hand, have Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler in their line up. So what do SF and Texas have in common? They are the worst teams in their respective league.
So now you know who we feel will win each division and which teams would have a chance only if the steroid policy was revoked. But what about the Wild Card you ask. Fear not, the Perspective returns tomorrow will the eight playoff teams, our award winners and our World Series champion.
Bet you thought we'd wait until October for those. Until then, enjoy the ride.
