Time to continue the AL Review with the AL Central.
Some music to listen to: Back Stabbers by the O’Jays
The O’Jays were originated in Canton, Ohio, close to the city of my AL Central champs. Plus, it’s the f’n O’Jays. Respect the old school!
To recap, here are my entire predictions for this league:
Anyway, just like last season, here’s the condensed version of the picks for those of you who want a quick read:
Some music to listen to: Back Stabbers by the O’Jays
The O’Jays were originated in Canton, Ohio, close to the city of my AL Central champs. Plus, it’s the f’n O’Jays. Respect the old school!
To recap, here are my entire predictions for this league:
Anyway, just like last season, here’s the condensed version of the picks for those of you who want a quick read:
AL East: Tampa
AL Central: Cleveland
AL West: Seattle
Wild Card: Boston (yes, that team up north is not making the playoffs again)
AL Champs: Tampa
AL MVP (top-five):
1) Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
2) Evan Longoria, Tampa
3) Miguel Cabrera: Detroit
4) Josh Hamilton, Texas
5) Kevin Youkilis, Boston
AL Cy Young (top-five):
1) Roy Halladay, Toronto
1) Roy Halladay, Toronto
2) Felix Hernandez, Seattle
3) Jon Lester, Boston
4) Francisco Liriano, Minnesota
5) CC Sabathia, New York
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Madden, Tampa
AL surprise teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
1) Seattle
1) Seattle
2) Oakland
3) Toronto
4) Minnesota
5) Kansas City
AL disappointing teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
1) New York
1) New York
2) Anaheim
3) Boston
4) Chicago
5) Baltimore
AL Worst team: Baltimore
OK, on to the AL Central.
1) Cleveland
Yea: Grady Sizemore is a legit MVP, superstar, face of the franchise that the city can rally around. He isn’t as mean as Albert Belle, moody as Manny Ramirez, confusing as Roberto Alomar, etc. Solid overall lineup with Cabrara, Peralta, Shin-Soo Choo (love saying that name), etc. Return the best pitcher from the AL last season in Cliff Lee. Expecting bounce back years from Pronk aka Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Carmona. Solved bullpen problems with emergence of Jenson Lewis (Vandy represent!) and addition of Kerry Wood.
Ney: Sizemore may not be able to live up to expectations. Lineup is ok but not great. Pronk and Carmona had really, really off seasons and to expect them to come to form may be much. Martinez is finally playing first base consistently but injury bug may bite him. Speaking of injury bug, Kerry Wood, enough said. Carl Pavano is the third starter right now, Carl frickin Pavano.
Fantasy focus: Take a flier on Hafner if he’s available in your league. Also give some consideration to Lewis because Wood is bound to break at some point. You see what I did there, because Kerry’s last name is Wood and Wood breaks. Moving on.
2) Minnesota
Yea: Justin Morneau is proving that he is an MVP-type player every season. Mauer will be back eventually and retain his position as a top-flight catcher. Liriano will come back strong and emerge as a top-flight pitcher again. Joe Nathan is an excellent closer. Team always plays defense, pitches well and is fundamentally sound.
Ney: Mauer may be out for a while. Liriano is still coming back from Tommy John surgery, nothing to just write off. Delman Young is ok but they need him to be beyond that to emerge from this division. Rest of pitching staff and bullpen is underwhelming.
Fantasy focus: Look at taking Young and Carlos Gomez in your outfield as solid bench players.
3) Chicago
Yea: Carlos Quentin is your AL MVP last year if he doesn’t break his hand in an incredibly stupid way. He’s back healthy. Alexei Ramirez has superstar potential. Lineup is getting old but does well with Konerko, Dye and Thome. Buehrle is a good #1 starter. You could do a lot worse than John Danks in your rotation and Bobby Jenks as your closer. Ozzie Guillen has shown he can lead this team to a championship
Ney: Ozzie Guillen has shown that he can lead this team to a championship so whatever distraction he may cause to harm the team will not get him fired. Outside of Quentin and maybe Ramirez, do you trust anyone else on this team to return to form from last year. A lot of things went right for them. No Joe Crede will hurt as well.
Fantasy focus: Each player mentioned above has their own risk and rewards but look out for Josh Fields at third. Was inconsistent last season and didn’t play much but will get his chance this season. If he starts the season off well, pick him up before your opponents do.
4) Detroit
Yea: Miguel Cabrera has the potential to compete for a triple crown this season. The Tigers have wisely stuck him at first base and let him thump. Curtis Granderson gives you a lot of positives out in center field at bat and in the field. Excellent blogger by the way: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=granderson_curtis. Go ahead, check it out, I won’t mind. Hopefully he does it again this season. Magglio Ordonez is a solid outfielder and has excellent hair. You just don’t lose it as a legit ace like Justin Verlander did last year. He’s going to come back strong. Rick Porcello is an intriguing newcomer to the pitching staff.
Ney: You can lose it just like that as a legit ace like Justin Verlander did last year. Outside of Cabrera, none of these guys are to be trusted with expectations. Leyland may be a hindrance for these guys at this stage of his career. Overall, unpredictable bunch that I wouldn’t predict to do anything. Hasn’t the city of Detroit suffered enough. Oh, yeah, they are going to struggle in a major way economically so don’t expect trades to bring in salary. Bullpen doesn’t inspire me as well.
Fantasy focus: Look into getting Granderson on your roster. He gets on base often, steal bases and scores runs, some undervalued fantasy points that can help you win a week or two during the season. Also, buy low on Verlander because if he comes back strong, major trade value for a team in your league desperate for a pitcher.
5) Kansas City
Yea: Good barbeque. Seriously, I’m personally very weary of saying any positive things about these guys after I made them my surprise team last season and you see what happened. OK, give Alex Gordon another chance, he’s too talented to not be a legit player in this league. Billy Butler has potential as well. Gil Meche proved to be a solid pitcher last year after signing that huge contract. Zach Greinke is solid as well. Kyle Farnsworth and Joakim Soria gives them two good relievers.
Ney: Everything else. We still need to see a lot more from Butler and Gordon before predicting this team to go anywhere. Meche is ok but for the salary that they are paying him, you want some more but its also the Royals so the expectations are low to begin with. How do you sign Farnsworth to that much money and he isn’t even your closer? Personally, I would like to see this team do well and shock the world but its not going to happen. At least Tampa had deep young talent last year. KC doesn’t have that.
Fantasy focus: Pick up Gordon as a backup third baseman and thank me later.
Ok, that’s it for the AL Central. If I’m going to represent for the O’Jays, love must be shown to Deano, Dean Martin, my favorite member of the Rat Pack. What, you think I would pick Sammy because he’s Black. That doesn’t hurt but Dean was the swagger of that crew besides Sinatra.
Anyway, here’s some Dean to ride out to:
OK, on to the AL Central.
1) Cleveland
Yea: Grady Sizemore is a legit MVP, superstar, face of the franchise that the city can rally around. He isn’t as mean as Albert Belle, moody as Manny Ramirez, confusing as Roberto Alomar, etc. Solid overall lineup with Cabrara, Peralta, Shin-Soo Choo (love saying that name), etc. Return the best pitcher from the AL last season in Cliff Lee. Expecting bounce back years from Pronk aka Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and Carmona. Solved bullpen problems with emergence of Jenson Lewis (Vandy represent!) and addition of Kerry Wood.
Ney: Sizemore may not be able to live up to expectations. Lineup is ok but not great. Pronk and Carmona had really, really off seasons and to expect them to come to form may be much. Martinez is finally playing first base consistently but injury bug may bite him. Speaking of injury bug, Kerry Wood, enough said. Carl Pavano is the third starter right now, Carl frickin Pavano.
Fantasy focus: Take a flier on Hafner if he’s available in your league. Also give some consideration to Lewis because Wood is bound to break at some point. You see what I did there, because Kerry’s last name is Wood and Wood breaks. Moving on.
2) Minnesota
Yea: Justin Morneau is proving that he is an MVP-type player every season. Mauer will be back eventually and retain his position as a top-flight catcher. Liriano will come back strong and emerge as a top-flight pitcher again. Joe Nathan is an excellent closer. Team always plays defense, pitches well and is fundamentally sound.
Ney: Mauer may be out for a while. Liriano is still coming back from Tommy John surgery, nothing to just write off. Delman Young is ok but they need him to be beyond that to emerge from this division. Rest of pitching staff and bullpen is underwhelming.
Fantasy focus: Look at taking Young and Carlos Gomez in your outfield as solid bench players.
3) Chicago
Yea: Carlos Quentin is your AL MVP last year if he doesn’t break his hand in an incredibly stupid way. He’s back healthy. Alexei Ramirez has superstar potential. Lineup is getting old but does well with Konerko, Dye and Thome. Buehrle is a good #1 starter. You could do a lot worse than John Danks in your rotation and Bobby Jenks as your closer. Ozzie Guillen has shown he can lead this team to a championship
Ney: Ozzie Guillen has shown that he can lead this team to a championship so whatever distraction he may cause to harm the team will not get him fired. Outside of Quentin and maybe Ramirez, do you trust anyone else on this team to return to form from last year. A lot of things went right for them. No Joe Crede will hurt as well.
Fantasy focus: Each player mentioned above has their own risk and rewards but look out for Josh Fields at third. Was inconsistent last season and didn’t play much but will get his chance this season. If he starts the season off well, pick him up before your opponents do.
4) Detroit
Yea: Miguel Cabrera has the potential to compete for a triple crown this season. The Tigers have wisely stuck him at first base and let him thump. Curtis Granderson gives you a lot of positives out in center field at bat and in the field. Excellent blogger by the way: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=granderson_curtis. Go ahead, check it out, I won’t mind. Hopefully he does it again this season. Magglio Ordonez is a solid outfielder and has excellent hair. You just don’t lose it as a legit ace like Justin Verlander did last year. He’s going to come back strong. Rick Porcello is an intriguing newcomer to the pitching staff.
Ney: You can lose it just like that as a legit ace like Justin Verlander did last year. Outside of Cabrera, none of these guys are to be trusted with expectations. Leyland may be a hindrance for these guys at this stage of his career. Overall, unpredictable bunch that I wouldn’t predict to do anything. Hasn’t the city of Detroit suffered enough. Oh, yeah, they are going to struggle in a major way economically so don’t expect trades to bring in salary. Bullpen doesn’t inspire me as well.
Fantasy focus: Look into getting Granderson on your roster. He gets on base often, steal bases and scores runs, some undervalued fantasy points that can help you win a week or two during the season. Also, buy low on Verlander because if he comes back strong, major trade value for a team in your league desperate for a pitcher.
5) Kansas City
Yea: Good barbeque. Seriously, I’m personally very weary of saying any positive things about these guys after I made them my surprise team last season and you see what happened. OK, give Alex Gordon another chance, he’s too talented to not be a legit player in this league. Billy Butler has potential as well. Gil Meche proved to be a solid pitcher last year after signing that huge contract. Zach Greinke is solid as well. Kyle Farnsworth and Joakim Soria gives them two good relievers.
Ney: Everything else. We still need to see a lot more from Butler and Gordon before predicting this team to go anywhere. Meche is ok but for the salary that they are paying him, you want some more but its also the Royals so the expectations are low to begin with. How do you sign Farnsworth to that much money and he isn’t even your closer? Personally, I would like to see this team do well and shock the world but its not going to happen. At least Tampa had deep young talent last year. KC doesn’t have that.
Fantasy focus: Pick up Gordon as a backup third baseman and thank me later.
Ok, that’s it for the AL Central. If I’m going to represent for the O’Jays, love must be shown to Deano, Dean Martin, my favorite member of the Rat Pack. What, you think I would pick Sammy because he’s Black. That doesn’t hurt but Dean was the swagger of that crew besides Sinatra.
Anyway, here’s some Dean to ride out to:
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