divisiOn preview - AL Central
Wayward O's randomizer ISN'T NEEDED TODAY because ONLY ONE DIVISION LEFT to PREVIEW! It seems fitting that final division preview is probably most interesting division, with most talent.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Two guys seem to stand out as keys to the White Sox season: Nick Swisher and John Danks. Swisher - finally playing on a contender - will be in center field and probably will bat lead-off. But last year in Oakland he only had three stolen bases and his on-base percentage wasa paltry .380. Meanwhile, Danks coughed up a 6-13 record with a 5.50 ERA. Can these two guys get going in the right direction?
CLEVELAND INDIANS: Most amazing thing about 96-win Indians in 2007: Only one regular -- catcher Victor Martinez -- hit above .300. Fausto Carmona has 20 career wins ... 19 of them came last year. Can he avoid a sophomore slump? Past performance is not guarantee to future success.
DETROIT TIGERS: Best outfield in MLB. Best infield in MLB. Best catcher in MLB. Ummm... yeah, probably first or second-best rote in MLB. Can this team surpass the 1984 Tigers, who racked up 104 wins and won World Series? Wayward O doesn't see why not.
KANSAS CITY ROYALE: Sure. Whatever. How 'bout that Brian Bannister? 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA in KC last year. Over last three years, the Royales improved their win totes, with 56, 62, and 69 wins. Here's to cracking 70 in 2008.
MINNESOTA TWINS: Torii Hunter and Johan Santana are gone. Franciso Liriano, fresh off elbow surgery, isn't fooling anybody this spring. Seems like Twins have raised white flag for 2008 in hopes of building a young, cheap contender for 2009. But Wayward O doesn't entirely rule out a surprise run this year. Can Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer carry team toward surprise Wild Card bid?
Predicted Order of Finish:
Tigers
Indians / White Sox *
Twins
Royale
* wild card contenders
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Two guys seem to stand out as keys to the White Sox season: Nick Swisher and John Danks. Swisher - finally playing on a contender - will be in center field and probably will bat lead-off. But last year in Oakland he only had three stolen bases and his on-base percentage was
CLEVELAND INDIANS: Most amazing thing about 96-win Indians in 2007: Only one regular -- catcher Victor Martinez -- hit above .300. Fausto Carmona has 20 career wins ... 19 of them came last year. Can he avoid a sophomore slump? Past performance is not guarantee to future success.
DETROIT TIGERS: Best outfield in MLB. Best infield in MLB. Best catcher in MLB. Ummm... yeah, probably first or second-best rote in MLB. Can this team surpass the 1984 Tigers, who racked up 104 wins and won World Series? Wayward O doesn't see why not.
KANSAS CITY ROYALE: Sure. Whatever. How 'bout that Brian Bannister? 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA in KC last year. Over last three years, the Royales improved their win totes, with 56, 62, and 69 wins. Here's to cracking 70 in 2008.
MINNESOTA TWINS: Torii Hunter and Johan Santana are gone. Franciso Liriano, fresh off elbow surgery, isn't fooling anybody this spring. Seems like Twins have raised white flag for 2008 in hopes of building a young, cheap contender for 2009. But Wayward O doesn't entirely rule out a surprise run this year. Can Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer carry team toward surprise Wild Card bid?
Tigers
Indians / White Sox *
Twins
Royale
* wild card contenders
Labels: 2008 predictiOns
posted by the wayward o at
9:59 AM
2 Comments:
dude a .380 obp is anything but paltry...it puts swisher in the top 20 in the AL...he doesn't hit for much average but he walks a ton
ha. well wayward O debated use of word 'paltry,' interestingly enough.
he'll need a .400 OPB and 30 SB's to make himself useful leading off for chisox. how's that?
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