Yes, you may be calling me crazy at some points, but I am not afraid to take risks. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
AL Preview
AL East:
Boston: The Red Sox are basically the same team that they were at the end of last season. They didn’t really sign any big name free agents, which may hurt them a bit. They did lose Cliff Floyd, which will hurt them in the lineup. However, if they can stay healthy, especially Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, they will be successful this season. They may be able to pull an Angels, but only if the Yankees underachieve.
Baltimore: The Orioles recently suffered a death inside the team, when pitcher Steve Bechler died of a heatstroke. They signed LHP Omar Daal, which may help their pitching staff a bit, but they are no where near the point of being contenders, especially in the division they are in. However, because of the Devil Rays, they may wind up in 4th place, but we shall see.
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays made two really big moves this off-season. They were able to sign former Mariners manager Lou Piniella, but in that deal, they lost their only all-star, Randy Winn, which doesn’t help their case. Look for them to improve slightly, but not enough to put them past 4th place in the east, they will battle with Baltimore to stay out of the cellar.
New York Yankees: The Yankees biggest off-season acquisition was Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, who will add some power to the OF, especially if his adjustment to ML pitching goes smoothly. Other than him, the Yankees have been pretty quiet this off-season, which means they will most likely take first. Taking first is what I expect them to do, unless Boston has a miracle season, and can stay with them till late September.
Toronto: The Blue Jays were pretty quiet this off-season as well, they did sign RHP Tanyon Sturtze, who will add some nice depth to the pitching staff, along with Cory Lidle who they acquired in a trade with Oakland. Look for the Jays’ to have a better than expected year, but don’t get your hopes up, look for them to take 3rd in the east.
Predicted East Standings:
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
AL Central:
Cleveland: The Indians were able to pick up only a couple free agents, one of them being OF Shane Spencer, formerly with the Yankees. They also signed LHP Terry Mulholland, who may add a bit more to the pitching staff. They did suffer a big blow in losing slugging 1B Jim Thome to free agency, which is what will hurt them the most. I don’t see the Indians doing much this year, 3rd in the Central would be most realistic for them.
Twins: The 2002 AL Central champs look to repeat what they did last year, and that is a strong possibility, they are pretty much the same team they were, with the addition of RHP Mike Fetters, as well as some other free agents, they add depth to their lineup. They were also able to pick up the option on LHP Eddie Guardado. Look for them to take the AL wild card, but not the Central.
Kansas City: The Royals took the wrong direction this off-season by losing more players than they gained, which is somewhat unusual, the only players they were able to pick up 6 free agents, who will not be able to help the Royals get much better. I didn’t think it was possible, but the Royals may actually be worse than last year, look for them to take last in the Central.
Chicago White Sox: The White Sox by far impress me the most this year in the Central. They acquired RHP Bartolo Colon and RHP Billy Koch through trades, which will improve their pitching staff by a lot. By signing IF/OF Brian Daubach, they add protection to their lineup for Magglio Ordonez. Chicago looks very strong this year and I see them taking the Central.
Detroit: The Tigers fired their former manger and picked up former Tiger’s shortstop Alan Trammel as their new manager. They are acting like they want to win, which is why they will improve on last year’s record by at least 10 wins, but 10 games more than 55, is only 65, which is still way below .500. I do see them staying out of the cellar this year though.
Predicted Central Standings:
1. Chicago White Sox
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals
AL West
Seattle: The Mariners lost their manager Lou Piniella, but it was what they wanted. They picked up all-star Randy Winn as compensation for Piniella. That is about the only big acquisition they made though. They only signed 3 free agents, the most important being 1B Greg Colbrunn, who makes a good utility player. Overall, I still don’t see the Mariners as a playoff team, so I look for them to take 3rd in the West.
Texas: The Rangers had a very busy off-season. They signed 8 free agents, the most important being Ruben Sierra, who will give A-Rod some protection. They did suffer a big blow by losing Ivan Rodriguez to free agency, who was both a big bat and a big part of the defense. Even with all of the acquisitions, they had more loses, which is why they will be cellar dwellers once again in the AL West.
Anaheim: The defending World Series champions didn’t change that much over the off-season, they signed only a couple free agents, and lost quite a few players, but none of them will have much impact on the team. If they play the same style of ball they played last year, they will be good once again, and take the West, but that is if they are as good as last year, which I don’t think they will be, which is why they will wind up in 2nd in the West.
Oakland: The Athletics didn’t do much in the off-season signing wise. They were somewhat trade-happy making 5 trades. They lost closer Billy Koch and RHP Cory Lidle, but they are too good to let those losses bring them down. That is why they will take the West this year and maybe make it to the World Series.
Predicted West Standings:
1. Oakland Athletics
2. Anaheim Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
-Mason Herron
AKA MSUSpartanPride
-----------------------------------------------------------
AL Preview
AL East:
Boston: The Red Sox are basically the same team that they were at the end of last season. They didn’t really sign any big name free agents, which may hurt them a bit. They did lose Cliff Floyd, which will hurt them in the lineup. However, if they can stay healthy, especially Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, they will be successful this season. They may be able to pull an Angels, but only if the Yankees underachieve.
Baltimore: The Orioles recently suffered a death inside the team, when pitcher Steve Bechler died of a heatstroke. They signed LHP Omar Daal, which may help their pitching staff a bit, but they are no where near the point of being contenders, especially in the division they are in. However, because of the Devil Rays, they may wind up in 4th place, but we shall see.
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays made two really big moves this off-season. They were able to sign former Mariners manager Lou Piniella, but in that deal, they lost their only all-star, Randy Winn, which doesn’t help their case. Look for them to improve slightly, but not enough to put them past 4th place in the east, they will battle with Baltimore to stay out of the cellar.
New York Yankees: The Yankees biggest off-season acquisition was Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, who will add some power to the OF, especially if his adjustment to ML pitching goes smoothly. Other than him, the Yankees have been pretty quiet this off-season, which means they will most likely take first. Taking first is what I expect them to do, unless Boston has a miracle season, and can stay with them till late September.
Toronto: The Blue Jays were pretty quiet this off-season as well, they did sign RHP Tanyon Sturtze, who will add some nice depth to the pitching staff, along with Cory Lidle who they acquired in a trade with Oakland. Look for the Jays’ to have a better than expected year, but don’t get your hopes up, look for them to take 3rd in the east.
Predicted East Standings:
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
AL Central:
Cleveland: The Indians were able to pick up only a couple free agents, one of them being OF Shane Spencer, formerly with the Yankees. They also signed LHP Terry Mulholland, who may add a bit more to the pitching staff. They did suffer a big blow in losing slugging 1B Jim Thome to free agency, which is what will hurt them the most. I don’t see the Indians doing much this year, 3rd in the Central would be most realistic for them.
Twins: The 2002 AL Central champs look to repeat what they did last year, and that is a strong possibility, they are pretty much the same team they were, with the addition of RHP Mike Fetters, as well as some other free agents, they add depth to their lineup. They were also able to pick up the option on LHP Eddie Guardado. Look for them to take the AL wild card, but not the Central.
Kansas City: The Royals took the wrong direction this off-season by losing more players than they gained, which is somewhat unusual, the only players they were able to pick up 6 free agents, who will not be able to help the Royals get much better. I didn’t think it was possible, but the Royals may actually be worse than last year, look for them to take last in the Central.
Chicago White Sox: The White Sox by far impress me the most this year in the Central. They acquired RHP Bartolo Colon and RHP Billy Koch through trades, which will improve their pitching staff by a lot. By signing IF/OF Brian Daubach, they add protection to their lineup for Magglio Ordonez. Chicago looks very strong this year and I see them taking the Central.
Detroit: The Tigers fired their former manger and picked up former Tiger’s shortstop Alan Trammel as their new manager. They are acting like they want to win, which is why they will improve on last year’s record by at least 10 wins, but 10 games more than 55, is only 65, which is still way below .500. I do see them staying out of the cellar this year though.
Predicted Central Standings:
1. Chicago White Sox
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals
AL West
Seattle: The Mariners lost their manager Lou Piniella, but it was what they wanted. They picked up all-star Randy Winn as compensation for Piniella. That is about the only big acquisition they made though. They only signed 3 free agents, the most important being 1B Greg Colbrunn, who makes a good utility player. Overall, I still don’t see the Mariners as a playoff team, so I look for them to take 3rd in the West.
Texas: The Rangers had a very busy off-season. They signed 8 free agents, the most important being Ruben Sierra, who will give A-Rod some protection. They did suffer a big blow by losing Ivan Rodriguez to free agency, who was both a big bat and a big part of the defense. Even with all of the acquisitions, they had more loses, which is why they will be cellar dwellers once again in the AL West.
Anaheim: The defending World Series champions didn’t change that much over the off-season, they signed only a couple free agents, and lost quite a few players, but none of them will have much impact on the team. If they play the same style of ball they played last year, they will be good once again, and take the West, but that is if they are as good as last year, which I don’t think they will be, which is why they will wind up in 2nd in the West.
Oakland: The Athletics didn’t do much in the off-season signing wise. They were somewhat trade-happy making 5 trades. They lost closer Billy Koch and RHP Cory Lidle, but they are too good to let those losses bring them down. That is why they will take the West this year and maybe make it to the World Series.
Predicted West Standings:
1. Oakland Athletics
2. Anaheim Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
-Mason Herron
AKA MSUSpartanPride
Comment