American League Central

* - indicates new to team
AVG - Batting Average
ERA - Earned Run Average
HR - Home Runs
RBI - Runs Batted In
SV - Saves


1. Minnesota Twins
A healthy Morneau and Nathan should get them back into the postseason.
2. Chicago White Sox
A power heavy lineup with a balanced rotation has the South Side buzzing.
3. Detroit Tigers
Will they get a repeat performance from Miguel Cabrera?
4. Cleveland Indians
Manny Acta has some pieces, but Cleveland will look to the future.
5. Kansas City Royals
In another year they might be ready to compete in the Central.


Player to Watch: Justin Morneau Minnesota Twins
If I were to tell you that the Twins would have won the division without Justin Morneau, you wouldn't have believed me.  But if I were to tell you that the Twins wouldn't even compete for a World Series title without Morneau, you would believe me.  That's the status of the Twins in a nutshell.  They have to have a healthy Morneau to even be considered contenders.  Sure they also need fellow AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer healthy as well, but Morneau is at a premium for them.  They've managed to get by in the Central without Morneau, but once it's playoff time they don't have the added punch in their lineup.  From 2006-09 he's averaged 30 HR and over 100 RBI.  Not all of their misfortunes in the postseason are attributed to Morneau's absence, but with him they have a punchers chance.  Rest assured that he has fully recovered from a concussion, but they will keep a close on him going forward.


Best Acquisition: 1B/DH Adam Dunn Chicago White Sox
When the White Sox signed Dunn most expected them to part ways with their previous first baseman Paul Konerko.  Quite the contrary.  Dunn decided to give playing DH full time a try and that allowed Chicago to bring back Konerko.  Dunn's presence will help the entire lineup immensely.  Konerko has protection.  Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios have less pressure to drive in runs.  Even the bottom of their order could potentially drive in more than 70 runs playing half the season at US Cellular Field.  That hitters paradise will remind folks of Dunn's power production when he was in Cincinnati.  Chicago's general manger Ken Williams hit a home run (pun intended) getting Dunn.  Expect him to be the most dangerous hitter in the American League.


New Kid on the Block: 3B Mike Moustakas Kansas City Royals
Kansas City has been touting Moustakas since drafting him 2nd overall in 2007.  He was brought along slowly and in the right way. The Royals general manager Dayton Moore has built a strong farm system for Kansas City since his arrival in 2006.  Moore is a great evaluator of talent from his days in the Atlanta Braves organization.  Moustakas is a solid defender at third base and is primed to be one of the best hitters at his age.  Along with two other prospects, Eric Hosmer at first base and Will Myers at catcher the Royals have a middle of the order to rival their hay day in the 1980s.  Kansas City shouldn't have to wait too much longer to reach the point of contention.

Twins Lineup

1. CF Denard Span

.264 AVG 3 HR 58 RBI

2. 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka*

.260 AVG 14 HR 41 RBI (2009 stats)

3. C Joe Mauer

.327 AVG 9 HR 75 RBI

4. 1B Justin Morneau

.345 AVG 18 HR 56 RBI

5. RF Michael Cuddyer

.271 AVG 14 HR 81 RBI

6. DH Jason Kubel

.249 AVG 21 HR 92 RBI

7. LF Delmon Young

.298 AVG 21 HR 112 RBI

8. 3B Danny Valencia 

.311 AVG 7 HR 40 RBI

9. SS Alexi Casilla

.276 AVG 1 HR 20 RBI

This is perhaps the most versatile lineup in baseball.  Almost everyone can play multiple positions any given day.  Span is the catalyst at the top.  A good hitter and solid fielder he is one of the most underrated players in the game.  He does suffer through prolonged slumps, but he is a solid .300 hitter.  Nishioka is an unknown of sorts, but one thing is for sure is his hitting ability.  The Twins will have him start at second base, but played shortstop in Japan.  He should be able to find a comfort zone batting in front of Mauer.  Speaking of, Mauer should be ready to go at the start of the season.  He next to Morneau, is the most important player to keep healthy.  He handles the pitching staff well and the power numbers should bounce back with some adjustments to a second year at Target Field.  Morneau might have won his second AL MVP award had he suffered a season ending concussion.  The Twins are hopeful there aren't anymore flare ups and he can make it through the season unscathed.  Cuddyer is the prime example of versatility.  He will be penciled in right field, but can play left field, third base, first base and even second.  His power numbers suffered like everyone else's, but he is too good to let that happen in consecutive seasons.  Kubel had a subpar year.  He wasn't the same hitter the year before and it didn't seem to be because of the ballpark adjustment.  Minnesota would like to see a more consistent year from Kubel.  Young had his most productive year since being a highly touted prospect in Tampa Bay.  He's been the model citizen in Minnesota and he has gradually improved every year in the Twin Cities.  Valencia had an impressive rookie year.  If he should continue the upward trend the bottom of their order just might not have any weaknesses like in years past.  Casilla is being given the shortstop job outright.  He's been the first guy off the bench as a defensive replacement or a pinch runner, but he has shown great potential to man the important position.  His bat is not his biggest strength, but he doesn't strikeout very often.

Bench

1B/DH Jim Thome

.283 AVG 25 HR 59 RBI

INF Matt Tolbert

.230 AVG 1 HR 18 RBI

OF Jason Repko

.228 AVG 3 HR 9 RBI

Thome is just 11 home runs away from joining the 600 home run club.  That shouldn't be a problem as he hit 25 last year.  Had he not produced the way he did last year when Morneau was out, he probably would have hung up his cleats.  Regardless the Twins are happy to have him back and try for number 600 and a title.  Tolbert is a versatile infielder who is a solid defender.  Doesn't offer much in the hit department, but gives manager Ron Gardenhire flexibility to keep the regulars fresh.  Repko has been a scrappy hitter throughout his career.  Struggles to get into a groove, but he gives the Twins a good pinch runner when necessary.  

Rotation

1. Carl Pavano

17-11 3.75 ERA

2. Francisco Liriano

14-10 3.62 ERA

3. Nick Blackburn

10-12 5.42 ERA

4. Brian Duensing

10-3 2.62 ERA

5. Scott Baker

12-9 4.49 ERA

Had Minnesota not re-signed Pavano, it would've been a lot harder to consider them a contender in the Central.  They still would have five quality starters, but Pavano has resurrected his career in Minnesota.  He is the definitive ace and to expect him to win less than 15 games would be shocking.  Liriano has returned near to his 2006 form.  This might be the year in which that potential is seen throughout an entire season.  It's scary to think his ceiling hasn't been touched.  Blackburn had a major problem keeping the ball away from opposing hitters bats last year, but his stuff is still solid and he will be given another chance to stay in the rotation. Duensing was a solid contributor in the bullpen at the beginning of last year and found himself in the rotation by the end of the year. His production stayed on par and was part of the starting staff in the postseason.  Unfortunately he wasn't nearly on par against the Yankees in his only start.  Baker beat out Kevin Slowey for the fifth spot.  Baker is a grinder and works the strike zone to death. His control will have to be pinpoint as he isn't at the top of the rotation.  Slowey will be pitching in the bullpen to start the season, but can start in a pinch if anyone is hurt or struggles.

Setup

Matt Capps

5-3 2.47 ERA

Closer

Joe Nathan

47 SV 2.10 ERA (2009 stats)

The one thing missing from the Twins last year was the dominant Joe Nathan.  Fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, Nathan will look to get back on track being one of the best closers in the game.  Filling in nicely after being acquired from Washington was Matt Capps.  He saved a career high 42 games with Minnesota (16) and Washington (26).  Capps should do well setting up Nathan. Capps isn't a strikeout pitcher, but knows how to get hitters to chase.  Minnesota does have a lot of open pieces to fill out the rest of the bullpen, but the one sure thing is that Nathan is healthy and they have a quality setup man and closer when necessary in Capps.

White Sox Lineup

1. LF Juan Pierre

.275 AVG 1 HR 47 RBI

2. SS Alexei Ramirez

.282 AVG 18 HR 70 RBI

3. 1B Paul Konerko

.312 AVG 39 HR 111 RBI

4. DH Adam Dunn*

.260 AVG 38 HR 103 RBI

5. RF Carlos Quentin

.243 AVG 26 HR 87 RBI

6. CF Alex Rios

.284 AVG 21 HR 88 RBI

7. 2B Gordon Beckham

.252 AVG 9 HR 49 RBI

8. C A.J. Pierzynski

.270 AVG 9 HR 56 RBI

9. 3B Brent Morel

.322 AVG 10 HR 64 RBI (AA and AAA stats)

Chicago's lineup from top to bottom is the best in the division. Pierre and Ramirez at the top are a great 1-2 punch for the big bats in the middle.  Pierre is a threat to get on base anyway possible. When he does get on base, his base stealing skills are second to none.  Ramirez makes contact almost every time he steps into the box.  He should be a mainstay in the White Sox lineup for many years.  Konerko and Dunn make a formidable duo. On paper it appears to be a better match than the 2005 championship duo of Konerko and Jermaine Dye.  What remains to be seen is if Dunn can adjust to American League pitching and being a full time DH. Konerko is still a threat at this stage of his career and Chicago hopes he can continue for the next three seasons.  Quentin and Rios' responsibilities are simple now.  Drive in runs.  There will be plenty because of Pierre and Ramirez at the top.  Konerko and Dunn will be walked a lot.  Quentin and Rios are both capable of driving the runners in.  Beckham had a rough outing last year. Chicago would like to see him make a big turnaround with him lowered in the lineup.  Pierzynski was re-signed because of his familiarity with the pitching staff and that he can still produce. Most catchers regress at this point, but he has kept himself in good shape.  Manager Ozzie Guillen has been a fan of his since his hiring in 2004.  Morel was in competition with Mark Teahen for the starting third base job during spring training.  Morel is a superb defender, but will need time to find a groove at the plate.  White Sox fans hope he can be what Joe Crede was for so many years at the hot corner.

Bench


INF/OF Mark Teahen
.258 AVG 4 HR 25 RBI
INF Omar Vizquel
.276 AVG 2 HR 30 RBI
OF Lastings Milledge*
.277 AVG 4 HR 34 RBI


Teahen will see plenty of playing time.  Was strictly a third baseman when he first played in the majors, but since his arrival in Chicago he's been played almost everywhere for them.  His bat isn't what many had thought it would turn out, but maybe not being a full time starter will help him.  A defined role is what he needs and his role is a utility player.  Vizquel can still field with the best of them.  So much so that Chicago had him playing third base at times last year.  He can still hit, but he won't come near his career averages.  Milledge is an interesting addition.  He's had so much potential since coming up through the Mets organization.  He hasn't lived up to it, but the White Sox are known for giving once top prospects another chance to fulfill that potential.  It could happen again with Milledge.


Rotation


1. Mark Buehrle
13-13 4.28 ERA
2. Edwin Jackson
10-12 4.47 ERA
3. John Danks
15-11 3.72 ERA
4. Gavin Floyd
10-13 4.08 ERA
5. Jake Peavy 
7-6 4.63 ERA


Through the past decade there has been one certain fact about the White Sox.  Mark Buehrle is their ace. There have been many good starting pitchers that have been considered better and more qualified than Buehrle.  The White Sox fans and organization wouldn't have it any other way.  His numbers aren't as flashy as others, but he gets the job done.  Jackson was a deadline acquisition last year.  He is penciled in as the number two starter simply because of the stuff he has in his arsenal.  He pitched better in Chicago than in Arizona which in a full season should bode well for the Sox.  Danks and Floyd have had good seasons every other year since arriving in Chicago.  Danks is starting to emerge and become a solid starter.  Floyd still struggles with his control, but possesses electric stuff from the right side.  Peavy will probably start the season on the DL.  Chicago took a risk acquiring him in 2009, but it was a calculated one by general manager Ken Williams.  This is a make or break year for Peavy.  His ERA was inflated, which playing in a hitters park half time helps with that. The White Sox have a good staff, but a lot is riding on the health of Peavy.  


Setup 


Chris Sale
2-1 1.93 ERA


Closer


Matt Thornton
8 SV 2.67 ERA


There was a lot of bad blood between former closer Bobby Jenks and manager Ozzie Guillen.  Jenks' struggles were starting to get to his biggest supporter who happened to also be the manager, Ozzie Guillen.  With Jenks departure that does leave a hole in Chicago's ninth inning.  They do have two hard throwing lefthanders in Sale and Thornton to help fill the void.  Sale is a potential starter, but will brought along slowly in the bullpen.  The will give Thornton the closer's job to start the season, but expect Sale to get plenty of opportunities to close as well.  Chicago signed Jesse Crain away from division rival Minnesota.  Crain is an innings eater and is a great complement to the setup role in Chicago's bullpen. The White Sox hope their bullpen will be part of the solution and not the problem.

Tigers Lineup

1. Austin Jackson

.293 AVG 4 HR 41 RBI

2. 2B Will Rhymes

.304 AVG 1 HR 19 RBI

3. RF Magglio Ordonez

.303 AVG 12 HR 59 RBI

4. 1B Miguel Cabrera

.328 AVG 38 HR 126 RBI

5. DH Victor Martinez*

.302 AVG 20 HR 79 RBI
6. LF Brennan Boesch
.256 AVG 14 HR 67 RBI
7. SS Jhonny Peralta
.249 AVG 15 HR 81 RBI
8. 3B Brandon Inge
.247 AVG 13 HR 70 RBI
9. C Alex Avila
.228 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI


There are a couple of sure things about Detroit's lineup.  One is that Jackson is a legitimate leadoff hitter. He does strikeout more than the typical leadoff hitter, but his speed more than makes up for it.  Two is that the Tigers will need to find someone who can consistently hit second.  Rhymes will get the chance this year after Scott Sizemore failed last year.  He hits to contact and that's all that Detroit wants from that spot.  The last sure thing is they will need another repeat performance from Cabrera.  Ordonez going down with an ankle injury last year didn't seem to slow down Cabrera's production.  Should Ordonez have another good season, Cabrera shouldn't have any trouble getting MVP votes again. Detroit will need to watch what he does off the field as that has become troublesome once again.  Signing Martinez was priority number one in the offseason.  He will get playing time at his natural position at catcher, but the Tigers want his bat in the lineup more than his defense.  Boesch was off to a fast start when he was called up last year and then suddenly took a dive after the All-Star break.  The Tigers would like to see him regain that power stroke he showed from May-July.  Peralta and Inge are good run producers who should shore up the bottom of their lineup.  Both play good defense although Peralta is getting closer to having to play third base more often.  Avila appears to have a hold on the catching spot with his superb defense.  It remains to be seen if he can hit on a consistent basis, but he does well handling a talent pitching staff.


Bench


INF/OF Ryan Raburn
.280 AVG 15 HR 62 RBI
2B Scott Sizemore
.224 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI
OF Don Kelly 
.244 AVG 9 HR 27 RBI


Detroit has one of the best utility players in the game in Raburn. He will see a lot of playing time in the outfield if Boesch struggles and/or Ordonez gets hurt.  Besides playing great defense he can hit too.  His numbers are on an upward trend and manager Jim Leyland likes playing guys who are ready to go in any given situation.  Sizemore will be given another chance should Rhymes struggle at second, but there might be anymore should he falter again.  Kelly is another good utility player who can play any outfield position and his decent pop from the left side. 


Rotation


1. Justin Verlander
18-9 3.37 ERA
2. Max Scherzer
12-11 3.50 ERA
3. Rick Porcello
10-12 4.92 ERA
4. Brad Penny*
3-4 3.23 ERA
5. Phil Coke
7-5 3.76 ERA


The Tigers have two of the best young righthanders at the top of their rotation.  Verlander is exactly what Detroit was hoping for and more when they drafted him 2nd overall in 2004.  He's already thrown one no-hitter in his career.  The one thing missing is a Cy Young award which he could be in contention for this year. Scherzer was quite the find in 2009.  The former 1st round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been a strikeout machine.  Should he eclipse the 200 innings pitched mark this year he will easily surpass 200 strikeouts.  Porcello had a rough sophomore year in the majors.  He's still prone to giving up a lot of runs in one inning, but is far too talented to let that happen.  One encouraging sign was his drop in home runs allowed from 23-18.  Penny was signed to help solidify the back end of the rotation.  He was well on his way to a bounce back year in St. Louis last year until a shoulder injury ended his season.  Fully recovered he looks to recapture what he started last year.  Coke is being given a chance to start in the big leagues.  A bit of a risk for Detroit, but with no lefthanders ready in the minors they figure to give the crafty lefthander a chance.  He will need to keep the hits to a minimum as his WHIP rose from 1.06-1.43.  


Setup


Joaquin Benoit*
1-2 1.34 ERA


Closer


Jose Valverde
26 SV 3.00 ERA


After signing Victor Martinez, Detroit set their sights on the bullpen. Signing Benoit to setup closer Jose Valverde was the steal of the offseason.  He had a career year as the setup man in Tampa Bay. Bringing him in will hopefully lock down the Tigers lead going into the ninth inning.  That was a major problem last year and led to the downfall for Detroit down the stretch.  Valverde is one of the best closers in the game.  It's been two years since he last saved 40 games, but that's when the teams he was on were contending day in and day out.  Detroit was in contention last year, but it was more difficult to save a game when you had to come in with two outs in the eighth inning.  If Joel Zumaya can make another comeback from shoulder problems he will make the Tigers bullpen a three headed machine for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Indians Lineup

1. CF Michael Brantley

.246 AVG 3 HR 22 RBI

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera

.276 AVG 3 HR 29 RBI

3. RF Shin-Soo Choo

.300 AVG 22 HR 90 RBI

4. C Carlos Santana

.260 AVG 6 HR 22 RBI

5. DH Travis Hafner

.278 AVG 13 HR 50 RBI

6. LF Austin Kearns*

.263 AVG 10 HR 49 RBI

7. 1B Matt LaPorta

.221 AVG 12 HR 41 RBI

8. 2B Orlando Cabrera*

.263 AVG 4 HR 42 RBI

9. 3B Jason Donald

.253 AVG 4 HR 24 RBI

Cleveland's lineup looks a little different from last year.  The reason is that CF Grady Sizemore isn't apart of it, for the moment.  He's still recovering from micro-fracture surgery on his knee, but is expected to play by late April.  For the moment Brantley will be given a chance to become the Indians leadoff hitter from here on out.  Should he fit the mold his steal numbers are sure to grow (10 last year).  Asdrubal Cabrera is sure to benefit from having Orlando (no relation) play along side him this year.   Orlando is a class act and a plus defender.  Asdrubal is becoming one of the best defensive shortstops today and should only get better going forward.  Both Cabreras' are good hitters, but Asdrubal has the potential for an even better year than 2009 (.308-6 HR-68 RBI). Soo Choo has become one of the best unknown gems in the game.  He performed well with little to no protection in the lineup last year.  If Hafner has a healthy season and Santana has a bounce back sophomore year, Choo should be an All-Star in Phoenix. Santana is better than his rookie season showed.  He is a plus defender, but what makes him an elite prospect is hit bat. How Cleveland was able to get him from the Dodgers for Casey Blake is beyond me, but he will need to stay healthy to justify Cleveland trading away fan favorite Victor Martinez.  Kearns was signed back from New York where he was traded to last year. Kearns is good power option from the right and will complement what Hafner brings from the left side.  Both have injury plagued careers, but should be kept fresh with the youth Cleveland has for its depth.  LaPorta and Donald are part of that youth movement that the Indians will be slowly bringing along this year.  LaPorta was the main piece acquired from Milwaukee for C.C. Sabathia. Donald was acquired from Philadelphia for Cliff Lee.  Indians fans want to see what these guys are made of.

Bench

OF Trevor Crowe

.251 AVG 2 HR 36 RBI

INF Jayson Nix

.234 AVG 13 HR 29 RBI

C Lou Marson

.195 AVG 3 HR 22 RBI

Crowe will see plenty of playing time with the injury concerns of Kearns and Sizemore hovering over the outfield this year.  He is a great pinch runner and is better than his .251 from last year.  Nix has decent pop and can play all over the infield.  More of a third baseman by trade, Cleveland would rather have him on their bench than in the starting lineup on a daily basis.  Marson has been relegated to being the backup since the arrival of Santana.  Marson was acquired with Jason Donald in the Cliff Lee deal from Philadelphia, but hasn't made his mark in the organization.  He's a good defender, but his bat has never been consistent at the major league level.

Rotation

1. Fausto Carmona

13-14 3.77 ERA

2. Justin Masterson

6-13 4.70 ERA

3. Carlos Carrasco

2-2 5.51 ERA

4. Mitch Talbot

10-13 4.41 ERA

5. Jeanmar Gomez

4-5 4.68 ERA

Cleveland was pleased to see a great season from Carmona. Compared to his 2009 season, he was the winner of the Cy Young award.  He is starting to take control of his potential and thanks to some adjustments to his mechanics, he blossomed into what Cleveland always knew he could be.  Masterson has struggled to find a groove in the rotation after starting out in Boston's bullpen. He should have a bounce back year with a year under his belt as a full time starter.  Carrasco was another top prospect acquired from Philadelphia for, guess who, Cliff Lee.  A full season from him would be great as he is a top of the rotation starter.  Talbot was better than his ERA shows.  He was in competitive in most of his outings and many considered it to be a great considering his only professional year was back in 2008 appearing in only 3 games that year for Tampa Bay.  Gomez has slowly gone through the Indians system and will be given an opportunity to claim a spot in the rotation.  He has good stuff and won't be overworked as the Indians see him as a potential number two or three starter going forward. Josh Tomlin is another talented righthander who will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Gomez.

Setup

Rafael Perez

6-1 3.25 ERA

Closer

Chris Perez

23 SV 1.71 ERA

The Indians manager Manny Acta knows what he has with his bullpen.  A strong back end lead by the Perez's, Rafael the lefty and Chris the righty.  Both don't wow you with blazing stuff, but they do get the job done.  Chris was effective as the closer after an abysmal year in 2009.  He didn't have a defined role that year and was given the first chance of being the closer under Manny Acta and it has paid off.  If Cleveland gets a lead into the ninth, it will be hard to beat them with Chris closing the game.  Rafael, like Chris had a bounce back year.  A season to forget in 2009, Rafael regained his command of his fastball and was a dominant setup man once again.  The Indians know that in order to remain competitive, they have to have a strong bullpen and they are off to a good start. 

Royals Lineup

1. SS Alcides Escobar*

.235 AVG 4 HR 41 RBI

2. CF Melky Cabrera*

.255 AVG 4 HR 42 RBI

3. 3B Mike Aviles

.304 AVG 8 HR 32 RBI

4. 1B Billy Butler

.318 AVG 15 HR 78 RBI

5. DH Kila Ka'aihue

.217 AVG 8 HR 25 RBI

6. RF Jeff Francoeur*

.249 AVG 13 HR 65 RBI

7. LF Alex Gordon

.215 AVG 8 HR 20 RBI

8. C Jason Kendall

.256 AVG 0 HR 37 RBI

9. 2B Chris Getz

.237 AVG 0 HR 18 RBI

The Royals have a new look and they hope it will be the foundation for the future that is just around the corner.  Escobar was the main piece acquired from Milwaukee for former Cy Young winner Zach Greinke.  He is a great defender at shortstop.  The one flaw that will turn around soon is his bat.  He has the potential to be a Rafael Furcal type who can hit, steal bases, score runs and be a gold glove caliber defender.  Cabrera was primed to be a mainstay in the New York Yankees lineup, but was injured, replaced and now is being seen as keeping a spot warm for an eventual replacement. Lorenzo Cain will eventually be the everyday center fielder, but for now the Royals are contempt with having Cabrera who they hope can have a good year.  Aviles found a home at third base last year and with that he had a good season.  With Mike Moustakas waiting in the wings, Aviles will probably be switched over to second base, but his approach shouldn't change.  Butler has become one of the best hitters in the game and no one seems to know.  That will change once he is selected to an All-Star game.  When the other prospects in the Royals organization are ready Butler will be at the forefront of the lineup.  Ka'aihue has decent power, but isn't consistent enough to to warrant being in the everyday lineup. Francoeur has gone from can't miss prospect in Atlanta to a struggling to hit above .250 for a full season.  Injuries have set his career back, but he is starting to turn around his approach at the plate and is becoming more patient than when he first was called up.  Gordon struggled with the hype being the next big thing at third base.  Injuries didn't help either, but a fresh start in left field should help him along.  He is still one of the best hitter Kansas City has. Kendall is a capable veteran who does a great job handling a pitching staff.  The Royals have a top prospect in Will Myers who might be ready towards the end of this season, but Kendall should be adequate for the upcoming season.  Getz failed in the top of the order.  Kansas City would like to see him produce and get on base. His speed is still a threat.  The Royals have to play small ball until the big bats arrive.

Bench

INF Wilson Betemit

.297 AVG 13 HR 43 RBI

OF Gregor Blanco

.283 AVG 1 HR 14 RBI

C Brayan Pena

.253 AVG 1 HR 19 RBI

Betemit will see playing time at the corner infield spots.  He has decent pop from both sides of the plate.  Should Getz struggle mightily, Kansas City will have to move Aviles over to second and Betemit will become the mainstay at third until the arrival of Moustakas.  Blanco will see time as a pinch runner and a replacement in center for Cabrera.  He plays to contact at the plate and when he does play he will be hitting at the top of the lineup. Pena is a good defender and will probably see a bulk of playing time with Kendall being to get up there in age.  His bat won't wow you, but does make good contact.

Rotation

1. Luke Hochevar

6-6 4.81 ERA

2. Jeff Francis*

4-6 5.00 ERA

3. Kyle Davies

8-12 5.34 ERA

4. Vin Mazzaro*

6-8 4.27 ERA

5. Bruce Chen

12-7 4.17 ERA

There is no clear cut ace, but the Royals hope former 1st round pick Hochevar can get to that point.  It did take a while for Greinke to reach that point and the Royals hope the same can be said for Hochevar.  He has good stuff and is in a good position for a breakout year.  Francis would like to have a healthy season.  As would the Royals.  They don't expect him to be the Francis of 2007 (17-9 4.22 ERA).  All they would like is a nice complement to what they hop Hochevar can be at the top of the rotation.  Davies has had plenty of chances and this might be his last.  His career ERA of 5.49 in six seasons is not a good sign of a top of the rotation pitcher.  The Royals don't have any minor league options ready this year so that leaves Davies in the rotation for the time being. Mazzaro was acquired from Oakland for David DeJesus.  He's not a strikeout pitcher, but rather puts the ball in play and keeps the defense active the entire time he's out there.  Chen isn't a bad fifth starter.  He has played for 10 teams in his career, but last year was probably his best.  He did everything for Kansas City, even saving one game.  He would be higher in the rotation, but Kansas City doesn't want to fix what isn't broke with Chen.

Setup

Robinson Tejeda

3-5 3.54 ERA

Closer

Joakim Soria

43 SV 1.78 ERA

This has been the strength for Kansas City.  Not the entire bullpen. Just Soria.  The Royals do have capable arms to get to Soria, but a lot of them are either unproven or too inconsistent.  Tejeda is a converted starter who struggled with his command, but has found a groove in the pen.  Soria has become probably the best closer next to Mariano Rivera in the majors.  It's unfortunate that he doesn't get enough publicity, but it's probably for the best.  Soria was quite the find as a Rule 5 draft pick from San Diego.  He quickly was thrust into the closer role and hasn't looked back.  The Royals have been wise to hang onto him.  The lineup is about to get better and the starting pitching will gradually become better.

American League West

* - indicates new to team
AVG - Batting Average
ERA - Earned Run Average
HR - Home Runs
RBI - Runs Batted In
SV - Saves


1. Los Angeles Angels
A stellar rotation will need a lot more run support to win the West.
2. Texas Rangers
Losing Cliff Lee and letting Vladimir Guerrero go will hurt their chances.
3. Oakland Athletics
Their great young rotation won't get them as far with a revamped lineup.
4. Seattle Mariners
Eric Wedge has his work cut out for him turning around Seattle.


Player to Watch: 1B Kendry Morales LA Angels
I'm not going to say that Morales would have hit for over .300 and driven in over 100 runs had he been healthy last year.  You all know that.  What is important to watch with Morales this year is if he can return to that form?  Everything was clicking with him and it was spreading to the rest of the lineup.  Once his ankle was broken celebrating a walk-off home run at home plate, the momentum was shattered.  That's what the Angels have to get back.  They were a contender with Morales last year.  This year they still are with him and their starting staff.  Should Morales make a full recovery and return to form, the Angels will have an easier time contending with the Texas Rangers.


Best Acquisition: OF David DeJesus Oakland Athletics
With a .289 career average, DeJesus won't wow you, but playing in the spacious confines of Oakland Alameda County Coliseum he should easily approach that average.  Not many know about him. All he does is quietly go about his business and put up impressive for the Kansas City Royals.  His 2008 and 2009 seasons were his best.  He hit 12 and 13 home runs, respectively and drove in at least 70 runs in those seasons.  He isn't the ideal number three hitter for Oakland or any team for that matter.  However, he makes contact and isn't an easy out for opposing pitchers.  He plays all three outfield positions adequately and should help Oakland's team batting average rise a few points (.256).


New Kid on the Block: 2B Dustin Ackley Seattle Mariners
The Mariners will bring him along slowly, but his debut is inevitable. What made him the second overall pick in 2009 was his bat. Drafted as a center fielder, he is being groomed as a second baseman simply because it's the only open spot for him in the lineup.  He is the ideal number two hitter, but with Ichiro and Chone Figgins at the top, Seattle will have him at the bottom of the order. They want to be careful to not anoint him the savior of their lackluster hitting.  He will be good, but Ackley will first need to settle in and find his niche and then find a position.  Rest assured the Mariners are making the right choice by bringing him up.  They need all the help they can get.

Angels Lineup

1. 3B Maicer Izturis

.250 AVG 2 HR 13 RBI

2. DH Bobby Abreu

.255 AVG 20 HR 78 RBI

3. 1B Kendry Morales

.290 AVG 11 HR 39 RBI

4. RF Torii Hunter

.281 AVG 23 HR 90 RBI

5. LF Vernon Wells*

.273 AVG 31 HR 88 RBI

6. 2B Howie Kendrick

.279 AVG 10 HR 75 RBI

7. SS Erick Aybar

.253 AVG 5 HR 29 RBI

8. C Jeff Mathis

.195 AVG 3 HR 18 RBI

9. CF Peter Bourjos

.204 AVG 6 HR 15 RBI

Not many teams will cringe when they see this lineup, but don't be fooled when you see Izturis' name at the top.  He's a tough guy to get out and he is a good baserunner.  Abreu had a down year and there are worries that it's a sign he's in decline.  The Angels probably have another year or two left in Abreu.  Still is patient as ever and is one of the best in hit and run situations.  Morales will start the year on the DL.  He shouldn't be sidelined for long.  His presence was dearly missed last year and putting him in the three hole will ease the pressure from the first two spots.  Hunter did well when Morales went down last year. Even though it was apparent that he had lost some bat speed.  Acquiring Wells was a nice move.  Not the move they initially wanted to make, but still a good move.  Wells had a nice bounce back year in Toronto.  With his presence it should ease the burden on Hunter in the cleanup spot. Kendrick has long been considered one of the best hitters on the Angels.  He has never been able to find a set spot in the lineup, but he should find a home in the sixth hole.  Aybar and Mathis are interchangeable.  If Mathis hits, he moves up in the lineup.  If Aybar hits, he moves into the leadoff spot.  If neither hits, they stay where they are.  Bourjos is talk of spring training for the Angels.  His defensive capabilities are unmatched in the organization.  The key for him is if he can get the hang of major league pitching.  If he can, the Angels will quickly move him into the leadoff spot, which will settle the rest of the lineup in their rightful place.

Bench

INF Alberto Callaspo

.265 AVG 10 HR 56 RBI

INF Mark Trumbo

.301 AVG 36 HR 122 RBI (AAA stats)

C Bobby Wilson

.229 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI

Callaspo gives the Angels a lot of versatility in the infield.  He can play all four positions and isn't a bad pinch hitting option either.  He has decent pop, but will see the majority of playing time at the hot corner.  Trumbo has a great chance this year.  He probably would be on the roster if Morales was healthy to start the year, but with his impressive spring he deserves a shot.  He has tremendous power potential, but the Angels hoped the same for Brandon Wood. Trumbo won't be thrust into a power role, but he will have to be a steady bat.  Wilson is a sound defender, but has a better bat than starter Jeff Mathis.  He will get playing time and so will Hank Conger who will be waiting patiently for his chance to be the starting catcher.

Rotation

1. Jered Weaver

13-12 3.01 ERA

2. Dan Haren

12-12 3.91 ERA

3. Ervin Santana

17-10 3.92 ERA

4. Joel Pineiro

10-7 3.84 ERA

5. Scott Kazmir

9-15 5.94 ERA

It's time for the rest of baseball to give respect to Mr. Weaver.  He has proven himself in every season he's played.  He is primed for a 15-20 win season, barring run support and will contend for the best ERA and most strikeouts.  Haren was acquired to help during the stretch run last year, but the Angels offense didn't help in that time. Haren was still great and in a full season he should be just as good as Weaver.  Santana returned to form last year.  As the number two starter he had a nice strikeout to walk ratio (169-73), but gave up far too many hits (221).  As a number three starter he should be superb so long as the hits are kept to a minimum. Pineiro was on his way to a 15 win season until an injury sidelined him in August that kept him out the rest of the year.  When healthy he is a perfect complement to their rotation.  Kazmir would be a steal as the number five starting pitcher if he has a bounce back year.  After his rough outing in the 2009 playoffs he hasn't seemed to get his groove back.  As the lone lefthander in the rotation he has to improve his control (79 BB) and his ERA.

Setup

Scott Downs*

5-5 2.64 ERA

Closer

Fernando Rodney

14 SV 4.24 ERA

This was a major weakness for the Angels last year.  Brian Fuentes had wore out his welcome and was dealt at the halfway point.  Rodney was superb in the beginning of the season when Fuentes was hurt, but when he was relegated to the setup role, everything fell apart.  When he was put back into the closer's role, he never recovered.  The success starts with him in the ninth inning.  The Angels do have other options should Rodney struggle again.  Kevin Jepsen and Jordan Walden are both hard throwing righthanders who will be in setup roles.  Both have the stuff to save games, but no experience.  The Angels signed two lefthanders in Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi who aren't specialists at all. Takahashi can even start if necessary.  Downs will be the primary setup man and is considered the lefthanded version of Scot Shields, who was apart of the Angels bullpen from 2001-2010. Should the ninth inning be stable, the Angels should be on their way back to the postseason.

Rangers Lineup

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

.286 AVG 9 HR 45  RBI

2. SS Elvis Andrus

.265 AVG 0 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Josh Hamilton

.359 AVG 32 HR 100 RBI

4. 3B Adrian Beltre*

.321 AVG 28 HR 102 RBI

5. RF Nelson Cruz

.318 AVG 22 HR 78 RBI

6. DH Michael Young

.284 AVG 21 HR 91 RBI

7. 1B Mitch Moreland

.255 AVG 9 HR 25 RBI

8. C Mike Napoli*

.238 AVG 26 HR 68 RBI

9. CF Julio Borbon

.276 AVG 3 HR 42 RBI

The Rangers still have a potent lineup.  As long as a few key players stay healthy, Texas should still be one of the best hitting teams in baseball.  Kinsler is the most important piece to their lineup.  When healthy he can produce a 30-30 season for the Rangers.  They have the luxury of putting him anywhere in the lineup and he will produce.  Andrus is the ideal top of the order hitter.  He can do all the little things for Texas.  Setting up runners with a sac bunt, hit and run.  Andrus has blazing speed and can steal 50 in any given season.  The reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton will look to duplicate his production from last season.  Health is starting to become a concern with Hamilton which is why he will be moved to left field this season.  He has become one of the best hitters in the game and it's scary to think he could get better. Beltre was a good sign by the Rangers front office.  He brings excellent defense at third and is still a good hitter as shown by his bounce back season in Boston last year.  What remains to be seen is if he can repeat that kind of performance.  Cruz has been on pace for big seasons the last two years in Texas, but injuries have shortened his seasons.  Should Cruz remain healthy he could have a career year.  Young was the talk of trade rumors before spring training started.  Being the class act that he was he still showed up for camp and went about his business.  If he stays, the Rangers will use him as a DH/super utility player.  Rest assured he will see plenty of playing time in the field for Texas.  Moreland had a good postseason for Texas.  With that momentum he will be the first baseman that they've been looking for since the trade of Mark Teixeira.  Napoli was apart of two trades in the span of 48 hours in the winter.  Texas has a power hitting catcher who can also play first base and DH from time to time.  His defense is suspect, but he does handle a pitching staff well.  Borbon is still a mystery.  He has decent pop in his bat, but he is better than the 15 stolen bases he recorded last year.  The Rangers want to see more from him this year.

Bench

OF David Murphy

.291 AVG 12 HR 65 RBI

C Yorvit Torrealba*

.271 AVG 7 HR 37 RBI

INF Andres Blanco

.277 AVG 0 HR 13 RBI

Murphy next to Michael Young can play multiple postions. Besides the outfield Murphy can play first base sometimes. Murphy's biggest tool is his bat.  He's a good spot starter for them and a great pinch hitter.  He would start for most other teams, but feels at home as the fourth outfielder.  Torrealba's strength is his defense and he will see plenty of playing time for that.  His bat is in decline, but can still contribute on occasion.  Blanco is a defensive replacement for Texas.  Hits for contact and is a decent baserunner.  The Rangers depth isn't a concern, but if say three or four starters go down, it will be an issue going forward.

Rotation

1. C.J. Wilson

15-8 3.35 ERA

2. Colby Lewis

12-13 3.72 ERA

3. Tommy Hunter

13-4 3.73 ERA

4. Matt Harrison

3-2 4.71 ERA

5. Derek Holland

3-4 4.08 ERA

A lot of turmoil in the Texas rotation after the failed re-singing of Cliff Lee.  They gave it their all, but Lee chose to go back to the National League and now Texas has to move on.  That also means Wilson will have to step into a larger role this year.  He was fantastic in his transition from reliever to starter last year.  Is he ready to be the teams ace is the question.  He seemed to be all right without Lee and that should bode well for the Rangers going forward.  Lewis is hoping to carry his great postseason performance into the 2011 season.  His performance against the New York Yankees in the ALCS was a once in a life time performance.  Look for Lewis to post similar numbers.  Hunter was a pleasant surprise for the Rangers.  The big righthander doesn't over power hitters, but does get a lot of ground ball outs which is important at the hitters paradise in Arlington.  Harrison and Holland are two young talented lefthanders who haven't tapped their potential yet.  The Rangers are hoping this is the year they both step into the rotation and establish themselves as competent starters.  Brandon Webb and Scott Feldman will miss some time due to injury, but they figure to be apart of the pitching staff at some point this season.

Setup

Darren Oliver

1-2 2.48 ERA

Closer

Neftali Feliz

40 SV 2.73 ERA

This was the big reason the Rangers starters were as successful as they were in 2010 and why they clinched the AL Pennant.  Feliz was the AL Rookie of the Year last year and with his dominant stuff, there was talk of him being in the rotation this year.  He won't, which is probably the best decision since there wasn't a viable replacement this year.  Feliz could approach 100 strikeouts this year.  Setting up Feliz is the crafty veteran Oliver.  He has redefined his career the last couple years as one of the best setup men in the game.  He has deceptive stuff and can get batters from both sides of the plate out.  Oliver will be joined by another lefthanded veteran Arthur Rhodes who is coming off his first All-Star season.  Darren O'Day and Alexi Ogando are the righthanders for Texas.  Both aren't big strikeout pitchers, but can get the job done in the seventh and eighth innings to setup Feliz.  Texas' chances of repeating as AL West champions hangs with their bullpen.

Athletics Lineup

1. CF Coco Crisp

.279 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI

2. 2B Mark Ellis

.291 AVG 5 HR 49 RBI

3. RF David DeJesus*

.318 AVG 5 HR 37 RBI

4. LF Josh Willingham*

.268 AVG 16 HR 56 RBI

5. DH Hideki Matsui*

.274 AVG 21 HR 84 RBI

6. C Kurt Suzuki

.242 AVG 13 HR 71 RBI

7. 1B Daric Barton

.273 AVG 10 HR 57 RBI

8. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

.247 AVG 16 HR 71 RBI

9. SS Cliff Pennington

.250 AVG 6 HR 46 RBI

The theme of Oakland's offense last year was speed without power.  This year they still have speed, but some added power. Crisp brings the speed at the top.  He was plagued by injuries last year, but still managed to total 32 steals.  If he manages to stay healthy Oakland's offense will have more consistent run scoring. Ellis is the ideal number two hitter for Oakland.  Makes contact and is hard to get out.  Always manages to get productive outs. DeJesus was the first major acquisition of the offseason for Oakland.  A gap hitter who should do well in the spacious Coliseum.  His defense is superb and should fit in nicely in right field.  Willingham has 20 double, 20 home run potential.  He has had trouble staying healthy a full season in Florida and Washington.  Oakland is hoping they can keep him fresh with some stints as the DH and at first base.  Matsui didn't have a terrible year with the Angels last year.  There weren't many suitors for him and he was Oakland's second option in the offseason.  He should manage to put up similar numbers to last year playing in another pitchers park.  Suzuki and Barton would be higher in the batting order if not for the acquisitions of Willingham and Matsui. Regardless Suzuki should continue to drive in runs and Barton has the potential for a .300-20 HR-100 RBI season.  Kouzmanoff was tied for the team lead in RBIs and was a sound defender at third base.  His only knock against him is he strikes out far too much. Pennington is another speedster that manager Bob Geren covets for his lineup.  His defense is sound and his .250 batting average should go up this year.

Bench

OF Ryan Sweeney

.294 AVG 1 HR 36 RBI

INF Adam Rosales

.271 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

OF/DH Chris Carter

.258 AVG 31 HR 94 RBI (AAA stats)

Sweeney is strictly a contact hitter.  That should bode well for plenty of pinch hitting opportunities for him.  He can play all three outfield positons for Oakland, but isn't the best baserunner. Rosales was given an opportunity to play for a time when Ellis was out.  He has decent power potential.  He can play all over the infield.  Not the a speedster, but can steal a few bags.  Carter is the wild card for Oakland.  He has tremendous power potential, but isn't the best defender.  He might have to start out in AAA for the beginning of the season, but his bat will make it hard for Oakland to keep him out for long.  

Rotation

1. Trevor Cahill

18-8 2.97 ERA

2. Brett Anderson

7-6 2.80 ERA

3. Gio Gonzalez

15-9 3.23 ERA

4. Dallas Braden

11-14 3.50 ERA

5. Brandon McCarthy*

7-4 4.62 ERA (2009 stats)

When your top four starters are 27 years old or younger and post ERAs of 3.50 or better, that's a great sign for the future of your ball club.  Cahill made his first of what is to be many All-Star appearances for Oakland last year.  He has solidified himself as the staff ace as a 23 year old.  Following him is the lefthanded complement to Cahill in Brett Anderson.  Injury shortened his season, but he was well on his way to posting Cahill like numbers. Gonzalez was quietly the most consistent starter last year.  Cahill was getting the notoriety, but Gonzalez was racking up the strikeouts (171).  Braden pitched a perfect game on Mother's Day last year, but had almost fallen off the map after that.  He led the team in complete games with 5 and is starting to mold himself into the younger version of Mark Buehrle.  McCarthy isn't expected to wow anyone, but Oakland would like someone to hold down the fifth spot.  His stuff has diminished with all the surgeries on his arm, but he should do fine with a limited workload. If he should falter they do have Rich Harden back to maybe provide a spark at the back of the rotation.

Setup

Brad Ziegler

3-7 3.26 ERA

Closer

Andrew Bailey

25 SV 1.47 ERA

The Athletics have quietly built a good bullpen the last few years. Bailey is the reason for that success.  The former AL Rookie of the Year has continued to put up great numbers in seclusion out west. Ziegler had a rough outing last year.  He still has a deceptive under arm delivery that disrupts the hitters timing. Oakland would like to have a bounce back year from Ziegler.  To help ease the burden on Ziegler Oakland signed Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour. Fuentes could fill in to close to give Bailey a night off, but Oakland will use him in a setup role mostly.  Balfour was becoming a great setup man in Tampa Bay the last couple seasons.  He does have a wild side, but can get the job done for long stretches of the season.  Oakland has depth in the bullpen and that might bode well for the great rotation.

Mariners Lineup

1. RF Ichiro Suzuki

.315 AVG 6 HR 43 RBI

2. 3B Chone Figgins

.259 AVG 1 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Milton Bradley

.205 AVG 8 HR 29 RBI

4. DH Jack Cust*

.272 AVG 13 HR 52 RBI

5. 1B Justin Smoak

.218 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

6. CF Franklin Gutierrez

.245 AVG 12 HR 64 RBI

7. C Miguel Olivo*

.269 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI

8. 2B Brendan Ryan*

.223 AVG 2 HR 36 RBI

9. SS Jack Wilson

.249 AVG 0 HR 14 RBI

It can't get much worse for Seattle.  They were statistically the worst offensive team in baseball last year and that was with Ichiro playing 162 games.  Ichiro will continue to get his .300+ batting average and over 200 hits.  That's a given.  What isn't is which Chone Figgins will show up?  Seattle hopes they get the one who had a career year in 2009 with the Angels.  The move to third base should put him at ease and with his turnaround after the All-Star break was an encouraging sign last year.  Bradley was a huge disappointment last year.  Seattle is hoping he can get back on track, but his history with new manager Eric Wedge isn't good. Cust was signed to provide the power stroke for the middle of Seattle's order.  His production has slid the last few years and it remains to be seen if he can get it back.  Smoak was the main piece acquired when they dealt Cliff Lee to Texas last year. Smoak has plenty of potential, but Seattle would be wise to ease his progression slowly.  Gutierrez is a gold glove caliber defender in center field and is a better hitter than his .245 average last year. If he can return to form it will go a long way in improving the lineup.  Olivo and Ryan were another pair of acquisitions to help shake up the lineup.  Olivo should solve the problem at catcher on both offense and defense.  Ryan had a terrible year in St. Louis, but a new environment should help hash out his mechanics. Wilson can still field with the best of them, but his bat is right near the bottom.  Manager Eric Wedge has a lot of holes to fill, but he will be given time to find a set lineup.

Bench

OF Michael Saunders

.211 AVG 10 HR 33 RBI

INF Josh Wilson

.227 AVG 2 HR 25 RBI

OF Ryan Langerhans

.196 AVG 3 HR 4 RBI

This is an obvious weakness for the Mariners.  Saunders is a sound defender and has decent power.  His consistency has been a problem so far.  Wilson is a defensive replacement at this point in his career.  Not a great contact hitter, but he will see plenty of playing time with Jack Wilson in front of him.  Langerhans has had moments of potential in his career.  Seattle will give him another chance to fulfill that potential.  He has good power to all fields, but it will be difficult to achieve great power numbers in Safeco Field.

Rotation

1. Felix Hernandez

13-12 2.27 ERA

2. Doug Fister

6-14 4.11 ERA

3. Jason Vargas

9-12 3.78 ERA

4. Erik Bedard

5-3 2.82 ERA (2009 stats)

5. Luke French

5-7 4.83 ERA

King Felix has definitely earned that nickname after his Cy Young 2010 season.  With the terrible run support last year he still managed to give the lowly Mariners a chance to win every time he pitched.  Seattle was right to bring him along slowly in the beginning of his career and it's paying off big time.  Whether the Mariners will be able to keep him long term is another dilemma. Fister and Vargas had great strikeout to walk ratios.  Whether the Mariners will help out in the win column is the problem.  If Bedard can return to the potential he showed at the end of his tenure in Baltimore, the Mariners will have a solid number two starter behind Hernandez.  French will most likely be the fifth starter until Michael Pineda is ready to enter the rotation.  French has control problems, but does show signs of pitching deep into games.  Pineda has electric stuff, but it remains to be seen if Seattle thinks he can better help them in the rotation long term or in the bullpen.

Setup

Brandon League

9-7 3.42 ERA

Closer

David Aardsma

31 SV 3.44 ERA

The Mariners will use a variety of relievers this year, but the most important ones are Aardsma and League.  Both can close games and both have dominant stuff for the eighth and ninth innings. League is the strikeout pitcher while Aardsma is the pitcher who works the strike zone.  He goes for the out rather than try to blow you away.  Both might be candidates for a trade during the season. If so, the Mariners will probably be more inclined to use Pineda as the future closer.  Seattle has a lot of options for their bullpen, but they will need a lot more to get them back into contention.