With opening day just around the corner I thought it was the perfect time to break out the first annual Bloop hit baseball season preview extravaganza where I separate the contenders from the pretenders, the also ran’s from the non also ran’s the winners from the losers and any other cliché way of basically saying I pick teams I think are going to be good. But enough of this fore play let’s start...
AL East
Baltimore Orioles: For the O’s a long season is in store. They are in the dread “rebuilding stages” and are as likely to be a contender as I am to date Megan Fox. But I and the O’s can dream. But it's not all doom and gloom for the Orioles they have some bright spots second baseman Brian Roberts, Nick Markais and young centre fielder Adam Jones should improve and the bullpen so long a weakness now maybe the teams biggest strength with the return of former closer Chris Ray to bridge to All-star George Sherrill and the exciting prospect of rookie catcher Matt Wieters,who some scouts predict to be the best catcher in the AL when he gets called up. But the rotation is a mess with the exception of Jeremy Guthrie and not enough power means the Orioles like my chances with Megan Fox are doomed from the off.
Boston Red Sox: Now in the Interest of Full disclosure I am a Red Sox fan so the following analysis will be clouded by either blind optimism or my pessimistic fandom and panic. The Red Sox by far have the deepest starting pitching staff in the league and maybe baseball. With Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Penny, Wakefield Smoltz, and the re-emergence of Clay Bucholz the Sox have a number of quality options available to them. The bullpen looks outstanding on paper buoyed by the Pick Ups of Ramon Ramirez and Saito.However, for my liking there is just way too many question marks on this team too many ifs and buts. If David Ortiz can be the power hitter he once was, If Mike Lowell can come back from his hip operation, If Jacoby Ellisbury can be more like the Jacoby Ellisbury of the 2007 playoffs then this team can win the world series but if none of those things happen then a 3rd place finish in the division is what awaits them.
New York Yankees: Well the global recession obviously didn’t affect the Evil Empire as they went on a spending binge that would even make Top Bank Officials blush with embarrassment at the money thrown around. The Yankees clearly won the offseason season with the additions Of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to bolster their starting rotation and Mark Teixeira to boost an already potent lineup.The only things that can stop the Yankees from winning World Series Number 27 is if father time catches up on the aging squad, how they handle playing without steroids (ok that was a cheap shot) and if the A-Rod circus causer too much of a distraction. A-Rod the highest paid played has potential to damage this team both on the field where he suffers from can’t get a hit when it matters the mostitisis and his bizarre behaviour.
Tampa Bay Rays: Last Years Cinderella’s are hoping that the clock hasn’t struck midnight and they turn into a pumpkin. That they don’t become the Jimmy Eat World, Dexy's Midnight Runners of the baseballing world one hit wonders. The perennial losers turned World Series participants last season are in danger of suffering from second season syndrome the disease that turns players away from the things that got them success in the first place teamwork, work ethic in to prima donnas with inflated egos. But in Joe Maddon the Rays have a good manger that should be able to squash any seeds of egoism. The rays also have a good young nucleus of potential superstars with the Uptons,Longoria and Pitching Phenomenon David Price waiting in the wings and upgrade at Dh in Pat The bat Burrell the Rays should still be good but you cant help but feel like they Rays are like Homer Simpson in the episode where he climbs the mountain thinks he has reached the top only to be told there is still more to climb. After what the Yankees and Red Sox did this if season.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jay are like an attractive girl who in any other bar would be the centre of attention but instead walked into a bar of supermodels. The jays are a good team but not good enough to hang with the rest of the AL east. Lead by star pitcher Roy Halladay the jays pitching staff has being decimated by injuries and with the exception of Alex Rios the jays like a potent threat in the line-up and have a .500 club written all over them.
Division Winner: The New York Yankees (Bastards)
Al Central
Chicago White Sox:Last Years Division Winners Come back to defend their crown with basically the same team. Josh Fields finally takes over at third base and last years stand out performer Alexi Ramirez moves to short and the Return of Carlos Quentin from a broken wrist the injury that basically killed the Whites Sox hopes of a deep playoff run. The Teams strength is its power and backed up by a solid Bullpen led by Booby jenks and strong pitching rotation in the form of Buerhele, Danks And Gavin Floyd the Palos look set to contend again however the team has question marks at centre field and has no athleticism in the team so Manger Ozzie Guillen Can’t really play the Brand of small ball that led too the white sox to glory in 05.
Cleveland Indians: a lot of people picked the Indians to win the world series but instead they underachieved and where hampered by Injuries to Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner.The Indians will hope the only positive of last season the breakout year for Cliff Lee can continue this year and that the Enigmatic Fausto Carmona can be consistent given the Indians a potential lethal one two punch. The Line-up should be boosted by the return of Hafner and Martinez and a lot of people predict that Shin Soo Choo will have a breakout year. That combined with The Grady Sizemore and a bullpen boosted by the Arrival of the Kerry Wood from Chicago could mean that the Indians World Series trip could arrive this year.
Detroit Tigers: My pick last year to win it all look in disarray. The same problems that plagued them last season remain poor starting pitching. All there starters underperformed and unless they can turn it around the tigers are as about as frigHTenting as a house cat. The line-up can hit but won’t be able to score enough runs to make up for a shaky starting staff and bullpen. Lot rides on the Arms of Verlander, Robertson, and Zumya if the tigers want to contend.
Kansas City Royals: The outside pick to be this year’s version of the Tampa Bay Rays. Built on Strong starting Pitching By former Braves architect Drayton Moore the trio of Grenkie, Meche, and Davies while no Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux have the potential to be very effective. The offense has being bolstered by the additions of Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs but at a cost to last years team strength the bullpen. If the pen can perform to a similar level as last years corp. of relivers and the front of there rotation can produce at least 15 wins each then maybe, just maybe there will be a royal coronation in the central.
Minnesota Twins Two key issues for the twins the health of Joe Mauer and How Francisco Lirano performs.Mauer is the key man for the twins but he seemingly has knees made of glass and has being hampered by a back injury so the twins could be without their most important offense weapon of a larger portion of the season.Lirano is a key in the rotation and if Delmon young can show on a constant level the talent that made him a number one pick the twins could bed in business however the key is the health of Mauer.
Division Winner: The Chicago White Sox
AL West
Los Angeles Angels This division is the angels to lose by far the class of the west. However the question has to be asked when they will finally make noise in the playoffs because once again they look like a team good enough to win a weak division but not good enough to be competitive in October. The losses of Francisco Rodriguez and Mark Texira don’t help the angles .while the pick ups of Bobby Abreu and Brian Fuentues are nice pickups they don’t scream difference makers to you. The strength of the team is its Starting Rotation but Lackey, Santana, and Escobar can’t get you hits when you most need it. The halos are good just not good enough.
Athletics: GM Billy Beane may have made the most sensational trade of the offseason when he acquired slugger Matt Holiday from the Rockies but the rest of the team he has put together are more of a splish.Added pop to the line-up in the form of Holiday and the return of the Giambino Jason Giambi improves the line-up but the starting pitching and bullpen is a mess. The most exciting thing A’s fans can look forward to this season is what kind of package of players they get in return for Matt Holiday when they trade him at the deadline.
Texas Rangers: Death, Taxes, and Texas Ranger lack of pitching at this stage are the bankers in life. As usual the Rangers lack of quality pitching will prevent them form being anything more than a fun team to watch if you enjoy high scoring baseball games. A tremendous line-up is once again going to be wasted because of the lack of pitching.
Seattle Mariners: The Kid Griffey is back which should but asses in Safeco as Griffey goes on a nostalgic tour. Need Erik Bedard to be like the pitcher he was two season ago. To have any chance. Another team in Rebuilding Mode
Division Winner Los Angeles Angels of anhaiem, California, USA and The world
Playoff teams, Yankees, Angles, Indians
Wildcard: Red Sox
AL Winner the Yankees.
