Baseball

Related: 2005 season overview

By Sean Holihan
For Outsports.com

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
 

1. CLEVELAND INDIANS

You’d like to share a tepee with:  Cliff Bartosh (pictured).  This hot left-handed pitcher hopes to stick with Cleveland after getting called up from Buffalo last year.  New Arrivals:  3B Aaron Boone, OF Juan Gonzalez, 2B Alex Cora, SS Jose Hernandez, RHP Kevin Millwood, LHP Arthur Rhodes  Departures:  SS Omar Vizquel, OF Matt Lawton, 1B Lou Merloni, CF Alex Escobar, RHP Chad Durbin, RHP Rick White, RHP Jose Jimenez  Upside:  Last year this young team came close to the playoffs, but they will make them this year.  With Aaron Boone added to the lineup, there are now four very potent playmakers, including Boone, CF Coco Crisp, DH Travis Hafner and C Victor Martinez.  Almost every position player is solid and is more than capable of running up more than 80 RBI and 15 home runs.  Their pitching staff is nothing to scream about, but should get the job done.  They upgraded by signing free agent right-hander Kevin Millwood to replace Scott Elarton in the rotation.  Expect around 11-15 wins from each of their 1-4 starters.      Downside:  There are only two weak spots in this lineup, one dealing with inexperience and one of someone maybe past his prime:  1. Rookie Johnny Peralta has been awarded the starting shortstop job; he led Triple-A Buffalo to the International League Championship where he was named MVP.  2.  OF Juan Gonzalez.  Juan Gone hasn’t played like his MVP type days since his last stop in Cleveland, in 2001, when he hit .325, 140 RBI and 34 HR.  No wonder he wanted to come back and play at the Jake.  Anything Cleveland gets out of Gonzalez will be extra for this team.  Last year the Indians and Tigers led the league in blown saves.  RHP Bob Wickman has to avoid injury and be able to lead this bullpen.  Bottom Line:  In 2004, Cleveland ranked 5th in runs per game at 5.30. However, they also ranked 9th in runs scored allowed at 5.29.  It’s no wonder they were around a .500 team.  Expect both those numbers to change this year.  Boone provides a solid bat and better glove over at third while most of these young players are entering their second or third year.  Their numbers should improve.  As long as their bullpen stays in good shape this team should be able to win the 162 game marathon that will be the AL Central.   2004 record:  80-82, 3rd 2005 prediction:  88-74, 1st

2. MINNESOTA TWINS

Every gay man’s fantasy (twins that is):  Torii Hunter.  This guy is flat out awesome.  I’ve always had a thing for acrobats and Hunter is just that, a true acrobat and the best centerfielder in the big-leagues.    New Arrivals:  C Mike Redmond, 3B Juan Castro, C Corky Miller, 3B Eric Munson  Departures:  C Henry Blanco, 3B Corey Koskie, OF Jose Offerman, SS Cristian Guzman  Upside:  With Blanco, Koskie and Guzman gone, Minnesota can finally bring about the youth movement.  This year the Twins will start Joe Mauer at catcher, Justin Morneau at first and Michael Cuddyer at third.  The oldest is Cuddyer at 25 and all three of these guys have shown a lot of potential.  Their rotation, the best in the AL Central, is led by Cy Young award winner Johan Santana and backed by a rotation that can and has won 14 games a piece.    Downside:  Let me throw some numbers at you for a second.  The Twins infield is composed of guys who have a collective RBI total of 798 for their careers.  That’s including backups.  Last year that infield, again including backups, totaled 271 RBI.  That’s 10 guys, averaging 27 RBI a piece, less than mediocre over a 162-game season. Scary.  Mauer, Morneau, and Cuddyer better be as good as advertised.  Bottom Line:  This division has been said to be the weakest in baseball in the last three years.  People have also said that if the Twins were in any other division they wouldn’t have made the playoffs.  I wouldn’t go that far, but this division has definitely been watered down.  Nevertheless, things are changing in the Mid-West to make the AL Central much more competitive.  This division will unquestionably be a race that goes down to the final weeks of the season with The Indians, Twins, ChiSox, and yes, the Tigers beating up on each other the whole way.  With Minnesota mainly starting over with their young infield, I don’t see them being able to keep up with the Indians down the stretch.     2004 record:  92-70, 1st 2005 prediction:  85-77, 2nd

3. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

White Hot Sock:  Timo Perez.  I fell in love with this guy when he ended up playing for the Mets in the 2000 playoffs when RF Derek Bell came up lame chasing a fly ball.  I always hoped that he would catch on and become a regular, but that never happened and he was subsequently traded away.    New Arrivals:  C A.J. Pierzynski, RF Jermaine Dye, 2B Tadahito Iguchi, LF Scott Podsednik, RHP Shingo Takatsu, LHP Kevin Walker  Departures:  OF Magglio Ordonez, SS Jose Valentin, LF Carlos Lee, C Sandy Alomar, RHP Esteban Loaiza, LHP Scott Schoeneweis  Upside:  This lineup is very solid.  Even though they’ve lost Ordonez and Lee, who could have smacked 30 homers each for Chicago, they are fully capable of creating over 900 runs this year with newly acquired Scott Podsednik and Willie Harris getting on base around a .350 clip.  Also, these guys have some depth.  Carl Everett has reported to spring training in the best shape of his career.  Why is this important?  With DH/1B Frank Thomas out for at least a month or two with an ankle injury, Everett is slated to start the season opener in Thomas’ place.  In 2003, with the White Sox and Rangers, Everett combined to bat .287 with 28 homeruns and 92 RBI.    Downside:  Who knows how their pitching will pan out this year.  Ace LHP Mark Buehrle may or may not be injured.  His health will determine the outcome of the ChiSox season.  He apparently has a “stress reaction” in his foot, not a fracture that would have cost him at least six weeks as originally feared.  There are some other questions as well.  Can Orlando Hernandez stay healthy and productive?  He’s known to be a solid pitcher and an innings eater, but he hasn’t pitched around 200 innings since 2000.  Unfortunately, that happened to be a sub-par year with the Yanks.  Another ex-Yankee, Jose Contreras, became a part of the rotation when he was traded to Chicago for Esteban Loaiza last year.  The former Cuban star hasn’t exactly lived up to his billing in the states.  After posting a pretty solid year with New York in 2003, Contreras went on to post a 5.50 ERA average with opposing batters hitting .250 off of him.  Bottom Line:  This team will compete this year.  Their lineup is too good for that.  It all depends upon their pitching staff.  If Contreras can play like he did in 03, if Buehrle is healthy, if RHP Freddy Garcia can pitch like the ace he was in Seattle, if El Duque (Hernandez) can pitch 180-200 innings, if they can finally settle upon a closer that will be consistent, this team can and will reach the playoffs.  However, there are just too many ifs for this team to do so.  I can’t see them besting the Indians and Twins.  2004 record:  83-79, 3rd   2005 prediction:  80-82, 3rd

4. DETROIT TIGERS

Tiger in bed too?  Kyle Farnsworth.  My friends and I have nicknamed Farnsworth “Superman.”  If you’ve ever watched him play, his uniform is fitted so it looks like he’s wearing tights…much to everyone’s benefit.  Oh yeah, and he can throw a ball pretty fast too.    New Arrivals:  RF Magglio Ordonez, RHP Troy Percival, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, C Vance Wilson, RHP Colby Lewis  Departures:  3B Eric Munson, RHP Esteban Yan, CF Alex Sanchez, and possibly OF Bobby Higginson who has been rumored to be released before the season starts.     Upside:  Their owner actually wants to spend money.  Mike Ilitch is the owner of the Tigers and Detroit Red Wings.  With hockey on permanent hiatus, Ilitch has finally turned his attention on the baseball team he bought in 1992 and opened up his checkbook.   With the signing of C Ivan Rodriguez last year and the signing of Ordonez, the Tigers now have four guys capable of driving in 90 plus runs.  Magglio went largely unnoticed this offseason, despite averaging 30 home runs and 114 RBI a season, because of two knee surgeries in the winter.  He’s a possible candidate for comeback player of the year.  When the Tigers signed Troy Percival, the Tigers gained a bullpen presence and someone that can come in and be expected to save around 30 games.  Downside:  This is a young, improving and exciting team.  However, it is still just that--young.  Their starting pitching staff returns completely intact from last year but there is still no clear ace.  Mike Maroth is ace by default because of his team leading 217 Innings pitched and 11 games won last year.  Illitch has said that he wishes he could have signed a pitcher this offseason.  They were close to signing Carl Pavano, who winded up signing with the Yankees; he could have really helped lead this young team into contention.  Bottom Line:  Detroit is much like the Indians in that they are a young, hot-hitting team that can surprise this division.  Yet while the Indians have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, the Tigers will be left out because of questions regarding their pitching.  This team needs one of their starters to blossom into an ace or make a move to grab a front line starter.  2004 record:   72-90, 4th 2005 prediction:  76-86, 4th

5. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

King for a Day:  Eli Marrero.  One of the few reasons to tune into a Royals game is this guy.  He can play anywhere.  Catcher, first base, outfield …he’s versatile.     New Arrivals:  RHP Jose Lima, RHP Dennis Tankersley, LF Terrence Long, IF/OF Eli Marrero, 3B Chris Truby  Departures:  3B Joe Randa, OF Juan Gonzalez, OF Dee Brown, LHP Darrell May, IF Desi Relaford, C Benito Santiago, RHP Ryan Bukvich, LHP Dennys Reyes, C Kelly Stinnett  Upside:  The Royals don’t make it easy on me, but there are a few bright spots:  RHP Zack Greinke, the Royals young phenom, is a star in the making.  When he was called up last year, he went 8-11 with a 3.97 ERA, striking out 100 batters while only walking 26.  Those numbers don’t sound like much, but after dominating in the minor leagues he was called up and was able to hold his own in the majors.  He was only 20 years old.  Opening up behind Greinke will be RHP Runelvys Hernandez.  Remember this guy from '03?  He opened up the season at 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA before having to shut it down due to injury.  He eventually ended up having major surgery and missing the '04 season completely.  Well he’s back and showing good signs in Spring Training.  Replacing Carlos Beltran must be really, really hard.  Yet, CF David DeJesus did just that last year and left Royals fans salivating for more.  This guy has what it takes to come up in the majors and stay there…barring injury of course.    Downside:  There are other players on this team that have been called up and should be stars right now.  However, injuries and setbacks are seemingly second nature to this team.  RHP Mike MacDougal has what it takes to become the best closer in the game today.  His fastball reaches 100 MPH and his slider could buckle any player’s knees.  It’s just a shame that he can’t get those pitches to the plate.  After being selected to the All-Star team in 2003, MacDougal has suffered a stomach virus that landed him on the DL and problems on the mound which got him sent back in the minors.  There are many more on this team:  1B/DH Mike Sweeny (I know he’s a star, but he hasn’t been able to have over 500 at-bats since 01), Runelvys Hernandez, LHP Jeremy Affeldt, SS Angel Berroa, David DeJesus (Tommy John surgery), etc.     Bottom Line:  What the hell happened in 2003?  They went 83-79!  And now they’re back to this: 5th place.  Why?  Injuries and setbacks.  This team could, on paper anyway, contend.  They have some real good players on this team.  They just need to realize it in their own heads.  Zack Greinke is going to be a star, Runelvys Hernandez and Mike MacDougal could be while Angel Berroa should be.  These guys all have amazing talent.  Maybe they just need a different training staff?  2004 record:  58-104, 5th 2005 prediction:  70- 92, 5th