2007 MLB Preview: American League
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AMERICAN LEAUGE EAST
BALTIMORE
KEY ADDITIONS:
JARED WRIGHT
CHAD BRADFORD
AUBREY HUFF
JAY PAYTON
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JAMES HOEY RHP - May have a shot at making the team this spring because they are desperate for bullpen help. Throws in the mid 90s, and had a combined 2.27 ERA with 33 saves last year.
OUTLOOK:
It is going to be difficult in this division for the Orioles to make any progress. The middle of the lineup is likely Mora, Tejada, and Huff - not exactly murderers row. Benson will be sidelined which will not help the pitching staff. Jared Wright will have to have a huge year and Cabrera will need to become an ace. They still appear to be a non-contender.
BOSTON
KEY ADDITIONS:
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
JULIO LUGO
BRENDAN DONNELLY
JC ROMERO
J.D. DREW
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JACOBY ELLSBURY OF - He will be the one to fill the void left when Johny Damon left as a free agent. He is probably a year away, but hit .303 last year combined at two levels and has a knack for getting on base. He carried a .382 OBP. He also will provide the Sox with speed, as he stole 41 bases.
OUTLOOK:
Ortiz, Ramirez, and Drew make for a formidable middle of the lineup. Lugo could provide the leadoff hitter they thought they had in Crisp last year. Matsuzaka, if he lives up to his billing, could push them to the top of entire AL. Papelbon as a starter could further bolster starting pitching. The biggest question mark is who will close games? If someone like Hansen emerges, they will be tough to beat.
NEW YORK YANKEES
KEY ADDITIONS:
ANDY PETITTE
KEI IGAWA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
PHIL HUGHES RHP - He is ready right now, but the Yankees want to do the right thing and progress him slowly. Finished 12-6 with 2.16 ERA and an impressive .179 avg against. Looks like the goods.
OUTLOOK:
The Yankees got rid of some headaches in Johnson and Wright. They also have begun to stockpile some arms at AAA Columbus. Weakness may be void of left-handers out of the pen. Myers is the only one for now. If the Yankees get a healthy Pavano throwing like he did in Florida, they will be right there with Boston. The staff looks better than last year and there are some big arms on the horizon if someone should go down. Expect to see Phil Hughes if the need arises.
TORONTO
KEY ADDITIONS:
FRANK THOMAS
ROYCE CLAYTON
JOHN THOMSON
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ADAM LIND OF - May be given a chance to play this season. Hit .330 with 24 HR's and 89 RBI between AA and AAA. He definately carries a big league bat.
OUTLOOK:
The top of the staff, if healthy, can pitch with anyone. Halladay is arguably the best there is. Burnett if healthy can be a solid #2 and Chacin could mature into an effective #3. Thomas could bring a big bat in the middle of the lineup if he stays healthy and last year wasn't his last hurrah. Ryan can close with the best of them. Looks like they may be a distant third, unless Thomson and Marcum surprise at the bottom of the staff.
TAMPA BAY
KEY ADDITIONS:
AKINORI IWAMURA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JACOBY ELLSBURY OF - He will be the one to fill the void left when Johny Damon left as a free agent. He is probably a year away, but hit .303 last year combined at two levels and has a knack for getting on base. He carried a .382 OBP. He also will provide the Sox with speed, as he stole 41 bases.
OUTLOOK:
Looks like the status quo for the D-Rays. It would not appear they will get out of the basement of this division. Kazmir is a great #1, but it is hold your breath from there. They have no lefty in the pen and that will be troublesome against some of the lineups they will face in the East. Long season once again.
AL EAST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
- BOSTON
- NEW YORK
- TORONTO
- BALTIMORE
- TAMPA BAY
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AMERICAN LEAUGE CENTRAL
CHICAGO
KEY ADDITIONS:
GAVIN FLOYD
ANDREW SISCO
DAVID AARDSMA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JOHN DANKS LHP - He will likely be in Chicago before the seaon ends. He has the power, as he averaged 10k's a game last season and three above average pitches. Could be a big winner in the future.
OUTLOOK:
Lots of question marks coming in. Replacing Garcia's innings with quality will be key. Podsednik needs to get back to the leadoff hitter he was two years ago. Contreras, Buehrle and Garland need big years for this team to contend. The bullpen has a lot of question marks as well.
CLEVELAND
KEY ADDITIONS:
JOSH BARFIELD
ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
DAVID ELLUCCI
JOE BAROWSKI
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ADAM MILLER RHP - Big league stuff! Has over-powering fastball, and knee-buckling slider. Key issue is staying healthy, which he managed last season for the first time. Could be seen before all is said and done in '07.
OUTLOOK:
Peralta had a difficult year at shortstop and if Marte is penciled in at third, the left side of the infield is suspect. Barfield will be nice addition at second. It looks like the Indians are going to be able to score plenty of runs, but can they score more than they give up? Barowski can close, but can they get to him with the rest of the pen? Lots of pressure on the top of the rotation. Sabathia needs to stay healthy and have a breakout year. Westbrook, Lee, and Byrd will have to eat innings, and provide quality starts.
DETROIT
KEY ADDITIONS:
GARY SHEFFIELD
JOSE MESA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
EULOGIO DE LA CRUZ RHP - The Tigers have brought in a lot of hard throwers, and next in line is De La Cruz. He is armed with a 98+ MPH heater. Still working on command, but very live arm.
OUTLOOK:
The pitching looks great with lots of young arms that are beginning to gel. The only question mark may be Rogers. Can he give them another year like last year? If he does, the Tigers become the team to beat once again, but even without him they are right there. If Sheffield is as productive as he has been, it will add a lot of pop to the middle of the order, something missing last season. Lots of live arms in the pen. Todd Jones closing? If he doesn't provide what they need, Zumaya may be next in line. Just one LHP in pen in Ledezma may limit options, but enough quality to overcome.
KANSAS CITY
KEY ADDITIONS:
BRIAN BANNISTER
GIL MECHE
OCTAVIO DOTEL
DAVID RISKE
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ALEX GORDON 3B - Not only does he have a big bat (.325 29 101), but a big glove. MVP in Texas League last year - will be heard from soon.
OUTLOOK:
The Royals spent some money in the off-season and may have over-paid for Gil Meche. It does however give him an arm for the top of the rotation with great stuff, albeit somewhat inconsistent. The rest of the rotation is young and suspect. Riske, and Dotel will see a lot of work and if they don't breakdown, could be an upgrade in the pen. Mike Sweeney can still swing the bat, but not much protection unless Teahan has a breakout year.
MINNESOTA
KEY ADDITIONS:
JEFF CIRILLO
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
GLEN PERKINS LHP - May make staff in spring training. If not will be seen before season ends. He averaged 10k's a start, but not with over-powering stuff. But highly effective in mixing it up.
OUTLOOK:
Brad Radke will be missed in the rotation, and so will Francisco Liriano, who likely won't pitch at all this season. Santana is a rock at the top of the staff, but they really need a big year from Silva. If Bonser and Garza can step up to expectations they will once again be a factor. The line-up is solid and the pen is adequate. It all boils down to young middle of the rotation to have big injury free seasons.
AL CENTRAL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
- DETROIT
- CHICAGO
- MINNESOTA
- CLEVELAND
- KANSAS CITY
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AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
LA ANGELS
KEY ADDITIONS;
JUSTIN SPIER
GARY MATTHEWS JR.
DARREN OLIVER
SHEA HILLENBRAND
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ERICK AYBAR SS - May have a shot at making the team this season. Has excellent range and strong arm and hit .283 last year. He is a threat on the basepaths as he stole 32 bases last season.
OUTLOOK:
The rotation is quality top to bottom. The question mark may be if Colon is healthy, can he provide quality starts? Jared Weaver looks like he could become a big winner in the big leagues. Darren Oliver gives a right handed staff another lefty out of the pen. The lineup is solid with the only question marks at the corners of the infield. Glaus has left a void and Figgins is not an everyday third basemen. They took a chance on controversial Shea Hillenbrand who may be penciled in at first. Howie Kendrick is a pure hitter from the second base position. The bullpen can close games from the 7th on.
OAKLAND
KEY ADDITIONS:
ALAN EMBREE
MIKE PIAZZA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JASON WINDSOR RHP - He is not an over-powering pitcher, but has excellent command. He pitched to nearly a 4-to-1 ratio between strikeouts and walks. He led the entire minor leagues last year in wins with 17. He may have an opportunity to make the team as a 5th starter.
OUTLOOK:
Lots of possibilities, but so many question marks. The loss of Zito is going to challenge an oft-injured staff. That moves Harden to the top, but he just can't seem to stay healthy and that will be key for the A's to contend. Mike Piazza, inserted for Frank Thomas, is going to be less productive. That means Eric Chavez, who got off to a horrible start, is going to have to have a huge year. The pen is solid and may fatigue because they are going to be called on early and often.
SEATTLE
KEY ADDITIONS
JOSE GUILLEN
HORACIO RAMIREZ
MIGUEL BATISTA
JOSE VIDRO
CHRIS REITSMA
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ADAM JONES OF - Didn't make a great showing in limited AB's in Seattle last season (.216) but had eye-opening .829 OPS in minors. Still young, and great range in centerfield, along with a powerful arm.
OUTLOOK:
The whole season comes down to what they get out of their rotation. Felix Hernandez will now be at the top. Can he become the #1 starter most feel he can? Washburn and Batista can eat innings, but can they both have big years? The bottom of the staff may be in flux the entire season. J.J. Putz anchors a pen that is also loaded with question marks, but he has electric stuff and is a bona fide closer. The lineup is solid 1-6, and the defense is going to save a few runs.
TEXAS
KEY ADDITIONS:
FRANK CATALANOTTO
KENNY LOFTON
ERIC GAGNE
BRANDON MCCARTHY
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JOAQUIN ARIAS SS - Excellent glove at short but hasn't been selective at plate. Hit .268 but with just a .296 OBP. He can steal bases (26 last season) and may still be a year away.
OUTLOOK:
This team always has the same problem: who is going to pitch? Millwood and Padilla can be solid at the top, but from there it is anyone's guess. The infield will be solid defensively and they can swing the bat with anyone. Gagne is an interesting sign. He may have to rely on his very good change-up to be effective. The bullpen looks like they can get some outs, and they will need to get plenty. If Lofton is their center fielder, he will wilt and breakdown in the 100 degree Texas heat. Wilkerson and Cruz as corner outfielders are questionable.
AL WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
- LA ANGELS
- SEATTLE
- OAKLAND
- TEXAS
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