MLB PICKS 2008 AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL PREVIEW

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
MANAGER:  OZZIE GUILLEN
2007 RECORD:  72-90
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
NICK SWISHER   OF
CARLOS QUENTIN OF
SCOTT LINEBRINK RHP
ORLANDO CABRERA SS
 
KEY LOSSES:
SCOTT PODSEDNIK OF
JON GARLAND RHP
RYAN SWEENEY OF
DARIN ERSTAD UTL
MIKE MYERS LHP
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
CURTIS THIGPEN C
 
OUTLOOK:
Cabrera and Swisher will help, but when you look at this line-up compared to those of Detroit, and Cleveland, they are still not there. The rotation has too many question marks, and don’t see this team contending.


 
CLEVELAND INDIANS
MANAGER: ERIC WEDGE
2007 RECORD: 96-66
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
JAMEY CARROLL IF
MASAHIDE KOBAYASHI RHP
 
KEY LOSSES:
J.D. MARTIN RHP
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ADAM MILLER RHP
 
OUTLOOK:
The Indians are basically playing the same hand with little changes. Top of the rotation is solid with Sabathia and Carmona. Byrd and Lee are adequate in the middle of the rotation and the pen is solid. This team has a lineup that can produce runs, and will be right there at the end once again.
 
DETROIT TIGERS
MANAGER: JIM LEYLAND
2007 RECORD: 88-74
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
DONTRELLE WILLIS LHP
MIGUEL CABRERA 3B
EDGAR RENTERIA SS
FREDDY GUZMAN OF
DENNY BAUTISTA RHP
JACQUES JONES OF
 
KEY LOSSES:
CHAD DURBIN RHP
ANDREW MILLER LHP
MIKE RABELO C
CAMERON MAYBIN OF
CHRIS SHELTON 1B
JOSE CAPELLAN RHP
OMAR INFANTE IF
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JEFF LARISH 1B
 
OUTLOOK:
The Tigers looked like the Yankees in the off-season, and have a win-it-now attitude. There are lots of pieces in place, so the Tigers are going for it. This is a lineup that will produce a lot of runs, especially with the addition of Cabrera to an already loaded lineup. There are questions in the pen, but at this stage this team has more answers than questions and will be in contention at the end.
 
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
MANAGER: TREY HILLMAN
2007 RECORD: 69-93
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
MIGUEL OLIVO C
RON MAHAY LHP
ALBERTO CALLASPO IF
JOSE GILLEN OF
RAY LIOTTA LHP
YASUHIKO YABUTA RHP
 
KEY LOSSES:
BILLY BUCKNER RHP
EMIL BROWN OF
DAVE RISKE RHP
MIKE SWEENEY DH
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JOSE DUARTE CF
 
OUTLOOK:
Royals are slowly improving, but a long way from contending. They played a stretch of 100 games last year at over .500, so finishing at .500 may not be an unrealistic goal.
 
MINNESOTA TWINS:
MANAGER: RON GARDENHIRE
2007 RECORD: 79-83
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
MIKE LAMB 3B
ADAM EVERETT SS
CRAIG MONROE OF
DELMON YOUNG OF
BRENDAN HARRIS IF
JASON PIRDIE OF

KEY LOSSES:
JOHAN SANTANA LHP
TORI HUNTER OF
CARLOS SILVA RHP
MATT GARZA RHP
JASON BARTLETT SS
EDUARDO MORLAN RHP
LEW FORD OF

OUTLOOK:
The Twins dipped below .500 last year, and could free-fall to the bottom of the division without Santana. They secured a lot of prospects, and that is the way the Twins do things, and they are attempting to put together a competitive team to open their new stadium in 2010, but they will take a hit this season.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. DETROIT
2. CLEVELAND
3. CHICAGO
4. KANSAS CITY
5. MINNESOTA