The Detroit Tigers are the defending division champs and they’re the only club getting much press in the AL Central. Detroit made a splash in the offseason, signing slugger 1B Prince Fielder to a monster deal and now feature an infield with two of the biggest bats in the majors.
So, you can understand, clearly, why the Tigers are favored as heavily as they are to win the AL Central. But it says here that all teams have to play 162 games anyway, so let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we await the first pitch of 2012 (Odds courtesy of PinnacleSports.com):
Detroit Tigers
Last year's record: 95-67
This year's season win total: 90.5
Odds to win the AL Central: -400
WHO'S IN: Prince Fielder, Gerald Laird, Octavio Dotel
WHO'S OUT: Brad Penny, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Victor Martinez (injury)
TEAM STRENGTH: Power. Of course, we’ll see how it translates at big, expansive Comerica Park, but the dynamic corner-infield duo of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera could prove to be nightmares for the opposition. They two combined to hit 68 homers last season, and if you throw in, let’s say, 20 from a player like Delmon Young, who mashed 21 with the Twins in 2010, the Tigers could challenge the Yankees for this year’s home run crown.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Fielding. The names on the back of the jerseys are great, and the offensive numbers are even better, but Detroit may have trouble catching the ball this season. Second baseman Ryan Raburn had 17 errors last season, and he was followed by Cabrera (13) and Brandon Inge (9). It all added up to a 16th -place finish in errors, and hard to believe that Fielder (15 with Brewers last season) is going to help much.
Cleveland Indians
Last year's record: 80-82
This year's season win total: 79.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1070
WHO'S IN: Derek Lowe, Casey Kotchman, Kevin Slowey
WHO'S OUT: Fausto Carmona/Roberto Hernandez, Austin Kearns, Orlando Cabrera
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Though he still needs a breakout season to garner national attention, Justin Masterson (12-10, 3.21 ERA, 158 strikeouts last season) appears ready to carry a rotation, and he will have help this year from veterans Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe, who combined for 19 wins last season and may benefit from having a more stable situation than in Colorado and Atlanta, respectively.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield hitters. When Kotchman, a first baseman, is your marquee offseason addition, you're in trouble. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (25 homers, 92 RBIs, 17 steals last season) is coming off a tremendous campaign, but how much of a load can he carry? He has Jack Hannahan at third, and Jason Kipnis at second. Ugh. In a division with good pitching, this team will struggle to score runs.
Chicago White Sox
Last year's record: 79-83
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1425
WHO'S IN: Kosuke Fukodome
WHO'S OUT: Sergio Santos, Jason Frasor, Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle
TEAM STRENGTH: Pride. New manager Robin Ventura will put the focus on the field -- unlike his predecessor, Ozzie Guillen -- and the former Chicago third baseman will lean on the veterans who love being White Sox, who’ve made names for themselves as members of the White Sox, and hope to change the fortunes of the White Sox soon.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Batting average. They have power, and they’ll be able to knock runs in ... provided they can get on base. The only way that’s going to happen, though, is if the averages improve. Because last year, they were awful. Take a look at just three: Adam Dunn (.159), Alex Rios (.227), and Gordon Beckham (.230). Those clips must move north soon or else.
Kansas City Royals
Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1260
WHO'S IN: Jonathan Sanchez, Jonathan Broxton
WHO'S OUT: Melky Cabrera, Gil Meche, Jason Kendall, Kyle Davies
TEAM STRENGTH: Speed. As you’d expect from a small-market club without a dearth of big boppers, the Royals can swipe bases with the best of them. Their regular lineup is loaded with theft threats, including Alcides Escobar (26 steals last season), Jeff Francoeur (22), Chris Getz (21), Alex Gordon (17), and Eric Hosmer (11). And that’s all considering they lost Cabrera’s 20 steals from last year, too. Keep them off the basepaths, folks.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. There is upside, for certain, but far too many unknowns. When you scan the names -- Luke Hochevar, Bruce Chen, Felipe Paulino, Danny Duffy and Sanchez -- nothing truly stands out. While Hochevar and Chen combined for 23 wins last season, there's still nothing there to feel good about, even in a weak division.
Minnesota Twins
Last year's record: 63-99
This year's season win total: 72.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1780
WHO'S IN: Jason Marquis, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll
WHO'S OUT: Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Joe Nathan, Kevin Slowey
TEAM STRENGTH: Health. This is a franchise clearly built around Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, and without them at 100 percent last year, you see the results. Hard to believe a worse fate in their still-new ballpark, than the M&M boys combining last year seven whole home runs last season with the Twins. Tough to stomach in Minnesota. But they are back, and should be able to make the most of 18 games against the likes of the Royals and White Sox.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Identity. Though Morneau and Mauer are the poster boys for the franchise, the team will seek a new image and brand, now that several blood-and-guts members of many postseason runs are gone. Cuddyer, Kubel, and certainly, Nathan were glue guys in Minnesota for a long time, and will be missed on the field, as well as the clubhouse. Of course, when you add a bat like Willingham’s, maybe identity is overrated.
So, you can understand, clearly, why the Tigers are favored as heavily as they are to win the AL Central. But it says here that all teams have to play 162 games anyway, so let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we await the first pitch of 2012 (Odds courtesy of PinnacleSports.com):
Detroit Tigers
Last year's record: 95-67
This year's season win total: 90.5
Odds to win the AL Central: -400
WHO'S IN: Prince Fielder, Gerald Laird, Octavio Dotel
WHO'S OUT: Brad Penny, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Victor Martinez (injury)
TEAM STRENGTH: Power. Of course, we’ll see how it translates at big, expansive Comerica Park, but the dynamic corner-infield duo of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera could prove to be nightmares for the opposition. They two combined to hit 68 homers last season, and if you throw in, let’s say, 20 from a player like Delmon Young, who mashed 21 with the Twins in 2010, the Tigers could challenge the Yankees for this year’s home run crown.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Fielding. The names on the back of the jerseys are great, and the offensive numbers are even better, but Detroit may have trouble catching the ball this season. Second baseman Ryan Raburn had 17 errors last season, and he was followed by Cabrera (13) and Brandon Inge (9). It all added up to a 16th -place finish in errors, and hard to believe that Fielder (15 with Brewers last season) is going to help much.
Cleveland Indians
Last year's record: 80-82
This year's season win total: 79.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1070
WHO'S IN: Derek Lowe, Casey Kotchman, Kevin Slowey
WHO'S OUT: Fausto Carmona/Roberto Hernandez, Austin Kearns, Orlando Cabrera
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Though he still needs a breakout season to garner national attention, Justin Masterson (12-10, 3.21 ERA, 158 strikeouts last season) appears ready to carry a rotation, and he will have help this year from veterans Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe, who combined for 19 wins last season and may benefit from having a more stable situation than in Colorado and Atlanta, respectively.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield hitters. When Kotchman, a first baseman, is your marquee offseason addition, you're in trouble. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (25 homers, 92 RBIs, 17 steals last season) is coming off a tremendous campaign, but how much of a load can he carry? He has Jack Hannahan at third, and Jason Kipnis at second. Ugh. In a division with good pitching, this team will struggle to score runs.
Chicago White Sox
Last year's record: 79-83
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1425
WHO'S IN: Kosuke Fukodome
WHO'S OUT: Sergio Santos, Jason Frasor, Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle
TEAM STRENGTH: Pride. New manager Robin Ventura will put the focus on the field -- unlike his predecessor, Ozzie Guillen -- and the former Chicago third baseman will lean on the veterans who love being White Sox, who’ve made names for themselves as members of the White Sox, and hope to change the fortunes of the White Sox soon.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Batting average. They have power, and they’ll be able to knock runs in ... provided they can get on base. The only way that’s going to happen, though, is if the averages improve. Because last year, they were awful. Take a look at just three: Adam Dunn (.159), Alex Rios (.227), and Gordon Beckham (.230). Those clips must move north soon or else.
Kansas City Royals
Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1260
WHO'S IN: Jonathan Sanchez, Jonathan Broxton
WHO'S OUT: Melky Cabrera, Gil Meche, Jason Kendall, Kyle Davies
TEAM STRENGTH: Speed. As you’d expect from a small-market club without a dearth of big boppers, the Royals can swipe bases with the best of them. Their regular lineup is loaded with theft threats, including Alcides Escobar (26 steals last season), Jeff Francoeur (22), Chris Getz (21), Alex Gordon (17), and Eric Hosmer (11). And that’s all considering they lost Cabrera’s 20 steals from last year, too. Keep them off the basepaths, folks.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. There is upside, for certain, but far too many unknowns. When you scan the names -- Luke Hochevar, Bruce Chen, Felipe Paulino, Danny Duffy and Sanchez -- nothing truly stands out. While Hochevar and Chen combined for 23 wins last season, there's still nothing there to feel good about, even in a weak division.
Minnesota Twins
Last year's record: 63-99
This year's season win total: 72.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1780
WHO'S IN: Jason Marquis, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll
WHO'S OUT: Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Joe Nathan, Kevin Slowey
TEAM STRENGTH: Health. This is a franchise clearly built around Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, and without them at 100 percent last year, you see the results. Hard to believe a worse fate in their still-new ballpark, than the M&M boys combining last year seven whole home runs last season with the Twins. Tough to stomach in Minnesota. But they are back, and should be able to make the most of 18 games against the likes of the Royals and White Sox.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Identity. Though Morneau and Mauer are the poster boys for the franchise, the team will seek a new image and brand, now that several blood-and-guts members of many postseason runs are gone. Cuddyer, Kubel, and certainly, Nathan were glue guys in Minnesota for a long time, and will be missed on the field, as well as the clubhouse. Of course, when you add a bat like Willingham’s, maybe identity is overrated.
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