AL Central Breakdown

by Ben Barker

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The AL Central is shaping up to provide one of the best division races in all of baseball.

The Twins, White Sox, and Tigers all have legitimate shots at coming out on top and representing the Central in the 2010 playoffs.

Not only that, but the AL Central features some of the best coaching in all of baseball - headed by names like Ron Gardenhire, Jim Leyland and Ozzie Guillen. It features some nice offensive names as well. Joe Mauer anyone?

In the end though, the old cliché will stand strong: “pitching wins championships.” With hurlers such as Justin Verlander, Mark Buerlhe and Zach Greinke, the AL Central will come down to the left and right arms of some of the best in the business.

This is not to suggest that the 2010 World Champion will come out of the Central (because it almost certainly will not), but whichever team can provide most consistent pitching will punch themselves a ticket into the postseason.

2009 Standings 2010 Projected Standings

1. Minnesota Twins 1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers 2. Minnesota Twins

3. Chicago White Sox 3. Detroit Tigers

4. Cleveland Indians 4. Kansas City Royals

5. Kansas City Royals 5. Cleveland Indians

First Place -- Chicago White Sox

This may come as a surprise to some, but when it comes to quality starting pitching, there are few clubs that can compete with the Chicago White Sox.

Although Jake Peavy has to prove that he’s still the same guy that he was in San Diego, he was 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts for the Sox last season. Danks and Floyd should continue to improve and develop, and Mark Buehrle has recorded an ERA over 4.00 only three times in his 10-year career.

As for the offense, they may have just enough. Rios and Quentin should rebound a bit from dismal 2009 campaigns, and Juan Pierre will help out at the top of the order.

Projected Rotation          Projected Batting Order

Mark Buehrle Juan Pierre
Jake Peavy Gordon Beckham

John Danks                        Alex Rios

Gavin Floyd                   Paul Konerko

Freddy Garcia Carlos Quentin

Mark Teahen

A.J. Pierzynski

                                Andruw Jones

                               Alexei Ramirez

Second Place -- Minnesota Twins

The Twins should hang with the White Sox right up until the end of the season.

With a focused Mauer and a healthy Morneau, there should be no lack of production from the middle of Ron Gardernhire’s order. Still, the Twins have one glaring hole in their otherwise well rounded team; pitching. Not only are the Twins lacking an ace, but they don’t really have a solid #2 guy either.

In a division that boasts Peavy, Verlander, and Greinke, the Twins should find themselves lost amongst the stars. Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, and Nate Blackburn each had an ERA over 4.00 last season, while Pavano and Liriano have both battled injuries over the years.

Barring a breakout year from one of Minnesota’s many unproven arms, the Twins will be left out of the 2010 postseason.

Projected Rotation           Projected Batting Order

Scott Baker Denard Span

Kevin Slowey Orlando Hudson

Nick Blackburn                   Joe Mauer

Carl Pavano                        Justin Morneau

Francisco Liriano                  Jason Kubel

Michael Cuddyer

Delmon Young

J.J. Hardy

Nick Punto

Third Place -- Detroit Tigers

The Tigers should see a slight downfall in offense after dealing their star centerfielder Curtis Granderson at the winter meetings.

While Austin Jackson has a ton of upside, he will need at least a full year in the majors to harness it all and be an affective leadoff hitter for Jim Leyland. Miguel Cabrera will continue to tear the cover off the ball, and Johnny Damon should help out, but Inge, Ordonez, and Guillen each had disappointing 2009 seasons and aren’t expected to do much more in 2010.

If there is one thing that will keep the Tigers in the playoff race, it will be their pitching. Justin Verlander is one of the most feared pitchers in baseball and is only getting better. Scherzer should be a solid #3 starter, but the difference maker will be Rick Porcello.

Porcello had a solid 2009, but if the Tigers want to see the post season, they’re going to need the young guy to step up in a big way.

Projected Rotation                 Projected Batting Order

Justin Verlander    Austin Jackson
Rick Porcello                           Johnny Damon

Max Scherzer Magglio Ordonez

Jeremy Bonderman                    Miguel Cabrera

Dontrelle Willis                         Carlos Guillen

OR                                           Brandon Inge

Armando Gallaraga                   Scott Sizemore

                                            Gerald Laird

 Adam Everett

4th Place -- Kansas City Royals

News flash: the Royals aren’t that bad.

Any rotation that starts with Zack Greinke is off to a pretty good start, but all hope isn’t lost after that.

If Gill Meche and Brian Bannister can stay healthy for the majority of the season, the Royals might be able to hold off the Indians for 4^th place. The Royals even added some pretty decent pieces to their club during the off-season.

Rick Ankiel will add some much needed pop to the middle of the order, Scott Podsednik should allow for some pretty interesting batting orders, and veteran catcher Jason Kendall will help develop a very young pitching staff.

Alex Gordon has been battling injuries since day one and really needs a healthy 2010 to re-claim his status as Kansas City’s savior.

Bottom line, the Royals are getting better, watch out for blue and white in 2015.

Projected Rotation  Projected Batting Order

Zack Greinke                        David DeJesus

Gill Meche Scott Podsednik

Luke Hochevar                        Rick Ankiel

Brian Bannister                      Billy Butler

Kyle Davies    Jose Guillen

  Alex Gordon

Yuniesky Betancourt

Jason Kendall

Chris Getz

5th Place -- Cleveland Indians

News flash: the Indians are very bad.

Just three seasons after the baseball world was ready to elect Mark Shapiro president, his job may be in jeopardy. A 2007 Cleveland team that looked like it might rule the Central for years to come is now a bottom dwelling, injury prone, poor excuse for a baseball team.

The Tribe’s ace, Fausto Carmona, looks like a shell of the 19-8 mastermind that he was three years ago, and it doesn’t get any better after that. Jake Westbrook, the team’s #2 has played in 5 games over the last 2 seasons, and even before then had an ERA under 4.00 only once in his 10-year career.

On offense, Cleveland doesn’t look much better. Manager Manny Acta is hoping (key word, hoping) for huge seasons from Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner who both had very disappointing 2009 seasons. Other than that, the Indians are banking on young, unproven prospects to step up and lead their offense.

To me, there are just too many question marks in Cleveland, and the answers are pointing directly at last place.

Projected Rotation Projected Batting Order

Fausto Carmona Asdrubal Cabrera

Jake Westbrook                          Grady Sizemore

Justin Masterson                          Shin-Soo Choo

David Huff                                    Travis Hafner

Mitch Talbot Jhonny Peralta

                                     Matt LaPorta/Russell Branyan

Luis Valbuena

                                           Michael Brantley

Lou Marson