The last installment of the 2011 MLB season preview is here and I saved the AL Central for last. This division has been a close race seemingly every year since 2006 and this year will be no different. It's a three team race this year between the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Let's take a look...
1. Detroit Tigers - This is the year the Tigers finally win the AL Central behind the strong pitching of Justin Verlander and hitting of Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Victor Martinez. Cabrera has shown this spring that he seemed to have shaken his DUI and put it behind him but he needs to stay sober now. He also needs the guy in front of him and behind him to stay healthy so he gets to swing the bat late in games, those guys are Ordonez and Martinez. The rotation is the only question I can't answer, what Scherzer and Porcello show up? How does Phil Coke do in the rotation and can Brad Penny stay healthy? The Tigers have some arms waiting in the minors if need be but can't rely heavily on them. Verlander contends for the Cy Young and Cabrera for the MVP.
Key additions: C/1B/DH Victor Martinez, RHP Joaquin Benoit and RHP Brad Penny.
Key losses: OF Johnny Damon and RHP Armando Galarraga.
2. Chicago White Sox- When healthy the White Sox have the best rotation in the AL Central but only when healthy. Jake Peavy is coming off a scary injury from last year and won't start the season with the big league club. Their closer situation is scary as they have no real closer with experience back there but their offense is scary in a good way. Adding Adam Dunn to this team makes this team that much more offensive. They fall short of the division crown by one game.
Key additions: DH/1B/OF Adam Dunn, RHP Jesse Crain and RHP Phil Humber.
Key losses: RHP Bobby Jenks, RHP J.J. Putz, RHP Freddy Garcia, RHP Scott Linebrink and OF/DH Manny Ramirez.
3. Minnesota Twins - The Twins really sat idle this offseason losing key components to their bullpen and watching their middle infield leave too. I think getting Joe Nathan back is huge and they have Matt Capps to close if he goes down but they can't replace Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau should they go down. I think the high of playing in a new ballpark is gone and the Twins aren't as deadly as they were last year.
Key additions: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka.
Key losses: RHP Jon Rauch, RHP Jesse Crain, LHP Brian Fuentes, RHP Matt Guerrier, SS J.J. Hardy and 2B Orlando Hudson.
4. Kansas City Royals - The Royals from last year to this year look completely different and for good reason. They have traded away or lost a lot of the guys that made up last year's team but I think the future is bright for this team. They barely beat out the Indians for fourth place thanks in large part to rookie Mike Moustakas.
Key additions: LHP Jeff Francis, OF Melky Cabrera, OF Jeff Francouer and SS Alcides Escobar.
Key losses: RHP Zack Greinke, RHP Gil Meche OF David DeJesus and SS Yuniesky Betancourt.
5. Cleveland Indians - Carlos Santana and Shin-Soo Choo give fans in Cleveland hope but they can't carry this team alone. Cleveland lacks a starting rotation if Fausto Carmona pitches like he did the last two years. The bullpen showed last year they can save games if given a lead but the offense just won't be there. The Indians are going to have fans in Cleveland anxiously awaiting the Browns season if they have one.
Key additions: INF Orlando Cabrera, INF Adam Everett and 1B Nick Johnson.
Key losses: All of their losses came mid-season last year when they were traded away. None to report.
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