AL East
Baltimore Orioles-The Orioles are still in a tough devision. They still do not have a bunch of talent, but they did add Vladimir Guerrero and manager Buck Showalter. Still it probably won’t be enough to get out of the basement in the toughest AL division.
Boston Red Sox-The sox upgrades their lineup from one that couldn’t make a roster to one that will be very potent if they can all stay healthy. They added Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. They also added a very strong arm to their bullpen with Bobby Jenks. The one question is their rotation, but Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.
New York Yankees-The Yanks had a rough off season. They couldn’t land any of the big players that they wanted. Lots of people are tearing them down for that fact, but they still have questionably the toughest lineup in the Majors. They do have a problem in their rotation. C.C. Sabathia is great, but outside of C.C. it gets inconsistent and unproven.
Tampa Bay Rays-The Rays should still be a competitive team, but they did loose a lot from last season including Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Matt Garza. However they did bring in Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez, and Kyle Fonsworth. They also still have a very strong farm system, and will continue to contend in the East.
Toronto Blue Jays-Toronto took Boston pitching coach John Farrel and made him their new manager. They should still hit a lot of long bombs this year, but defense and ability to manufacture runs are not that great. The pitching staff has promise, but it is still a major question mark if they can compete in the East.
Projected final standings: 1) Boston Red Sox 2) New York Yankees 3) Tampa Bay Rays 4) Toronto Bluejays 5) Baltimore Orioles
AL Central
Chicago White Sox-The Wrong Sox should once again be a competitor in the Central. They lost Bobby Jenks in Free agency, but that could be a blessing in disguise as it seems like he was more of a distraction than anything else. They are bringing in Adam Dunn as their DH to add even more power. The White Sox roster is very much the same as last year, and it will perform the same for skipper Ozzie Guillen.
Cleveland Indians-Manny Acta will be going into his second season as manager without much more talent that the roster that earned his club 93 losses last season. However his two big prospects from last season now have some MLB experience and are looking to make some noise. Even if Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantlley make some noise, the Indiand do not have the pitching to help them out. There isn’t much outside of Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson.
Detroit Tigers-The Tigers have a very solid offense with bats like Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and then they added Victor Martinez as their DH. Jim Leyland probably won’t be worried about his offense or even his gloves out in the field, but his starting pitching are a different story. If the Tigers want to get past the Twins as division winner, they may have to go out and get a big time arm at the deadline.
Kansas City Royals-The Royals have a lot of young talent, but that is exactly what it is, young. They are still a long way away from competing in this tough division, but this is a big season for them none the less. They need to have their young player make steps to being the productive players that they are supposed to be. Hopefully the Royals do not trade them all away, because the Royals still have some good talent in their farm system. They could be a good team in a year or two if they keep them all together.
Minnesota Twins-The Twins are still the favorite to win this division. They did it last season while being injured. If Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and company can stay healthy. They have the best pitching staff in the division as a whole. They even have a lot of depth. Jim Thome who is closing in on 600 homeruns is not even starting. He may be forty, but the man can still play.
Projected final standings: 1) Minnesota Twins 2) Chicago White Sox 3) Detroit Tigers 4) Kansas City Royals 5) Cleveland Indians
AL West
Los Angeles Angels-The Angels added Vernon Wells to left field, but they lost Mike Napoli and Hideki Matsui to division rivals. They have great starting pitching, but their best players are long in the tooth. They have a huge hole at first base, where Mark Trumbo is their projected starter. Their pitching will keep them competitive, but they may need to make some moves at the deadline to win this division.
Oakland Athletics-The A’s have one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors, and they are young guys that have room to grow. They added Matsui as their DH, along with new additions Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, and Brian Fuentes. Fuentes will start out the season as the closer until Andrew Bailey feels ready to close games coming off elbow surgery. Coco Crisp will also take over in center for the departed Rajai Davis.
Seattle Mariners-The Mariners are looking just as dismal as they did at the end of last season. They still have Ichiro, and Felix Hernandez, but players like Jack Wilson and Chone Figgins are not the players that they once were. Figgins may be able to get back his old form but even then, there isn’t much outside of those names. I would not be surprised if King Felix is a big arm on the block at the trade deadline.
Texas Rangers-Cliff Lee is gone, but the Rangers are still a good team. Health is going to be huge for the Rangers. If Josh Hamilton can stay healthy, and Nelson Cruz can get back to the pace that he started out last season with. This is going to be a very potent lineup. The Rangers have depth in the field, but the pitching staff is a different story.
Projected final standings: 1) Oakland Athletics 2) Texas Rangers 3) L.A. Angels 4) Seattle Mariners
NL East
Atlanta Braves-The Braves added Dan Uggla at second base, and they are going to have another rookie this year that will compete for ROY in Freddie Freeman. The Pitching staff is solid once again, and they will be even better if Jair Jurgens can get back to his form from 2009. These Braves could be a special team this year. The biggest question is in the dugout with Bobby Cox leaving, and Fredi Gonzalez taking his place.
Florida Marlins-Speaking of Fredi, Edwin Rodriguez takes over as manager, and he has he is inheriting a talented team. The Marlins bring in Omar Infante to replace Dan Uggla. They loose a little bit of talent in that deal, but Infante is more consistent than Uggla. Mike Stanton is looking poised for a breakout year, but it probably won’t be enough for the Marlins to compete in the NL’s toughest division.
New York Mets-The Mets are going to need Jason Bay to look more like the Pittsburgh and Boston Jason Bay then the one that batted .259 with a measly six homers last season. Once again the Mets are talented, but it is really hard to predict what they will do. They are one of the biggest roller coasters in sports, but they have the talent to compete in this division. If they can be hot in the race when Johan Santana gets back, that could be a season changing addition in late June.
Philadelphia Phillies-The Phils have been hovering around the World Series for the past five years, and that includes one World Series victory. It is no question that they are talented. They may have the most talented starting five rotation ever assembled with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Joe Blanton. Blanton would be an ace on multiple staffs in the Majors, and a two or three at most. In Philly, he is a five.
Washington Natinals-Oops, did I bring that up again? Maybe if the Nationals could spell their own name right they could compete. They are a flurry of recognizable names that just are not that good whether it be age, overrated, or just busts. Ivan Rodriguez, Adam LaRoche, Tom Gorzelanny, and Rick Ankiel are among those, but they alos brought in Jason Werth on a huge contract, and they still have talent like Ryan Zimmerman and Livan Hernandez.
Projected final standings: 1) Philadelphia Phillies 2) Atlanta Braves 3) New York Mets 4) Florida Marlins 5) Washington Nationals
NL Central
Chicago Cubs-Is this the year that the Cubs win the World Series? No, I highly doubt it. The addition of Carlos Pena will help out, but there is so many distractions in Chicago, that I am not sure if Mike Quade will be able to keep it all together. If he can, I still do not think that the Cubs have the talent to compete for a wild card spot, let alone a divisional title.
Cincinnati Reds-There is not much change from the Big Red Machine. They should still be a tough team this year, but they really did not have any big additions. They could definitely use another big arm if they want to compete for the division title again this year.
Houston Astros-The Astros are very young and talented, but they still have a lot of development before they compete for the division. Their Bullpen is a problem, and their starting pitching is not good enough to counter that weakness. They are talented, but are still a year or two away.
Milwaukee Brewers-The Brew Crew are a big question mark. If they are competing at the trade deadline, they will probably go out and get a rental arm to help them out. If they aren’t the Prince, and anyone else that is highly coveted could be unloaded. They have a solid lineup, and they can definitely compete. It is going to depend on where the Reds and Cardinals are.
Pittsburgh Pirates-Oh, the Pirates. You have young prospects that are supposed to be very talented, but it is hard to tell if any of you will show that talent this year. I am sorry Lyle Overbay, but you are like an animal that knows it is going to die, so you found a place where your career can end in peace. The Pirates have a good chance of being able to hit the ball this year, but they have the worst starting pitching in the Majors.
St. Louis Cardinals-This is the Cardinals division to loose. They have the talent to best the Reds, but it is a matter of doing it and staying healthy. Pujols can carry a team, but will he stay healthy. They are already unhealthy to start the season anyway. They have lost their ace Adam Wainwright for the season. Their pitching staff may need a new arm at the trade deadline to win the division.
Projected final standings: 1) Cincinnati Reds 2) St. Louis Cardinals 3)Milwaukee Brewers 4) Chicago Cubs 5) Houston Astros 6) Pittsburgh Pirates
AL West
Arizona Diamondbacks-The Diamondbacks are a completely average team. That is the best way to describe them. They have talent like Chris Young, Justin Upton, and Miguel Montero, but their support is just average. The Pitching staff doesn’t have much pop to it, but they do have J.J. Putz closing out games for them.
Colorado Rockies-Ubaldo Jimenez is looking to make a push as a Cy Young candidate this season. The Rockies have a pretty good young rotation, and their bats are not bad. They have some god contact hitters with some speed that could produce a lot of runs if managed correctly. Dexter Fowler may be the fastest player in the majors. If Jim Tracy can get Fowler to start hitting around .300 instead of the .260 he hit last season, Fowler could score 130+ runs this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers-The Dodgers certainly won’t miss the shenanigans that came with Mannywood. The Dodgers door is closing, and they need to capitalize on it soon, before they need to rebuild. They have a very good starting rotation, and one of the best relief pitchers in the majors in Hong-Chih Kuo. The Dodgers may be one of the most underrated teams in the Majors this season, but it will be tough for them to beat out the Giants for the division.
San Diego Padres-The Padres are in a bit of a rebuilding stage, but they have a good young core to work with. Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett, and Nick Hundley are young up and comers, but they do not have the surrounding veterans to help them. Heath Bell is one of the best closers in the Majors, but their rotation is not going to be the best at getting him a chance to get into the game.
San Francisco Giants-The defending World Series champs are not going anywhere. Their rotation is great, their bullpen isn’t going to ruin their starters good work, their lineup is solid, their gloves don’t have holes, and they have depth to go along with it. They are just an all around solid team without and glaring weakness. If Brian Wilson can get healthy to close out games, these Giants will be strong again in 2011.
Projected final standings: 1) San Francisco Giants 2) L.A. Dodgers 3) Colorado Rockies 4) Arizona Diamondbacks 5) San Diego Padres
WildCards: Atlanta Braves (NL) and New York Yankees (AL)
ALCS: Boston Red Sox over Minnesota Twins
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies over San Francisco Giants
World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Boston Red Sox
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum
AL MVP: Joe Mauer
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
