1. Detroit Tigers: They stunned the entire baseball world last season by leading the Central for most of the year and finishing up with a Wild Card berth and a World Series appearance. The addition of Gary Sheffield should boost an offense that stumbled at the end of the year (though I’m not entirely sure that he was worth all the young pitching they gave up for him), and the starting rotation and bullpen is still as strong as it was last year, led by Rookie-of-the-Year starter Justin Verlander and flame-throwing setup man Joel Zumaya.
2. Minnesota Twins: Even though young phenom Francisco Liriano is on the shelf for the year, the Twins still boast of the reining AL Cy Young and MVP in Johan Santana and Justin Morneau. Santana may in fact be the best pitcher in the game today, having won the Cy Young in two of the last three seasons and taken the pitcher’s triple crown in 2006. The bullpen is strong, the offense is there, and this talented team has the makings of a playoff contender if they can take the Wild Card.
3. Cleveland Indians: This team has a very strong offense led by monster slugger Travis Hafner and rounded out with the likes of Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. The rotation is nothing to laugh at either with names like C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. The central division may be a bit tough for the Indians to overcome in 2007, but that’s what everyone said about the Tigers a year ago (myself included).
4. Chicago White Sox: Since their monster 2005 season, the Sox have done little to improve upon what made them so successful that year - the starting rotation. In fact, Chicago parted ways with two very talented starters in Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy this off-season. The Red Sox learned last year that you can never have enough starters, and it looks like the White Sox may learn the same lesson in 2007.
5. Kansas City Royals: In years past they’ve been referred to as a triple-A team that plays against major leaguers. That may not be the case in 2007, as the Royals have done a bit to improve their roster. Still, Gil Meche is not exactly the ace Kansas City needs him to be, and Octavio Dotel is coming off Tommy John surgery and put up a 10.80 ERA in 14 appearances for the Yankees last year. The emergence of Mark Teahen will be about the only thing Royals fans have to cheer for in the coming season.
1. Detroit Tigers: They stunned the entire baseball world last season by leading the Central for most of the year and finishing up with a Wild Card berth and a World Series appearance. The addition of Gary Sheffield should boost an offense that stumbled at the end of the year (though I’m not entirely sure that he was worth all the young pitching they gave up for him), and the starting rotation and bullpen is still as strong as it was last year, led by Rookie-of-the-Year starter Justin Verlander and flame-throwing setup man Joel Zumaya.
2. Minnesota Twins: Even though young phenom Francisco Liriano is on the shelf for the year, the Twins still boast of the reining AL Cy Young and MVP in Johan Santana and Justin Morneau. Santana may in fact be the best pitcher in the game today, having won the Cy Young in two of the last three seasons and taken the pitcher’s triple crown in 2006. The bullpen is strong, the offense is there, and this talented team has the makings of a playoff contender if they can take the Wild Card.
3. Cleveland Indians: This team has a very strong offense led by monster slugger Travis Hafner and rounded out with the likes of Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. The rotation is nothing to laugh at either with names like C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. The central division may be a bit tough for the Indians to overcome in 2007, but that’s what everyone said about the Tigers a year ago (myself included).
4. Chicago White Sox: Since their monster 2005 season, the Sox have done little to improve upon what made them so successful that year - the starting rotation. In fact, Chicago parted ways with two very talented starters in Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy this off-season. The Red Sox learned last year that you can never have enough starters, and it looks like the White Sox may learn the same lesson in 2007.
5. Kansas City Royals: In years past they’ve been referred to as a triple-A team that plays against major leaguers. That may not be the case in 2007, as the Royals have done a bit to improve their roster. Still, Gil Meche is not exactly the ace Kansas City needs him to be, and Octavio Dotel is coming off Tommy John surgery and put up a 10.80 ERA in 14 appearances for the Yankees last year. The emergence of Mark Teahen will be about the only thing Royals fans have to cheer for in the coming season.
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