Sure it’s early, but the AL Central is already looking like a weak division. I’m not saying the Twins, Tigers and White Sox can’t turn it around, but the division is ripe for the taking. So can the Indians or Royals (currently 1st and 2nd in the division) capitalize?
Contender:
Cleveland Indians
Could Cleveland finally catch a break? Could this poor city finally have a non-collegiate team to root for?
It’s possible, but if they do, it will be due to a weak division and a little bit of luck (Prolonged DL stint for Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera driving drunk into the stadium, Ozzy Guillen reducing his team to tears until they walk off the field and run home to their mothers to receive some much needed love and affirmation). If any team has the potential to be this year’s Reds, it’s the Indians.
A lot of their success has been attributed to their hitting, specifically the resurgence of a healthy Travis Hafner and now Grady Sizemore, fresh off the DL. If Carlos Santana ever decides to make contact with the ball, it’s going to be quite the lineup, especially compared to their dismal one last season.
(Pronk will need to come through for Cleveland to be successful)But their success really lies with their pitching. Cleveland currently ranks 1st in quality starts (12), 2nd in WHIP (an amazing 1.11), 2nd in opposing batting average (.215) and 5th in ERA (3.16). Will these numbers change?
Hell yeah, probably by the time you’re reading this.
(This guy just gave up another home run)However, they’ll still be very impressive for a pitching staff that lost two Cy Young winners in the past three years, especially if this is the year that the young Justin Masterson finally shows what he can do. At 26 years old, with three years of big league experience behind him, he has gotten off to a great start (3-0, 1.33 ERA). If he can flirt with a 3.00 ERA this season, it could be enough to put the Tribe back into the postseason.
Pretender:
Kansas City Royals
Would anybody like to bet on the Royals taking the division at the end of the year? Anyone? Exactly.
It’s not that they don’t have the potential to win games, but I’m guessing that they’ll be comfortably in the basement by late May. You don’t lose an ace like Zack Greinke and improve. It just doesn’t happen.
Billy Butler is a solid player who will once again hit for average, but those hits will almost all be singles,and expect him to be around .315, not the monstrous .350 he is now. As for Jeff Francoeur, haven’t we been here before multiple times? The guy just starts hot before fading into oblivion.
(Get used to this Royals fans)Alex Gordon is finally showing why he was once a number one prospect, but even he can’t keep these numbers up.
At the end of the day, the problem is this: Kansas City has hit the ball better than most the past few seasons. They churn out hits like it’s their job (It is. Just saying).
But they haven’t driven enough of them in. There’s no reason why this should change now.
Shout outs:
Baltimore Orioles
A hot start to the season has been done before in Camden Yards, but this year may not be a fluke. Extended losing streak aside, new manager Buck Showalter has brought a winning attitude with him since taking over the team mid-last season and it shows. They’re not quite there yet, but no team is going to look forward to playing them this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Nobody doubted that Andrew McCutchen would come ready to play, but Jose Tabata and Neil Walker? That’s another story. It’s not that they weren’t expected to perform (I was lucky enough to catch them both in late rounds of my fantasy draft), but the trio is almost single-handedly winning Pittsburgh games. Odds are they’ll finish under .500 yet again, but for once, it’ll be close.
–Mike Izzo
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