Yes it's round two of the 2012 MLB season preview and today we take a look at the Central division in the American and National Leagues. We start things off today with the AL Central and the two big hitters in that division the Indians and Twins who have won a combined 13 division titles. They may have the most titles total but right now they are staring up at last years winners the Detroit Tigers who have a really strong chance of winning the title for the 2nd year in a row, but that's getting a bit ahead of ourselves at the moment. We will start it off with last years cellar dweller the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins are coming off a very tough year last year when they finished 63-99 during the season. They were without their top hitter in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau who both missed time with injuries. Both guys are healthy and back in the Twins lineup with Maure back as the starting catcher and Morneau slated as the DH and backup first baseman to Chris Parmelee. Jamey Carroll, Alexi Casilla, and Danny Valencia round out the starting infield for the team. Valencia led the team in RBI's last year with 72 but somebody is going to have top step up to replace the 70 lost wioh Cuddyer moving to the Rockies. Josh Willingham is leading the charge from the Outfield for Minnesota. Willingham adds pop to the lineup after driving in 98 runs for the A's last season, which as mentioned earlier was a big loss for Oakland. Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano are the two big arms in the Twins rotation, as none of the Twins pitchers last year were able to win 10 games. Matt Capps has been pegged as closer. Looking at the Twins on paper there isn't very much there for them to offer up. It looks like it could be a bit of a long season for Minnesota and it might be tough to stick around 500.
Next up is the Kansas City Royals, who have been struggling over the past few years (which is putting it nicely). The Royals haven't made the playoffs since 1985, haven't placed higher than 3rd in the division since 1995, the year they finished 2nd to the Indians, and they haven't had a winning season since 2003 when they finished 83-79. Melky Cabrera was the big bat in the Royals lineup a year ago but he has since been traded to the Giants for Jonathan Sanchez, who is pegged right now as the #2 starter in the Royals rotation right behind Bruce Chen and Luke Hochevar with Jonathan Broxton sitting in the role of closer at the moment. Jeff Francoeur, Yuniesky Betancourt and Bobby Butler are going to be counted on to provide the offense. Buttler led the team in RBI's with 95 and was 5th in Home Runs. Francoeur will try and add to the 20+ Homers he hit last year. On paper the Royals have a decent roster, but the bullpen is a question for the Royals so that could cost them games this season and it could be another long season in KC this year.
Next up are the Chicago White Sox who have won 3 division titles and a world series since the turn of the century the world title coming in 2005. The Sox last won the division in 2008 and have been average since, finishing 2010 over 500 and going under 500 last season in a 3rd place finish. Paul Konerko did the most damage on the offense for the Sox last season and is expected to do the same again this year at 1st base, while Adam Dunn will be his backup and serve as the DH. Alexei Ramírez, Gordon Beckham, Brent Morel, and A. J. Pierzynski round out the infield for Chicago heading into opening day this year. Alex Ríos Alejandro De Aza and Kosuke Fukudome are handling the outfield load. Jake Peavy, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd hold down the pitching staff. The bullpen is a bit of a question for the Sox but looking at things as is this could be a good season for the White Sox.
The Cleveland Indians are up next. They finished two games under 500 last year and finished in 2nd place behind Detroit. 2007 was the last trip to the playoffs for the Indians, and the tribe hoping to return there this year, but it's going to be an uphill climb. Asdrubal Cabrera was called upon to lead the offensive charge for the Tribe last year and he didn't disappoint. He will be asked to do the same thing again this season. He has some support on offense from Carlos Santana, Casey Kotchman, Shin-Soo Choo, and Shelly Duncan. And of course they have Travis Hafner as the DH. Aside from the middle of the lineup for the tribe there just isn't enough depth on the roster of the 8 field positions to be able to REALLY put up a fight in the central. Derek Lowe, Justin Masterson, and Ubaldo Jimenez anchor down the starting rotation and Chris Perez holds down the pen from the closer role. This on paper seems to be a decent team but there is only one true way to find out how good the team is, they have to hit the field first.
Finally its the defending division champs the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won the Central last year and since 2006 have had one season of under 500 play and that was back in 2008. Miguel Cabrera and Víctor Martínez led the offensive charge for the Tigers last year each driving in over 100 runs. Martinez has since departed the team but his production has been replaced by the other huge offseason signing this year that of Prince Fielder. Fielder adds offense depth to the team. With Fielder at first it rounds out a solid Tigers infield which also includes Ramon Santiago, Miguel Cabrera, and Jhonny Peralta, plus throw in Brandon Inge coming off the bench as well. José Valverde and Justin Verlander are the aces of the entire Tigers pitching staff, which is a slight concern to me because there seems to be no other dominate pitcher on this Tigers roster. I think thought the Tigers offensive firepower should more than make up for it.
Here now is how I see the American League Central finishing by the end of this season:
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Minnesota Twins
Now that the AL Central has been covered its time to look at the NL Central. The Brew Crew is the defending champs in the Central but it looks like they might have trouble defending the crown. The Pirates seem well like the Pirates, as do the Astros, so it may be a three team race here between the Cubs Cards and Reds. But we are going to kick it off with taking a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates haven't made the playoffs since they played in the NL East in 1992. The highest the team has finished in the Central is 2nd place in 1997. Last year they finished 4th at 72-90 ahead of the Cubs and Astros. Andrew McCutchen and Nate McLouth will be looked upon to lead this young Pirates team who are again appeared to be in a rebuilding mode. McCutchen lead the team last season with 23 Home Runs and 89 RBI's so he will be looking to build on those numbers while playing good D out in Center Field. Neil Walker will aslo be returning to the team after posting mroe than 80 RBI last year. Both guys are expected to lead the offense charge this season. Kevin Correia and Charlie Morton were the only two Pirate pitchers to reach double digits in wins last season, Correia had 12 and Morton 10, so they are looking to improve on those numbers this year. AJ Burnette is the Ace of the staff but is currently hurt after bunting a ball off his face early in spring traning this year. Burnett joins teh team after going 11-11 with the Yankees last season. Burnett spent the first 7 years of his career pitching in the National League with Florida. Aside from the players listed here, the Pirates don't really have much proven talent on this team and that is making it hard for them to compete in the Central on paper. Sad to say it Pireates fans but this will be a LONG season for your club.
Next up in the division is the Huston Astros. The Astros last made the playoffs in 2005 and haven't finished a season above 500 since 2008. This will be the last season for the Astros in the NL Central as they will be moving to the NL West starting next season. Wandy Rodriguez is the ace of this Houston starting rotation after going 11-11 last season with the club and being the only Astros pitcher witha 500 record on the mound. Brett Meyers was moved from his spot in the starting rotation to the closer role this season, as he is trying to replace the 20 saves from last season turned in by Mark Melancon who is now in Boston with the Red Sox. The Astros pitching staff is the worst one in the NL Central. Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee were the two big boppers in the Astros lineup last season. Pence left in a trade with the Phillies and Lee is returning to the team. Last season Lee led the club with 18 Home Runs and 94 RBI's. Outside of Lee on paper the Astros have no real proven talent at the Major League Leve on the roster as of this moment. That's about all the Astros have going for them and it will be another long year in the the City of Houston.
Next up is the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds got into the playoffs inmn 2010 as the wild card but were bounced in the first round and that was the first playoff appearanace for the Reds since 1995. Last year they seemed to fall back to earth just a bit. Mike Leake was the ace of the Reds staff last year being the only pitcher on the team to hit double digits in wins for the club after going 12-9 last year. Right now he is pegged as the #4 starter in the rotation behind Johnny Cueto Mat Latos and Bronson Arroyo. Francisco Cordero was the teams closer last year and was able to shut the door for 37 saves. However he is now expected to be doing that in Toronto for the Jays. So this year it looks like Sean Marshall is peeged as the closer. Marshall came over from the Cubs. This doesn't seem to really make sense to have him close when you have a guy like Aroldis Chapman in the pen too. With how hard Champman can throw he should, and probably will eb before season's end, be the Reds Closer. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto led the charge on offense for the big red machine last year and are both looking to do the same again this season. Votto clubbed 29 Homers and drove in 103 runs while Bruce hammered 32 long balls and drove in 97 runs himself. And lets not forget about Brandon Phillips at 2nd base who has a decent pop to his bat driving in 82 runs a year ago. No major changes took place in Reds camp between the end of last season and the start of this year. The only real changes was that Dontrelle Willis is no longer eon the roster, although he didn't have much of an impact on the team to begin with. The question I have here is can the bullpen be able to reallty hold games for the Reds to contened in the division? If so then the Reds are an easy top three finish.
The Chicago Cubs are up next in the Central. The Cubs have made the playoffs three times since 200 and went in back to back years in 07 and 08 both times after winning the division. but the last two seasons haven't been so kind to the team as they have finished in 5th place both times. The Cubs pitching staff was lead last season by Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza both of whom hit double digits last year in wins both hitting 10 on the season. Carlos Marmol will be relied on as the closer again this year after back to back 30+ save seasons. So those three guys are key to the Cubs trying to have any kind of pitching success this year. Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano where the leading hitters on the Cubs last year and are going to be called apon to provide that again this year along with Catcher Geovany Soto. rameriez paced the club with 93 RBI's and was 2nd on the team in homers with 26. He will not be returning to teh team as he signed a massive contract with the Brewers. Soriano also blased 26 long balls but it was only two behind team leader Carlos Pena who had 28. Pena is now also gone as he is back in the American League playing for Tampa Bay. Those three guys where the only Cubs to drive in more than 80 runs last season. The biggest question mark for the Cubs this year is the starting rotation which on paper really leaves something to be desired.They lost two of their three best hitters and have a number of holes to fill. Cubs fans will still flock to Wrigley Field but its not going to get them to the playoffs. Cubs hover around average this year.
Now for the two big guns from last season, the Cards and Brew Crew. We start with teh Cardnials. The Cards are the defending world champions winning the title last year and they have missed the playoffs a total of 4 times since the turn of the century. But the cards are hurting a little bit right now. All five starters in teh Cards rotation last year hit double digits in wins during the year. Kyle Lohse (14-8), Jaime Garcia (13-7), Kyle McClellan (12-7), Jake Westbrook (12-9), and Chris Carpenter (11-9) are all back in Cardnial uniforms and back in the rotation except for Mclellan who was moved to the bullpen in favor of Lance Lynn. Jason Motte will be taking over the role of closer from Fernando Salas as they switch roles in the pen. The Cards have one of the beswt pitching staffs in not only the division but in all of baseball as do the Reds. The Cards are going to have to try and find a way to replace Pujols. They lost Alber Pujols to free agency over the winter and are going to be without Skip Schumaker and Chris Carpenter who are both out injured. Wehn Pujols left he took 37 Homers and 99 RBI's out of the lineup from last season. The team signed Carlos Beltran in the offseason to try and help provide an offensive boost with the loss of Pujols. Beltran has been playing with the Mets since 2005 and brings in 22 Homers and 87 RBi to try and replace some of the producion lost with the departure of Pujols. Besides that the team reamains in tact and the Cards will once again be back in the playoffs.
Finally we look at the defending division champs the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers were the division winners last year and made the playoffs as the wild card in 2008 but have struggled since coming to the National League. The roster is pretty much exactly the same EXCEPT for the fact that slugging first baseman Prince Fielder signed with the Detroit Tigers over the winter leaving a big hole at first for the Brewers. So the only question I have is how can the Crew replace Prince? They did give a good plug at it by signing slugger Aramis Ramírez to a three year deal worth about 36 million bucks. The team is keeping its entire starting rotation in tact which like the Cardnials had every guy hit double digits in victories last season. The big loss for the Brewers was obviously losing Prince Fielder to Detroit which takes out 38 Home Runs and 120 RBI's from the Brewer lineup. They tryed to recoup the lost of those numbers by signing Aramis Ramirez. He put up healthy numbers with the Cubs, not quite as good as the one's Prince had been putting up, but still very respectable numbers none the less. Also they were able to keep League MVP Ryan Braun and get him out of a suspension. Braun had 33 Homers and 111 RBI last year en route to the NL MVP. The other big question is can Braun keep posting the numbers he did last year? The Brew Crew will once again be a playoff team but how far they go will be a question.
Here are my predictions for the NL Central:
1. St. Louis Cardnials
2. Milawukee Brewers
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros
So there you haev it the AL and NL Central. Tomorrow we wrap it up with the Eastern divisions!
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