AL Central season preview
A year ago, the AL Central was ran by the Cleveland Indians from start-to-finish. The tribe rode their magical season all the way to the World Series, which meant 4-of-the-last-5 AL champions have came from the AL Central. Detroit in 2012, Kansas City in 2014-and-2015, and now Cleveland just a year ago.
The AL Central champion will again be the Cleveland Indians. The Cleveland Indians have by-far the best rotation in the AL Central, and one of the best in baseball when healthy. However, outside of Cody Allen, and Andrew Miller, their bullpen is a bit worrisome. The Tribes rotation going deep in games, should help ease that problem, though. The only problem with the Indians is health. Almost everyone in that star-stubbed-rotation has dealt with some injuries. Michael Brantley who has tons of potential and can solidify this Tribe outfield if he can ever get on the field. Losing Mike Napoli was no problem for Cleveland has they replaced him with Edwin Encarnacion.
The second place spot for the AL Central will go to the Kansas City Royals. After a disappointing 81-81 season, and a tragic offseason that saw the passing of star-young-pitcher Yordano Ventura; The Royals have improved their team to the best of their abilities. Adding Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, and Nate Karns to the pitching staff; While adding the power bats of Brandon Moss and Jorge Soler. Kansas City hopes the loss of DH Kendrys Morales negated by those two being added to the lineup. However, this team isn't without questions. Will the pressure mount for the Royals and their pending free agents? Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, and Lorenzo Cain are a big part of this core and are all soon-to-be-free-agents. To a lesser extent, so is short-stop Alcides Escobar who provides very-litter at the plate, but is a very nice fielder. Another question is who will play second base? Right field and second base have been questions for years in Kansas City, they have seemingly found their right fielder of the future but are still trying to nail-down second base. The pitching staff, despite the loss of Wade Davis, is MUCH improved from a year ago. Signing Danny Duffy long-term, and having innings eaters such as Ian Kennedy back in the fold, along with Jason Hammel, Jason Vargas, Travis Wood, or Nate Karns whoever wins that 5th spot in the rotation. The Royals bullpen headlined by Kelvin Herrera, also has a young man by the name of Matt Strahm who is a 4-pitch relief pitcher that saw Major League success a year ago. He is now primed for a full-season of Major League action. Will this Royals team have one final run in them? Can they make it back to the wild card game and into the postseason? For that answer, come back March 28th, when I preview the entire Major League season.
The third place team, and, last competitive team in the AL Central: The Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have a huge question mark in their bullpen. There is no pitcher they could put in the game in which I have confidence in. The 4-and-5-spots in their rotation are also worrisome and will cost them this season. Their outfield and catcher also are big wholes for this Tigers team.
The Twins, and White Sox will battle it out for the fourth place spot. The White Sox are set-up for the future after dealing Chris Sale, and Adam Eaton. They also have Jose Quintana left to be dealt in return for top-prospects. However, as the 2017 season stands their pitching staff is very bad, 2-of-the-three-out-field-spots are wholes in the roster. As far as the Twins are concerned, their pitching staff both in the rotation and bullpen, are terrible along with the catcher and short stop position are huge question marks.
