In participation with a week-long United Cardinal Bloggers project, our predictions for the 2011 American League season:
EAST DIVISION
1. Red Sox: The additions of left fielder Carl Crawford and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez significantly boost an already formidable lineup.
2. Yankees: A great but aging core of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera can’t be expected to keep producing at a championship level.
3. Rays: Starting pitching could be strong, but there are too many question marks in the everyday lineup (second baseman Sean Rodriguez, first baseman Dan Johnson, catcher John Jaso, to name just some).
4. Orioles: The lineup, enhanced by the addition of designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, first baseman Derek Lee, third baseman Mark Reynolds and shortstop J.J. Hardy, looks better, but the pitching still is sub-par.
5. Blue Jays: Not much power other than third baseman Jose Bautista, and it’s difficult to believe Bautista will approach his astounding numbers of 2010 (54 home runs, 124 RBI) after never having done better than 16 homers and 63 RBI in any other season.
CENTRAL DIVISION
1. White Sox: Designated hitter Adam Dunn adds more firepower to an already balanced and potent lineup. Starting rotation (Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy and Edwin Jackson) is good enough.
2. Twins: Key will be whether first baseman Justin Morneau has recovered from a concussion that limited him to 81 games in 2010 and can return to producing MVP-like numbers.
3. Tigers: Closer Jose Valverde can be erratic, first baseman Miguel Cabrera is fighting personal demons, and the back end of the rotation (Phil Coke and Brad Penny) doesn’t impress.
4. Indians: Promising talent in the everyday lineup, but rotation appears thin after ace Fausto Carmona.
5. Royals: Reconstructed outfield of Alex Gordon in left, Lorenzo Cain in center and Jeff Francoeur in right is better, but rotation (Luke Hochevar is the ace) likely is the weakest in the division.
WEST DIVISION
1. Angels: A terrific, veteran starting rotation (Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro and Scott Kazmir) gives Anaheim the edge.
2. Athletics: Improved lineup with acquisitions of left fielder Josh Willingham and right fielder David DeJesus, but still lacks consistent run production (only Mariners, Indians and Orioles scored fewer runs than Oakland in the AL in 2010).
3. Rangers: A rotation that has C.J. Wilson as its ace and Colby Lewis as its No. 2 starter doesn’t intimidate.
4. Mariners: Despite having two of the biggest stars in the league _ outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and pitcher Felix Hernandez _ Seattle lacks in too many other areas.
American League champion: White Sox.
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