2010 MLB Preview: American League

Wow, can you believe baseball throws out the first pitch on Monday? (Sorry, I don't count the Opening Night game between the Red Sox-Yankees. Baseball always starts their season on a weekday.) Maybe because all of my attention has been on March Madness and the end of the Hockey and Basketball season, that I didn't even notice baseball was about to start next week. Without further ado, here's my MLB American League preview with projected division winners.

American League East
1. New York Yankees- The Yankees are prohibitive favorites to win the World Series this year. And why not? The only changes the Yankees have made in the offseason had to do with their outfield. Gone are Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui and in are Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner. The Yankees upgraded with the acquisition of Granderson because of presence in the clubhouse. The Yankees only problem is age. Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte are not getting younger and injuries could become a problem for the Yanks. One last thing about the Yankees, they have one classy son of a bitch in Randy Winn.

2. Boston Red Sox- Should have one of the best pitching staffs in the majors with the addition of John Lackey. Depending on how well Tim Wakefield holds up and if Dice-K can ever return to 07 form, the Sox should have the best starting staff in the majors. Adrian Beltre isn't much of an upgrade at third base over Mike Lowell. Both players are injury prone, especially Beltre. The Sox should win between 85-90 games and be the AL Wild Card.

3. Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays make this division the deepest in baseball. Injuries prevented the Rays last year from repeating as division champs, but they should be better this season. What if though the Rays aren't competing for the division by July? Do they start another firesale? Will they trade Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford?

4. Baltimore Orioles- Talk about a team that could use this proposed baseball realignment. I love Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Nick Markakis in the lineup, but no one else. Also their starting pitching doesn't inspire confidence, especially when Kevin Milwood is suppose to be your ace.

5. Toronto Blue Jays- Bad, bad year for the city of Toronto. First Chris Bosh will be high tailing it out of Toronto by the end of June. The Maple Leafs are the worst team in Hockey. And the Blue Jays should be the worst team in baseball. Roy Halladay is gone. Vernon Wells has one of the worst contracts in baseball. Aaron Hill is their only star and he's surrounded by no body's. At least they still have the great Cito Gaston as manager.........

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins- The future couldn't be brighter for the Twins. Joe Mauer and his side burns will be staying in Minnesota for a long time. The Twins have finally moved out of the awful Metrodome into the beautiful Target Field. Justin Morneau is finally healthy. Questions surrounding the Twins will obviously surround their pitching staff and who will replace Joe Nathan as the closer.

2. Detroit Tigers- Pitching saves the Tigers. Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello could each win 20 games, while Max Scherzer gives them a legitimate third starter. I'm not a big fan of the Curtis Granderson trade, but the Tigers were able to pick up Scherzer and Austin Jackson in that trade. Jackson should be the team's new leadoff hitter. The Tigers should win at least 78 games.

3. Chicago White Sox- With the return of Baseball, also means the return of the one and only Ozzie Guillen. You know how much I love Ozzie by just reading my Foul Ball posts from last year. Like the Tigers the White Sox have great pitchers (Jake Peavy returns from injury and Mark Buehrle is a beast) and a terrible lineup. 75 wins should place the White Sox in the middle of the AL Central.

4. Cleveland Indians- What an amazing fall from grace. Three years ago this team was one game away from the World Series, now they can't even compete in the crappy AL Central. The Indians have some studs in their lineup (Matt LaPorta, Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta) but their pitching staff is terrible. I mean if Jake Westbrook is your opening day starter, then you have problems in your rotation.

5. Kansas City Royals- Take one look at this depth chart. You can't say you don't feel bad for Royals fans. At least they still have Zach Greinke...............

AL West
1. Seattle Mariners- Love the acquisitions of Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins. Don't love the fact that Milton Bradley will be the anchor of the lineup. Milton has burned his bridge everywhere he's been, what makes Seattle any different? Lee and King Felix should carry this team to the division title.

2. Oakland A's- I like the A's more than some people. They finished last year strong and head into this season without too many concerns. Justin Duchscherer is back from his bought of depression. Ben Sheets is actually healthy and should provide some veteran leadership for a young rotation. The A's problem? Their lineup kind of stinks.

3. Texas Rangers- As long as manager Ron Washington can stay off the Booger Sugar, the Rangers could be the surprise team of baseball. They have a nice lineup with Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, and Vlad Guerrero. Health though is always a concern. Vlad, Hamilton, and Michael Young have had their share of injury problems and Kinsler might start the year on the DL.

4. Anaheim Angels- Too many loses for the Angels. Lackey, Vlad, and Figgins are all gone. The rotation is questionable with Jered Weaver and Scott Kazmir. The outfield is aging. Underachieving Brandon Wood will replace Figgins. This team might not finish last, but their not winning another division title.

I'll preview the National League tomorrow.