2006 MLB Preview (AL)
AL Playoffs: New York, Toronto, Oakland and Cleveland
AL Championship: New York v. Oakland
AL World Series Appearance: Oakland
AL East
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1. 1. New York: Best Lineup in baseball. 3-4 perennial All-Star players will lead the MLB in Runs Scored. But can they pitch?
Best case scenario: WS Winner
Worst case: 2nd in AL EAST, missing the wild card, yikes!!!
Questions: Health of Pitching Staff - can Johnson, Mussina and Pavano pitch enough - and will Farnsworth blowup like in Chicago???
2. 2. Boston: Best #3-#4 LH-RH HR hitters in baseball in Ortiz and Manny. Signing SP Beckett (blister man) could be the #1A pitcher that could challenge the Yankees.
Best case scenario: WS Winner/Contender
Worst case: 3rd in AL EAST, missing the wild card, Shilling and Co. fell apart.
Questions: Health of Pitching Staff - can Shilling pitch well enough. Their bullpen and Infield play will decide their fate. Too many new pieces…
3. 3. Toronto: Major Moves and major cash. SP AJ Burnett (DL prone), Closer BJ Ryan, 1B Lyle Overbay, 3B Troy Glaus and C Benji Molina puts them in the running for this division.
Best Case scenario: Playoffs - AL Championship
Worst case: 4th place - GM JP Riccardi gets fired.
Questions: Health of Burnett and Glaus will determine how long they stick around in the AL EAST playoff race.
4. 4. Baltimore: Lost 2 steroid-laden, old HR hitters. Didn't do much to replace them. Youth movement and getting Atlanta's pitching coach guru Leo Mazzone might make a difference in 2007.
Best case: 75 wins, finds 3 starting pitchers and closer of the future.
Worst case: Dead last. 65 wins tops.
Questions: Tejada happiness and performance may go together. Orioles can't compete this year, can they?
5. 5. Tampa Bay: Youngsters are all right. But someone needs to tell them they can only have 3 Outfielders. Crawford, Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Delmon Young, Damon Hollins and Jonny Gomes all play OF. Trade one and get a #2-3 Starting Pitcher hopefully.
Best case: 75-77 wins. Somehow they catch lighting in a bottle - for their pitching staff.
Worst case: Another 65 win season. Huff is traded away for a mediocre pitcher. Yippee!
AL Central
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6.1 1. Chicago: Added Lefthanded Power in Thome and signed Javier Vasquez. Cut loose Frank Thomas finally.
Best Case: AL Playoffs and WS again.
Worst Case: 2nd place and 88-90 wins.
Questions: Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen. 1 and 2 in order is either hurt or in flux.
7. 2. Cleveland: Stood pat at key positions. Lost RP Howry which could be important. 2nd or 3rd best lineup in AL.
Best Case: World Series
Worst Case: 88 wins, Bullpen, 4th and 5th starter failed.
Questions: Can they win 1-run games or are they still too young to have killer instincts?
8. 3. Detroit: Good mix of young and old. Added Kenny Rogers, but his tune is getting old.
Best Case: 2nd and 85 wins
Worst Case: Fighting for the cellar - The pitching fails miserably.
Questions: Bonderman, Robertson and Rogers with Todd Jones have to get it done.
9. 4. Minnesota: Best Control pitching staff in baseball. Beats you with small ball and youngsters. Can win with pitching alone.
Best Case: Sneak into playoffs - but lose.
Worst Case: 75-77 wins, time to clean house.
Questions: Can they score enough.
10. 5. Kansas City: The best AAA baseball team playing MLB??? If they can just…develop players and keep them. Zach Greinke on DL for 60 days.
Best case: 3rd place. Manager keeps job.
Worst case: 120 losses. No one notices
AL West
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11. 1. Oakland: Young SP guns led by a quirky lefty. Somehow score with guys that are bit players anywhere else.
Best case: Finally dance with the Yanks
Worst case: Last place - injuries and lack of speed shows up.
Questions: Signing of DH Frank Thomas (high lifetime OBP) and OF Milton Bradley (headcase) could be the ruin or impetus of this team's success.
12. 2. Texas: Will score plenty of runs. Have 5-6 20+ HR players. Can't pitch a lick usually.
Best case: Somehow Kevin Millwood repeats as ERA champ in this bandbox. And Texas wins division.
Worst case: Last place. But learn who there future starting pitchers will be.
Questions: SP Eaton's injury meant trading for mediocre pitching shortly before season started.
13. 3. Los Angeles: A little bit of everything. 3 Quality SPs. Good overall team speed and power and good BP usually.
Best case: Win the division by 5 games.
Worst case: Health of Vladimir Guerrero ultimately derails playoff hopes.
Questions: See above. Team can win 81 games just by showing up with their talent.
1 4. 4. Seattle: Lineup looks sound. Starters shaky…
Best Case: 2nd place. Just don't think the killer instinct exists.
Worst Case: Last. Trades and releases soon follow.
Questions: Can a 20 year old pitcher win 20 games and get Seattle to playoff contention?
