Season 4 Preseason Predictions - American League
By Red Rocket, Red Sox
AL EAST
Baltimore Orioles -- B-
The O's continue to look better with each season. They've gone from
terribly pathetic to just mediocre. The offense is still a few pieces
short of competitive, but the pitching staff is starting to fall
into place.
Offense:
Milt Gardner had a pretty nice rookie season, and looks to turn
it up in Season 4. Veteran Mark Shoemaker may have to be the man
at leadoff this season, but who's going to drive him in? Lots of
.250 types are projected to make the O's lineup.
Average: C-
Power: B
Speed: C+
Overall: C+
Pitching:
Spud Fisher and Art Ford anchor an improved starting five. The O's
still lack a true ace, but this staff has the potential to stick
around a 5.00 ERA for most of the season.
Starters: B
Relievers: B+
Overall: B+
Boston Red Sox -- B+
The Red Sox look to improve upon a disappointing 90-loss season.
Look for an improved offense and a middle of the road pitching staff.
Offense:
Last season's offense just could not score -- they were worst than
ugly. Incoming rookie Roberto Latman looks to shake things up, and
the acquisition of Billy Priest could help shore things up in the
outfield.
Average: B
Power: B+
Speed: A-
Overall: B+
Pitching:
Three #2 quality starters and a pair of #4s is not bad, and the
bullpen looks pretty solid top to bottom. This staff should repeat
the sub-5.00 ERA they posted last season.
Starters: B+
Relievers: B+
Overall: B+
New York Yankees -- A-
This is not a bad squad, but team chemistry is a definate question,
as is age with the pitching staff. Underachievers at 83 wins last
season.
Offense:
Who do you bat at leadoff? Who cares? 5 players with an AVG rating
over 490, led by all-around stud Slick Plympton.
Average: A
Power: B
Speed: A
Overall: A
Pitching:
No one is denying that Frank Ludwick has skills. He'll be a great
pitching coach someday. But a suspect fastball set Ludwick up for
the big inning a few times too many last season, and contributed
to a 5.42 ERA. Every Yankee pitcher has a weakness, except for McMakin
-- who underachieved last season with a WHIP of 1.52.
Starters: A-
Relievers: A-
Overall: A-
Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- B-
The Devil Rays will compete for the AL East cellar. The offense
is just not good enough to make up for the big innings that the
pitching staff will be giving up.
Offense:
Dagenhard was a solid pickup at shortstop with a 490 AVG rating
by scouts. And look out for Harry Gill, an upcoming outfielder who
could produce immediately in the middle of the lineup.
Average: C-
Power: A-
Speed: B-
Overall: B-
Pitching:
Astroth and Lambert anchor a suspect starting five. Everybody has
a big pitch a decent control, but c'mon -- couldn't somebody have
taught them more than one pitch? When Doug Lovett retires, the Devil
Rays management should consider promoting him to pitching coach.
Starters: B
Relievers: B
Overall: B
Toronto Bluejays -- A
This team has no real holes, which is nothing new. The Jays will
continue their reign as a league C powerhouse.
Offense:
Too many potential all-stars to write-up, so I'll just throw out
some names. Jimmy Mejias, Lefty Smith, Bob Mabry, George Miller.
Average: A
Power: A
Speed: A
Overall: A
Pitching:
Nice to have four all-stars in your starting five. Unforunately
for everyone else, this staff is still young.
Starters: A
Relievers: A
Overall: A
AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox -- A-
Team is anchored by Socks Niedenfuer on offense and Ed Doster on
the pitching side. Not a bad team. Similar to the Yankees in their
underachieving. Team chemistry is the only question.
Offense:
Lots of decent hitters. In addition to Niederfuer, Jim Thon looks
to make a significant impact in his coming rookie season.
Average: B+
Power: A-
Speed: A
Overall: A-
Pitching:
A decent starting five and equally decent bullpen. Only one bonifide
ace in Doster. This team needs another stud to compete near the
level of the Jays or Athletics.
Starters: A-
Relievers: A-
Overall: A-
Cleveland Indians -- B-
The Indians get new management to undertake the "rebuilding"
process. Pretty nice set of players to retool and trade with. Team
should contend again soon.
Offense:
Rip Freeze is the default leader of this club's offense. With a
name like Freeze, the Indians better hope he doesn't hit a cold
streak.
Average: B-
Power: C-
Speed: B
Overall: C+
Pitching:
Ed Heard is a nice anchor to a rebuilding staff. The Indians are
short a couple starters, and look to fill the void soon -- or risk
overextending some relievers and giving up some big innings.
Starters: B
Relievers: B
Overall: B
Detroit Tigers -- A
A playoff team last season, the Tigers look to go deeper this season
with the key addition of Alta Rowen to an already talented pitching
staff.
Offense:
Stump House and Bill Parades will be driving in a ton of runs, as
the Tigers have four players scouted with 490+ AVGs. This offense
has a chance to be as prolific as any.
Average: A
Power: A
Speed: C-
Overall: A-
Pitching:
Three all-stars and an upcoming rookie with all-star potential.
Justin Valentine joins a starting five that includes Jose Bell,
Billy Iorg and Alta Rowen. This staff is almost as good as Toronto's.
Starters: A
Relievers: A
Overall: A
Kansas City Royals -- C-
Yup, still the worst team in the American League. No Pete in managerial
HOF either.
Offense:
Free-agent pickup Ron Garbey becomes the best player in a AAA+ offense.
Garbey should break a leg and retire -- anything to avoid going
out like this.
Average: D+
Power: C+
Speed: C+
Overall: C-
Pitching:
This staff is out of control! Three starters with a control of 310
or less, and the bullpen is worse. Looks like the Rick Ankiel fanclub.
Starters: C
Relievers: C-
Overall: C-
Minnesota Twins -- A-
A contender in the AL Central, but not as good as the Tigers.
Offense:
A veteran offense led by Mike Leverett, Jim Davis and Hanson Connolly.
No real holes here.
Average: A-
Power: A-
Speed: B
Overall: A-
Pitching:
Three stud pitchers won't be enough to win the AL Central, but it
might be enough for a wild-card appearance in the playoffs this
coming season. Roger Young anchors the impressive starting five.
The bullpen is almost as good, led by Stan Pierce and Tom Radinsky.
Starters: A
Relievers: A-
Overall: A-
AL WEST
Anaheim Angels -- B
Manager Chief Rum declared that he'd rather tear down his team and
rebuild than be mediocre. And so the rebuilding
process begins, although the Chief seems to be sending mixed messages
with recent acquisitions. Instead of tearing his team down, he's
got a new set of contributors that won't be bad enough to be bad,
but won't be good enough to be good.
Offense:
Tex Romero is now the *man*. He'll be relied upon heavily to drive
in Edler, Bankhead, Chamberlain and rookie addition Damaso Gillis.
The Angels are also hoping that the acquisition of shortstop Henry
Gill will add more pop and speed to the lineup. If everyone stays
healthy, this team could still produce some runs.
Average: B+
Power: B
Speed: B
Overall: B
Pitching:
Jacob Bruyette leads a mediocre Angel pitching staff. This is perhaps
appropriate, as his control makes his a
questionable number one guy. Had a disappointing season with a 5.02
ERA.
Starters: C+
Relievers: B
Overall: B-
Oakland Athletics -- A-
Loads of power and suberb starting pitchers make this team a contender
to take the AL West again. This team has established a definate
identity.
Offense:
Assuming Len Bako and Armando Maddux don't slump like last season,
they could each score 100+ runs with the powerful lineup behind
them. Clete Twitty continues to lead an overpowering set of hitters.
Average: B+
Power: A+
Speed: C
Overall: B+
Pitching:
While older than Toronto's starting five, the Athletics starters
are just as talented and still in their prime. Gerry Baldwin, the
youngster, should do better than his 16-12 rookie campaign last
season.
Starters: A
Relievers: A-
Overall: A
Seattle Mariners -- A-
The Mariners hope they can crack the playoffs this season, after
stocking up on pitching talent over the past seasons. They've got
a tough road ahead, as Oakland is still the team to beat.
Offense:
Lots of great contact hitters. Bud Landrum's big bat anchor's the
lineup, but if anything should happen to him, this team may have
trouble scoring enough runs to win consistently.
Average: A
Power: B
Speed: B
Overall: B+
Pitching:
A talented staff with young underachievers. Mariners management
hopes that Vangorder will rebound from a disappointing season. And
everybody hopes that Wysong will finally achieve greatness. He has
all the tools, but does he have the desire?
Starters: A
Relievers: A-
Overall: A
Texas Rangers -- B
The Rangers don't have a bad club, but they've still got a ways
to go if they want to be better than Oakland and Seattle in the
AL West.
Offense:
Some solid power guys in Crawford and Moran that would drive in
even more runs if guys could get on base consistently.
Average: C+
Power: A-
Speed: A
Overall: B+
Pitching:
Keith Krueger and Fred Swingle aren't bad, but they don't compare
to the dominant aces on the teams that will make the playoffs this
season.
Starters: B
Relievers: B
Overall: B
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