With spring in full swing, it is time to take a look at the AL Central and make predictions for 2012 within the context of a three part series to be published in the next week. The first part will be posted today, obviously and will take a look at the Tigers and the Twins. The second part will be published Wednesday, February 29 and will deal with the Royals, Indians and White Sox. The final part of the series will be published on March 4, and will make final predictions on the results of the AL Central for 2012. Will the Indians be able to repeat their first half from 2011? Will the M and M boys return to their full potential for the Twins? How will Ozzie Guillen's move effect the White Sox? Will the Royals finally break through in 2012? What is the over/under on how many games the Tigers will actually win? Read forward for more...
Detroit Tigers
Why They Will Be Better
1.) Beef - Prince Fielder's bat.
2.) Slow Cooking - The continued refinement of young talent. Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch and Rick Porcello all have a couple of years under their belt and they are still young. They will continued to get better as the core that will bring the Tigers into the next generation.
3) Cutting the Fat - Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen are gone. While they were key for the resurgence of the Tiger's team in the mid and late 2000's, last year proved they their bloated salaries and lack of production brought the team down. They are now off the team, which allowed the Tigers to bring in Prince Fielder.
Why They Will Be Worse
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| Maybe back in September? |
2.) Back End of the Bullpen - With an average age of over 35 years of age, Jose Valverde, Juaquin Benoit and Octavio Dotel will not be able to pitch as many innings as they have in the past.
3.) VMart - More than anything we will miss his uncanny ability to drive in runs. Cabrera will still be protected by Prince Fielder, but the chances that Fielder can match Martinez's near .400 BA with runners in scoring position will runners is unlikely.
Why They Will Be Better
1.) One of the M Boys - Joe Mauer will get more AB's as he spends less time behind the plate and more time at DH and at 1B.
2.) The Other of the M Boys - Morneau says that he is feeling better. Chances that he has a better season than last year are good. (.227BA 4HR 30RBI .285OBP) These horrific stats can't get much worse and are reason enough to say that The Twins will be better.
3.) Ron Gardenhire - The Twins skipper has won the American League Manager of the year award in 2010 and has finished as runner-up five times while leading the Twins (in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009). He finished third in the voting in 2002, his first season as manager. He is one of the best around and has consistently made mediocre teams good over the past 10 years.
Why They Will Be Worse
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| I am still Young. |
1.) Young - While Delmon Young didn't produce well for the Twins last year, he did for the Tigers as they got him on the cheap. Young is still young (pun intended),
2.) Zumaya - Picking up Joel Zumaya was not a good idea. BTW... He already hurt his elbow in a simple throwing session. (Click here to read details.) Don't plan on him make a significant contribution in 2012, or ever again.
3.) No Refining - After a brilliant 2009 season, Denard Span should have gotten better the last 2 years and he didn't. His disappointing seasons showed that he topped out as a big league ball player in 2009.
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| Sliding Scale |
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