2011 MLB Preview: American League
Written by Josh Katz
Grab your sunscreen and dust off the old score card, the 2011 baseball season is just around the corner! It seems that professional baseball has developed into a year-long event, with a 162 game season, spanning from late March to early November; the hot stove, which carries us from December until early February; just in time for pitchers and catchers to report to sunny Florida or arid Arizona for spring training. Love it or hate it, baseball is back. It was a busy offseason, and clubs have taken on new shape since the San Francisco Giants were crowned World Series Champions last fall, knocking off the Texas Rangers in a series nobody watched. Do not fear though fellow Dosers, your boy is here to break down what should be a very exciting 2011 season for Major League Baseball.
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-The Red Sawx had the best offseason by far, and have to be hungry for a post season return after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2010. Boston has upgraded their already pesky and powerful lineup by adding free agent speedster Carl Crawford and slugger Adrian Gonzalez. Their lineup has gone from solid to downright scary in a matter of months. With a healthy Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and a rejuvenated David Ortiz, the Sox have one of the best offenses in baseball. Mix in a stellar rotation that features young arms Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, along with proven veterans Josh Beckett and John Lackey, and you have a terrifying pitching staff for opposing lineups. The American League East has also weakened a bit, which bodes well for Boston. Tampa Bay has lost some key components, and the Yankees 4th and 5th starters are as questionable as Charlie Sheen’s morals. Look for Boston to win the American League East, barring any major injuries.
-Call it the year of the Sox. Chicago has always been a scary team to me, mostly because I am never quite sure of what Manager Ozzie Guillen will do next. I feel as if he will pop out of the dugout at any time with a machete if you look at him the wrong way, but that is not why I am picking the south-siders to win the Central. The White Sox bolstered their already potent lineup this offseason with the acquisition of slugger Adam Dunn, who should provide more pop to an already potent offense. I believe that the real wild card for this team is the health of Jake Peavy. Peavy has been solid throughout his career and if he can remain healthy would be a dynamite #2 behind ace Mark Buehrle. This division is extremely tough to forecast, because the top three teams all have something going for them. The Twins are solid every year, the Tigers have an outstanding bullpen, but I just feel that the White Sox will finally get enough production out of their young guns (Gordon Beckham & Gavin Floyd especially) to steal the division crown this season. It should come right down to the wire.
-Last year I picked the Seattle Mariners to win the West, which I am still trying to forget about. But this year, I have confidence in the Angels and their ability to rebound after a disappointing 2010 season. Manager Mike Scioscia is a master of his craft and will no doubt have his club ready to go in 2011. The Angels had a quiet but solid offseason, attaining OF Vernon Wells and RP Scott Downs from Toronto. The Angels will always be able to slug with guys such as Hunter, Abreu and even Matsui, but also have a quality front three in their starting rotation. Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir and Joel Pinero are all good enough to win at least 15 games, along with wild card Jered Weaver. But the way the Angels have played their division foes over the last decade, they should have no trouble wrapping up the left-coast crown by the end of the summer. Plus, the West is not exactly the toughest division in baseball. The Rangers are not as good without ace Cliff Lee, Seattle always disappoints, and Oakland is well, Oakland.
@DoseKatzby
