National League Central

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Cincinnati Reds
A deep pitching staff with a potent lineup means another Central title.
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Ron Roenicke brings a winning pedigree that should turn the Brew Crew’s fortunes around.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
Losing Wainwright will hurt, but Pujols should keep them in contention.
4. Chicago Cubs
A better pitching staff, but still a lot of questions about the lineup.
5. Houston Astros
The youth movement has begun at key positions.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
Is it too much to ask for them to win 70 games?

Player to Watch: P Zach Greinke Milwaukee Brewers
To go from a player who might have been brought up to the big leagues too soon in 2005 (5-17 5.80 ERA) with Kansas City. To then when the American League Cy Young award in 2009 (16-8 2.16 ERA) with the same Kansas City Royals. Greinke has had a very successful career that last three seasons. Kansas City hasn’t offered much help in run support, but Greinke adjusted his mechanics and was right with himself at the same time. He made it known last year that he wasn’t interested in staying long term with Kansas City if they weren’t competing so they made the smart move and got a kings ransom from Milwaukee. The Brewers would like Greinke to stay on that upward trend in a new surrounding where he will get plenty of run support with the Brewers stacked lineup. Don’t expect Roy Halladay like numbers from Greinke this year, but the Brewers are optimistic that he will be a mainstay for them now and going forward.

Best Acquisition: P Matt Garza Chicago Cubs
While all the talk was about what was going on in Milwaukee’s rotation, on the North Side of Chicago, the Cubs made a subtle move acquiring Garza from Tampa Bay. The Cubs gave up a few prized prospects, but if they want to return to contention in their own division, they will need a strong starting staff. Garza has been a consistent starter since his arrival in Tampa Bay in 2008. He was the ALCS MVP for the Rays in 2008. The last two seasons he’s pitched at least 200 innings and has had an impressive strikeout to walk ratio. The Cubs figure a move to the pitcher friendly National League will only help Garza. Last year he won a career high 15 games and helped Tampa Bay win their second division title in three years. Chicago would like to get back to their glory days now almost a decade ago.

New Kid on the Block: 3B Pedro Alvarez Pittsburgh Pirates
Now is the time for the Pirates to unveil their next top prospect. Alvarez was considered the best hitter available when the Pirates drafted him 2nd overall in 2008. He reminds some of Miguel Cabrera, with the power to all fields, but is a better defender than Cabrera. Pittsburgh, in a perfect world would like to have waited until the end of this year to bring him along, but they had to last year. The Pirates are in the midst of one of the worst losing stretches in sports history. They would like to remain competitive and Alvarez helps them accomplish that. He skyrocketed through their farm system in just two seasons. They believe he can solidify the middle of their lineup for many years. That is if they can get out of the losing cellar of baseball.

Reds Lineup

1. CF Drew Stubbs

.255 AVG 22 HR 77 RBI

2. 2B Brandon Phillips

.275 AVG 18 HR 59 RBI

3. 1B Joey Votto

.324 AVG 37 HR 113 RBI

4. 3B Scott Rolen

.285 AVG 20 HR 83 RBI

5. RF Jay Bruce

.281 AVG 25 HR 70 RBI

6. LF Jonny Gomes

.266 AVG 18 HR 86 RBI

7. C Ramon Hernandez

.297 AVG 7 HR 48 RBI

8. SS Paul Janish

.260 AVG 5 HR 25 RBI

The Reds have a lineup where everyone can hit. Stubbs had a breakout year in the leadoff spot. If he can continue it will go a long way in helping Votto and Rolen have great years. Phillips had a down year. Still a productive hitter, he’s in a contract year so that does make the 2011 season a bit more intriguing for him. Votto was a big part of why the Reds won the Central division and was awarded with the MVP award. He is probably the hardest out in baseball. He sees every pitch so well and it’s a testament to his knowledge. Rolen has had a resurgence since arriving in Cincinnati. He was instrumental in the cleanup spot protecting Votto and easing the pressure of Bruce to perform at a high level. Bruce had a great year that included providing the walk-off home run to clinch the division for the Reds last year. Cincinnati will have him and Votto for the next 4-5 years with contract extensions in the offseason. Gomes was quite a find. He has flown under the radar for most of his career, but he earned a starting job with this club. Manager Dusty Baker loves having guys like Gomes who give it their all everyday. Hernandez had a great year. His approach at the plate is amongst the best in baseball. His defense is above average and he does well with the young pitching staff. Janish is a defensive gem who will be given the shortstop job outright. His bat is coming along nicely and if they mesh together the Reds will be fine a the bottom of the order.

Bench

INF Miguel Cairo

.290 AVG 4 HR 28 RBI

INF Edgar Renteria*
.276 AVG 3 HR 22 RBI
C Ryan Hanigan
.300 AVG 5 HR 40 RBI

The bench got a lift when they brought back Cairo and signed the World Series MVP for the San Francisco Giants in Renteria. Both can play multiple positions, especially Cairo. Both will play over 100 games. Cairo for his pinch hitting and running abilities. Renteria because he can still hit, but isn’t a full time starter at this point in his career. Hanigan was signed to a three year extension and it’s because he is finally becoming a good hitter and is a fine defensive catcher. He is a great complement when Hernandez is given a day off.

Rotation

1. Edinson Volquez
4-3 4.31 ERA
2. Bronson Arroyo
17-10 3.88 ERA
3. Johnny Cueto
12-7 3.64 ERA
4. Travis Wood
5-4 3.51 ERA
5. Homer Bailey
4-3 4.46 ERA

This young, but talented rotation has some injury issues to start the season. Cueto and Bailey will be out for most of April, but the Reds are deep enough to get past it. Volquez is full recovered from Tommy John surgery and he will again regain his spot atop the rotation. Arroyo is constantly pitching over 200 innings for the Reds and they hope it can continue this year. The young staff is taking notice from Arroyo and he hasn’t disappointed. Wood was a pleasant surprise in the middle of the season. He performed well enough to warrant a spot in the rotation this year. Mike Leake will be back in the rotation this year due to the injuries to Bailey and Cueto. Leake was the surprise last year when he earned a spot in the rotation out of spring training. Leake had a rough stretch in August and September, but the Reds believe he has learned from his mistakes and will bounce back. He will have to if Cueto and Bailey are out for longer than projected.

Setup

Aroldis Chapman
2-2 2.03 ERA

Closer

Francisco Cordero
40 SV 3.84 ERA

This was a good bullpen that became a great bullpen with the arrival of Chapman. He is probably going to be moved to the rotation either later this year or next year. Until then he will be an excellent setup man to their closer Cordero. Cordero had a down year as far as his ERA is concerned. He can still save the big games for the Reds and that is what they will need again if they are to repeat as division champions. Chapman should be primed for a sensational season. His electric stuff is nearly unhittable, but teams were starting to figure it out. He’ll have to mix in an off-speed pitch to throw off the hitters from waiting for his fastball. There will be more pressure for the bullpen to succeed with Chapman’s emergence and Cordero’s struggles.

Brewers Lineup

1. 2B Rickie Weeks

.269 AVG 29 HR 83 RBI

2. CF Carlos Gomez

.247 AVG 5 HR 24 RBI

3. LF Ryan Braun

.304 AVG 25 HR 103 RBI

4. 1B Prince Fielder

.261 AVG 32 HR 83 RBI

5. 3B Casey McGehee

.285 AVG 23 HR 104 RBI

6. RF Corey Hart

.283 AVG 31 HR 102 RBI

7. C Jonathan Lucroy

.253 AVG 4 HR 26 RBI

8. SS Yuniesky Betancourt*

.259 AVG 16 HR 78 RBI

Not many teams can say they have five players who can drive in over 100 runs. Teams like the Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees would be a few of the teams that could say that. Now the Brewers have joined that list. Weeks at the top of the order should do fine and after a full season healthy, he has shown his worth. He can easily produce a 30-30 season. Gomez will likely be in a platoon with Morgan in center field. Unless Gomez can consistently produce at the plate, he and Morgan will form a good duo that will terrorize the defense on the base paths. Braun is playing at a level that is beyond what the Brewers expected. It’s scary to think that he can still get better and why not when he has Fielder batting cleanup. Fielder had a down year. He is far better than the 83 runs in drove in last year. Milwaukee expects him to have a career year with his contract up at the end of the year. McGehee was a steal when they acquired him off waivers from division rival Chicago. He has risen to become a dangerous hitter in their lineup and if they should lose Fielder to free agency, he will be a capable replacement in the cleanup spot. Hart was placed all over the lineup last year and still managed to have a productive year anyway. As long as the top of the order can remain consistent, Hart should do fine behind Fielder and McGehee. Lucroy has earned the catching job after his performance last year. He is a good defensive catcher and his bat figures to be in the middle of the pack for the Brewers. Betancourt came to Milwaukee in the Zach Greinke deal from Kansas City. He is a good hitter, but his defense is suspect. He has good range, but his accuracy has been an issue. He’ll figure to come near the numbers he put up last year.

Bench

INF Craig Counsell

.250 AVG 2 HR 21 RBI

1B/OF Mark Kotsay*

.239 AVG 8 HR 31 RBI
OF Nyjer Morgan*
.253 AVG 0 HR 24 RBI

Counsell figures to see plenty of playing time. His bat isn’t as productive as it once was, but he is a good fielder and can play third, short and second at any given time. Kotsay was a good acquisition. He doesn’t run as well anymore, but he can still hit in spurts. Not agile enough to play center field, but the corner outfield spots are doable as is first base. Morgan will probably be in the platoon role with Gomez in center. Morgan’s speed is game changing. He isn’t anywhere near the kind of threat with his bat, but his speed will help him get on base.

Rotation

1. Zach Greinke*
10-14 4.17 ERA
2. Yovani Gallardo
14-7 3.84 ERA
3. Shaun Marcum*
13-8 3.64 ERA
4. Randy Wolf
13-12 4.17 ERA
5. Chris Narveson
12-9 4.99 ERA

Milwaukee made not just one, but two moves to shore up their rotation. The first was getting Marcum from Toronto and then they followed that up by getting Greinke. Unfortunately they will be without Greinke for some of April due to a broken rib. When he does return, the Brewers hope he can provide them with a steady dose of a staff ace. Gallardo is a capable starter with excellent stuff. He was anointed the ace last year and took off. With Greinke and Marcum aboard that should only help Gallardo reach the 20 win plateau even faster. Marcum made a successful return from Tommy John surgery last year in Toronto. Considering he pitched most of his games in the AL East, he did very well. He even pitched over 200 innings. Milwaukee hopes that he can perform even better in the National League. Wolf has been a good starter throughout his career. His better days are probably behind him, but being at the bottom of the Brewers rotation should have him play better than expected. His ERA might go down a little, but his walk total should go down (87 career high). Narveson was good, but not great. The Brewers would like him to get more control of his pitches and not get himself into trouble. If he can minimize the big run innings, his ERA should drop by a run.

Setup

Takashi Saito*
2-3 2.83 ERA

Closer

John Axford
24 SV 2.48 ERA

Trevor Hoffman is no longer around and that means that the job is Axford’s going forward. He was consistent right from the start for Milwaukee. His stuff won’t overpower anyone, but he will lull you to sleep. If you’re expected a fastball, he’ll throw the changeup. Expecting the changeup, he’ll throw the fastball. Axford’s one problem was he didn’t have a reliable setup man to make his job easier. Saito will do just that. The former closer turned setup man, Saito is a crafty veteran who will go for the ground ball out rather than the strikeout. He is a perfect complement to Axford and the Brewers bullpen and rotation will benefit from Saito’s presence this season.

Cardinals Lineup

1. SS Ryan Theriot*

.270 AVG 2 HR 29 RBI

2. CF Colby Rasmus

.276 AVG 23 HR 66 RBI

3. 1B Albert Pujols

.312 AVG 42 HR 118 RBI

4. LF Matt Holliday

.312 AVG 28 HR 103 RBI

5. RF Lance Berkman*

.248 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI

6. 3B David Freese

.296 AVG 4 HR 36 RBI

7. C Yadier Molina

.262 AVG 6 HR 62 RBI

8. 2B Skip Schumaker

.265 AVG 5 HR 42 RBI

A lot has to go right for the Cardinals lineup this year. First they have to have an established leadoff hitter. Is Theriot that guy? Only time will tell, but he has had a couple good years where he’s had an OBP of at least .340 (2008-09). He can steal bases too. He’s stolen at least 20 the last four seasons. Rasmus has to bounce back. He butted heads with manager Tony LaRussa last year and left him in the doghouse for much of the year. He will be given another chance to succeed, but time is running out for him. Pujols we all know is in a contract year, but what we don’t know is if he will start to regress anytime soon? All signs point to no, but that’s why St. Louis isn’t going to jump the gun on a big extension for him yet. They will have to if he keeps up the hitting pace he’s on. Holliday is quickly finding a groove in the Cardinals lineup. A lot of people in the sport were afraid that he would start to see his numbers go down when he left Colorado. Not the case with him. He is a great hitter who will continue to produce at a high level. Berkman and Freese are the two big unknowns. Berkman is being counted on to get back to form in his hay day with Houston. Those might be behind him and with him playing in the outfield full time that is a defensive weakness that will be exposed often. Freese has struggled to stay healthy the last two years. He has the bat to consistently produce and his glove is reminding fans of Scott Rolen. He has to stay healthy for the bottom of the lineup to keep the pace. Molina is still a fantastic defensive catcher and is overlooked a lot of times at the plate. He continues to drive in at least 50 runs for the Cardinals. Last year was a career year in that department. Schumaker would like to forget about last year. His defensive woes were the least of his worries. The Cardinals were counting on him to produce at the top of the lineup and he couldn’t. They hope being at the bottom he can regain that hitting touch from 2008-09.

Bench

INF Nick Punto*

.238 AVG 1 HR 20 RBI

C Gerald Laird*

.207 AVG 5 HR 25 RBI

OF John Jay

.300 AVG 4 HR 27 RBI

Punto was a great acquisition for the Cardinals. He can play third, short or second and with the injury history of Freese, the struggles of Schumaker and the uncertainty of Theriot, Punto is in a good position to play. Laird is a good defensive catcher. His bat has seen a drop off in production, but he can hold his own as the backup to Molina. Jay was fantastic last year for LaRussa. When Rasmus was in the doghouse Jay filled in nicely and was even better in pinch hit situations. LaRussa will find ways to get his bat into the game.

Rotation

1. Chris Carpenter

16-9 3.22 ERA

2. Jaime Garcia

13-8 2.70 ERA

3. Jake Westbrook

10-11 4.22 ERA

4. Kyle Lohse

4-8 6.55 ERA

5. Kyle McClellan

1-4 2.27 ERA

It was a big blow to the Cardinals psyche when it was announced that Adam Wainwright was lost to Tommy John surgery. You wouldn’t know it by their public statements, but it will be tough to replace him. Carpenter is still playing at a high level, but for how much longer. More pressure is on him to perform at a Cy Young level for the Cardinals to remain competitive. Garcia was off to a great start in his rookie season. He started to tail off after the All-Star break though and that doesn’t bode well heading into this season as he’s expected to fill the void left by Wainwright. Westbrook and Lohse have to be healthy for most of the year to lessen the blow to the rotation. Lohse especially. Westbrook was re-signed after his mid-season transfer from Cleveland. He is a ground ball pitcher who will keep the defense active and in the game. Lohse hasn’t started 30 games since 2008 and that was his career year with the Cardinals. Getting at least 170 innings out of Lohse would be great for the Cardinals. McClellan will given a chance to start this year. He has good stuff to stay in the rotation. Whether he can pitch over 150 innings in a season remains to be seen.

Setup

Jason Motte

4-2 2.24 ERA

Closer

Ryan Franklin

27 SV 3.46 ERA

There is only one sure thing about the Cardinals bullpen and that’s Franklin. He is the closer unless he just falls flat this year. His ERA rose almost two runs from the year before which is a bit alarming. It could mean that his time could be up as a top notch closer, but LaRussa is a loyal manager who will stick with his guy until it’s absolutely necessary to make a change. Motte has better stuff than Franklin, but isn’t ready to close full time. He will be a good setup man this year, but there isn’t many viable options for the Cardinals should Franklin falter early in the season.

Cubs Lineup

1. RF Kosuke Fukudome

.263 AVG 13 HR 44 RBI

2. SS Starlin Castro

.300 AVG 3 HR 41 RBI

3. CF Marlon Byrd

.293 AVG 12 HR 66 RBI

4. 1B Carlos Pena*

.196 AVG 28 HR 84 RBI

5. 3B Aramis Ramirez

.241 AVG 25 HR 83 RBI

6. LF Alfonso Soriano

.258 AVG 24 HR 79 RBI

7. C Geovany Soto

.280 AVG 17 HR 53 RBI

8. 2B Blake DeWitt

.261 AVG 5 HR 52 RBI

The Cubs figure to have a lot of players try to be the leadoff hitter this year. Fukudome will be given the first chance. Only because of his ability to hit the ball. He’s not the most patient hitter, but he does have some pop. Castro figures to eventually be the leadoff hitter, but the Cubs don’t want to put that kind of pressure on him just yet. Byrd is coming off an All-Star year. He started to trail off after the break though, but the Cubs believe that isn’t a sign of things to come this season. Pena is a high risk, high reward signing. The batting average is a troubling sign, but he can still hit 30+ HRs during the season. If he does that and hits at least .250, he will be looking for a nice extension. Ramirez is almost at the end of the line in Chicago. He has struggled with injuries for many years now in Chicago, but he can still hit and is an important piece to their lineup. Soriano thus far has been a major disappointment. The Cubs would like to see their 100 million dollar investment do more. He is a far better hitter than he has shown since signing with the Cubs. Soto had a nice bounce back season. His defense is a bit suspect, but his bat is among the best at his position. DeWitt will be someone to watch in Chicago. If Castro does leadoff and does well at that spot, DeWitt is seen as a great hitter in the second spot. He couldn’t make it in the Dodgers lineup, but the Cubs believe in a new surrounding he can flourish.

Bench

OF Tyler Colvin

.254 AVG 20 HR 56 RBI

INF/OF Jeff Baker

.272 AVG 4 HR 21 RBI

C Koyie Hill

.214 AVG 1 HR 17 RBI

Colvin was having a career year until a broken bat stabbed him and sidelined him for the last month of the season. He is fully recovered and should provide a big bat for the Cubs bench. Baker has been a great utility player for the Cubs. He isn’t considered an everyday player, but the Cubs don’t want him to play more than 125 games for them in a season. Hill is a great defensive catcher, which with Soto’s struggles he will see plenty of time. His bat is more of an after thought.

Rotation

1. Ryan Dempster

15-12 3.85 ERA

2. Carlos Zambrano

11-6 3.33 ERA

3. Matt Garza*

15-10 3.91 ERA

4. Randy Wells

8-14 4.26 ERA

5. Andrew Cashner

2-6 4.80 ERA

The Cubs have a good reason to be optimistic this year. Dempster had another good year. Zambrano responded well after his suspension and demotion to the bullpen. And they acquired a great pitcher in Garza from Tampa Bay. Dempster isn’t the quintessential ace, but he is consistent. The Cubs know that every fifth day he can either continue a winning streak or end a losing streak. Zambrano seems to be right going into 2011. If he stays that way, the Cubs would be at ease and not expect anymore explosions from him. Garza is a good complement to Dempster and Zambrano. He’s a big game pitcher who knows what it is like to play with a team that has a history of losing. There is hope that with him in the rotation it will help turn the culture of losing around. Wells was a big disappointment last year. The Cubs would like to see him make a big leap forward to make up for his 2010 campaign. Cashner won the last starting spot over the veteran Carlos Silva. Silva left on bad terms, but the Cubs feel that Cashner is ready for the rotation. He will need time to get adjusted, but he has the stuff to be a middle of the rotation type starter.

Setup

Kerry Wood*

3-4 3.13 ERA

Closer

Carlos Marmol

38 SV 2.55 ERA

Chicago’s bullpen was in a state of disarray last year. They didn’t have any great setup options for Marmol, but he was still able to save almost 40 games. He has electric stuff and it’s a wonder the Cubs didn’t name him the closer sooner. Wood decided to return to Chicago and fill the setup role. He was fantastic as the setup man to Mariano Rivera in New York. If he can do the same in Chicago, they will be tough to beat in the eighth and ninth innings this season.

Astros Lineup

1. CF Michael Bourn

.265 AVG 2 HR 38 RBI

2. SS Clint Barmes*

.235 AVG 8 HR 50 RBI

3. RF Hunter Pence

.282 AVG 25 HR 91 RBI

4. LF Carlos Lee

.246 AVG 24 HR 89 RBI

5. 3B Chris Johnson

.308 AVG 11 HR 52 RBI

6. 2B Bill Hall*

.247 AVG 18 HR 46 RBI

7. 1B Brett Wallace

.301 AVG 18 HR 61 RBI (AAA stats)

8. C Humberto Quintero

.234 AVG 4 HR 20 RBI

They are starting to bring along some young players in the Astros lineup. Bourn is turning into one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. He plays stellar defense and knows what to do in every situation during the game. Barmes isn’t the ideal number two hitter, but he will have a chance to drive in plenty of runs with Bourn batting in front of him. Pence continues to perform with hardly any protection. He was widely considered a five tool player and he is living up to that potential. Lee had a bad year. Houston hopes there isn’t a repeat of that, but he will eventually have to switch positions. Johnson and Wallace are part of the youth movement that Houston is bringing along this year. Johnson played well for a half season. In a full season, he should do even better. Wallace will be brought along slowly, but he has a plus bat and can field with the best of them. Hall has decent power, but he won’t be the savior for Houston. Quintero will be starting due to a season ending knee injury to Jason Castro. Quintero is a good defender, but isn’t a great option at the plate.

Bench

INF/OF Jeff Keppinger

.288 AVG 6 HR 59 RBI

OF Jason Michaels

.253 AVG 8 HR 26 RBI

C J.R. Towles

.191 AVG 1 HR 8 RBI

Keppinger had a career year playing all over the place. He will see plenty of playing time either in left field, short, second and sometimes center to give Bourn a night off. Michaels is a good pinch hitter, but at this stage in his career he doesn’t offer a lot if someone goes down due to injury. Towles is the default backup catcher. He has been a disappointment as the future starting catcher. This could be his last chance to stay on the roster.

Rotation

1. Wandy Rodriguez

11-12 3.60 ERA

2. Brett Myers

14-8 3.14 ERA

3. J.A. Happ

6-4 3.40 ERA

4. Bud Norris

9-10 4.92 ERA

5. Nelson Figueroa

7-4 3.29 ERA

Without Oswalt the Astros don’t have an ace, but two pretty good starters. Rodriguez and Myers had good years despite the troubles with the lineup and the bullpen. Rodriguez can easily get 15 wins this year with a little more run support. Myers had a career year and could easily repeat those numbers. Happ was the main piece acquired for Oswalt last year from Philadelphia. Happ had to make some adjustments being in a starting rotation after spending most of the year in the bullpen. He should do fine with Houston in a full season. Norris and Figueroa are considered after thoughts, but Norris is a decent pitcher who has had potential throughout his career. Figueroa is the veteran of the staff and still can get the best of big league hitting. This is probably his last big league job, but he will make the most of it.

Setup

Wilton Lopez

5-2 2.96 ERA

Closer

Brandon Lyon

20 SV 3.12 ERA

The Astros bullpen took a hit when they traded their closer Matt Lindstrom to the Colorado Rockies. Not to say they didn’t have another closer already in Lyon, but it was a strange move at the time. Houston hopes that Lyon will be able to hold down that job. There isn’t many other venues for the Astros to go to. Lopez was a good in the setup role. It remains to be seen if he can repeat that performance in a fairly depleted bullpen. The Astros don’t have big expectations this year, but they do manage to find reliable players to fill holes during the season.

Pirates Lineup

1. LF Jose Tabata

.299 AVG 4 HR 35 RBI

2. 2B Neil Walker

.296 AVG 12 HR 66 RBI

3. CF Andrew McCutchen

.286 AVG 16 HR 56 RBI

4. 3B Pedro Alvarez

.256 AVG 16 HR 64 RBI

5. 1B Lyle Overbay*

.243 AVG 20 HR 67 RBI

6. RF Garrett Jones

.247 AVG 21 HR 86 RBI

7. C Chris Snyder

.207 AVG 15 HR 48 RBI

8. SS Ronny Cedeno

.256 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI

The Pirates brought along some of their top prospects last year. Pittsburgh hopes that this year they can continue to contribute towards a brighter future. Tabata was one of those prospects. He is a good hitter with a knack for stealing a base. Walker had a career year last season. He played a new position and was fantastic. Pittsburgh hopes he can continue that trend being surrounded by Tabata and McCutchen. The Pirates best player by far is McCutchen. He is a bona fide five tool player and Pittsburgh believes that he hasn’t reached his full potential yet. Alvarez is being thrust into the cleanup spot this year. He has tremendous power potential. They don’t want to put a lot of pressure on him, but they would like to see him start to get comfortable. Overbay and Jones are the two veterans in the lineup. Overbay is a sound defender and has decent pop. Jones has the best power on the team. Both should easily hit 20+ HRs with the short porch in right field at PNC Park. Snyder had a good year in the power category, but he is making a name for himself behind the plate. The Pirates are fortunate to have a steady hand in charge of their pitching staff. Cedeno had an okay year. He is another good defender for Pittsburgh, but they would like to see his average near .280. The Pirates have some balance to their lineup this year. First time in years they probably won’t trade away almost all of them for prospects.

Bench

OF Matt Diaz*

.250 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

C Ryan Doumit

.251 AVG 13 HR 45 RBI

OF John Bowker

.219 AVG 5 HR 21 RBI

Diaz was an after thought during the offseason. He is one of the best hitters against lefthanded pitching and will see most of his playing time in right field. Doumit can still hit for power, but isn’t the best defender. He will still see time behind the plate, but will probably play first base more often. Bowker has decent pop, but has struggled to make consistent contact. He was considered a top prospect with the Giants, but the Pirates would like to see him fine tune his mechanics.

Rotation

1. Paul Maholm

9-15 5.10 ERA

2. Kevin Correia*

10-10 5.40 ERA

3. James McDonald

4-6 4.02 ERA

4. Ross Ohlendorf

1-11 4.07 ERA

5. Charlie Morton

2-12 7.57 ERA

It’s still considered a work in progress, but there is progress at the top. Maholm is their best pitcher. He’s not going to pile up a lot of strikeouts, but he does put the ball in play. That bodes well for a good defensive team. Correia was a good acquisition. He was a part of a winning team last year in San Diego and the Pirates should have that rub off on the rest of the team. As long as Correia plays to win, the Pirates will remain competitive. McDonald has the best stuff on the staff. The Dodgers were using more in the bullpen, but Pittsburgh likes how he responded last year being put in the rotation. Ohlendorf had a rough year. So did Morton, but both should be able to do better this year. Even slightly would be a major improvement for the Pirates. If the back end of the rotation can catch up with the first three starters, the Pirates won’t have many glaring weaknesses this year on the staff.

Setup

Evan Meek

5-4 2.14 ERA

Closer

Joel Hanrahan

6 SV 3.62 ERA

The Pirates bullpen should be good. Meek was their lone All-Star selection last year. He gets outs and it doesn’t matter how he does it. He can go a couple outings without getting a strikeout and sometimes he will strikeout the side. Either way he is a solid setup man for Hanrahan. They have the right closer in Hanrahan. He is a hard throwing righthander who will come after the hitter. He hates losing and even more when it’s on him. Hanrahan saving 30 games can be accomplished, but that all depends on the starters and whether the lineup can consistently produce runs.

American League Central

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Minnesota Twins
A healthy Morneau and Nathan should get them back into the postseason.
2. Chicago White Sox
A power heavy lineup with a balanced rotation has the South Side buzzing.
3. Detroit Tigers
Will they get a repeat performance from Miguel Cabrera?
4. Cleveland Indians
Manny Acta has some pieces, but Cleveland will look to the future.
5. Kansas City Royals
In another year they might be ready to compete in the Central.

Player to Watch: Justin Morneau Minnesota Twins
If I were to tell you that the Twins would have won the division without Justin Morneau, you wouldn’t have believed me. But if I were to tell you that the Twins wouldn’t even compete for a World Series title without Morneau, you would believe me. That’s the status of the Twins in a nutshell. They have to have a healthy Morneau to even be considered contenders. Sure they also need fellow AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer healthy as well, but Morneau is at a premium for them. They’ve managed to get by in the Central without Morneau, but once it’s playoff time they don’t have the added punch in their lineup. From 2006-09 he’s averaged 30 HR and over 100 RBI. Not all of their misfortunes in the postseason are attributed to Morneau’s absence, but with him they have a punchers chance. Rest assured that he has fully recovered from a concussion, but they will keep a close on him going forward.

Best Acquisition: 1B/DH Adam Dunn Chicago White Sox
When the White Sox signed Dunn most expected them to part ways with their previous first baseman Paul Konerko. Quite the contrary. Dunn decided to give playing DH full time a try and that allowed Chicago to bring back Konerko. Dunn’s presence will help the entire lineup immensely. Konerko has protection. Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios have less pressure to drive in runs. Even the bottom of their order could potentially drive in more than 70 runs playing half the season at US Cellular Field. That hitters paradise will remind folks of Dunn’s power production when he was in Cincinnati. Chicago’s general manger Ken Williams hit a home run (pun intended) getting Dunn. Expect him to be the most dangerous hitter in the American League.

New Kid on the Block: 3B Mike Moustakas Kansas City Royals
Kansas City has been touting Moustakas since drafting him 2nd overall in 2007. He was brought along slowly and in the right way. The Royals general manager Dayton Moore has built a strong farm system for Kansas City since his arrival in 2006. Moore is a great evaluator of talent from his days in the Atlanta Braves organization. Moustakas is a solid defender at third base and is primed to be one of the best hitters at his age. Along with two other prospects, Eric Hosmer at first base and Will Myers at catcher the Royals have a middle of the order to rival their hay day in the 1980s. Kansas City shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to reach the point of contention.

Twins Lineup

1. CF Denard Span

.264 AVG 3 HR 58 RBI

2. 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka*

.260 AVG 14 HR 41 RBI (2009 stats)

3. C Joe Mauer

.327 AVG 9 HR 75 RBI

4. 1B Justin Morneau

.345 AVG 18 HR 56 RBI

5. RF Michael Cuddyer

.271 AVG 14 HR 81 RBI

6. DH Jason Kubel

.249 AVG 21 HR 92 RBI

7. LF Delmon Young

.298 AVG 21 HR 112 RBI

8. 3B Danny Valencia

.311 AVG 7 HR 40 RBI

9. SS Alexi Casilla

.276 AVG 1 HR 20 RBI

This is perhaps the most versatile lineup in baseball. Almost everyone can play multiple positions any given day. Span is the catalyst at the top. A good hitter and solid fielder he is one of the most underrated players in the game. He does suffer through prolonged slumps, but he is a solid .300 hitter. Nishioka is an unknown of sorts, but one thing is for sure is his hitting ability. The Twins will have him start at second base, but played shortstop in Japan. He should be able to find a comfort zone batting in front of Mauer. Speaking of, Mauer should be ready to go at the start of the season. He next to Morneau, is the most important player to keep healthy. He handles the pitching staff well and the power numbers should bounce back with some adjustments to a second year at Target Field. Morneau might have won his second AL MVP award had he suffered a season ending concussion. The Twins are hopeful there aren’t anymore flare ups and he can make it through the season unscathed. Cuddyer is the prime example of versatility. He will be penciled in right field, but can play left field, third base, first base and even second. His power numbers suffered like everyone else’s, but he is too good to let that happen in consecutive seasons. Kubel had a subpar year. He wasn’t the same hitter the year before and it didn’t seem to be because of the ballpark adjustment. Minnesota would like to see a more consistent year from Kubel. Young had his most productive year since being a highly touted prospect in Tampa Bay. He’s been the model citizen in Minnesota and he has gradually improved every year in the Twin Cities. Valencia had an impressive rookie year. If he should continue the upward trend the bottom of their order just might not have any weaknesses like in years past. Casilla is being given the shortstop job outright. He’s been the first guy off the bench as a defensive replacement or a pinch runner, but he has shown great potential to man the important position. His bat is not his biggest strength, but he doesn’t strikeout very often.

Bench

1B/DH Jim Thome

.283 AVG 25 HR 59 RBI

INF Matt Tolbert

.230 AVG 1 HR 18 RBI

OF Jason Repko

.228 AVG 3 HR 9 RBI

Thome is just 11 home runs away from joining the 600 home run club. That shouldn’t be a problem as he hit 25 last year. Had he not produced the way he did last year when Morneau was out, he probably would have hung up his cleats. Regardless the Twins are happy to have him back and try for number 600 and a title. Tolbert is a versatile infielder who is a solid defender. Doesn’t offer much in the hit department, but gives manager Ron Gardenhire flexibility to keep the regulars fresh. Repko has been a scrappy hitter throughout his career. Struggles to get into a groove, but he gives the Twins a good pinch runner when necessary.

Rotation

1. Carl Pavano

17-11 3.75 ERA

2. Francisco Liriano

14-10 3.62 ERA

3. Nick Blackburn

10-12 5.42 ERA

4. Brian Duensing

10-3 2.62 ERA

5. Scott Baker

12-9 4.49 ERA

Had Minnesota not re-signed Pavano, it would’ve been a lot harder to consider them a contender in the Central. They still would have five quality starters, but Pavano has resurrected his career in Minnesota. He is the definitive ace and to expect him to win less than 15 games would be shocking. Liriano has returned near to his 2006 form. This might be the year in which that potential is seen throughout an entire season. It’s scary to think his ceiling hasn’t been touched. Blackburn had a major problem keeping the ball away from opposing hitters bats last year, but his stuff is still solid and he will be given another chance to stay in the rotation. Duensing was a solid contributor in the bullpen at the beginning of last year and found himself in the rotation by the end of the year. His production stayed on par and was part of the starting staff in the postseason. Unfortunately he wasn’t nearly on par against the Yankees in his only start. Baker beat out Kevin Slowey for the fifth spot. Baker is a grinder and works the strike zone to death. His control will have to be pinpoint as he isn’t at the top of the rotation. Slowey will be pitching in the bullpen to start the season, but can start in a pinch if anyone is hurt or struggles.

Setup

Matt Capps

5-3 2.47 ERA

Closer

Joe Nathan

47 SV 2.10 ERA (2009 stats)

The one thing missing from the Twins last year was the dominant Joe Nathan. Fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, Nathan will look to get back on track being one of the best closers in the game. Filling in nicely after being acquired from Washington was Matt Capps. He saved a career high 42 games with Minnesota (16) and Washington (26). Capps should do well setting up Nathan. Capps isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but knows how to get hitters to chase. Minnesota does have a lot of open pieces to fill out the rest of the bullpen, but the one sure thing is that Nathan is healthy and they have a quality setup man and closer when necessary in Capps.

White Sox Lineup

1. LF Juan Pierre

.275 AVG 1 HR 47 RBI

2. SS Alexei Ramirez

.282 AVG 18 HR 70 RBI

3. 1B Paul Konerko

.312 AVG 39 HR 111 RBI

4. DH Adam Dunn*

.260 AVG 38 HR 103 RBI

5. RF Carlos Quentin

.243 AVG 26 HR 87 RBI

6. CF Alex Rios

.284 AVG 21 HR 88 RBI

7. 2B Gordon Beckham

.252 AVG 9 HR 49 RBI

8. C A.J. Pierzynski

.270 AVG 9 HR 56 RBI

9. 3B Brent Morel

.322 AVG 10 HR 64 RBI (AA and AAA stats)

Chicago’s lineup from top to bottom is the best in the division. Pierre and Ramirez at the top are a great 1-2 punch for the big bats in the middle. Pierre is a threat to get on base anyway possible. When he does get on base, his base stealing skills are second to none. Ramirez makes contact almost every time he steps into the box. He should be a mainstay in the White Sox lineup for many years. Konerko and Dunn make a formidable duo. On paper it appears to be a better match than the 2005 championship duo of Konerko and Jermaine Dye. What remains to be seen is if Dunn can adjust to American League pitching and being a full time DH. Konerko is still a threat at this stage of his career and Chicago hopes he can continue for the next three seasons. Quentin and Rios’ responsibilities are simple now. Drive in runs. There will be plenty because of Pierre and Ramirez at the top. Konerko and Dunn will be walked a lot. Quentin and Rios are both capable of driving the runners in. Beckham had a rough outing last year. Chicago would like to see him make a big turnaround with him lowered in the lineup. Pierzynski was re-signed because of his familiarity with the pitching staff and that he can still produce. Most catchers regress at this point, but he has kept himself in good shape. Manager Ozzie Guillen has been a fan of his since his hiring in 2004. Morel was in competition with Mark Teahen for the starting third base job during spring training. Morel is a superb defender, but will need time to find a groove at the plate. White Sox fans hope he can be what Joe Crede was for so many years at the hot corner.

Bench

INF/OF Mark Teahen
.258 AVG 4 HR 25 RBI
INF Omar Vizquel
.276 AVG 2 HR 30 RBI
OF Lastings Milledge*
.277 AVG 4 HR 34 RBI

Teahen will see plenty of playing time. Was strictly a third baseman when he first played in the majors, but since his arrival in Chicago he’s been played almost everywhere for them. His bat isn’t what many had thought it would turn out, but maybe not being a full time starter will help him. A defined role is what he needs and his role is a utility player. Vizquel can still field with the best of them. So much so that Chicago had him playing third base at times last year. He can still hit, but he won’t come near his career averages. Milledge is an interesting addition. He’s had so much potential since coming up through the Mets organization. He hasn’t lived up to it, but the White Sox are known for giving once top prospects another chance to fulfill that potential. It could happen again with Milledge.

Rotation

1. Mark Buehrle
13-13 4.28 ERA
2. Edwin Jackson
10-12 4.47 ERA
3. John Danks
15-11 3.72 ERA
4. Gavin Floyd
10-13 4.08 ERA
5. Jake Peavy
7-6 4.63 ERA

Through the past decade there has been one certain fact about the White Sox. Mark Buehrle is their ace. There have been many good starting pitchers that have been considered better and more qualified than Buehrle. The White Sox fans and organization wouldn’t have it any other way. His numbers aren’t as flashy as others, but he gets the job done. Jackson was a deadline acquisition last year. He is penciled in as the number two starter simply because of the stuff he has in his arsenal. He pitched better in Chicago than in Arizona which in a full season should bode well for the Sox. Danks and Floyd have had good seasons every other year since arriving in Chicago. Danks is starting to emerge and become a solid starter. Floyd still struggles with his control, but possesses electric stuff from the right side. Peavy will probably start the season on the DL. Chicago took a risk acquiring him in 2009, but it was a calculated one by general manager Ken Williams. This is a make or break year for Peavy. His ERA was inflated, which playing in a hitters park half time helps with that. The White Sox have a good staff, but a lot is riding on the health of Peavy.

Setup

Chris Sale
2-1 1.93 ERA

Closer

Matt Thornton
8 SV 2.67 ERA

There was a lot of bad blood between former closer Bobby Jenks and manager Ozzie Guillen. Jenks’ struggles were starting to get to his biggest supporter who happened to also be the manager, Ozzie Guillen. With Jenks departure that does leave a hole in Chicago’s ninth inning. They do have two hard throwing lefthanders in Sale and Thornton to help fill the void. Sale is a potential starter, but will brought along slowly in the bullpen. The will give Thornton the closer’s job to start the season, but expect Sale to get plenty of opportunities to close as well. Chicago signed Jesse Crain away from division rival Minnesota. Crain is an innings eater and is a great complement to the setup role in Chicago’s bullpen. The White Sox hope their bullpen will be part of the solution and not the problem.

Tigers Lineup

1. Austin Jackson

.293 AVG 4 HR 41 RBI

2. 2B Will Rhymes

.304 AVG 1 HR 19 RBI

3. RF Magglio Ordonez

.303 AVG 12 HR 59 RBI

4. 1B Miguel Cabrera

.328 AVG 38 HR 126 RBI

5. DH Victor Martinez*

.302 AVG 20 HR 79 RBI
6. LF Brennan Boesch
.256 AVG 14 HR 67 RBI
7. SS Jhonny Peralta
.249 AVG 15 HR 81 RBI
8. 3B Brandon Inge
.247 AVG 13 HR 70 RBI
9. C Alex Avila
.228 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

There are a couple of sure things about Detroit’s lineup. One is that Jackson is a legitimate leadoff hitter. He does strikeout more than the typical leadoff hitter, but his speed more than makes up for it. Two is that the Tigers will need to find someone who can consistently hit second. Rhymes will get the chance this year after Scott Sizemore failed last year. He hits to contact and that’s all that Detroit wants from that spot. The last sure thing is they will need another repeat performance from Cabrera. Ordonez going down with an ankle injury last year didn’t seem to slow down Cabrera’s production. Should Ordonez have another good season, Cabrera shouldn’t have any trouble getting MVP votes again. Detroit will need to watch what he does off the field as that has become troublesome once again. Signing Martinez was priority number one in the offseason. He will get playing time at his natural position at catcher, but the Tigers want his bat in the lineup more than his defense. Boesch was off to a fast start when he was called up last year and then suddenly took a dive after the All-Star break. The Tigers would like to see him regain that power stroke he showed from May-July. Peralta and Inge are good run producers who should shore up the bottom of their lineup. Both play good defense although Peralta is getting closer to having to play third base more often. Avila appears to have a hold on the catching spot with his superb defense. It remains to be seen if he can hit on a consistent basis, but he does well handling a talent pitching staff.

Bench

INF/OF Ryan Raburn
.280 AVG 15 HR 62 RBI
2B Scott Sizemore
.224 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI
OF Don Kelly
.244 AVG 9 HR 27 RBI

Detroit has one of the best utility players in the game in Raburn. He will see a lot of playing time in the outfield if Boesch struggles and/or Ordonez gets hurt. Besides playing great defense he can hit too. His numbers are on an upward trend and manager Jim Leyland likes playing guys who are ready to go in any given situation. Sizemore will be given another chance should Rhymes struggle at second, but there might be anymore should he falter again. Kelly is another good utility player who can play any outfield position and his decent pop from the left side.

Rotation

1. Justin Verlander
18-9 3.37 ERA
2. Max Scherzer
12-11 3.50 ERA
3. Rick Porcello
10-12 4.92 ERA
4. Brad Penny*
3-4 3.23 ERA
5. Phil Coke
7-5 3.76 ERA

The Tigers have two of the best young righthanders at the top of their rotation. Verlander is exactly what Detroit was hoping for and more when they drafted him 2nd overall in 2004. He’s already thrown one no-hitter in his career. The one thing missing is a Cy Young award which he could be in contention for this year. Scherzer was quite the find in 2009. The former 1st round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been a strikeout machine. Should he eclipse the 200 innings pitched mark this year he will easily surpass 200 strikeouts. Porcello had a rough sophomore year in the majors. He’s still prone to giving up a lot of runs in one inning, but is far too talented to let that happen. One encouraging sign was his drop in home runs allowed from 23-18. Penny was signed to help solidify the back end of the rotation. He was well on his way to a bounce back year in St. Louis last year until a shoulder injury ended his season. Fully recovered he looks to recapture what he started last year. Coke is being given a chance to start in the big leagues. A bit of a risk for Detroit, but with no lefthanders ready in the minors they figure to give the crafty lefthander a chance. He will need to keep the hits to a minimum as his WHIP rose from 1.06-1.43.

Setup

Joaquin Benoit*
1-2 1.34 ERA

Closer

Jose Valverde
26 SV 3.00 ERA

After signing Victor Martinez, Detroit set their sights on the bullpen. Signing Benoit to setup closer Jose Valverde was the steal of the offseason. He had a career year as the setup man in Tampa Bay. Bringing him in will hopefully lock down the Tigers lead going into the ninth inning. That was a major problem last year and led to the downfall for Detroit down the stretch. Valverde is one of the best closers in the game. It’s been two years since he last saved 40 games, but that’s when the teams he was on were contending day in and day out. Detroit was in contention last year, but it was more difficult to save a game when you had to come in with two outs in the eighth inning. If Joel Zumaya can make another comeback from shoulder problems he will make the Tigers bullpen a three headed machine for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Indians Lineup

1. CF Michael Brantley

.246 AVG 3 HR 22 RBI

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera

.276 AVG 3 HR 29 RBI

3. RF Shin-Soo Choo

.300 AVG 22 HR 90 RBI

4. C Carlos Santana

.260 AVG 6 HR 22 RBI

5. DH Travis Hafner

.278 AVG 13 HR 50 RBI

6. LF Austin Kearns*

.263 AVG 10 HR 49 RBI

7. 1B Matt LaPorta

.221 AVG 12 HR 41 RBI

8. 2B Orlando Cabrera*

.263 AVG 4 HR 42 RBI

9. 3B Jason Donald

.253 AVG 4 HR 24 RBI

Cleveland’s lineup looks a little different from last year. The reason is that CF Grady Sizemore isn’t apart of it, for the moment. He’s still recovering from micro-fracture surgery on his knee, but is expected to play by late April. For the moment Brantley will be given a chance to become the Indians leadoff hitter from here on out. Should he fit the mold his steal numbers are sure to grow (10 last year). Asdrubal Cabrera is sure to benefit from having Orlando (no relation) play along side him this year. Orlando is a class act and a plus defender. Asdrubal is becoming one of the best defensive shortstops today and should only get better going forward. Both Cabreras’ are good hitters, but Asdrubal has the potential for an even better year than 2009 (.308-6 HR-68 RBI). Soo Choo has become one of the best unknown gems in the game. He performed well with little to no protection in the lineup last year. If Hafner has a healthy season and Santana has a bounce back sophomore year, Choo should be an All-Star in Phoenix. Santana is better than his rookie season showed. He is a plus defender, but what makes him an elite prospect is hit bat. How Cleveland was able to get him from the Dodgers for Casey Blake is beyond me, but he will need to stay healthy to justify Cleveland trading away fan favorite Victor Martinez. Kearns was signed back from New York where he was traded to last year. Kearns is good power option from the right and will complement what Hafner brings from the left side. Both have injury plagued careers, but should be kept fresh with the youth Cleveland has for its depth. LaPorta and Donald are part of that youth movement that the Indians will be slowly bringing along this year. LaPorta was the main piece acquired from Milwaukee for C.C. Sabathia. Donald was acquired from Philadelphia for Cliff Lee. Indians fans want to see what these guys are made of.

Bench

OF Trevor Crowe

.251 AVG 2 HR 36 RBI

INF Jayson Nix

.234 AVG 13 HR 29 RBI

C Lou Marson

.195 AVG 3 HR 22 RBI

Crowe will see plenty of playing time with the injury concerns of Kearns and Sizemore hovering over the outfield this year. He is a great pinch runner and is better than his .251 from last year. Nix has decent pop and can play all over the infield. More of a third baseman by trade, Cleveland would rather have him on their bench than in the starting lineup on a daily basis. Marson has been relegated to being the backup since the arrival of Santana. Marson was acquired with Jason Donald in the Cliff Lee deal from Philadelphia, but hasn’t made his mark in the organization. He’s a good defender, but his bat has never been consistent at the major league level.

Rotation

1. Fausto Carmona

13-14 3.77 ERA

2. Justin Masterson

6-13 4.70 ERA

3. Carlos Carrasco

2-2 5.51 ERA

4. Mitch Talbot

10-13 4.41 ERA

5. Jeanmar Gomez

4-5 4.68 ERA

Cleveland was pleased to see a great season from Carmona. Compared to his 2009 season, he was the winner of the Cy Young award. He is starting to take control of his potential and thanks to some adjustments to his mechanics, he blossomed into what Cleveland always knew he could be. Masterson has struggled to find a groove in the rotation after starting out in Boston’s bullpen. He should have a bounce back year with a year under his belt as a full time starter. Carrasco was another top prospect acquired from Philadelphia for, guess who, Cliff Lee. A full season from him would be great as he is a top of the rotation starter. Talbot was better than his ERA shows. He was in competitive in most of his outings and many considered it to be a great considering his only professional year was back in 2008 appearing in only 3 games that year for Tampa Bay. Gomez has slowly gone through the Indians system and will be given an opportunity to claim a spot in the rotation. He has good stuff and won’t be overworked as the Indians see him as a potential number two or three starter going forward. Josh Tomlin is another talented righthander who will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Gomez.

Setup

Rafael Perez

6-1 3.25 ERA

Closer

Chris Perez

23 SV 1.71 ERA

The Indians manager Manny Acta knows what he has with his bullpen. A strong back end lead by the Perez’s, Rafael the lefty and Chris the righty. Both don’t wow you with blazing stuff, but they do get the job done. Chris was effective as the closer after an abysmal year in 2009. He didn’t have a defined role that year and was given the first chance of being the closer under Manny Acta and it has paid off. If Cleveland gets a lead into the ninth, it will be hard to beat them with Chris closing the game. Rafael, like Chris had a bounce back year. A season to forget in 2009, Rafael regained his command of his fastball and was a dominant setup man once again. The Indians know that in order to remain competitive, they have to have a strong bullpen and they are off to a good start.

Royals Lineup

1. SS Alcides Escobar*

.235 AVG 4 HR 41 RBI

2. CF Melky Cabrera*

.255 AVG 4 HR 42 RBI

3. 3B Mike Aviles

.304 AVG 8 HR 32 RBI

4. 1B Billy Butler

.318 AVG 15 HR 78 RBI

5. DH Kila Ka’aihue

.217 AVG 8 HR 25 RBI

6. RF Jeff Francoeur*

.249 AVG 13 HR 65 RBI

7. LF Alex Gordon

.215 AVG 8 HR 20 RBI

8. C Jason Kendall

.256 AVG 0 HR 37 RBI

9. 2B Chris Getz

.237 AVG 0 HR 18 RBI

The Royals have a new look and they hope it will be the foundation for the future that is just around the corner. Escobar was the main piece acquired from Milwaukee for former Cy Young winner Zach Greinke. He is a great defender at shortstop. The one flaw that will turn around soon is his bat. He has the potential to be a Rafael Furcal type who can hit, steal bases, score runs and be a gold glove caliber defender. Cabrera was primed to be a mainstay in the New York Yankees lineup, but was injured, replaced and now is being seen as keeping a spot warm for an eventual replacement. Lorenzo Cain will eventually be the everyday center fielder, but for now the Royals are contempt with having Cabrera who they hope can have a good year. Aviles found a home at third base last year and with that he had a good season. With Mike Moustakas waiting in the wings, Aviles will probably be switched over to second base, but his approach shouldn’t change. Butler has become one of the best hitters in the game and no one seems to know. That will change once he is selected to an All-Star game. When the other prospects in the Royals organization are ready Butler will be at the forefront of the lineup. Ka’aihue has decent power, but isn’t consistent enough to to warrant being in the everyday lineup. Francoeur has gone from can’t miss prospect in Atlanta to a struggling to hit above .250 for a full season. Injuries have set his career back, but he is starting to turn around his approach at the plate and is becoming more patient than when he first was called up. Gordon struggled with the hype being the next big thing at third base. Injuries didn’t help either, but a fresh start in left field should help him along. He is still one of the best hitter Kansas City has. Kendall is a capable veteran who does a great job handling a pitching staff. The Royals have a top prospect in Will Myers who might be ready towards the end of this season, but Kendall should be adequate for the upcoming season. Getz failed in the top of the order. Kansas City would like to see him produce and get on base. His speed is still a threat. The Royals have to play small ball until the big bats arrive.

Bench

INF Wilson Betemit

.297 AVG 13 HR 43 RBI

OF Gregor Blanco

.283 AVG 1 HR 14 RBI

C Brayan Pena

.253 AVG 1 HR 19 RBI

Betemit will see playing time at the corner infield spots. He has decent pop from both sides of the plate. Should Getz struggle mightily, Kansas City will have to move Aviles over to second and Betemit will become the mainstay at third until the arrival of Moustakas. Blanco will see time as a pinch runner and a replacement in center for Cabrera. He plays to contact at the plate and when he does play he will be hitting at the top of the lineup. Pena is a good defender and will probably see a bulk of playing time with Kendall being to get up there in age. His bat won’t wow you, but does make good contact.

Rotation

1. Luke Hochevar

6-6 4.81 ERA

2. Jeff Francis*

4-6 5.00 ERA

3. Kyle Davies

8-12 5.34 ERA

4. Vin Mazzaro*

6-8 4.27 ERA

5. Bruce Chen

12-7 4.17 ERA

There is no clear cut ace, but the Royals hope former 1st round pick Hochevar can get to that point. It did take a while for Greinke to reach that point and the Royals hope the same can be said for Hochevar. He has good stuff and is in a good position for a breakout year. Francis would like to have a healthy season. As would the Royals. They don’t expect him to be the Francis of 2007 (17-9 4.22 ERA). All they would like is a nice complement to what they hop Hochevar can be at the top of the rotation. Davies has had plenty of chances and this might be his last. His career ERA of 5.49 in six seasons is not a good sign of a top of the rotation pitcher. The Royals don’t have any minor league options ready this year so that leaves Davies in the rotation for the time being. Mazzaro was acquired from Oakland for David DeJesus. He’s not a strikeout pitcher, but rather puts the ball in play and keeps the defense active the entire time he’s out there. Chen isn’t a bad fifth starter. He has played for 10 teams in his career, but last year was probably his best. He did everything for Kansas City, even saving one game. He would be higher in the rotation, but Kansas City doesn’t want to fix what isn’t broke with Chen.

Setup

Robinson Tejeda

3-5 3.54 ERA

Closer

Joakim Soria

43 SV 1.78 ERA

This has been the strength for Kansas City. Not the entire bullpen. Just Soria. The Royals do have capable arms to get to Soria, but a lot of them are either unproven or too inconsistent. Tejeda is a converted starter who struggled with his command, but has found a groove in the pen. Soria has become probably the best closer next to Mariano Rivera in the majors. It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t get enough publicity, but it’s probably for the best. Soria was quite the find as a Rule 5 draft pick from San Diego. He quickly was thrust into the closer role and hasn’t looked back. The Royals have been wise to hang onto him. The lineup is about to get better and the starting pitching will gradually become better.

American League West

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Los Angeles Angels
A stellar rotation will need a lot more run support to win the West.
2. Texas Rangers
Losing Cliff Lee and letting Vladimir Guerrero go will hurt their chances.
3. Oakland Athletics
Their great young rotation won’t get them as far with a revamped lineup.
4. Seattle Mariners
Eric Wedge has his work cut out for him turning around Seattle.

Player to Watch: 1B Kendry Morales LA Angels
I’m not going to say that Morales would have hit for over .300 and driven in over 100 runs had he been healthy last year. You all know that. What is important to watch with Morales this year is if he can return to that form? Everything was clicking with him and it was spreading to the rest of the lineup. Once his ankle was broken celebrating a walk-off home run at home plate, the momentum was shattered. That’s what the Angels have to get back. They were a contender with Morales last year. This year they still are with him and their starting staff. Should Morales make a full recovery and return to form, the Angels will have an easier time contending with the Texas Rangers.

Best Acquisition: OF David DeJesus Oakland Athletics
With a .289 career average, DeJesus won’t wow you, but playing in the spacious confines of Oakland Alameda County Coliseum he should easily approach that average. Not many know about him. All he does is quietly go about his business and put up impressive for the Kansas City Royals. His 2008 and 2009 seasons were his best. He hit 12 and 13 home runs, respectively and drove in at least 70 runs in those seasons. He isn’t the ideal number three hitter for Oakland or any team for that matter. However, he makes contact and isn’t an easy out for opposing pitchers. He plays all three outfield positions adequately and should help Oakland’s team batting average rise a few points (.256).

New Kid on the Block: 2B Dustin Ackley Seattle Mariners
The Mariners will bring him along slowly, but his debut is inevitable. What made him the second overall pick in 2009 was his bat. Drafted as a center fielder, he is being groomed as a second baseman simply because it’s the only open spot for him in the lineup. He is the ideal number two hitter, but with Ichiro and Chone Figgins at the top, Seattle will have him at the bottom of the order. They want to be careful to not anoint him the savior of their lackluster hitting. He will be good, but Ackley will first need to settle in and find his niche and then find a position. Rest assured the Mariners are making the right choice by bringing him up. They need all the help they can get.

Angels Lineup

1. 3B Maicer Izturis

.250 AVG 2 HR 13 RBI

2. DH Bobby Abreu

.255 AVG 20 HR 78 RBI

3. 1B Kendry Morales

.290 AVG 11 HR 39 RBI

4. RF Torii Hunter

.281 AVG 23 HR 90 RBI

5. LF Vernon Wells*

.273 AVG 31 HR 88 RBI

6. 2B Howie Kendrick

.279 AVG 10 HR 75 RBI

7. SS Erick Aybar

.253 AVG 5 HR 29 RBI

8. C Jeff Mathis

.195 AVG 3 HR 18 RBI

9. CF Peter Bourjos

.204 AVG 6 HR 15 RBI

Not many teams will cringe when they see this lineup, but don’t be fooled when you see Izturis’ name at the top. He’s a tough guy to get out and he is a good baserunner. Abreu had a down year and there are worries that it’s a sign he’s in decline. The Angels probably have another year or two left in Abreu. Still is patient as ever and is one of the best in hit and run situations. Morales will start the year on the DL. He shouldn’t be sidelined for long. His presence was dearly missed last year and putting him in the three hole will ease the pressure from the first two spots. Hunter did well when Morales went down last year. Even though it was apparent that he had lost some bat speed. Acquiring Wells was a nice move. Not the move they initially wanted to make, but still a good move. Wells had a nice bounce back year in Toronto. With his presence it should ease the burden on Hunter in the cleanup spot. Kendrick has long been considered one of the best hitters on the Angels. He has never been able to find a set spot in the lineup, but he should find a home in the sixth hole. Aybar and Mathis are interchangeable. If Mathis hits, he moves up in the lineup. If Aybar hits, he moves into the leadoff spot. If neither hits, they stay where they are. Bourjos is talk of spring training for the Angels. His defensive capabilities are unmatched in the organization. The key for him is if he can get the hang of major league pitching. If he can, the Angels will quickly move him into the leadoff spot, which will settle the rest of the lineup in their rightful place.

Bench

INF Alberto Callaspo

.265 AVG 10 HR 56 RBI

INF Mark Trumbo

.301 AVG 36 HR 122 RBI (AAA stats)

C Bobby Wilson

.229 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI

Callaspo gives the Angels a lot of versatility in the infield. He can play all four positions and isn’t a bad pinch hitting option either. He has decent pop, but will see the majority of playing time at the hot corner. Trumbo has a great chance this year. He probably would be on the roster if Morales was healthy to start the year, but with his impressive spring he deserves a shot. He has tremendous power potential, but the Angels hoped the same for Brandon Wood. Trumbo won’t be thrust into a power role, but he will have to be a steady bat. Wilson is a sound defender, but has a better bat than starter Jeff Mathis. He will get playing time and so will Hank Conger who will be waiting patiently for his chance to be the starting catcher.

Rotation

1. Jered Weaver

13-12 3.01 ERA

2. Dan Haren

12-12 3.91 ERA

3. Ervin Santana

17-10 3.92 ERA

4. Joel Pineiro

10-7 3.84 ERA

5. Scott Kazmir

9-15 5.94 ERA

It’s time for the rest of baseball to give respect to Mr. Weaver. He has proven himself in every season he’s played. He is primed for a 15-20 win season, barring run support and will contend for the best ERA and most strikeouts. Haren was acquired to help during the stretch run last year, but the Angels offense didn’t help in that time. Haren was still great and in a full season he should be just as good as Weaver. Santana returned to form last year. As the number two starter he had a nice strikeout to walk ratio (169-73), but gave up far too many hits (221). As a number three starter he should be superb so long as the hits are kept to a minimum. Pineiro was on his way to a 15 win season until an injury sidelined him in August that kept him out the rest of the year. When healthy he is a perfect complement to their rotation. Kazmir would be a steal as the number five starting pitcher if he has a bounce back year. After his rough outing in the 2009 playoffs he hasn’t seemed to get his groove back. As the lone lefthander in the rotation he has to improve his control (79 BB) and his ERA.

Setup

Scott Downs*

5-5 2.64 ERA

Closer

Fernando Rodney

14 SV 4.24 ERA

This was a major weakness for the Angels last year. Brian Fuentes had wore out his welcome and was dealt at the halfway point. Rodney was superb in the beginning of the season when Fuentes was hurt, but when he was relegated to the setup role, everything fell apart. When he was put back into the closer’s role, he never recovered. The success starts with him in the ninth inning. The Angels do have other options should Rodney struggle again. Kevin Jepsen and Jordan Walden are both hard throwing righthanders who will be in setup roles. Both have the stuff to save games, but no experience. The Angels signed two lefthanders in Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi who aren’t specialists at all. Takahashi can even start if necessary. Downs will be the primary setup man and is considered the lefthanded version of Scot Shields, who was apart of the Angels bullpen from 2001-2010. Should the ninth inning be stable, the Angels should be on their way back to the postseason.

Rangers Lineup

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

.286 AVG 9 HR 45 RBI

2. SS Elvis Andrus

.265 AVG 0 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Josh Hamilton

.359 AVG 32 HR 100 RBI

4. 3B Adrian Beltre*

.321 AVG 28 HR 102 RBI

5. RF Nelson Cruz

.318 AVG 22 HR 78 RBI

6. DH Michael Young

.284 AVG 21 HR 91 RBI

7. 1B Mitch Moreland

.255 AVG 9 HR 25 RBI

8. C Mike Napoli*

.238 AVG 26 HR 68 RBI

9. CF Julio Borbon

.276 AVG 3 HR 42 RBI

The Rangers still have a potent lineup. As long as a few key players stay healthy, Texas should still be one of the best hitting teams in baseball. Kinsler is the most important piece to their lineup. When healthy he can produce a 30-30 season for the Rangers. They have the luxury of putting him anywhere in the lineup and he will produce. Andrus is the ideal top of the order hitter. He can do all the little things for Texas. Setting up runners with a sac bunt, hit and run. Andrus has blazing speed and can steal 50 in any given season. The reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton will look to duplicate his production from last season. Health is starting to become a concern with Hamilton which is why he will be moved to left field this season. He has become one of the best hitters in the game and it’s scary to think he could get better. Beltre was a good sign by the Rangers front office. He brings excellent defense at third and is still a good hitter as shown by his bounce back season in Boston last year. What remains to be seen is if he can repeat that kind of performance. Cruz has been on pace for big seasons the last two years in Texas, but injuries have shortened his seasons. Should Cruz remain healthy he could have a career year. Young was the talk of trade rumors before spring training started. Being the class act that he was he still showed up for camp and went about his business. If he stays, the Rangers will use him as a DH/super utility player. Rest assured he will see plenty of playing time in the field for Texas. Moreland had a good postseason for Texas. With that momentum he will be the first baseman that they’ve been looking for since the trade of Mark Teixeira. Napoli was apart of two trades in the span of 48 hours in the winter. Texas has a power hitting catcher who can also play first base and DH from time to time. His defense is suspect, but he does handle a pitching staff well. Borbon is still a mystery. He has decent pop in his bat, but he is better than the 15 stolen bases he recorded last year. The Rangers want to see more from him this year.

Bench

OF David Murphy

.291 AVG 12 HR 65 RBI

C Yorvit Torrealba*

.271 AVG 7 HR 37 RBI

INF Andres Blanco

.277 AVG 0 HR 13 RBI

Murphy next to Michael Young can play multiple postions. Besides the outfield Murphy can play first base sometimes. Murphy’s biggest tool is his bat. He’s a good spot starter for them and a great pinch hitter. He would start for most other teams, but feels at home as the fourth outfielder. Torrealba’s strength is his defense and he will see plenty of playing time for that. His bat is in decline, but can still contribute on occasion. Blanco is a defensive replacement for Texas. Hits for contact and is a decent baserunner. The Rangers depth isn’t a concern, but if say three or four starters go down, it will be an issue going forward.

Rotation

1. C.J. Wilson

15-8 3.35 ERA

2. Colby Lewis

12-13 3.72 ERA

3. Tommy Hunter

13-4 3.73 ERA

4. Matt Harrison

3-2 4.71 ERA

5. Derek Holland

3-4 4.08 ERA

A lot of turmoil in the Texas rotation after the failed re-singing of Cliff Lee. They gave it their all, but Lee chose to go back to the National League and now Texas has to move on. That also means Wilson will have to step into a larger role this year. He was fantastic in his transition from reliever to starter last year. Is he ready to be the teams ace is the question. He seemed to be all right without Lee and that should bode well for the Rangers going forward. Lewis is hoping to carry his great postseason performance into the 2011 season. His performance against the New York Yankees in the ALCS was a once in a life time performance. Look for Lewis to post similar numbers. Hunter was a pleasant surprise for the Rangers. The big righthander doesn’t over power hitters, but does get a lot of ground ball outs which is important at the hitters paradise in Arlington. Harrison and Holland are two young talented lefthanders who haven’t tapped their potential yet. The Rangers are hoping this is the year they both step into the rotation and establish themselves as competent starters. Brandon Webb and Scott Feldman will miss some time due to injury, but they figure to be apart of the pitching staff at some point this season.

Setup

Darren Oliver

1-2 2.48 ERA

Closer

Neftali Feliz

40 SV 2.73 ERA

This was the big reason the Rangers starters were as successful as they were in 2010 and why they clinched the AL Pennant. Feliz was the AL Rookie of the Year last year and with his dominant stuff, there was talk of him being in the rotation this year. He won’t, which is probably the best decision since there wasn’t a viable replacement this year. Feliz could approach 100 strikeouts this year. Setting up Feliz is the crafty veteran Oliver. He has redefined his career the last couple years as one of the best setup men in the game. He has deceptive stuff and can get batters from both sides of the plate out. Oliver will be joined by another lefthanded veteran Arthur Rhodes who is coming off his first All-Star season. Darren O’Day and Alexi Ogando are the righthanders for Texas. Both aren’t big strikeout pitchers, but can get the job done in the seventh and eighth innings to setup Feliz. Texas’ chances of repeating as AL West champions hangs with their bullpen.

Athletics Lineup

1. CF Coco Crisp

.279 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI

2. 2B Mark Ellis

.291 AVG 5 HR 49 RBI

3. RF David DeJesus*

.318 AVG 5 HR 37 RBI

4. LF Josh Willingham*

.268 AVG 16 HR 56 RBI

5. DH Hideki Matsui*

.274 AVG 21 HR 84 RBI

6. C Kurt Suzuki

.242 AVG 13 HR 71 RBI

7. 1B Daric Barton

.273 AVG 10 HR 57 RBI

8. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

.247 AVG 16 HR 71 RBI

9. SS Cliff Pennington

.250 AVG 6 HR 46 RBI

The theme of Oakland’s offense last year was speed without power. This year they still have speed, but some added power. Crisp brings the speed at the top. He was plagued by injuries last year, but still managed to total 32 steals. If he manages to stay healthy Oakland’s offense will have more consistent run scoring. Ellis is the ideal number two hitter for Oakland. Makes contact and is hard to get out. Always manages to get productive outs. DeJesus was the first major acquisition of the offseason for Oakland. A gap hitter who should do well in the spacious Coliseum. His defense is superb and should fit in nicely in right field. Willingham has 20 double, 20 home run potential. He has had trouble staying healthy a full season in Florida and Washington. Oakland is hoping they can keep him fresh with some stints as the DH and at first base. Matsui didn’t have a terrible year with the Angels last year. There weren’t many suitors for him and he was Oakland’s second option in the offseason. He should manage to put up similar numbers to last year playing in another pitchers park. Suzuki and Barton would be higher in the batting order if not for the acquisitions of Willingham and Matsui. Regardless Suzuki should continue to drive in runs and Barton has the potential for a .300-20 HR-100 RBI season. Kouzmanoff was tied for the team lead in RBIs and was a sound defender at third base. His only knock against him is he strikes out far too much. Pennington is another speedster that manager Bob Geren covets for his lineup. His defense is sound and his .250 batting average should go up this year.

Bench

OF Ryan Sweeney

.294 AVG 1 HR 36 RBI

INF Adam Rosales

.271 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

OF/DH Chris Carter

.258 AVG 31 HR 94 RBI (AAA stats)

Sweeney is strictly a contact hitter. That should bode well for plenty of pinch hitting opportunities for him. He can play all three outfield positons for Oakland, but isn’t the best baserunner. Rosales was given an opportunity to play for a time when Ellis was out. He has decent power potential. He can play all over the infield. Not the a speedster, but can steal a few bags. Carter is the wild card for Oakland. He has tremendous power potential, but isn’t the best defender. He might have to start out in AAA for the beginning of the season, but his bat will make it hard for Oakland to keep him out for long.

Rotation

1. Trevor Cahill

18-8 2.97 ERA

2. Brett Anderson

7-6 2.80 ERA

3. Gio Gonzalez

15-9 3.23 ERA

4. Dallas Braden

11-14 3.50 ERA

5. Brandon McCarthy*

7-4 4.62 ERA (2009 stats)

When your top four starters are 27 years old or younger and post ERAs of 3.50 or better, that’s a great sign for the future of your ball club. Cahill made his first of what is to be many All-Star appearances for Oakland last year. He has solidified himself as the staff ace as a 23 year old. Following him is the lefthanded complement to Cahill in Brett Anderson. Injury shortened his season, but he was well on his way to posting Cahill like numbers. Gonzalez was quietly the most consistent starter last year. Cahill was getting the notoriety, but Gonzalez was racking up the strikeouts (171). Braden pitched a perfect game on Mother’s Day last year, but had almost fallen off the map after that. He led the team in complete games with 5 and is starting to mold himself into the younger version of Mark Buehrle. McCarthy isn’t expected to wow anyone, but Oakland would like someone to hold down the fifth spot. His stuff has diminished with all the surgeries on his arm, but he should do fine with a limited workload. If he should falter they do have Rich Harden back to maybe provide a spark at the back of the rotation.

Setup

Brad Ziegler

3-7 3.26 ERA

Closer

Andrew Bailey

25 SV 1.47 ERA

The Athletics have quietly built a good bullpen the last few years. Bailey is the reason for that success. The former AL Rookie of the Year has continued to put up great numbers in seclusion out west. Ziegler had a rough outing last year. He still has a deceptive under arm delivery that disrupts the hitters timing. Oakland would like to have a bounce back year from Ziegler. To help ease the burden on Ziegler Oakland signed Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour. Fuentes could fill in to close to give Bailey a night off, but Oakland will use him in a setup role mostly. Balfour was becoming a great setup man in Tampa Bay the last couple seasons. He does have a wild side, but can get the job done for long stretches of the season. Oakland has depth in the bullpen and that might bode well for the great rotation.

Mariners Lineup

1. RF Ichiro Suzuki

.315 AVG 6 HR 43 RBI

2. 3B Chone Figgins

.259 AVG 1 HR 35 RBI

3. LF Milton Bradley

.205 AVG 8 HR 29 RBI

4. DH Jack Cust*

.272 AVG 13 HR 52 RBI

5. 1B Justin Smoak

.218 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

6. CF Franklin Gutierrez

.245 AVG 12 HR 64 RBI

7. C Miguel Olivo*

.269 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI

8. 2B Brendan Ryan*

.223 AVG 2 HR 36 RBI

9. SS Jack Wilson

.249 AVG 0 HR 14 RBI

It can’t get much worse for Seattle. They were statistically the worst offensive team in baseball last year and that was with Ichiro playing 162 games. Ichiro will continue to get his .300+ batting average and over 200 hits. That’s a given. What isn’t is which Chone Figgins will show up? Seattle hopes they get the one who had a career year in 2009 with the Angels. The move to third base should put him at ease and with his turnaround after the All-Star break was an encouraging sign last year. Bradley was a huge disappointment last year. Seattle is hoping he can get back on track, but his history with new manager Eric Wedge isn’t good. Cust was signed to provide the power stroke for the middle of Seattle’s order. His production has slid the last few years and it remains to be seen if he can get it back. Smoak was the main piece acquired when they dealt Cliff Lee to Texas last year. Smoak has plenty of potential, but Seattle would be wise to ease his progression slowly. Gutierrez is a gold glove caliber defender in center field and is a better hitter than his .245 average last year. If he can return to form it will go a long way in improving the lineup. Olivo and Ryan were another pair of acquisitions to help shake up the lineup. Olivo should solve the problem at catcher on both offense and defense. Ryan had a terrible year in St. Louis, but a new environment should help hash out his mechanics. Wilson can still field with the best of them, but his bat is right near the bottom. Manager Eric Wedge has a lot of holes to fill, but he will be given time to find a set lineup.

Bench

OF Michael Saunders

.211 AVG 10 HR 33 RBI

INF Josh Wilson

.227 AVG 2 HR 25 RBI

OF Ryan Langerhans

.196 AVG 3 HR 4 RBI

This is an obvious weakness for the Mariners. Saunders is a sound defender and has decent power. His consistency has been a problem so far. Wilson is a defensive replacement at this point in his career. Not a great contact hitter, but he will see plenty of playing time with Jack Wilson in front of him. Langerhans has had moments of potential in his career. Seattle will give him another chance to fulfill that potential. He has good power to all fields, but it will be difficult to achieve great power numbers in Safeco Field.

Rotation

1. Felix Hernandez

13-12 2.27 ERA

2. Doug Fister

6-14 4.11 ERA

3. Jason Vargas

9-12 3.78 ERA

4. Erik Bedard

5-3 2.82 ERA (2009 stats)

5. Luke French

5-7 4.83 ERA

King Felix has definitely earned that nickname after his Cy Young 2010 season. With the terrible run support last year he still managed to give the lowly Mariners a chance to win every time he pitched. Seattle was right to bring him along slowly in the beginning of his career and it’s paying off big time. Whether the Mariners will be able to keep him long term is another dilemma. Fister and Vargas had great strikeout to walk ratios. Whether the Mariners will help out in the win column is the problem. If Bedard can return to the potential he showed at the end of his tenure in Baltimore, the Mariners will have a solid number two starter behind Hernandez. French will most likely be the fifth starter until Michael Pineda is ready to enter the rotation. French has control problems, but does show signs of pitching deep into games. Pineda has electric stuff, but it remains to be seen if Seattle thinks he can better help them in the rotation long term or in the bullpen.

Setup

Brandon League

9-7 3.42 ERA

Closer

David Aardsma

31 SV 3.44 ERA

The Mariners will use a variety of relievers this year, but the most important ones are Aardsma and League. Both can close games and both have dominant stuff for the eighth and ninth innings. League is the strikeout pitcher while Aardsma is the pitcher who works the strike zone. He goes for the out rather than try to blow you away. Both might be candidates for a trade during the season. If so, the Mariners will probably be more inclined to use Pineda as the future closer. Seattle has a lot of options for their bullpen, but they will need a lot more to get them back into contention.

National League West

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. San Francisco Giants
With their stellar pitching intact, hard to imagine they don’t win the West.
2. Colorado Rockies
A healthy Tulowitzki will go a long way in getting them back in contention.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Don Mattingly takes over with a lot of talent at his disposal.
4. San Diego Padres
There was a lot of upheaval on the roster, but their pitching will carry them.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
Kirk Gibson is in charge and he will command a young, but talented team.

Player to Watch: LF Carlos Gonzalez Colorado Rockies
He led the National League in batting (.336). Was a threat for the triple crown most of the year. He was in the running for the NL MVP award as well. What’s more to expect from the man they call ‘CarGo’? Well, for one they have him locked up for another 7 years in the Mile High City. He was given an opportunity to show his immense talents full time last year and it paid off. He is a five tool talent that was putting up MVP like numbers without star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki protecting him in the lineup. Also he played all over the outfield. He never once complained about not having a set position, but this year manager Jim Tracy has him penciled in the three hole in the lineup. CarGo will be the everyday left fielder entering this season and the Rockies expect him to continue to get better.

Best Acquistion: INF/OF Ty Wigginton Colorado Rockies
Not to say that Colorado had a lack of depth last season. They just didn’t get a lot of production from key players on the bench. Jason Giambi, Melvin Mora and Clint Barmes were let go and as a result the Rockies went after the best bat who could play multiple positions. Wigginton is on the up and up at this point of his career. He’s hit at least 20 HRs four of the last five seasons. His average hasn’t been higher than .285, which was back in 2008. The one thing in his favor is his versatility. He can play both corner infield positions as well as second base. If need be he can play either corner outfield positions, but is better in left. The Rockies hope they hit a home run (pardon the pun) in getting Wigginton. The Rockies will need him to provide a balance from the right side in their left-handed heavy lineup i.e, Ian Stewart and Todd Helton.

New Kid on the Block: 1B Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants
There has been a lot of talk and rightfully so about the Giants veterans. So many of them can play multiple positions if need be and many were clutch in their World Series run last year. However, the argument could be made that when NL Rookie of the Year C Buster Posey was called up, that was the turning point in the Giants season. That could happen again when Brandon Belt is called up. It’s no longer a matter of if, but when he’s called up. Belt is projected as a first baseman, but has played in the outfield to give him a better chance of playing right away. Easily the best hitter in their farm system (.352 career average). He’s ready to step in and contribute. The Giants will have to wait until May/June to call him up due to the veteran presence on their roster. Don’t be surprised to see Brandon Belt make the same noise that Posey made last year.

Giants Lineup

1. CF Andres Torres

.268 AVG 16 HR 63 RBI

2. 2B Freddy Sanchez

.292 AVG 7 HR 47 RBI

3. C Buster Posey

.305 AVG 18 HR 67 RBI

4. 1B Aubrey Huff

.290 AVG 26 HR 86 RBI

5. 3B Pablo Sandoval

.268 AVG 13 HR 63 RBI

6. LF Pat Burrell

.252 AVG 20 HR 64 RBI

7. SS Miguel Tejada*
.269 AVG 15 HR 71 RBI
8. RF Cody Ross
.269 AVG 14 HR 65 RBI

The Giants basically have the same lineup intact that brought them their first World Series title since moving to San Francisco back in 1958. Torres and Sanchez are the catalysts that have to get on base to make the noise for the middle of the order. The Giants were next to last in baseball in stolen bases, but Torres is among the best even though he totaled only 26 last year. Sanchez suffered through some nagging injuries last year. With the Giants depth they should be able to keep Sanchez healthy and fresh. He’s still among the best contact hitters at his position. Posey and Huff are the big bats. Posey in a full season could easily hit 20+ HR and drive in 100 runs. Huff led the team in the power categories last year and was rewarded with a two year deal. He should be able to continue that upward trend. Sandoval is the key. The Giants let Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria go in large part because they believe Sandoval can return to his 2009 form. If he does it will make life easier for Burrell and Tejada. Both are past their prime, but both can still hit the mistake pitch for a home run. Ross was the hero of the NLCS against the Phillies. It surprised everyone because when he was acquired off waivers from Florida, he was considered the teams fourth outfielder at best. Opponents can’t overlook him at the bottom of the order.

Bench

INF/OF Mark DeRosa
.194 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI
OF Aaron Rowand
.230 AVG 11 HR 34 RBI
INF Mike Fontenot
.283 AVG 1 HR 25 RBI

Mark DeRosa is probably better suited to be the super utility man for the Giants. Last year he was slated to be the everyday left fielder, but a wrist injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. This year with Burrell and Ross holding down the corner outfield positions and Sandoval making a comeback at third, DeRosa doesn’t have a starting spot. The good thing is he can play those positions plus second and first base too. He will get his chances to play and it will greatly benefit the Giants if he’s healthy all year. Rowand is the odd man out as the everyday center fielder. He has lost a step defensively and since signing with the Giants in 2008 his batting average has dropped every year. He will get playing time, but not enough to justify his 12 million dollar salary. Fontenot was a scrappy hitter down the stretch for the Giants and in the playoffs. He plays adequate defense and is a great pinch hitting option for manager Bruce Bochy.

Rotation

1. Tim Lincecum
16-10 3.43 ERA
2. Matt Cain
13-11 3.14 ERA
3. Jonathan Sanchez
13-9 3.07 ERA
4. Madison Bumgarner
7-6 3.00 ERA
5. Barry Zito
9-14 4.15 ERA

This is the strength and the reason the Giants won the World Series. Lincecum was proof positive of why he was the winner of back-to-back NL Cy Young awards in 2008 and 2009 during the postseason. He couldn’t be stopped. A 4-1 record with 43 strikeouts to only 9 walks. The experience factor went out the window with him as the staff ace. Cain was just as good if not better going 2-0 in three starts giving up no earned runs. He’s been an underrated pitcher since the arrival of Lincecum, but after his postseason performance, everyone knows who he is now. Sanchez was inconsistent at times for the Giants, but when he’s in control of his pitches, it’s hard to make contact. People forget he did pitch a no-hitter back in 2009. Bumgarner was exactly what the Giants were expecting from him when they drafted him 10th overall in 2007. His performance in his one World Series start against the formidable Texas Rangers lineup was spectacular. Pitching 8 innings and giving up only 3 hits. Zito has become an after thought, but can still rack up the strikeouts. Back-to-back seasons of at least 150 strikeouts isn’t a sign of regression in my eyes. Being the fifth starter might be better for him at this point in his career.

Setup

Sergio Romo
5-3 2.18 ERA

Closer

Brian Wilson
48 SV 1.81 ERA

The bullpen was just as good as the rotation was for the Giants last year. Wilson led baseball in saves and was perfect in postseason with 6 saves. He might start the season on the DL due to a strained ribcage. If that’s the case the Giants have capable candidates in Romo, Jeremy Affeldt and Santiago Casilla. Romo and Affeldt were stellar in setting up Wilson during the postseason. Casilla was dominant down the stretch in his middle relief role. Lefty specialist Javier Lopez was a fantastic addition at the trade deadline. He was even better for the Giants in the postseason. The bullpen should be fine without Wilson for the first few games, but in the long term they need him to hold down the ninth inning.

Rockies Lineup

1. CF Dexter Fowler

.260 AVG 6 HR 36 RBI

2. 2B Jose Lopez*

.239 AVG 10 HR 58 RBI

3. LF Carlos Gonzalez

.336 AVG 34 HR 117 RBI

4. SS Troy Tulowitzki

.315 AVG 27 HR 95 RBI

5. 1B Todd Helton

.256 AVG 8 HR 37 RBI

6. 3B Ian Stewart

.256 AVG 18 RH 61 RBI

7. C Chris Iannetta

.197 AVG 9 HR 27 RBI

8. RF Seth Smtih

.246 AVG 17 HR 52 RBI

This is still a potent lineup from top to bottom. Fowler and Lopez are potentially great table setters. Fowler and his speed are a constant threat for the opposing defenses. Lopez makes good contact, but is inconsistent at times. With Gonzalez and Tulowitzki backing him up, look for Lopez to have a productive year. Gonzalez should continue his upward trend for the next decade as his potential continues to grow. Tulowitzki as with most stars has to stay healthy and play at least 140 games for Colorado to make a run at the division title and NL Wild Card spot. If Tulo’ can play a good majority of the season, look for MVP type numbers. Helton is on the down side of his career, but he can still hit for contact in this lineup. Stewart still has the potential for a 30+ HR season, but that window is starting to close. He will have to improve on his patience at the plate (career .332 OBP). Iannetta, besides Tulowitzki, is the key. He is better than the .197 average of last year. Injuries have been a factor in his development, but he is a great hitter and is improving his defensive play. Smith will be in a platoon in right field. He will be given every opportunity to play thanks to his quick swing and his tremendous stats against right handed pitching.

Bench

OF Ryan Spilborghs

.279 AVG 10 HR 39 RBI

INF/OF Ty Wigginton*

.248 AVG 22 HR 76 RBI

INF/OF Eric Young Jr.

.244 AVG 0 HR 8 RBI

Easily the strength of the Rockies is their versatility. Spilborghs can play all three outfield positions, but will be mostly in a platoon with Smith in right. Spilborghs has deceptive speed, but above average power. Wigginton will find a spot in the Rockies left handed heavy lineup. He can give Helton plenty of days off and help keep Stewart fresh when a left-hander is on the mound. Should Lopez struggle, Wigginton can even play second base. EY Jr. is a speed demon, but will struggle to find a consistent starting position. The likely spot is at second or center field. Unless there are injuries, Young will have to be a pinch run/hit specialist.

Rotation

1. Ubaldo Jimenez

19-8 2.88 ERA

2. Jorge De La Rosa

8-7 4.22 ERA

3. Jhoulys Chacin

9-11 3.28 ERA

4. Aaron Cook

6-8 5.08 ERA

5. Jason Hammel

10-9 4.81 ERA

Jimenez was off to a fast start last season. Everything was going right for him. His stellar start included a no-hitter and a start in the All-Star game. However, he hit a brick wall down the stretch, but managed to finish with a 19 win season and record 214 strikeouts. His high walk total of 92 is a bit of a concern. De La Rosa was re-signed for another three years. It’s a sign that Colorado wants to have a sense of familiarity in their rotation. The injury affected De La Rosa last year, but he should return to his 2009 form (16-9 4.38 ERA). Chacin was a pleasant surprise. Initially used out of the bullpen he was given an opportunity to start and was above average. In a full season he could approach 200 strikeouts and 15 wins. Cook and Hammel have to be the stable pieces at the back end. Cook is better than his 5.08 ERA and Hammel will need to improve his control. He gave up a team high 201 hits which resulted in his 4.81 ERA.

Setup

Rafael Betancourt

5-1 3.61 ERA

Closer

Huston Street

20 SV 3.61 ERA

This is the Rockies starters’ fall back option. With Street being healthy to start the season, Colorado should start out of the gate with a winning record. Street can save 40 games easily every year he plays. Betancourt is one of the most underrated setup men in the game today. Their depth with Matt Belisle and former Houston Astros closer Matt Lindstrom should help lessen the blow if Street should be hurt for a time this year. Franklin Morales had a disappointing year, but there’s no denying his potential and with the added depth it will give him another year to fine tune his craft. Manager Jim Tracy likes having options for his bullpen. The 2011 season has given him plenty to play with.

Dodgers Lineup

1. SS Rafael Furcal

.300 AVG 8 RH 43 RBI

2. 3B Casey Blake

.248 AVG 17 HR 64 RBI

3. RF Andre Ethier

.292 AVG 23 HR 82 RBI

4. CF Matt Kemp

.249 AVG 28 HR 89 RBI

5. 1B James Loney

.267 AVG 10 HR 88 RBI

6. 2B Juan Uribe*

.248 AVG 24 HR 85 RBI

7. LF Jay Gibbons

.280 AVG 5 HR 17 RBI

8. C Rod Barajas

.240 AVG 17 HR 47 RBI

There’s a lot that has to change for the Dodgers this year. First, they need a healthy season from Furcal. He’s no longer in his prime, but he is a consistent hitter and great in the leadoff spot. Blake is a bit banged up and might be on the DL to start the season. It would be a blow to their lineup which has had Blake in their lineup for at least 140 games the last two seasons. Ethier was on a tear until a hand injury slowed him down. He should get back on track this year and be the .300-30 HR-100 RBI player he’s capable of being. Kemp is better than the .249 average he batted last year. He did play in every game for the Dodgers, but he has to play to his potential and lower the strikeout total (170). Loney is strictly a gap hitter which works in pitcher friendly Dodger Stadium. He will need to pick up the power void left by the departed Manny Ramirez. Uribe is coming off a career year in home runs and runs batted in. He will have to duplicate those type of numbers for his three year contract. Gibbons played well in a September call-up last year and will be given an opportunity to platoon in left field. Barajas played well after being acquired from the Mets last August (.297-5 HR- 13 RBI in 25 games). Over the course of an entire year at Dodger Stadium is another story.

Bench

OF Marcus Thames*

.288 AVG 12 HR 33 RBI

INF Jamey Carroll

.291 AVG 0 HR 23 RBI

OF Tony Gwynn Jr.*

.204 AVG 3 HR 20 RBI

Thames will be in the platoon with Gibbons in left field. Tremendous power and a decent arm. He can also play first base if needed for the Dodgers. Carroll was great in spot starts, pinch hitting and pinch running situations for the Dodgers last year. That’s been his strength throughout his career. LA should expect the same from Carroll. Gwynn Jr. is an interesting acquisition. His average is a bit misleading. He’s better than that. His strength is defensively where he can track down a fly ball with the best of them. He’ll be utilized a lot in pinch run situations by manager Don Mattingly.

Rotation

1. Clayton Kershaw

13-10 2.91 ERA

2. Chad Billingsley

12-11 3.57 ERA

3. Ted Lilly

10-12 3.62 ERA

4. Hiroki Kuroda

11-13 3.39 ERA

5. Jon Garland

14-12 3.47 ERA

Kershaw is without a doubt the ace of this staff. He pitched more than 200 innings for the first time in his career. He’s also had an ERA of under 3.00 for the second consecutive year. This year should see him post at least 15 wins and another 200+ strikeout season. Billingsley is a solid number two. The last few years he’s gotten out to strong starts, but has slowed down into September. It would be wise for the Dodgers to ease him into the season and not overwork him early this time around. Lilly was a fantastic addition at the trade deadline going 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA in Dodger blue. Surprisingly he decided to stay in LA for less money and will help stabilize the middle of their rotation. Kuroda put up solid numbers as the third starter last year. As the fourth starter those numbers are spectacular. Garland was a great offseason addition. He might start the season on the DL. As will Vicente Padilla, who brings the Dodgers rotation to six members if necessary. Garland’s injury should only keep him out for the first few starts. When he comes back the Dodgers depth in the rotation is only matched by the division rival Giants.

Setup

Hong-Chi Kuo

3-2 1.20 ERA

Closer

Jonathan Broxton

22 SV 4.04 ERA

The key to the Dodgers success starts and ends with Broxton in the ninth inning. He will be given another chance to hold down the job, but he will be on an even shorter leash with Don Mattingly. Former manager Joe Torre gave him ample time last year after the All-Star break. Even Torre had to make a change. Kuo was starting to show signs of being overworked last year. He still managed to post a 1.20 ERA and save 12 games. He will be given the first opportunity to close if Broxton should falter. As long as Broxton stays on point, with Kuo the Dodgers signed another good setup man in Matt Guerrier. He eats up innings and can occasionally save a game or two. The hard throwing Kenley Jansen looks to be the closer of the future as long as he keeps his control in check. There’s good depth, but it’s all on Broxton’s right arm.

Padres Lineup

1. SS Jason Bartlett*

.254 AVG 4 HR 47 RBI

2. 2B Orlando Hudson*

.268 AVG 6 HR 37 RBI

3. 3B Chase Headley

.264 AVG 11 HR 58 RBI

4. LF Ryan Ludwick

.251 AVG 17 HR 69 RBI

5. 1B Brad Hawpe*

.245 AVG 9 HR 44 RBI

6. RF Will Venable

.245 AVG 13 HR 51 RBI

7. C Nick Hundley

.249 AVG 8 HR 43 RBI

8. CF Cameron Maybin*

.234 AVG 8 HR 28 RBI

San Diego traded away their best hitter in Adrian Gonzalez. In fact, they have totally revamped their lineup. However, in doing so they’ve put an emphasis on two things. Speed and defense. With the acquisitions of Bartlett and Hudson up the middle. The Padres have two of the best defensive players at their respective positions. Both are good contact hitters and can start rallies for the offense. Headley aside from Gonzalez was their most consistent hitter. Not a lot is expected from the Padres offense this year, which bodes well for another productive year from Headley. Ludwick and Hawpe individually or together won’t replace Gonzalez, but they both can hit for power. Ludwick will be counted on to be the run producer as well. A daunting task for a player that’s played at the bottom of most lineups. Venable has 20-20 potential. Petco Park prevents the 20 home runs from happening, but he can hit. He just needs to be more consistent. Hundley is an adequate defender and had his best offensive season of his career last year. Maybin will be getting a third chance at sticking with a major league club. Detroit parted ways with him in the Miguel Cabrera trade to Florida. The Marlins didn’t have a spot for him and the result is being the starting center fielder in San Diego. Maybin has a lot to offer in the speed category and on defense. He won’t be thrusted into the leadoff spot until his bat is up to speed.

Bench

INF Jorge Cantu*

.256 AVG 11 HR 56 RBI

OF Chris Denorfia

.271 AVG 9 HR 36 RBI

INF Everth Cabrera

.208 AVG 1 HR 22 RBI

Cantu figures to get plenty of playing time all over the infield. The most likely position will be in a platoon with Hawpe at first base. Cantu is a RBI machine. He drove in 95 and 100 for the Marlins in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Denorfia is a scrappy player. Makes good contact and is an above average defender in all the outfield spots. Cabrera is no longer the starter at shortstop. He’s a good defender, but his bat is what will keep him from playing in a lot of games.

Rotation

1. Mat Latos

14-10 2.92 ERA

2. Clayton Richard

14-9 3.75 ERA

3. Aaron Harang*

6-7 5.32 ERA

4. Tim Stauffer

6-5 1.85 ERA

5. Cory Luebke

1-1 4.08 ERA

Manager Bud Black has built a good staff at the top with Latos and Richard. Latos was homegrown in their system and Richard was part of the Jake Peavy deal with the Chicago White Sox. Latos showed signs of fatigue down the stretch last year. There shouldn’t be any problems in his second full season, but San Diego will keep an eye on that. Richard showed no signs of fatigue and he should be ready and able to be the Padres number two starter. Jon Garland and Kevin Correia left via free agency and in their place will be Harang and Stauffer. Harang should have a resurgence to his career playing in Petco as opposed to the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Stauffer was spectacular, but that was mostly in relief. He only started 7 of his 32 games. Luebke will be given the first shot at a starting spot. If he should falter they do have another lefty in Wade LeBlanc and righthander Dustin Moseley to pitch in.

Setup

Mike Adams

4-1 1.76 ERA

Closer

Heath Bell

47 SV 1.93 ERA

San Diego’s pride and joy has been their bullpen since manager Bud Black’s arrival. Last year was their best year by far. There are a lot of working parts to this bullpen, but one thing is for sure. The closer is Heath Bell. He’s entering the final year of his contract and the rumors will swirl whether the Padres will trade him or not. If San Diego does start out with a winning record though, it will be hard to justify dealing him. Adams is being overlooked as an elite setup man. His numbers have been stellar in his three seasons in San Diego. Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher are perfect in middle relief. Chad Qualls was a great pickup for the sixth and seventh inning job. The Padres strength is in their pitching. It will become apparent this season.

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. SS Stephen Drew

.278 AVG 15 HR 61 RBI

2. 2B Kelly Johnson

.284 AVG 26 HR 71 RBI

3. RF Justin Upton

.273 AVG 17 HR 69 RBI

4. 1B Russell Branyan*

.237 AVG 25 HR 57 RBI

5. CF Chris Young

.257 AVG 27 HR 91 RBI

6. C Miguel Montero

.266 AVG 9 HR 43 RBI

7. 3B Melvin Mora*

.278 AVG 7 HR 45 RBI

8. LF Xavier Nady*

.256 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI

The only sure thing about Arizona’s lineup is at the top. Drew and Johnson had great seasons. Johnson especially. Both will be counted on to set the table for the rest of the lineup which will need all the help they can get. Upton had a down year. Look for him to renew his 30+ HR potential and improve his batting average with Don Baylor hired as the new hitting coach. Branyan was a non-roster invite to spring training. He will most likely win the starting job at first due to their lack of reliable options in the minors. Young had a nice bounce back year in 2010. Arizona hopes he continues that upward trend into what was promised to be a great career. Montero is starting to come alive with his bat. His defense is a bit behind, but there will be plenty of room for improvement with the signing of veteran Henry Blanco who is one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Mora and Nady are two veterans who will see plenty of playing time at their respective positions. Mora had an okay year in Colorado as the backup third baseman. Nady is a scrappy hitter who has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Both play the game the right way, which is what manager Kirk Gibson is looking for from his veterans this year.

Bench

INF Geoff Blum*

.267 AVG 2 HR 22 RBI

INF/OF Willie Bloomquist*

.267 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI

OF Gerardo Parra

.261 AVG 3 HR 30 RBI

Blum and Bloomquist are exactly what Gibson is looking for to fill in his bench. Both are tough, no nonsense players who give it their all and will play anywhere on the field when called upon. Blum is one of the best pinch hitters in the game and is above average defensively. Bloomquist was once considered to be an everyday player in Seattle, but injuries have relegated him to a utility role. He hasn’t shied away from it. His career is extended thanks to the move. A good contact hitter who can steal the occasional base. Parra is the fourth outfielder for Arizona. Makes good contact and has deceptive speed, but isn’t the best base stealer. Gibson has a good group, but there will be growing pains.

Rotation

1. Joe Saunders

9-17 4.47 ERA

2. Daniel Hudson

8-2 2.45 ERA

3. Ian Kennedy

9-10 3.80 ERA

4. Zach Duke*

8-15 5.72 ERA

5. Armando Galarraga*

4-9 4.49 ERA

Arizona would love to see some improvement from some on the starting staff. Saunders for one. He had his worst season as a professional. After being acquired for ace Dan Haren from the Angels, he did improve his ERA (4.62 to 4.25) and his strikeout to walk ratio (64-45 to 50-19). However, he wasn’t able to stop giving up hits. In only 13 starts for Arizona he gave 97 hits in 82.2 innings pitched. That has to change. Hudson was the lone bright spot. Once he arrived from the Chicago White Sox in a trade for Edwin Jackson, he took flight. His stellar record and ERA went well with an impressive strikeout to walk ratio (70-16). Kennedy also was stellar. His record doesn’t say it, but he nearly pitched 200 innings and struck out 168 batters. Duke and Galarraga are looking for second chances. Duke will miss the first few weeks of the season, but has good stuff to stick in the rotation. Galarraga is most famous for nearly throwing a no-hitter last year, but aside from that he hasn’t found a way to stay in the majors for an entire season. Barry Enright will probably be in the rotation for the injured Duke. Enright has above average stuff to get batters out. Not a wow factor.

Setup

Juan Gutierrez

0-6 5.08 ERA

Closer

J.J. Putz*

3 SV 2.83 ERA

There are a lot of options at the Diamondbacks disposal for the 2011 bullpen. The only sure thing is who their closer is. That man is J.J. Putz. He hasn’t been a full time closer since 2008, but that doesn’t mean he can’t close games. The Diamondbacks would love to see him approach the 30 save plateau for them. Gutierrez was the closer for part of the season recording 15 saves, but he wasn’t effective for most of the season. He figures to be a better setup man along with two new additions David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. Both were acquired from Baltimore for 3B Mark Reynolds. Hernandez is a hard throwing righthander who will be in the mix for the setup job. Mickolio is a 6′ 9″ monster on the mound, but might need some seasoning first. Aaron Heilman figures to see some time in the bullpen as well. If not he could win a spot start once in a while. Arizona figures to have a work in progress leading up to Putz in the ninth.

MLB Winter Meetings Recap

It’s been a while since I discussed baseball. I figured now is the best time. The Winter Meetings are done, but the wheeling and dealing for the most part isn’t. Time to see who helped themselves and who decided to stand pat going into the new year.

Boston Red Sox
When they lost C/1B Victor Martinez and 3B Adrian Beltre early in the free agency period, you just knew that GM Theo Epstein was going to have a plan or already had one before the off-season began. They were in constant talks with the San Diego Padres about 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The deal was struck before the winter meetings and they didn’t give up all of their top tier prospects to get him. Then Boston fills another need by signing LF Carl Crawford to a 7 year deal worth 142 million dollars during the winter meetings. They overpaid for Crawford and will for Gonzalez, but their lineup is set for the next decade with those two bats.

Chicago White Sox
Signing 1B/DH Adam Dunn was a sleek move by GM Ken Williams. He didn’t have to give him a massive contract and that gave the White Sox enough room to re-sign 1B Paul Konerko and C A.J. Pierzynski. They still have some work to do with their bullpen, but keeping their potent lineup intact and adding Dunn will help them compete with the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central title.

Baltimore Orioles
They went after a new third baseman and shortstop, via the trade rather than free agency. Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Mark Reynolds has tremendous power, but strikes out way too much. His .198 batting average scared away most teams, but Baltimore should have enough patience to wait for that to come around. J.J. Hardy hasn’t live up to his potential and this is probably his last chance of being an everyday shortstop. The Orioles acquired Hardy with utility infielder Brendan Harris from the Twins. Baltimore didn’t have to give Minnesota or Arizona top prospects for their new left side of the infield.

New York Yankees
Derek Jeter says that he was “angered” by how the contract negotiations were handled. Now the Yankees took a hit, but Jeter’s agent to my knowledge said that he was perplexed by the Yankees stance. They were able to bring back their captain and are still in the running for starter Cliff Lee. However, that’s the problem. If the Yankees are the number spot for Lee, why hasn’t he signed yet? Biding his time I’m sure. Or it could be that the Texas Rangers might have a chance of signing him after all. That can’t be the case of course.

Los Angeles Angels
We all presumed that the Angels were going to make a splash in the offseason. When owner Artie Moreno announced publicly that he was going to open his checkbook to improve the team, everyone assumed that the Angels were going to get their guy(s). It didn’t happen with LF Carl Crawford and it won’t with closer Rafael Soriano. The Angels so far have signed left handed relievers Hisanori Takahashi and Scott Downs. Will they sign 3B Adrian Beltre? All signs point to no, but it’s a hard lesson learned for Artie Moreno that you don’t announce you’re going to spend to only come up empty.

San Diego Padres
They won’t be trading away their closer Heath Bell before the season starts, but it will happen before the 2011 season ends. Adrian Gonzalez was not going to be in San Diego past the 2011 season and the Padres received maximum value for him. The Padres are apparently giving up on having back to back winning seasons for the first time since the ’06-’07 seasons. They did make some subtle moves by acquiring CF Cameron Maybin from Florida and SS Jason Bartlett from Tampa Bay. Those moves and others they make won’t sit well with the fan base that would rather go to the beach than watch the Padres without Gonzalez and Bell.

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