My Preseason MLB blog AL

 Ok, so here we go with AL synopsis...

West

4. Seattle Mariners- Despite unloading a quality starter to the Yankees, the Mariners will be improved, but the real issue is, so will everyone else in the division. It's ok Seattle, one day things might get better. Just not happening this season.

3. Oakland Athletics- The A's will be better and if they do somehow get a couple of the guys we are hearing about, it could be Katie bar the door. I do belive however as it stands teh A's will be in the thick of teh wild card race come september, but without an influx of fresh faces, it will not be enough to get over the hump.

2. Anahiem Angles- The Angels add Pujols and CJ Wilson to a team that was already very talented. The hardest problem for the Angels may be getting rid of all the vets who aren't getting PT before the disgrunteled divide the clubhouse. That being said, I think they will be very much in the wild card chase. 

1. Texas Rangers- The Rangers posess one of the best lineups in all of baseball, in fact they are one of the top 2 imho. True they lost a quality starter, but if Yu Darvish is half of what we have heard he is, the Rangers will be more than fine. 

The Skinny- The West will shape up much how it is expected, but I feel the Rangers are best top to bottom, but look out for the A's here is they add a few of thr bargain bin free agents that are out there.


Central

5. Chicago White Sox- The White Sox really want to rebuild, but just haven't sent out the Memo yet. Konerko and Dunn are still good, and will eb great trade bate later in the year. The Sox lost their most consistent starter and have little bullpen depth. Also, imho Ozzie Guillen will be missed. This team reminds me of the 2011 Cubs.

4.Minnesota Twins- The Twins are one mor eyear away from contending and will need to take a step back to move forward next season. Cuddyer was still good and will be missed. They also let Jim Thome leave, who while being aged, was still very much a solid bat to have when needed.

3. Kansas City Royals- KC continues to improve, and might be knockign on the door of playoff contention come september. Like many other developing small market clubs, it will be intresting to see if they are willing to deal to get in or not.

2.Cleveland Indians- Cleveland added Casey Kotchman to this lineup and made themselves a serious wild card contender. The top 3 in the Indians rotation is more than capable, and a decent bull pen. The tribe will stay in this until the end.

1.Detriot Tigers- The Tigers may very well be the best team in baseball top to bottom. One of the top 5 lineups offensively and a great top 4 in their rotation that bolsters Justin Verlander. The most overlooked feature of this team is their extremely deep bull pen, which will help them in the post season.

The Skinny- The Central features two teams on the way down, two on the way up and another many feel will take the whole thing in october. Detriot runs away with this one, but the Royals and Indians will have a lot to say about who may be the wild card in the AL.


East

5. Toronto Blue Jays- Many pundits feel the Jays are playoff caliber...I don't. They may have the best power hitter in the division, but that is where their advantages stop. Encarnacion is good player, but if he is your DH, you have a power shortage in the East. The pitchign staff doesn;t make me feel all that warm either.

4. Baltimore Orioles- The Orioles have some great young offensive stars, but when you have Wilson Betemit as your DH in this division you are in trouble. If they can get Manny Ramirez and their young pitching comes together I could be way off...I just don't think I will be.

3.New York Yankees- The Yankees will look great in April, May and June...then the deficeincy in the pitching staff and thier age will start to show. The Yankees are great, but the whole division is good, and the grind will take its toll. Time to reload a bit in New York.

2.Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays will be able to pitch themselves into contention, and the young stars are ready to produce offensively. The pitching and youth are the difference over the Yankees. 

1. Boston Red Sox- Remember last year when everyone loved Boston and said they could be one of the best teams ever in the preseason? I do, and if it weren't for pitching injuries, the Red Sox most likely do not collapse. Crawford won't be missed as much early as many think and Sweeney is a capable back up. The one big question is whether Bailey will nail down the closer role...I think he will.

The skinny- The East will be great as usual, but the wealth is starting to spread over the rest of the league. There will be two wild cards, but it will be tough to get more than one in with the fact the cellar dwellers  will be good enough to ruin a weekend or two. If you don't believe me ask the Red Sox fans.

My AL playoff teams- Once again with the extra wild card this becomes tougher, but here we go....

Wild Cards- Tampa Bay Rays and Anaheim Angels
West- Texas Rangers
Central- Detroit Tigers
East- Boston Red Sox

I feel the Rays will knock off the Angels in the Wild Card Round. Pitching beats offense. They will then move on to rematch the Texas Rangers in the next round. The Rangers will get past the Rays again in 5 games. The Tigers will roll into the postseason as the number 1 seed in the East and will host the Sox, who will beat them in 4 games. This will mean the Boston Red Sox will host the Texas Rangers in Fenway for game one. This will be an epic series and will go the full seven games to Fenway where the Red Sox will prevent the Rangers from making their third straight World Series. 

My World Series prediction- I feel this year the AL will win the Allstar game, so Boston will have home field. The Series will go a full seven games very similar to last year in feel and excitement. This time however the Red Sox will knock off the Cardinals in seven and be World Champions for the third time in a decade.

So there you have it, as it is now, I pick the Red Sox to beat the Cardinals in 7 games. It will be intresting to see if I still have this opinion after spring training.