AL Central Roundup

1) Minnesota Twins

2) Chicago White Sox

3) Detroit Tigers

4) Kansas City

5) Cleveland Indians

American League Preview: Cleveland Indians

As we head towards Spring Training (I mean the regular season), it's time to check out where all 14 teams in the American League are headed as we enter the 2010 season. In this tenth installment we will analyze the Cleveland Indians.

- Cleveland Indians (2009 W/L: 65-97, 773 RS, 865 RA)

Key Additions: 1B/DH Russell Branyan, OF Austin Kearns, SP Mitch Talbot, Manager Manny Acta

Key Losses: C Kelly Shoppach, RP Jose Veras, RP Luis Vizcaino

Overview: It’s been an ugly last two seasons for the Tribe. After entering 2008 as World Series sleepers thanks to a pushing the Boston Red Sox to a Game 7 in the 2007 ALCS, the Indians failed to live up to expectations the past two seasons. The result? Former aces C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee and slugger Victor Martinez are long gone. Now the Indians will enter a prolonged rebuilding process and if last season is any indication, it could be an ugly one for new manager Manny Acta.

Infield: The only returning faces from last season will be shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and third baseman Jhonny Peralta. The 24 year old Cabrera is a star in the making; he hit .308/.361/.438 with 42 doubles and 68 RBI. He can also steal the occasion base, swiping 17 bags last season. Peralta is far from the prototypical corner infielder, with below average power and on-base ability. He saw his home runs more than drop in half last season (23 in 2008, 11 in 2009) and his OBP declined for the second straight year to a paltry .316. First base will kept warm by Matt LaPorta until Russell Branyan is ready to return from a bulging disc in his spine. LaPorta showed some power potential last season, hitting seven home runs and driving in 21 runs in just 181 at-bats. Despite hitting 31 home runs in under 500 at-bats in the pitcher friendly confines of Safeco Field last season, Branyan had to settle for a one year deal worth $2 million with the team that drafted him in 1994. Luis Valbuena mans second base; the 24 year old he hit just .250 with a .298 OBP last season. Finally, rookie Lou Marson who was part of the Cliff Lee deal, starts behind the plate.

Outfield: The shining lights for the Indians’ lineup lie in the outfield grass where rightfielder Shin-Soo Choo and centerfielder Grady Sizemore roam. In his first full season, Choo was impressive, hitting .300/.394/.489 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI. Sizemore battled injuries last year and put the worst numbers of his career while playing in just 106 games. When he was on the field, he was clearly limited. If he can stay healthy, expect Sizemore to return to form. Leftfield will be occupied by youngster Michael Brantley. The 22 year old was impressive in a small sample size of 112 at-bats last season.

Designated Hitter: Travis Hafner hasn’t been the same since 2006 when he hit 42 home runs and drove in 117 runs. The man known as “Pronk” has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons and it’s tough to say that 2010 will be any different.

Starting Pitching: Jake Westbrook returns to the Indians rotation after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 32 year old last pitched in May of 2008. The fact that Westbrook is the default “ace” of the rotation highlights the woes of pitching staff. Fausto Carmona heads north as the team’s second starter. Carmona looked like an ace in the making in 2007 but has never been the same since. Former Red Sox prospect Justin Masterson draws the next straw. Masterson came over in the Victor Martinez trade and was unimpressive in 11 games with the Tribe. Masterson went just 1-7 with an ERA of 4.55 while walking 35 batters in just 57.1 innings. David Huff falls into the fourth slot in the rotation. Huff went 11-8 in his rookie season with a 5.61 ERA and allowing a horrid 201 batters on base in just 128.1 innings pitched. The fact that he managed an 11-8 record with numbers like that highlights how outdated the idea of judging a pitcher by their win/loss record is. Finally, 26 year old Mitch Talbot rounds out the rotation. Talbot, who was once a highly touted member of the Tampa Bay Ray’s farm system, will look to finally make his name in the majors after injuries slowed his progress.

Relief Pitching: 10 million dollar a year closer Kerry Wood is shockingly injured to start the season and will miss at least the first two months of the season due to right shoulder pain. That leaves 23 year old Chris Perez in the closer’s role in Wood’s absence. Perez throws hard and can strike out batters (38 Ks in 33.1 IP last season), and might just end up becoming the Indians’ closer of the future. Rafael Perez will look to return to form after an awful 2009 season. Righty Joe Smith will help fill out the middle innings.

Projection: The Indians are a complete and utter mess. This is basically year one of the rebuilding process for the Tribe and the first year of rebuilding is always the ugliest.

2010 Cleveland Indians: 60-102, 5^th Place, AL Central

American League Preview: Kansas City Royals

As we head towards Spring Training, it's time to check out where all 14 teams in the American League are headed as we enter the 2010 season. In this ninth installment we will analyze the Kansas City Royals

- Kansas City Royals (2009 W/L: 65-97, 686 RS, 842 RA)

Key Additions: 2B Chris Getz, C Jason Kendell, OF Scott Podsednik, OF Rick Ankiel,

Key Losses: OF Coco Crisp, 3B Mark Teahan, C John Buck

Overview: After slowly building their way back up from a disastrous 56 season in 2005 to 75 wins in 2008, the Royals took a step backwards in 2009. Despite a Cy Young winning performance from Zack Greinke, the Royals still managed to lose 10 more games last season than they did in 2008. The Royals were active this offseason, at least by their standards but don’t expect this to be the year that the Royals finally compete.

Infield: Billy Butler finally emerged as legitimate power threat for the Royals last season. The young first baseman hit .301 with 21 home runs and 93 RBI last season while also getting on-base at a solid rate (.362 OBP). Second base will be occupied by newly acquired Chris Getz. Getz hit .261 with 2 home runs and 31 RBI last season with the White Sox. Yuniesky Betancourt remains at shortstop having replaced the then injured Mike Aviles last season after being acquired from the Mariners. Should Betancourt or Getz falter, Aviles, who is having a strong spring training, may snag a starting a job away from them. Third base at this point, is up in the air. Alex Gordon is not expected to be ready for the season due to a fractured thumb and his expected replacement, Alberto Callaspo pulled a muscle in his right side on March 26 and as of March 30^, has yet to play in a game. Veteran backstop Jason Kendell rounds out the infield. The 35 year old catcher has been in decline offensively since 2006 when he batted .295 with a .367 OBP. Kendell mustered a .246/.331 line last year, but his defense and experience will be a plus for the Royals’s pitching staff.

Outfield: Rick Ankiel will roam centerfield in Kansas City after having spent his entire career in St. Louis. Ankiel had a disappointing 2009 offensively, seeing his numbers drop across the board although his collision with the wall in Philadelphia in may have had something to do with it. He’ll be joined by David DeJesus who hit to the tune of .281/.347/.781 last season. DeJesus is a nice, if unspectacular player at the plate and excellent in the field. Scott Podsednik will man leftfield, where he should regress back to the .250 to .270 hitter he’s been his entire career as opposed to the .304 hitter he was last season (BABIP of .341 last season). The 34 year old can still steal his bases, but his lack of power makes him a poor choice for an everyday corner outfielder.

Designated Hitter: Oft-injured Jose Guillen mercifully enters the final season of his three year, $36 million with the Royals. The controversial Guillen hasn’t caused much of a stir since 2008, but that may only be because he barely got the field in 2009. Guillen played in just 81 games, hitting seven home runs and driving in 40 RBI. If Guillen can manage to stay healthy and out of trouble in 2010, the Royals could have a respectable three and four with Butler and Guillen.

Starting Pitching: You may remember the days of “Jordan and the Jordanaires” and the modern day version of “Lebron and the Lebrons”, well welcome to the encore presentation of “Greinke and the Greinkets”. The AL Cy Young, Zach Greinke went 16-8, throwing 229.1 innings and striking out 242 batters. The other four starters, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies, Luke Hochevar and Gil Meche combined to go 28-44 with a 5.41 ERA in 549 innings while striking out just 385 batters. It’s tough to expect much better out of that quartet this season although Davis and Bannister have shown flashes.

Relief Pitching: As opposed to their rotation, the Royals’ bullpen is rather solid. All-Star closer Joakim Soria had another excellent season that saw him save 30 games and strike out 69 batters in just 53 innings. Robinson Tejada also was impressive in the strikeout category, registering 87 strikeouts in 73 innings however he often struggles with command (50 walks). Juan Cruz had a disappointing first year with the Royals as he watched his ERA jump by nearly three runs from his 2008 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cruz may bounce back after readjusting back to the American League. Perennial headache Kyle Farnsworth returns for his second season with the Royals. He should open the season in the bullpen unless Gil Meche is unable to start the season due to stiffness in his right shoulder. In that case, Farnsworth may find himself starting a game or two after being stretched out this spring training.

Projection: The Royals could get back to the 75 win plateau this season but at the end of the day it will be another long season for the KC faithful. For now, all they can look forward to is every fifth day when Greinke throws eight innings of two run baseball, Soria picks up the save and the Royals escape with a 3-2 win.

2010 Kansas City: 72-90, 4^th Place, AL Central

American League Preview: Detroit Tigers

As we head towards Spring Training, it's time to check out where all 14 teams in the American League are headed as we enter the 2010 season. In this eighth installment we will analyze the Detroit Tigers

- Detroit Tigers (2009 W/L: 86-77, 743 RS, 745 RA)

Key Additions: OF Johnny Damon, OF Austin Jackson, RP Jose Valverde, RP Phil Coke, SP Max Scherzer, RP Daniel Schlereth

Key Losses: OF Curtis Granderson, SP Edwin Jackson, 1B Aubrey Huff, 2B Placido Polanco, RP Brandon Lyon, SP Jarrod Washburn, RP Fernando Rodney, SP Nate Robertson

Overview: The Tigers enter the 2010 looking to avenge their collapse at the end of the 2009 season that saw them blow a seven game first place lead with 26 games remaining before ultimately losing a one game playoff to the Minnesota Twins. GM Dave Dombrowski looked to erase the bad memories was a mini-overhaul of the roster. Will that be enough to outlast the Twins and White Sox?

Infield: First baseman Miguel Cabrera anchors the infield offensively and continues to be one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Cabrera faced criticism from fans due to off the field issues during the Tigers’ late September swoon but apparently has got his head on straight and he might just put up a monster season to silence any lingering critics. Rookie Scott Sizemore will replace Placido Polanco at second. Sizemore has been successful in all levels in the minors and the 25 year will finally have a chance to shine in the majors. Shortstop Adam Everett is all glove and a minor league bat. After spending his entire career bouncing around the diamond, Brandon Inge finally has a defensive home at third base, it’s too bad that he rarely ever finds first base offensively. Inge’s saving grace is the fact that he runs into the ball (27 home runs in 2009) on occasion, but aside from that he never gets on base (.314 OBP, and that’s an improvement from 2008) and he strikes out a ton (career high 170 strikeouts last season). Veteran Gerald Laird remains behind the plate but much like Everett provides nearly nothing offensively.

Outfield: The outfield has a nearly entirely new look. Former Yankee prospect, CF Austin Jackson replaces Curtis Granderson. While the Yankees still felt that Jackson was a year away from helping their lineup, the Tigers felt otherwise and are not only prepared to let him have a full-time job but are also expected to bat him leadoff. In leftfield another former Yankee, Johnny Damon, takes over. Damon had an excellent 2009 season, but the move to Comerica Park will likely hurt his numbers and his poor defense will be exposed in the large leftfield in Detroit. The only returning face in the outfield is 36 year old Magglio Ordonez. Ordonez suffered from an extreme power outage in 2009, hitting just nine home runs and driving in 50 runs. His performance offensively will be one of the biggest differences between a competitive season for the Tigers or a lost season for the Tigers.

Designated Hitter: Veteran Carlos Guillen returns after a disappointing 2009 that was marred by injury. If healthy, Guillen will put up decent numbers as well as insurance in the infield should Everett or Inge completely embarrass themselves offensively. Fourth outfielder Ryan Raburn may also some cuts at DH and the Tigers should also make it a goal to get Damon time at DH to rest his legs.

Starting Pitching: Justin Verlander reestablished himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the game in 2009. Verlander went 19-9 and struck out 269 batters in 240 innings last season. Rick Porcello will look to build upon a solid rookie season that saw him go 14-9 with an ERA of 3.96. From there, the Tigers have question marks. Max Schzerer comes over from the Diamondbacks where he had decent numbers for a 25 year old, going 9-11 with an ERA of 4.12 in the NL West. The old adage goes that you need to add at least half a run to a NL pitcher’s ERA when he comes over to the AL, meaning that Scherzer’s numbers could take an ugly turn this year. One thing that will help Scherzer is his ability to rack up strikeouts, he struck out 174 batters in 170 innings last season. Right hander Jeremy Bonderman should slide back into the fourth spot in the rotation. Bonderman has made just 13 starts over the past two seasons, and in 2007, when he made 28 starts, he wasn’t very good. At the very least, if he can stay healthy, he should eat up innings to help offset the loss of Edwin Jackson. Dontrelle Willis rounds out the rotation. The left handed enigma was absolutely embarrassing last season, making just seven starts and going 1-4 with an ERA over seven. Willis has the pretty superficial numbers this spring (2-0, 3.26 ERA), but a deeper look shows that he’s allowed 30 base runners in just 19.1 IP. It’s safe to say he’s enjoyed some good luck this spring and it won’t be long until he’s exposed again.

Relief Pitching: Closer Jose Valverde is an improvement over the departed Fernando Rodney but the loss of Brandon Lyon leaves the Tigers without a proven setup man. If he can improve upon his 2009 performance, Ryan Perry should find himself in that role. Lefty Phil Coke’s propensity to give up long fly balls will not hurt him as much in the pitcher friend Comerica Park, but Tiger fans will still likely be holding their breath any time he is placed in a high leverage situation. Will this be the year that Joel Zumaya stays healthy?

Projection: The Twins have an excellent lineup and a decent pitching staff and the White Sox have an excellent pitching staff and a decent lineup. The Tigers? They have a ton of questions in both. The only certainties for the Tigers heading into this season are Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and likely Johnny Damon. Outside of that there are a significant amount of rookies and second and third year players being relied upon to perform at a high level in order for the team to compete. Could everything fall into place for the Tigers? Could Verlander/Porcello/Scherzer become one of the most feared trios in baseball? Could Austin Jackson make everyone forget about Curtis Granderson? Maybe, but more than likely, this will be a competitive but ultimately mediocre team.

2010 Detroit Tigers: 82-80, 3^rd Place, AL Central.

San Francisco Giants

2009 W/L-88-74 RS- 657 RA- 611

Key Additions- Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa

Key Losses- Randy Johnson, Randy Winn

Overview-

The 2010 will settle the debate whether or not a dominating rotation with medicore lineup can lead a team to the playoffs or not. Lets face it, the Giants have a dominating rotation no question. The top three starters rival any three in baseball. The question for 2010 won't be how many runs will the Giants give up, it is how many runs can this lineup score. If they can match or better their run total from last year look for this team to contend for the division crown. That's a big IF. Their lineup is not very good and as much as Giants fans try to convince you otherwise, tell them their number three hitter is Aaron Rowand and that should quiet them immediatley. Then when they tell you Aubrey Huff is going to have a career year, ask them who Aubrey Huff is. With that being said, Giants fans can brag about a certain individual that actually can smash....Pablo Sandoval. Dude can play and as long as he's healthy and in their lineup everyday, with their pitching staff , this team will make some noise in the National League.

Infield-

The infield is anchored by its catcher Benji Molina, who is known primarily for his defense and leadership ability, however Molina did belt 20 home runs and smacked in 80 runs last season. The Giants will need that kind of production from its veteran backstop again this year. Asbeforementioned Aubrey Huff will look to prove his offseason signing worth at first base this season, while Freddy Sanchez will play second base and most likely bat leadoff for the Giants. Savvy veteran Edgar Renteraria will lock down the shortstop position as he has done for so many years, but a drop in average from .332 to .270 to .250 the past few seasons has to be of concern for the team. Lastly, Kung Fu Panda aka Pablo Sandoval will assume the role at third base. He will try to quiet his critics as a defensive liability and continue to drive opposing pitchers crazy with his approach at the plate. The truth is in his first full season he hit .330 drove in 90 runs and hit 25 home runs. The infield as a whole have a nice mix of vets and youngsters, but all have to put up career years to carry the lineup.

Outfield-

The Giants outfield may be the worst offensively in the division. Although I respect the way Aaron Rowand plays the game, he is not the hitter he used to be. In fact, after hitting .265 last season with 64 RBI's, he's not even a guy opposing pitchers think twice about. Mark DeRosa, the big offseason acquisition, is a serviceable major leaguer. He did hit a career high 23 home runs last season, but the 35 year old is hardly the left fielder the Giants were so used to having in the middle of their lineup for so many years. The outfield is rounded out with Nick Shierholtz in right field. The lefty showed gimpses in 2009, but I really don't see him as anything more than a number 7 hitter in the majors. So, you can see why Giants fans should be worried about their outfield come 2010. The group does play hard and above average defense, but those are hardly qualities that will take a team to the next level.

Starting Pitching-

Tim Lincecum may be the best pitcher in baseball. Appearantly marijuana isn't as bad for you as many may think. He is a two time Cy Young award winner and continues to improve. Look for him to at least contend for the award again this year. Matt Cain is good, real good. If the hard throwing righty can stay healthy put his name in the mix for the Cy Young award this year as well. His potential is through the roof, but it has been for three years now. The Giants need him to maximize that and if he does, look out. Barry Zito is not the man he once was, everyone knows it, including him. However he is a savvy lefty who wants the ball, will eat up innings and occasionaly throw a three hit shutout type performance. That is far more than most teams number three pitcher can offer. Johnathan Sanchez is looking to build off a strong spring and look to lower his ERA this season as he has the past two. The only thing that will stop this group from being the best in the division is health.

Relief Pitching-

With starting pitching like this team has even a mediocre bullpen would probably make any manager happy. Luckily this team has a pretty good bullpen. Jeremy Affeldt and Sergio Romo make up a good lefty righty combo late in games. Brian Wilson is an All Star closer. I expect him to have around 40 saves again this season.

Projection-

Look for the Giants pitching to carry them again this season. As I stated before, if their lineup can perform above expectations this team has a shot at the division crown. Unfortunately I just don't think they are capable, but a wild card spot is certainly achievable.. Bruce Bochy, the veteran skipper, may need that wildcard spot to maintain his position with the club. So look for the team to rally around their leader and get to the postseason.

Projected record: 87-73 2nd place NL West.

Los Angeles Dodgers

2009 W/L- 95-67 RS- 780 RA- 611

Key Additions- Brad Ausmus, Garrett Anderson

Key Losses- Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf

Overview-

Amidst the owners divorce stories, no key offseason additions, the age of Manny Ramirez, and the lack of pitching and depth, Dodger fan may be a little worried that their chokehold on the division the last couple of years may be slipping. However there are several reasons why that wont happen this year, but one reason stands out more than any.....Joe Torre. This is a manager that has not finished worse than 2nd place in his respective division since 1995. He has not missed the playoffs since that same year. He is a winner, his teams are always winners and as long as he is at the healm, the Dodgers will remain favorites in the division. Now, it does seem the organization is trying to make it more and more difficult for Mr. Torre this year with them letting their all star second baseman and their second best starter walk without any significant offseason acquisition. With that being said, this is a team that won 95 games last season, the most in the National League and are still the most talented in the division. Look for more of the same in 2010.

Infield-

Russell Martin when healthy is the best catcher in the divsion, period. The operative word being healthy. Although it has been reported he is going to be ready opening day after recovering from a groin injury all offseason, their backup is Brad Ausmus. Yes the same Brad Ausmus that played for the Padres in the early 90's. Needless to say Martins health is a big key for the Dodgers success this season. The rest of the infield is made up of James Loney, who is an all star in waiting, Ronnie Belliard, Rafael Furcal, who also when healthy is the best at his position in the division and Casey Blake at the hot corner. This is a good infield, but the lack of depth may raise some red flags.

Outfield-

Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre Etheir make up the best outfield in the West and maybe in the National League. With a 2009 combined average close to .300, 76 home runs and 270 RBI's the Dodgers will live and die by this trio. Manny Ramirez is a first ballot Hall of Famer, and although he did struggle late last season and has made it clear this is the last season as a Dodger, he is still the one guy in their lineup opposing pitchers fear most. Andre Eitheir quietly put together a remarkable season last year topping 30 home runs and 100 RBI's and looks primed to put together similar numbers this year. That leaves Matt Kemp, who in my opinion is the best outfielder in the league. Not only does he play spectacular defense, he hits home runs, drives in men in scoring position and is also a thief on the base paths. Look for him to have an MVP type season in 2010.

Starting Pitching-

Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw make a nice one two punch and Hiroki Kuroda is a formidable number three, but the rotation stops there. This has to be a concern for the Dodgers entering this season. With Vincente Padilla as their number four, and no fifth starter named yet, this is the Dodgers biggest weakness. They will have to get some unexpected productivity from some unknowns to maintain that amazing 611 total runs scored against last season. I feel the loss of Randy Wolf, although not a blockbuster name, will hurt this team worse than expected. The good news for Dodger fan is with Billingsley, a 2009 all star and Kershaw at the top, they give this team a chance to win every time the are on the mound.

Relief Pitching-

Jonathan Broxton is an absolute beast. The guy is built more like an offensive lineman than a closer and he rounds out a pretty solid relief core for this team. Geroge Sherrill, Ramon Troncoso, and Ronald Belisario are a nice compliment to Broxton and should be very difficult to score runs against. There were talks of health concerns with Belesario entering this season, but it looks as though he will be healthy and ready for opening day. Great news for the Dodgers because this guy is big and nasty and will be a closer before his career is over.

Projection-

As I said before this is the Dodgers division to lose. Although the other four teams are gaining significant ground, this team has too many weapons and too savvy of a manger to let it slip in 2010. Look for Matt Kemp to put up an MVP type season and the Dodgers to come away with the division crown once again.

Projected record: 89-73 1st place NL West

American League Preview: Chicago White Sox

As we head towards Spring Training, it's time to check out where all 14 teams in the American League are headed as we enter the 2010 season. In this seventh installment we will analyze the Chicago White Sox.

- Chicago White Sox (2009 W/L: 79-83, 724 RS, 732 RA)

Key Additions: OF Andruw Jones, OF Juan Pierre, 3B Mark Teahen, SS Omar Vizquel

Key Losses: OF Jermaine Dye, OF Scott Podsednik, RP Octavio Dotel, SP Bartolo Colon

Overview: The White Sox will enter the 2010 season with a great deal of confidence after the Twins lost their All-Star closer, Joe Nathan. The White Sox have a great deal of talent in their rotation but their season will hinge on the performance of their lineup, which is made up of youngsters, disappointments and past their prime veterans. Their bullpen is also far from a sure thing, with closer Bobby Jenks coming off a disappointing 2009 as well as dealing with some injuries this spring, and their new setup man, J.J. Putz who made just 29 ineffective appearances last season with the New York Mets.

Infield: The bright spot in the White Sox lineup lies in the form of second baseman Gordon Beckham. The 23 year old played third last season, but will take over at second due to the acquisition of Mark Teahen. The eighth pick in the 2008 draft made his debut in June and quickly made an impact, hitting .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI in just 378 at bats. Paul Konerko remains at first, the 34 year old had solid 2009, but is on the decline. Alexei Ramirez provides respectable offense out of the shortstop position, but also a below average glove. Expect newly acquired Omar Vizquel to be inserted as a defensive replacement on many nights. Mark Teahan mans third base. Teahan, 28, has never built on the promise he displayed in 2006 with the Royals, but perhaps some time in a better lineup will help him out. Behind the plate, the volatile A.J. Pierzynski will provide average offense and a free pass to second base for anyone on first.

Outfield: The White Sox lineup will be incredibly hit or miss this year. In left, Juan Pierre takes over for the departed Podsednik. Pierre is still quick, but I’ve never loved him offensively. The numbers always look nice, but I think the Dodgers used him best, in a part time role or as a fill in for an injured (or suspended) player. His defense is suspect and his arm is nonexistent and offensively, he’ll need to adjust to a new league this year. In centerfield, perennial disappointment Alex Rios returns for his first full season in Chicago. The idea that a new environment would rejuvenate the one promising outfielder didn’t pan out last year (he posted a comedic .530 OPS in 41 games with the White Sox) so MAYBE a full season with his new team will help him out. Unfortunately for him, he can no longer boost his statistics by playing the Yankees nearly 20 times a year. Finally in right, Carlos Quentin will look return to his 2008 form. Quentin was limited to just 99 games in 2009, but still managed to his 23 home runs. His batting average dropped dramatically but his isolated patience remained consistent with his MVP caliber 2008 season. As long as he’s healthy, there’s no reason not to expect elite production from him.

DH: Andrew Jones joins the Sox as a DH, but it’s tough to expect anything better than the 2009 numbers he put up with the Rangers. Jones can still provide some pop, but any regular action quickly exposes him. If Jones falters early on, expect a healthy dose of Mark Kotsay.

Starting Pitching: It’s rare that you can look at a starting rotation and think that getting at least 1,000 innings from your five starters is a legitimate possibility, but health willing, the White Sox very well could get that this year. Mark Buehrle remains the team ace, on paper at least, or until Jake Peavy can prove that he can handle the American League on a regular basis. John Danks and Gavin Floyd both continued their excellent pitching and should pick up a few more wins if their offense gets their act straight. Veteran Freddy Garcia rounds out the rotation. Garcia appeared to be washed up after being cut by the Mets after two poor AAA starts, but appeared to have something left after joining the White Sox, going 3-4 with a 4.34 ERA in nine starts with the team.

Relief Pitching: The White Sox will hope for a bounce back year from closer Bobby Jenks, who allowed a career high nine home runs in just 53.1 IP last season while tying a career high in blown saves with six. Jenks has been dealing with a calf injury this spring, another hurdle he will need to overcome heading into the season. Setup man J.J. Putz will also look to put a 2009 behind him that saw him pitch ineffectively before eventually needing season ending surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow. If Putz returns to form and Jenks continues to struggle, Putz could easily slide back into a closer role. They’ll be joined by lefty Matt Thornton and veteran Scott Linebrink.

Projection: The White Sox have already received a gift with Nathan being lost for the season, but even without Nathan the Twins still have more than enough talent to win the AL Central. The starting pitching is there for the White Sox, but with so many questions surrounding the lineup and the backend of their bullpen, it’s tough to predict a White Sox divisional win.

2010 Chicago White Sox: 88-74, 2nd Place, AL Central