A.L. Central Smack 2015

[Nosferatu]

Well, here it is. It's 2015 pitchers and catchers report in 45 days for some teams...

Let the smack begin.

Good luck to the A.L. Central this year!

 

[Nosferatu]

Anybody care to make an early prediction on the standings this year?

 

[bksballer89]

I'm sure Dougie will lol

 

[Nosferatu]

I'm sure Dougie will lol

We might be better off just asking dougie what day the Tigers will clinch the division. I'm guessin' he says sometime in May.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Anybody care to make an early prediction on the standings this year?

Still too early with Scherzer lurking about.

 

[gandydancer]

May is a little early. The central seems tougher this year. Doug will go June 28th or give or take 6 other days.

 

[Howie115]

Yeah, gotta wait until the offseason moves are done, and we get through spring training with no major injuries among the five teams before projecting the AL Central. I do like some of the moves the Chisox have made to improve.

That said, I have 5 keys (as of today) for the Tigers to repeat as ALC champs:

(1) Healthy Jose Iglesias. Outside of Kinsler, the infield defense still left a lot to be desired in 2014. Iggy can make a big difference here.

(2) Bruce Rondon and Joel Hanrahan. Both are recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Tigers can't count on Joakim Soria in the setup role, and barring another move, one or both of these pitchers need to be healthy and effective.

(3) Yoenis Cespedes. He can bolster the lineup with his speed and power. Definitely needs to get his OBP back up north of .320, though.

(4) J. D. Martinez. One-year wonder, or was his breakout season a sign of things to come?

(5) Justin Verlander. Never used to worry about this guy going into a season, but we do now, especially after losing Porcello and (likely) Scherzer. I don't expect him to return to 200+ strikeouts, but an ERA below 4.00, WHIP below 1.30 and regularly going 7 innings again is pretty much essential for the Tigers to have any chance.

 

[dougplayer]

o really like the Tigers chances this year.... and you know iam not a homer, strictly a numbers man.i crunch stats all day long...


ps...check out my last post to close out our old long tread.....its so true.

 

[msgkings322]

May is a little early. The central seems tougher this year. Doug will go June 28th or give or take 6 other days.

Seems? Uh, yeah.

4 teams have a decent shot at the division.

 

[dougplayer]

white sox improved. royals wont be AS good as last year.
Tigers still the favorite. can any one make a good argument against that??


Tigers need to get Avila out of town.
I would trade Costellonos...we could get some thing good in return.


oh yeah..Twins.. will be the Twins. Radke is not walking out of the dug out!!

 

[Howie115]

oh yeah..Twins.. will be the Twins. Radke is not walking out of the dug out!!

LOL.... wonder if Radke has ever recovered from the whiplash he suffered by giving up 30+ home runs every year.

 

[Nosferatu]

LOL.... wonder if Radke has ever recovered from the whiplash he suffered by giving up 30+ home runs every year.

He let up 30+ home runs in 4 of his 12 seasons...

He went 20 - 9 against the Tigers... His best record against any American League Team... LOL

 

[dougplayer]

I always picked up radke went I needed a starter..then drop him and pick him back up.
he was a gamer.


I hope the ducks from U of Nike beats that school down there. I hate the ducks...but would love seeing that school get a butt whipping.

 

[dougplayer]

20 wins for Verlander????? I think so. maybe even more.
He is stronger now..2014 he was still recovering from core surgery.

 

[da55bums]

Royals-


1) improved lineup with morales, rios over butler, aoki
2) improved bullpen (if even possible) with Hochevar back as well as Finnegan and Medlen pitch in it
3) major weakness in Edison V instead of Shields
4) if Duffy and Ventura continue to improve and pitch like 1 and 2's, they will have a good season.
5) if Hosmer, Cain and Moose improve and come close to hitting like they did in the post season, they will have a great season.

 

[bksballer89]

20 wins for Verlander????? I think so. maybe even more.
He is stronger now..2014 he was still recovering from core surgery.

Are you on crack?

Good read for you Dougie

Verlander's best role could be as a reliever - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

 

[dougplayer]

tom brady..the Michigan man. shows the HEART of a wolverine!!!!


down 14 to the Ravens he storms back and wins!!!!!! true blue tommmy!!!!

 

[dougplayer]

Are you on crack?

Good read for you Dougie

Verlander's best role could be as a reliever - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

pleaseeeeee.
first off...it was written by a women!
second...you don't take out one of the best starters in the last 20 years and put him in the bull pen.
and C.... he is a slow starter..most of the time he gets touched for a soft run or 2 in the first or second inning he pitches.... he gets stronger as the game goes on. when most pitchers are wanting to grab some pine when the game gets a little deep..Verlander shows his HEART and wants the ball!!! he wants to be in the game!

 

[Nosferatu]

tom brady..the Michigan man. shows the HEART of a wolverine!!!!


down 14 to the Ravens he storms back and wins!!!!!! true blue tommmy!!!!

He's from California, we all know what you think about those western guys.

 

[Cleaves2000]

Yeah, gotta wait until the offseason moves are done, and we get through spring training with no major injuries among the five teams before projecting the AL Central. I do like some of the moves the Chisox have made to improve.

That said, I have 5 keys (as of today) for the Tigers to repeat as ALC champs:

(1) Healthy Jose Iglesias. Outside of Kinsler, the infield defense still left a lot to be desired in 2014. Iggy can make a big difference here.

(2) Bruce Rondon and Joel Hanrahan. Both are recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Tigers can't count on Joakim Soria in the setup role, and barring another move, one or both of these pitchers need to be healthy and effective.

(3) Yoenis Cespedes. He can bolster the lineup with his speed and power. Definitely needs to get his OBP back up north of .320, though.

(4) J. D. Martinez. One-year wonder, or was his breakout season a sign of things to come?

(5) Justin Verlander. Never used to worry about this guy going into a season, but we do now, especially after losing Porcello and (likely) Scherzer. I don't expect him to return to 200+ strikeouts, but an ERA below 4.00, WHIP below 1.30 and regularly going 7 innings again is pretty much essential for the Tigers to have any chance.

Good post. I agree with everything. If the tigers somehow get max back that would be huge. Losing porcello wont hurt at all then. We would have 2 solid guys battling for the 5th starter and hopefully simon will go to the pen.


I see the white sox as the main competition this yr. hopefully they wont gel and samardzja will leave after this yr. i wonder if the sox are good will some white sox fan pop up out of thin air. If anything the AL central isnt the worst division anymore. Actually pretty decent now.