Who do you see becoming the 2007 American League Central Division Champions?

Question

Your choices are;

A. Chicago White Sox
B. Cleveland Indians
C. Detroit Tigers
D. Kansas City Royals
E. Minnesota Twins

Answer 1

We can rule out the Royals.

The Whitesox have the horses already. They just need leadership and for their pitchers to remember how to pitch.

The Indians have a potent offense and a shaky but promising pitching staff. If a couple of those pitchers shape up into first rate pitchers the Indians could run away with it.

The Tigers have momentum. Most importantly they still have Pudge. It's Pudge that is the heart of the Tigers. The Tigers will have to deal with improvements from some pitchers. Verlander will probably get even better. Other Tigers had career years and watch for them to fade next year. Sheffield is a huge injury risk and the outfield outside of Ordenez was one of the Tiger's biggest weaknesses. Leyland is a good manager and he won't let the Tigers fall apart. I do see the Tigers in a tight race next year. Whether they win, well that's hard to say.

The Twins really don't have the guns to take it next year. Even with improved stats from Morneau and Maur. The Twins need more than Santanna in the rotation. Really bad years from the Indians and Whitesox let the Twins sneak in this year. Don't expect both teams to be as bad next year.

Assuming nobody adds anybody, no major injuries in spring training or early in the year. I'd lean with the Indians myself with the Whitsox a very close second. The Whitesox on paper are the best team in the division. Age, lack of clubhouse spirit are what killed them. Wthout a strong leader either on the field or as manager the Whitesox will disapoint again next year. The Tigers are at the mercy of the Indians and Whitesox. They don't have the talent on paper but have the want. So any failure by the frontrunners will be an opening for the Tigers. Recent transactions havn't really been good ones. Casey is good but Shelton outhit Casey and all of the OF/DH combos except for Ordenez. Shelton should be traded since he's clearly not in the Tiger's plans this year. He was a huge part of their offense early on and without Shelton powering that offense I see a slow start for the Tigers. High expectations combined with a slow start could unravel the young team. I also think the Tigers should stick more with the Youth. It's their strength. Adding older vets like Sheffield and Casey is not improving the team.

Last the Twins are a darkhorse. They have Santanna and if he can get support from the rest of the staff and the Twins can replace some of thier fading players with some of the talented prospects waiting in the wings then the Twins can compete again this year. The problem is that you are talking alot of ifs. Cuddyer and Hunter are both ifs. Cuddyer finally lived up to his promise driving in 100 runs, more than twice his previous best. Cuddyer also racked up 130 KOs in the process and had a meager .284 BA to go with that. Still he's only 27, so he's a legitimate deal with hopes that he'll get even better in 08. The sophmore jinx will likely limit him to similer or slightly worse stats in 07. Stewart might have a good season left in but probably not. He'll probably hit .270ish with a dozen HRs and very boring all around stats. Hunter is the kind of player I'd trade in a heartbeat. He appeared to be the core of the Twins for a long time to come a few years back. Injury cut his 05 year down and his return was less than hoped for. True Hunter did have a career high 31 HRs but his RBI production was disapointing for that many HRs. Hunter had driven in many more RBIs before with fewer HRs. Hunter's SB and 2bs dropped noticably and that was a big part of the drop in Runs scored and RBI. So Hunter's 07 year is going to be hard to predict. To me he seems like a player to worry about. His age is at where many CFs either develop into power hitters or start seeing production noticable drop. He plays a high injury risk posisition and his 05 injury says it might happen again. From 99-05 Castilla was one of the more under rated players in the game. He's clearly in decline today. Punto isn't the answer at Third. A healthy Bartlett might make people take notice. Maur was increadible at Catcher last year. So the Twins have the seeds of a good line up. They need somebody to come up at third and an outfielder/DH to come up. Rondell White isn't the answer. Nevin needs to show he's not washed up. Otherwise the Twins need somebody like Kubel to step up to have a chance. They need guys like Silva to have a good year. Liriano isn't going to be there to carry the team this year. Sophmore jinx and injuries make Liriano a very unlikely pitcher next year. On the plus side Nathen had an excellent year. If he can keep doing that he'll be one of the top closers in the game.

Answer 2

And thank you again, for identifying the choices for us....

The answer is E: The Twins. Shouldda taken the American League Flag this year, except for a couple of at-bats the Oakland A's had, in close games in the playoffs.

Look for the Twins to sharpen their focus next year, after seeing it disappear from them this past season.

I could give you about 8 reasons, but I'm tired. Take my word, Twins, AL Central champs in '07.

Ain't Baseball just the very best Game ever??

Answer 3

That is the deepest division in baseball. The Twins will be good, The Sox will be good, the Indians need pitching but they will be around, and the Tigers are loaded with talent....if i had to pick one team, i pick Detroit... theyre just so young and talented , especially in that pitching.

Answer 4

The Twins.

Joe Mauer and MVP Justin Morneau will both have gotten one year closer to their prime. It is a scary thought, an MVP and an MVP Candidate (who should've been mvp) getting better.

There is also Johan, who is about to enter his prime, age 28.

Three players, two of whom could have been MVP's and one MVP, all getting better. The Twins will be stacked for 2007 and years to come.

Answer 5

The Twins

They are just coming into their own, OK so they lost in the ALDS but with theindividual off season awards being given out and the hardware beginning to pile up, I think that they are a good contender. Especially if Liriano can get healthy

Answer 6

Twins. With around 98 wins.

Answer 7

I would have to go with the Minnesota Twins again....they simply have the young talent needed to do so!!

Answer 8

A. The White Sox
They will be the strongest team as far as pitching, and the hitting, forget about it
You can put it on the board, Yes!

Answer 9

The Cubs hahahahaha

Answer 10

i'd say either the chicago whitesox or the minnesota twins