They should hold these division games in cages, with chairs flying and elbows dropping. No more than 10 games will separate the first-place club from the fourth-place resident. The Tigers are primed for a letdown after their magical season, but their pitching makes it impossible to pick against them – Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya are two of the best young flame-throwers in decades.
1. Detroit Tigers | 95-67, second
LINEUP (’06 average)
CF Curtis Granderson .260
2B Placido Polanco .295
DH Gary Sheffield .298
RF Magglio Ordoñez .298
SS Carlos Guillen .320
C Ivan Rodriguez .300
1B Sean Casey .272
LF Craig Monroe .255
3B Brandon Inge .253
ROTATION (’06 ERA)
RHP J. Bonderman 4.08
RHP Chad Durbin 1.50
RHP Justin Verlander 3.63
LHP Nate Robertson 3.84
LHP Mike Maroth 4.19
CLOSER (’06 saves)
Todd Jones 37
MANAGER
Jim Leyland
IN FOCUS
History has not been kind to upstarts trying to repeat. The Indians and Marlins are recent examples of teams that fell on hard times after shocking the critics. But neither of those teams had the Tigers’ pitching.
IN DARKROOM
Justin Verlander proved he could be a star. Now all he has to do is repeat the performance after the longest work year of his life. How he and Joel Zumaya respond to notoriety can’t be overlooked.
PERFECT IMAGE
Kenny Rogers (on the DL with a tired arm) no longer stars as “Joe Dirt,” Gary Sheffield rips pitching as well as he does his ex-managers and Magglio Ordoñez and Ivan Rodriguez continue buying into Leyland’s team-first, not me-first plan.
2. Minnesota Twins | 96-66, first
LINEUP (’06 average)
2B Luis Castillo .296
3B Nick Punto .290
C Joe Mauer .347
RF Michael Cuddyer .284
1B Justin Morneau .321
CF Torii Hunter .278
LF Rondell White .246
DH Jason Kubel .241
SS Jason Bartlett .309
ROTATION (’06 ERA)
LHP Johan Santana 2.77
RHP Ramon Ortiz 5.57
RHP Boof Bonser 4.22
RHP Sidney Ponson 6.25
RHP Carlos Silva 5.94
CLOSER (’06 saves)
RHP Joe Nathan 36
MANAGER
Ron Gardenhire
IN FOCUS
The Twins are a guilty pleasure – always better than expected. They have the reigning MVP (Justin Morneau) and enough issues in their rotation to fill a week of Maury Povich. If GM Terry Ryan can acquire another solid starter, the Twins will again play in October.
IN DARKROOM
Matt Garza is bathed in potential and hype. Nobody expects him to be this year’s Francisco Liriano. He could reach 10 wins with his stuff and take some pressure off Boof Bonser.
PERFECT IMAGE
Joe Mauer remains healthy and continues to rake, forcing teams to pitch to Morneau. With Joe Nathan, the league’s most underrated closer, the Twins play eight-inning baseball on nights they win.
3. Cleveland Indians | 78-84, fourth
LINEUP (’06 average)
CF Grady Sizemore .290
RF Trot Nixon .268
DH Travis Hafner .308
C Victor Martinez .316
1B Casey Blake .282
LF David Dellucci .292
SS Jhonny Peralta .257
3B Andy Marte .226
2B Josh Barfield .280
ROTATION (’06 ERA)
LHP C.C. Sabathia 3.22
RHP Jake Westbrook 4.17
LHP Jeremy Sowers 3.57
RHP Paul Byrd 4.88
RHP Fausto Carmona 5.42
CLOSER (’06 saves)
Joe Borowski 36
MANAGER
Eric Wedge
IN FOCUS
In Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, Cleveland has two catalytic offensive forces. Problem was, Cleveland couldn’t catch the ball for the first three months or pitch effectively out of the bullpen.
IN DARKROOM
Eric Wedge is sitting squarely on the Bunsen burner. If this team starts slowly again, Wedge won’t be around to explain. It’s imperative that Jeremy Sowers excels until Cliff Lee returns from the disabled list.
PERFECT IMAGE
Acquiring Josh Barfield was a nifty stroke, but it won’t make sense if Kevin Kouzmanoff goes off and Andy Marte does not. C.C. Sabathia unseats Johan Santana for the Cy Young Award, his confidence restored behind a rebuilt bullpen.
4. Chicago White Sox | 90-72, third
LINEUP (’06 average)
CF Scott Podsednik .261
CF Darin Erstad .221
DH Jim Thome .288
1B Paul Konerko .313
RF Jermaine Dye .315
3B Joe Crede .283
2B Tadahito Iguchi .281
C A.J. Pierzynski .295
SS Juan Uribe .235
ROTATION (’06 ERA)
RHP Jose Contreras 4.27
RHP Jon Garland 4.51
LHP Mark Buehrle 4.99
RHP Javier Vazquez 4.84
LHP John Danks –
CLOSER (’06 saves)
Bobby Jenks 41
MANAGER
Ozzie Guillen
IN FOCUS
GM Kenny Williams is going for more by spending less, shipping off Freddy Garcia and top prospect Brandon McCarthy for three young starters. With this offense, the White Sox need just mediocre pitching to reach the playoffs. Jim Thome will join the 500-home run club this season.
IN DARKROOM
Mike MacDougal is a nice insurance policy if closer Bobby Jenks can’t stay off the DL. But MacDougal could be used to land an extra starter, unless one of the kids surprises.
PERFECT IMAGE
Scott Podsednik and Darin Erstad find the fountain of youth, allowing Ozzie Guillen to cut the brake cords on his offense. The 2005 team won with a perfect blend of power and speed that tortured opponents.
5. Kansas City Royals | 62-100, fifth
LINEUP (’06 average)
CF David DeJesus .295
2B Esteban German .326
RF Mark Teahen .290
DH Mike Sweeney .258
1B Ryan Shealy .277
3B Alex Gordon –
LF Emil Brown .287
C John Buck .245
SS Tony Pena Jr. .227
ROTATION (’06 ERA)
RHP Gil Meche 4.48
LHP Odalis Perez 6.20
RHP Luke Hudson 5.12
LHP J. De La Rosa 6.49
RHP Zack Greinke 4.26
CLOSER (’06 saves)
RHP Octavio Dotel 0
MANAGER
Buddy Bell
IN FOCUS
The Royals are accustomed to being charred for their winter activity, but not for overspending. Even the commissioner took exception to the $55 million contract they gave Gil Meche. The signing is symbolic for a team that is desperate for relevance.
IN DARKROOM
Mark Teahen is showing why he was a popular subject in “Moneyball.” He has a chance to be a good player for a long time. The same can’t be said for catcher John Buck, who needs to hit more.
PERFECT IMAGE
Alex Gordon, athletic and quick, races into the rookie of the year chase and Scott Elarton returns healthy to help give pitching coach Bob McClure a puncher’s chance to salvage a rotation.
