MLB Preview - NL East

The MLB season is days away. Spring is here. The Indians don’t have a losing record. All is good. For this year, instead of doing my wrestling comparison like last year, which I wanted to do because it was so fun, I am just breaking down the teams as I see them. There are eight categories for each team. “Season outlook” is a summary and breakdown of how I think the season will go for each team. “Pros” and “Cons” are pretty self-explanatory. “MVP” is most valuable player, while “MIP” is most important pitcher, and “X” is the “X-Factor” player. “Best thing” is my favorite category, it is what I think the best thing about this team is. It could be die-hard fans, the stadium, the uniforms, or anything really. Then to end, I will list their record from last year and my prediction for their record of this year. Let’s start in the NL and get going.

Atlanta Braves –

Season Outlook – The Braves sport a very deep lineup. They have two of the brightest hitting prospects in the game with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman. Freeman looks like a kid who would work at Dairy Queen, but is actually a pretty solid baseball player. Brian McCann, Chipper Jones and Martin Prado are still in the lineup, which gives it some stability, and they added all-star second basemen Dan Uggla. I have a feeling Uggla is in for a big year, and as bad as he can be on defense (remember that NL All-Star team?), he has to be better than Brooks Conrad. The Pitching staff is once again deep, and anchored by the always steady Derek Lowe and Tim Hudson. Tommy Hansen and Jair Jurrjens provide the power in the three and four spots. The bullpen is a big question right now, and the Braves announced the split-closer role is being manned by Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. Guys, the closer by committee never works, just find someone and stick with him. Bobby Cox would have.

Pros – Lineup depth, consistent starting pitching, good young prospects

Cons – Chipper is getting old, closer by committee, no real ace on the pitching staff

MVP – Jason Heyward. As Jason Heyward went last year, as did the Braves lineup. His sophomore year will be huge for this team. If he starts the year hot like last year, people will begin to wonder if he can keep it up through the dog days of summer, like he did not last year.

MIP – Tommy Hanson. Derek Lowe and Tim Hudson are proven pitchers, who are going to give you essentially the same thing year in and year out. Hanson is the wild card. He has all the tools to be a staff ace, but hasn’t put it all together yet. This could be his year.

X – Chipper Jones. He is an old man now. After having a monster year two seasons ago, he has faded due to injuries. With his old coach gone, will he be able to bounce back in 2011? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chipper suffer from separation anxiety and go running from the Braves clubhouse to Bobby Cox’s waiting arms. Together they can move to Mexico and retire. Just like Andy and Red.

Best thing- The best thing about the Braves is the denial of their fans. Braves fans are exactly the same as Cowboys fans. They jumped on the bandwagon in the 90’s and sort of stayed there. They don’t really pay attention until the team is good again, and when they are, claim there are not fair-weather fans because they were there all along. Ted Turner and Jerry Jones are not very different either. Both are rich, old and creepy. I know there are some Braves fans (and Cowboys fans) who stick by them no matter what, and I apologize to those fans, but if I don’t ever see a Braves or Cowboys world title again, I’ll be happy.

2010 Record – 91-71

2011 Prediction – 91-71

Florida Marlins –

Season Outlook – Here is a sentence I have said for the last seven years or so: “The Marlins have a lot of young talent, and if they can hold on to it, will be a very good team in the future”. That seems to be about par for the course in Miami. I really do like the young talent on the Marlins this year, and am starting to wonder if this is the group they try to keep intact to open their new ball park. The young offensive core of Hanley Ramirez, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison could be good for years to come. The pitching seems to always be in rebuild mode in Florida, headlined by Cy Young candidate Josh Johnson. Javier Vasquez took his talents to South Beach this year, which should bode well for the Fins. Vasquez always pitches good when there isn’t much pressure on him. The Marlins could be a surprise team this year to compete for the wild card. I doubt it, but it is possible.

Pros – Hanley Ramirez, Josh Joshson, only a few more games until a new ball park opens

Cons – Unknown bullpen, John Buck being the full time catcher, Chris Coughlin is a question in center

MVP – Hanley Ramirez. This is an easy one. Hanley is the face of the Marlins, whether he hustles or not. He is probably the best shortstop in the majors and most casual fans have never seen him play. If the Marlins get good, he will be a star.

MIP – Josh Johnson. If the Marlins want to compete for a playoff spot, they need Johnson to win at least 20 games and lead the staff.

X – Mike Stanton. If the young right fielder can bring his power stroke to the majors, it will take a lot of pressure off Hanley and open up the lineup.

Best thing- The best thing about the Marlins is the excitement for the new stadium in downtown Miami. I plan on getting to all 30 MLB ballparks at some point in my life. The thought of going to a Marlins game was always just awful. I had no desire to attend one of those sparsely attended games. Now, with a new stadium in downtown Miami…I’m there. I think I’ll wait until LeBron is gone from South Beach before going, that way only 200 people will go to the Heat games and tickets will be easy to get.

2010 Record – 80-82

2011 Prediction – 84-78

New York Mets –

Season Outlook – The Mets are a mess. Their ownership issues are perhaps even worse than the issues the Dodgers faced last year. I didn’t want to read about the whole thing, but I saw Bernie Madoff’s name come up in this mess, and when that name arises, it can’t be good. As far as the actual team goes, it isn’t awful. They could be good enough to score runs with the best of them, but the pitching staff leaves something to be desired. The outfield of Jason Bay, Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran looked a lot better in 2008, but could still be very good. Jose Reyes seems to have lost a step, but the corner infielders are real good. David Wright is still an elite third baseman and Ike Davis is a very interesting youngster at first. The problem with the lineup, is that the pitching staff will probably give back every run the lineup scores. Mike Pelfrey is the ace of the staff until Johan gets healthy. Niese, Dickey, Young and Capuano round out the staff. Not good. The bullpen provides all kinds of questions, including the “in-law puncher” K-Rod. Manager Terry Collins has his work cut out for him in 2011.

Pros – Corner infielders, Bay and Beltran in the outfield, 3rd year at Citi Field

Cons – Pitching, bullpen, ownership.

MVP – Carlos Beltran. It seems like everybody knows what they will get from David Wright and a healthy Jose Reyes. Beltran is the one that makes or breaks this lineup. If Beltran has a good year, they lineup could be very tough, if he doesn’t then the lineup will struggle greatly.

MIP – Francisco Rodriguez. This starting rotation will struggle, and when they get a lead to the late innings, the bullpen can’t afford to lose it. Of course, most of the attention paid to the bullpen will be on K-Rod. Lot of pressure on him this year.

X – R.A. Dickey. The old rookie is a big X-factor for the Mets this year. He is slotted as their number three starter. If he performs like he did last year, then the Mets will have at least three solid, dependable pitchers. If he doesn’t then the whole staff could suffer.

Best thing- The best thing about the Mets is that they are not the Yankees. The players might not agree, but fans of the other 29 teams do. One New York powerhouse team is enough.

2010 Record – 79-83

2011 Prediction – 73-89

Philadelphia Phillies –

Season Outlook – What a pitching staff. The starting rotation for Philly is unbelievable. The rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt and Blanton is scary. Blanton seems like he doesn’t fit in with the other four, and he kind of doesn’t, but he is a very good pitcher. He is better than a number five starter. The bullpen is alright, but the injury to Lidge is a setback. The thing about the bullpen in Philly is that it may not have to work much because the starters go so deep into games. Should be a lot of low scoring games thrown by this staff. The lineup is questionable. They still have a lot of talent in the lineup from top to bottom, but, they are getting older. Victorino and Francisco are the young guys in the lineup and they are not that young. Howard, Utley, Rollins, Ruiz, Ibanez and Polanco are all getting to the point where they are approaching the career decline. I don’t mean they will become the next Travis Hafner and completely fall off, but they can’t expect to keep getting younger and producing like they have the last few years. Years catch up eventually, especially when eating cheese steaks for every meal.

Pros – Pitching staff, Cliff Lee, Pitching staff

Cons – Philadelphia people are mean, aging lineup, shaky bullpen

MVP – Chase Utley. Utley has been the man for the Phillies for the last few years even though Victorino, Howard and Rollins seem to get a lot of the attention. Utley is really the heart and soul of the lineup. If Utley stays healthy and produces, the Phils will win A LOT of games.

MIP – Cliff Lee. I say Lee for two reasons. 1) He is one of my favorite pitchers. 2) He was the big offseason signing, meaning the most pressure is on Lee. Halladay has proven his worth to Philly fans, and Oswalt is almost an afterthought at this point. Lee is the one with the spotlight on him.

X – Ben Francisco. It appears Francisco will start in right field instead of Dominic Brown. Francisco was thought of highly coming up in the Indians organization and has been a bit of a disappointment in the majors. However, many feel he can turn it around. If Francisco can produce, it will be a pleasant surprise and an infusion of youth to the lineup.

Best thing- The best thing about the Phillies is the restaurant, McFadden’s, attached to Citizen's Bank Ballpark. Me and my friend ate their last season before a Phils game and the assortment of beautiful women there was like I was at a Miss America pageant that served cheese steaks and Killian’s Irish Red. It was awesome. Then we went into the game and sat by Phillies fans and had to hear them complain about everything under the sun, including the sun, which can't be good, because it is always sunny there. Ahh, Philadelphia.

2010 Record – 97-65

2011 Prediction – 102-60

Washington Nationals –

Season Outlook – The Nationals made an offseason splash with the addition of Jayson Werth. That could translate into some wins. Too bad wins will be few and far between for the Nats. Washington is a team built for the future. With Strasburg and Bryce Harper waiting, they will be good. Eventually. The lineup could be decent with Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Adam LaRoche and Werth. Then, add in the center fielder, whether it be Rick Ankiel or Roger Bernadina, and they could be good. The question in the lineup is who will be at catcher. Pudge Rodriguez is listed as the starting catcher, but I am very intrigued by Wilson Ramos behind the plate. Ramos was the catcher in the Twins farm system that was never talked about because he was behind Joe Mauer. Now that Ramos is in Washington, he could blossom into a special player. The problem with the Nats is that no matter how many runs they score, the pitching staff will give up more. Livan Hernandez is still the ace of the staff (until Strasberg comes back). John Lannan, Jason Marquis, Jordan Zimmerma and Tom Gorzelanny round out the staff. Not too good looking is it?

Pros – Solid 1-2 punch of Werth and Zimmerman, Catching prospect Wilson Ramos, Prospects in waiting

Cons – Pitching staff, Strasburg being hurt, Jim Riggleman is still the coach

MVP – Jayson Werth. Werth could come in and infuse this team with excitement much like Strasberg did last season. If Werth comes in and is not used to losing and sulks, then the signing will be one of the all-time worse and set the franchise back a bit.

MIP – Jordan Zimmerman. He is the pitcher who could establish himself as another building block to go along with Strasberg. Livan Hernandez was my choice, but then I remembered he is 68 years old, so I went with the youngster.

X – Danny Espinosa. The young second basemen could be very good. The hype is all about Werth, Strasberg and Harper, but Espinosa is very highly thought of in baseball circles. He is someone to keep an eye on.

Best thing- The best thing about the Nationals is that they don’t play in Canada anymore. That, and the President’s Race.

2010 Record – 69-93

2011 Prediction – 64-98

NL Central

Chicago Cubs –

Season Outlook – I hate the Cubs. I hate the Cubs, but I think they will have a successful 2011. I also think the NL Central race could be one for the ages, not because it is full of great teams, but because it is full of average teams. The Cubs bolstered their pitching staff by getting Matt Garza in January. I understand a lot of my Cubs fans friends think the Cubbies gave up too much for Garza. I can’t really speak on that, but I have a feeling Garza is going to quiet his doubters this year and win somewhere between 14-17 games. Big Carlos Zambrano is still the ace, he is still crazy, and he still has pretty good stuff when he is on. Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner round out the rotation. The lineup looks a lot like 2010, with the exception of hot-hitting (.197) Carlos Pena taking over for Derek Lee at first. Geovany Soto remains overrated behind the plate, as does Aramis Ramirez at third. I am not a huge fan of either one of them, but I know both can go on hot streaks. The two Cubs I like are the youngsters, Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro. Both have potential to have major breakout seasons in 2011. Alfonsio Soriano will continue to frustrate Cubs fans in 2011. I don’t think Marlon Byrd will have as good of year as he did last year, but he should still be good. Carlos Marmol as a closer has serious potential. His stuff is just nasty…when it is over the plate. Kerry Wood returned to the North Side in case Marmol gets into trouble. Should be an interesting year in Wrigley.

Pros – Castro, Bullpen, Bartman

Cons – A lot of strikeouts, Cubs fans, Cubs announcers

MVP – Starlin Castro. I really think the young shortstop will be the heart and soul of the Cubs order this year. He could be their next great player.

MIP – Matt Garza. Big Z would be a candidate here, but he will be himself (aka: crazy) no matter what. Garza has a lot of pressure on him this year. Cubs fans want to see that the front office was correct in giving up prospects for Garza. It is on him to show it.

X – Carlos Marmol. The Cubs have seen a lot of bullpen problems over the last couple years. Marmol has the stuff to end those woes, he just needs to control it.

Best thing- The best thing about the Cubs is that they always lose. Duh.

2010 Record – 75-87

2011 Prediction – 85-77

Cincinnati Reds –

Season Outlook – I don’t know what to think about the Reds in 2011. I was impressed with them last year, but their lineup doesn’t impress me this year. Add that to the fact that their manager, Dusty Baker, rides teams to death, and I don’t think the Reds will see the post season again this year. Joey Votto was not a fluke. That I can agree with. He is an exceptional player and is still only 27 years old. The rest of the infield can’t say the same thing. Paul Janish is starting at shortstop, unless Edgar Renteria takes his spot, but neither one is very good. Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen are both coming off great years, but can’t be counted on to do it again. Drew Stubbs is the outfielder that many people are excited about having a big year in 2011, but I disagree. I am hoping for big things out of Jay Bruce instead. People are acting like Jay Bruce is a big bust. He did hit .281 last year with 25 home runs, and he is only 23 years old. Give him some time. The pitching staff isn’t great, and the injuries to Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey don’t help. Bronson Arroyo will be his reliable self, and Edison Volquez could have a monster season, two years removed from surgery. After Arroyo and Volquez however, the rotation looks weak. Travis Wood, Mike Leake and Jose Arrendondo don’t exactly strike fear into opposing batters. The closer, for the moment is Francisco Cordero, but he will eventually be replaced by Aroldis Chapman. Chapman does strike fear in opposing batters.

Pros – Chapman, experienced infield, Great American Ballpark

Cons – aging stars, pedestrian pitching, Dusty Baker

MVP – Joey Votto. He was the NL MVP, so he is obviously the Reds MVP.

MIP – Edison Volquez. The Reds gave up Josh Hamilton to get Volquez, and he was great three years ago. He needs to show he can come back from his surgery and retain his old form. He needs to be the ace the Reds want him to be.

X – Jay Bruce. Bruce could have a year a lot like Votto’s in 2010. If Bruce can improve like I think he can, the Reds lineup will be better than expected.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Reds is the Great American Ballpark, or rather, the promotions at the GAB. When I went to a game there last year, the pregame concert was M.C. Hammer. I almost didn’t stay for the game because I was so awesomed-out already. But I stayed, because I am 2 Legit 2 Quit.

2010 Record – 91-71

2011 Prediction – 86-76

Houston Astros –

Season Outlook – I don’t love the Astros this year, but I don’t hate them either. Most people are picking them to finish last in the Central, I disagree (sorry Pirates). The starting pitching isn’t too shabby. Brett Meyers and Wandy Rodriguez can be very good, especially Rodriguez who is one of the most underrated pitchers in the majors. J.A. Happ still has potential be a good starting pitcher, and Bud Norris isn’t awful. Nelson Figueroa is the fifth starter. He went 7-4 last year in 11 starts, which isn’t dreadful. The starting rotation may be better than people think. The bullpen will be as bad as people think. There isn’t much to say about it. The lineup may surprise some people also. The outfield has power-hitting Carlos Lee, base-stealing Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence who hit 25 homers last year. In the infield the Astros have Bill Hall at second, Clint Barmes at short and Chris Johnson at third. The first baseman, Brett Wallace, has been tossed around a few teams, but is supposed to be a great hitter. I saw him hit down at some River Bandits game, and his swing is for real. I don’t think the Astros are going to compete for a division title, but I think they will be respectable.

Pros – outfield play, starting pitching, Wandy

Cons – bullpen, left side of the infield, the hump in center field

MVP – Hunter Pence. Carlos Lee has been pretty consistent over the years, as has Michael Bourn, the Astros need Pence to step up and hit around .300 to help the lineup score runs.

MIP – J.A. Happ. Happ was the main piece of the Roy Oswalt trade. They need him to be the guy he was when Philly first called him up. He has the stuff to be a 15 game winner.

X – Brett Wallace. Wallace needs to show that all those teams that traded him were wrong in doing so.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Astros is also the worst thing: that stupid hump in center field. I hate it, but, when seeing a center fielder go back on a fly ball, I have to admit, I get a little excited for the possibility of a fall.

2010 Record – 76-86

2011 Prediction – 80-84

Milwaukee Brewers –

Season Outlook – Real interesting team in Milwaukee this year. I am not sure if I am drinking the Brewers kool-aid just yet, but I do like what I see. Once Zack Grienke comes back, they have a very good starting rotation that can compete with any rotation in the NL Central. Yovani Gallardo has ace stuff, he just needs to go deeper into games, meaning he needs to throw more strikes. Randy Wolf is always steady, and Shaun Marcum is a lively arm they can throw out there. Their fifth starter, Chris Narveson isn’t great, but for a number five starter, he could be worse. The bullpen should be more stable than last year with John Axford set as the closer. The lineup is better than it has been in a while in Milwaukee also. Prince Fielder is back at first, and in a contract year, he should be huge this year, both literally and figuratively. Rickie Weeks is coming off a 2010 that saw him hit 29 homers. Casey McGehee is a very underrated third baseman and Yuniesky Betancourt is a serviceable shortstop. The corner outfield positions are strong with Corey Hart in right and Ryan Braun, a potential MVP candidate, in left. The catching position, currently occupied by Jonathon Lucroy worries me a bit, as does center field. In center, it appears Carlos Gomez and Nyjer Morgan will split time. I like both of them individually, even if they are both a bit crazy. My fear is that the craziness of each of them may come to be an issue as they battle over playing time. We will see.

Pros – Miller Park when the roof is open, Braun, Sausage races

Cons – Prince’s weight, Miller Park with the roof closed, drama in center field

MVP – Ryan Braun. Braun is the face of the Brewers, which means Prince Fielder is the belly. I really like Braun as a middle of the order guy. He could be in the discussion for MVP if the Brew Crew compete for a playoff spot.

MIP – Zack Grienke. Grienke needs to be to the 2011 Brewers what C.C. Sabathia was for half of the season to the 2008 Brewers. He has to be their ace that they can turn to every fifth day.

X – Prince Fielder. This may seem a strange X-factor, but if Prince mopes around all year because he is still in Milwaukee, the whole team will struggle. Hopefully, for the Brewers, he plays like he has something to prove and helps Braun and Hart carry the order.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Brewers is their cheese fries. I went to a game last year and the cheese fries that come in the mini Brewers helmet were possibly the best fries I have every had. Keep it up Milwaukee.

2010 Record – 77-85

2011 Prediction – 87-75

Pittsburgh Pirates –

Season Outlook – Oh the Pirates. What can I really say about the poor Bucs? I am not even going to get into their pitching staff. Lets just say it is anchored by ace Paul Maholm. Enough said right? I really like Pittsburgh’s outfield. Andrew McCutchen is an absolute joy to watch play baseball. Garret Jones is a good right fielder and has some pop in his bat, and Jose Tabata is an up and comer in left. I like the outfield, I just worry that once they start to gel, the Pirates will trade them all somewhere. The infield is very weak with the possible exception of Neil Walker at second base. Just not a good year to be a Pirates fan, but when is it ever?

Pros – McCutchen, Tabata, PNC Park

Cons – Pitching, ownership, infield

MVP – Andrew McCutchen. He is obviously the man for the Pirates. That is asking a lot of the young man to be the face of THIS franchise.

MIP – James McDonald. Why McDonald? I guess just because he is young and if he pitches well, could very likely be the ace coming into 2012.

X – Jose Tabata. McCutchen needs some help from someone. I think that someone could be Tabata.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Pirates is PNC Park and Downtown Pittsburgh. A great game day atmosphere and perhaps the most beautiful ball park I have ever been to. If the Pirates ever get good again, and I hope they do, that will be an exceptional place to watch a game.

2010 Record – 57-105

2011 Prediction – 61-101

St Louis Cardinals –

Season Outlook – The Cardinals were my pick to win the Central until Adam Wainwright got hurt. I still think they could win the division, but losing a Cy Young caliber pitcher never helps. Chris Carpenter is still dominant when healthy, at the top of the rotation. Jake Westbrook is a steady number two. The make or break positions for the Cards in 2011 is the number three and four pitchers. If Jamie Garcia and Kyle Lohse can be as effective as last season, they could win the Central. I like the Cards lineup. Lance Berkman is still a good hitter, but he will be awful in right field. I wouldn’t be surprised if John Jay plays a lot in right instead of Berkman. Colby Rasmus and Matt Holliday will both be very good outfielders and hitters in 2011. The infield looks better than last year. Albert Pujols will put up MVP numbers as usual. David Freese could be a very good third baseman if he stays healthy. You basically know what you are getting with Ship Schumaker at second and Yadier Molina at catcher. The wild card for the Cardinals infield will be Ryan Theriot. If Theriot can play more like 2009 than 2010, he could be an upgrade over Brenden Ryan.

Pros – Pujols, outfield play, 1-2 pitchers

Cons – bullpen, Berkman’s defense, 3-4-5 pitchers

MVP – Albert Pujols. Obivously.

MIP – Jamie Garcia. Garcia needs to avoid the sophomore slump this season for the Cards to be in contention.

X – David Freese. If Freese can hit .300, like he did in limited time last year, he could be a huge addition to the Cardinals lineup.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Cardinals is their Single A team, the Quad City River Bandits. Coming this year to the Bandits games is two awesome things: 1) Iowa Hawkeyes football bobbleheads and 2) George The Animal Steele appearance. Going to be a fun year.

2010 Record – 86-76

2011 Prediction – 85-77

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks –

Season Outlook – Welcome to the best division in the National League Well, except for the D-Backs that is. Arizona was supposed to be a team of the future about three years ago. Guess what Arizona? The future is here, and your team still sucks. I will forever be grateful to the Diamondbacks for knocking the Cubs out of the 2007 playoffs, but I can’t say much good about this team. The starting pitching is abysmal. Ian Kennedy is the ace of the staff. Wow. The infield is not very good outside of Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson, who are both good but not great. The outfield shows promise, but Justin Upton is still trying to really live up to his potential, Chris Young can be real good, but just never is, and Xavier Nady is on his 35th team in 5 years, and is still Xavier Nady. Not going to be a good season in the desert.

Pros – Upton, Drew, the hot tub

Cons – Pitching, hitting, Eric Byrnes once played there and he is annoying

MVP – Justin Upton. Upton is the guy this franchise has put all of its hopes on. He needs to be the stud they thought he was.

MIP – Ian Kennedy. He is the number one starter. I guess.

X – Chris Young. Young can be a very good center fielder, and some people keep holding out hope he will put it together, if he does, then Young and Upton is a nice core of outfielders. If he doesn’t, he may run out of time to figure it out.

Best Thing – The best thing about the D-Backs is the hot tub in the outfield. I would like to watch a game from there.

2010 Record – 65-97

2011 Prediction – 63-99

Colorado Rockies –

Season Outlook – Usually the Rockies come out of nowhere every few years and go on a 15 game winning streak to be put in the same breath as the other playoff contenders. This isn’t the year. I like the Rockies in 2011, but the rest of the NL West will have too good of pitching for this lineup to win that many games. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are both possibly the best player at their respective positions. Yes, I think that highly of Gonzalez. I saw him play in Cincinnati and Philadelphia last year, and he is awesome in person. He can do everything, and his arm is unreal. I saw him throw a runner out tagging up for third, from deep, deep right field. A real stud. The problem for Colorado is that the rest of the lineup isn’t very good. Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith are both about .255 hitters. Same can be said for Ian Stewart and Jose Lopez. Todd Helton is getting old, and Chris Iannetta hit on the Carlos Pena line last year (.197). The good news for Rockies fans is the pitching staff is good. Everybody knows about Ubaldo Jimenez, but Jhoulys Chacin could be just as good. The guy has nasty stuff. He went only 9-11 last season, but he did it with a 3.28 ERA. Very low for someone pitching a lot of his games at Coors Field. The rest of the staff (Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel and Esmil Rogers) are not on the level of Jimenez and Chacin. They still have Houston Street closing, but it is only a matter of time until he is hurt again. The pitching will be good, but not good enough.

Pros – Jimenez and Chacin, Gonzalez and Tulo, When the mountains turn blue

Cons – Infield, 3-4-5 pitchers, When the mountains are not blue

MVP – Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo needs to stay healthy all year. He could be the best shortstop in baseball if he puts a whole season together.

MIP – Ubaldo Jimenez. Ubaldo tailed off during the second half of last season. He needs to find his grove like he was in for the first half of last season.

X – Jhoulys Chacin. If he can pitch like I think he can, the Rockies could have one of the better 1-2 punches in baseball.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Rockies is Coors Field. It makes me happy when I see one of my fantasy players has a game in Coors.

2010 Record – 83-79

2011 Prediction – 81-81

Los Angeles Dodgers –

Season Outlook – My upset pick to win the NL West. Everybody is riding the defending World Champs, and why not, but I like the Dodgers. Their lineup is better than San Fran, and their pitching, including the bullpen, could be better. As far as the outfield goes, Tony Gwynn Jr. is suspect. He has to be better than the .204 he hit last year. The other two outfielders, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are as talented as any outfielders in the league. I think Kemp will have a huge year this year. Just got a feeling. James Loney and Casey Blake still man the corner positions, and Rafael Furcal is joined by Juan Uribe up the middle. The catching position is now occupied by Rod Barajas, which isn’t that much of a downgrade from the non-effective Russell Martin. The pitching is what is going to carry the Dodgers in 2011. I love the starting rotation. It is headlined by Chad Billingsly and Clayton Kershaw. Both struggle at times, and at other times look unhittable. Ted Lilly and Hiroki Kuroda are more than competent three and four starters, and Jon Garland as the fifth starter is awfully good. The bullpen could be back to what is was in 2009. Speaking of 2009, what the Hell happened to George Sherrill last year? He was awful. Anyway, Jonathan Broxton should return to form this year, and if he doesn’t, the Dodgers have two fall back options in Hong-Chih Kuo and the youngster, Kenley Jansen. I expect big things from the Dodgers under new coach Donny Baseball this year.

Pros – Pitching, bullpen, outfield

Cons – Tony Gwynn, ownership issues, late arriving fans

MVP – Matt Kemp. Kemp has the talent to be an elite outfielder. I think he puts it together this year to compliment Andre Ethier nicely.

MIP – Chad Billingsley. If you remember, Billingsley was almost left off the post-season roster two years ago. He is expected to be the number one starter for L.A. this year. I expect at least 17 wins form him.

X – Tony Gwynn. If Gwynn can hit like his dad the Dodgers might win it all. I don’t expect that, but an average somewhere around .275 sure would help the Dodgers.

Best Thing – the best thing about the Dodgers is the history. Dodger Stadium reminds me of simpler times. The books about the old Brooklyn Dodgers are always interesting. The throwback Brooklyn uniforms they are wearing this year are sweet. I just like the Dodgers.

2010 Record – 80-82

2011 Prediction – 93-69

San Diego Padres –

Season Outlook – Last year, I thought the Padres were going to be the worst team in the majors. They proved me wrong, due mostly to starting pitching that was surprisingly good. They are already off to a bad start in 2011 as Mat Latos is already on the DL. Tim Stauffer is slated to be their number one guy, which isn’t great. He is not a bad pitcher, but he is not an ace. He is followed by Clayton Richard, Aaron Harang and Dustin Moseley. Not real eye-popping. The lineup will miss Adrian Gonzalez greatly. Brad Hawpe takes over at first base. He is joined by Orlando Huson, Jason Bartlett and Chase Headley in the infield. The outfield is manned by Ryan Ludwick, who defiantly isn’t the same without Pujols protecting him, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable. Not a great lineup. Not a great pitching staff. I think the Pad’s win total from last year decreases greatly.

Pros – Decent starters, Heath Bell, Latos

Cons – The Camo Uniforms, bad hitting, loss of Adrian Gonzalez

MVP – Ryan Ludwick? Apparently Ludwick is looked to for the power in this lineup. Yikes.

MIP – Tim Stauffer. He needs to step up in Latos’s absence and be the ace this staff needs.

X – Cameron Maybin. Maybin is still young. He can still be the outfielder the Marlins thought he was when he was coming up in their organization.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Padres is that they only wear the Camo uniforms a couple times a year. I understand they are honoring the troops, but man, are those things awful.

2010 Record – 90-72

2011 Prediction – 78-84

San Francisco Giants –

Season Outlook – The defending champs are still a very good team. The starting rotation of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito is the best rotation in the majors outside of maybe Philadelphia. I am still not wild about their lineup though. Yeah, Buster Posey is really good, but that’s about it. Aubrey Huff hit .290 last year, but he is 34 years old and getting older. Freddy Sanchez is good at second, but I don't love him. Their big addition was Miguel Tejada at shortstop, but Tejada only hit .269 last year in Baltimore. Pablo Sandoval didn’t hit too well last year, nor did Pat Burrell. Cody Ross was a waiver pickup and had a huge postseason, but only hit .269 last year. Andres Torres hit .268. Basically, outside of Posey, Sanchez, and Huff, the Giants have a lot of hitters that hit between .250 and .270, and don’t hit for a lot of power. I still think they get the wildcard, but it will be close. The sooner Brian Wilson comes back, the better for the Giants.

Pros – Pitching, Posey, Pac Bell

Cons – Not much power, Wilson’s injury, aging infield

MVP – Buster Posey. Posey went from starting 2010 in the minors to being the second rated fantasy catcher in 2011. Quite a jump. He needs to avoid a sophomore slump for this lineup to score runs.

MIP – Jonathan Sanchez. Lincecum and Cain are consistent. Sanchez can be erratic at times. They need him to control his pitches and be the guy he was in the playoffs.

X – Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez was the table setter in the post season last year. When he gets on base, the Giants are a much better team.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Giants is Brian Wilson. I didn’t know if he was hilarious or annoying at first. I decided on hilarious.

2010 Record – 92-70

2011 Prediction – 91-71

AL East

Baltimore Orioles –

Season Outlook – I like what the O’s have done this offseason. The additions of Vlad Guerrero and Derek Lee are good, veteran additions. J.J. Hardy has looked great in the spring also, which could be a big upgrade at the shortstop position. The outfield is still very talented and underrated, with Luke Scott, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. The Mark Reynolds experiment at third should be interesting. I am sure he will hit quite a few balls out of Camden Yards, but he will strike out a ton too. Matt Weiters is still trying to put it all together, and Brian Roberts remains the mainstay at second. Overall, I really do like the lineup. The pitching is another issue. It is improved from last year, but not a ton. Jeremy Guthrie is the ace, followed by Brian Matusz, Justin Duchscherer (if he is healthy), Jake Arrieta and Brian Bergesen. I except prospect Zach Britton up at some point this year in that rotation also. The downfall of the team could be the closer role, which is currently filled by Kevin Gregg. The Orioles are defiantly moving in the right direction, but they need to move in that direction a lot more in the tough AL East.

Pros – Camden Yards, young outfield, minor league prospects

Cons – Weak pitching staff, Gregg as closer, Heroine

MVP – Nick Markakis. Even with Adam Jones and Luke Scott in the outfield, Markakis is looked at as the leader. He has to fulfill the hopes the Orioles placed on him soon or he will be in hot water. I like him and think he could have a very big 2011.

MIP – Jeremy Guthrie. He is not looked at as a youngster anymore. He needs to step up and be the man for this staff.

X – J.J. Hardy. If Hardy can play like he did for a couple season in Milwaukee, the O’s have the potential to be one of the most dangerous lineups in the majors.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Orioles is the City of Baltimore. Wait before you laugh. My friends and I went on an East Coast road trip last year, going to Cincinnati, New York, Boston, Philly and Baltimore. Baltimore had the most welcoming people (Besides maybe Boston, they were neck and neck), and the best prices for beer. We had an absolute blast in Baltimore. We also did not get mugged once. It was great. I would love to go back. Just don’t make a wrong turn.

2010 Record – 66-96

2011 Prediction – 75-88

Boston Red Sox –

Season Outlook – The Red Sox are stacked. The additions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford are amazingly huge. Gonzalez is possibly the second best first baseman in the game today. Now he gets to hit in Fenway for 81 games instead of Petco?!? Wow. Crawford is equally as dangerous and I expect big things from him this year. Add that to a healthy Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, and that is a scary good lineup. I do think they will miss Victor Martinez, and David Ortiz is a year older, but they should still be great. The pitching staff has questions, but I expect big things. I think Josh Beckett and John Lackey will have bounce back years, Jon Lester will be a Cy Young candidate and Clay Buchholz will build on a strong 2010. Dice-K is the biggest question mark, and he is still not bad for a number five starter. The bullpen should be strong, and I expect a trade of Jonathan Papplebon at some point to clear space for Daniel Bard or Bobby Jenks to close. Going to be a fun season in Bean-Town

Pros – Hitting, Pitching, Defense

Cons – Dice-K, Ortiz’s April and May, Uncomfortable seats at Fenway

MVP – Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez was their big acquisition this year, and he has a lot of pressure on him to be THE producer for this lineup. I fully expect him to rise to the challenge.

MIP – Jon Lester. Beckett and Lackey will likely be themselves, or at least a little worse version of themselves. The Sox need Lester to live up to his hype for 2011. Many are projecting him as the best pitcher in the AL this year. That is a tall order.

X – Jonathan Papplebon. Papplebon needs to close games effectively for this Red Sox team or he will be gone. Bard is really good, but inexperienced as a closer, and Jenks is fat. Papplebon plays an important role.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Red Sox is Fenway Park. Remember that East Coast trip I mentioned? The people at Fenway were incredible. We drank, we sang, and I actually cheered for the Red Sox. I loved every minute of it. Even if my knees were touching the person in front of me.

2010 Record – 89-73

2011 Prediction – 99-63 and World Champions

New York Yankees –

Season Outlook – The Yankees lineup looks like a carbon copy of last year’s. Robby Cano is one of the best second basemen in the game. Same can be said for A-Rod and Mark Teixeira. I really think Derek Jeter will have a big year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit .300 again this year. The contract thing only inspires people like Jeter to work harder. The outfield looks the same with Brett Gardener, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher out there. The outfield is good, but not great. One move I am not a fan of is the Russell Martin acquisition. He hasn’t been good for the Dodgers since about 2008. The pitching staff for the Yankees is very top heavy. C.C. Sabathia will be his usual large self. A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes will be capable of winning or losing every game they pitch. Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia are the downfall. Who knows what the Yankees will get with them. If all else fails, I am sure they can wait until an Indians pitcher looks decent and just trade a low-level prospect and a season of Seinfeld to Cleveland for him. Also, don’t forget about Mariano Rivera. No matter how much I hate the Yankees, I love Rivera. Watching him pitch is just fantastic.

Pros – Infield, 1-2-3 pitchers, Rivera

Cons – Martin, Questions in the rotation, New Yorkers

MVP – Derek Jeter. Jeter, whether he likes it or not, will have a lot of pressure on him this season. The contract negotiations took longer than he wanted and he will be expected to produce. I think he will, and it will greatly benefit the Yankees both on and off the field.

MIP – Phil Hughes. Sabathia is a proven commodity. Burnett is pretty consistent when healthy. Hughes needs to pitch like he did for most of 2010 to be a good number three pitcher. The AL East is no joke, and having two consistent pitchers is not going to get it done. They need Hughes.

X – Nick Swisher. Swisher has been streaky throughout his career. He played very well last season. He needs to do it again and not relapse like it is 2009.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Yankees is the City of New York. It is just a wild, mind-blowingly big city. It was a blast to visit, but I would never want to live there.

2010 Record – 95-67

2011 Prediction – 93-69

Tampa Bay Rays –

Season Outlook – My outlook on the Rays is unlike a lot of experts. I do not think they will be in the thick of the AL East race. A lot of people seem to think they are still a contender because of their pitching staff. I think they will be a very good team, but not on the level of the Red Sox and Yankees. David Price is really good. James Shields and Wade Davis struggled at times in 2010. Jeremy Hellickson is totally unproven, and it will be interesting to see what teams do against him in his first full year in the bigs. Jeff Niemann? Ehh. Not crazy about the rotation. The lineup is also very top heave. B.J. Upton is either really good, or really bad. Even Longoria is great. I don’t have anything bad to say about him. Ben Zobrist, Johnny Damon, Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez don’t get me excited. Dan Johnson at first and John Jaso at catcher REALLY don’t get me excited. I could see Manny having a good year as the DH. The bullpen lost Soriano as their closer, but still could be decent. That is, until they get to their closer who is none other than….(Drum roll)…Kyle Fransworth! Have you not watched any of Fransworth’s outings since 2001 Tampa? What are you doing? I just don’t like this team very much.

Pros – Longoria, Price, nice weather

Cons – Tropicana Field, Infield outside of Longoria, Farnsworth

MVP – Evan Longoria. He is the Rays right now.

MIP – David Price. He needs to be as good or better than he was in 2010 for the Rays to have any chance at the Wildcard.

X – Manny Ramirez. Is this 2009 Manny or 2010 Manny? Short answer? Nobody knows. Not even Manny.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Rays is that they have KYLE FARNSWORTH AS THEIR CLOSER! Thank you Rays. Sincerely, the rest of the American League.

2010 Record – 96-66

2011 Prediction – 85-77

Toronto Blue Jays –

Season Outlook – The Jays will be good in a few years when their pitching staff matures. This year they won’t be great though. Jose Bautista is back after his breakout year. Rajai Davis came over to play center which should help. Adam Lind and Travis Snider have to find their power stroke again. Some good players, but not good enough to hang with the big boys in the AL East. The pitching staff will be their saving grace. It is young, but filled with talent. Kyle Drabek will be really good someday. I am glad the Indians did not get him from Philly in the Cliff Lee trade. Idiots. Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow could both be very good, if healthy. Brett Cecil could also be a nice looking pitcher. A lot of hope in Toronto, but still a year or two away.

Pros – Young pitching, outfield hitting, universal health care

Cons – inexperience, infield hitting, cold weather

MVP – Jose Bautista. Bautista took the majors by storm in 2010. He needs to do it again with a lot more eyes focused on him in 2011.

MIP – Kyle Drabek. Even though Romero is the ace, Drabek represents the future. They need him to be good to keep the fans interested.

X – Rajai Davis. If Davis can be the table setter they want him to be, they will score more runs than some expect.

Best Thing – The best thing about the Blue Jays is that they are keeping Canada alive in the MLB. They, and they alone, force me to get a passport before seeing all 30 major league stadiums. Thanks Jays!

2010 Record – 85-77

2011 Prediction – 84-78

AL Central

Chicago White Sox –

Season Outlook – The 2011 White Sox remind me a lot of the Tigers teams from a few years ago. Veterans mixed with a few promising youngsters. The Tigers never really got over the hump following their World Series year where they came out of nowhere. I don’t see the 2011 White Sox getting over that hump either. Konerko, Pierzynski, Quentin, Rios and Pierre are all getting up there in age. Well, maybe not Quentin and Rios, but it sure seems like it with their slump possibilities and injury risk. Gordon Beckham and Alexi Ramirez both seem to be coming into their own, but can be inconsistent, expecially Alexi Ramirez, who reminds me a lot of a young Alfonsio Soriano. The lineup could have a lot of long balls, but could also go weeks with scoring very few runs. The pitching staff is solid. Nobody on the staff is very flashy but all are consistent. Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks are very safe starters and Edwin Jackson has the potential to pitch like he did for Detroit in 2009. The bullpen is very good and the young Chris Sale could be a lights out closer if given the chance. The Sox will be a very interesting team on the South Side.

Pros – Pitching consistence, lock-down bullpen, home run potential

Cons – long run-scoring slumps, aging stars, the South Side of Chicago

MVP – Carlos Quentin. Quentin’s first year with the Sox was fantastic. They made the playoffs and he was their MVP. An argument could be made for people such as Konerko or Alexiiiiiiii, but if Quentin can return to 2009 form, the Sox will be a tough team to beat.

MIP – Edwin Jackson. Like I said, Buehrle, Danks and Floyd are consistent. Jackson is a very up and down pitcher. His return to the AL Central could mean a return to form from two years ago in Detroit.

X – Alex Rios. Rios was very good last year. If he is good again this year, with a healthy Quentin and Juan Pierre for the whole year, the Sox could have one of the better outfields in the AL.

Best thing- The best thing about the White Sox is that TVs have a mute button. That is not really something to do with the team, but thank you television makers for allowing me to watch White Sox games and not having to listen to Hawk and DJ.

2010 Record – 88-74

2011 Prediction – 88-74

Cleveland Indians –

Season Outlook – Long story short: the outlook isn’t great. My beloved Indians are in for another long year. Let’s start with the pitching staff. I love Carmona. I understand he is wildly inconsistent, but when he is on, he has some of the most electric stuff in the majors. The problem is getting that stuff over the plate. Justin Masterson has potential to be a powerful starting pitcher, but hasn’t put it all together yet. He did end the season strong last year, so we will see if he can build on that. It appears Jenmar Gomez, Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco will round out the rotation. All three are very unproven and very inexperienced. All got some work last year and looked really good at times and really bad at times. The bullpen should be better than the last few years. They finally have a reliable closer in Chris Perez, and Rafael Perez looks to be settles into his 8th inning role. The lineup is young and will struggle at times. The obvious X-factor is Grady Sizemore. More on Grady later. Until Grady comes back, it looks like Travis Buck and Austin Kearns will platoon in the outfield. Shin-Shoo Choo is the most underrated player in the majors. He is a five tool player and would start for any team in the majors. Michael Brantley is still trying to translate his AAA numbers to the majors. The same goes for Matt LaPorta. Both LaPorta and Brantley came over from Milwaukee in the C.C. Sabathia trade, and both are looked upon to bring the Tribe some satisfaction from their sale of the former Cy Young winner. Asdrubal Cabrera and Orlando Cabrera up the middle should be decent. The third base spot, currently held by Jack Hannahan, will soon be filled by Lonnie Chisenhall. Carlos Santana is the prospect that everybody in Cleveland is very excited about. His month or two in the majors last year was very promising until his gruesome knee injury ended his season. Travis Hafner will still be the DH, until his shoulder just falls off, apparently.

Pros – Outfield, Perez as the closer, Carlos Santana

Cons – Starting pitching questions, inexperience, 2nd and 3rd base until the kids come up

MVP – Carlos Santana. I would say Choo, but I feel as though Choo is consistent enough to know what we are getting with him. Santana is the guy the Tribe are looking to, to fill Victor Martinez’s shoes. Santana could own the city of Cleveland if he anchors an offense that brings the Tribe back to relevance.

MIP – Fausto Carmona. Carmona is suddenly the veteran of the pitching staff. He has seen Sabathia, Lee, Westbrook, Byrd, Pavano, and countless others leave, leaving him as the elder statesman on the staff. The other four pitchers will be inconsistent at times. Carmona needs to step up and lead by example. He may never be as good as he was in 2007, but he needs to be close.

X – Grady Sizemore. A healthy Grady could be a great thing for Cleveland. He was the face of the Indians for a few years, and was as durable as they come. That ended in 2009 when he saw two straight seasons cut way too short because of injuries. If Grady is healthy, the Indians will get a major shot in the arm (until they trade him away, which might make me cry), but if he is injury-prone again, then it might be time to move on from Grady and his ladies.

Best thing – Where to begin really? Everything about the Indians is great. Except the quality of play. The best thing is their #1 fan. Me.

2010 Record – 69-93

2011 Prediction – 71-91

Detroit Tigers –

Season Outlook – There is a lot of hope coming out of Detroit these days. About the Tigers, nothing else in the city. I know Detroit needs something to cheer about, but I don’t think the Tigers are going to be that thing this year. They will be competitive and will likely be in the hunt until very late in the season, but I don’t think they will overtake the White Sox or Twins. The lineup is pretty solid. The 3-4-5 slots will likely be very potent with Magglio Ordonez, Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera. Austin Jackson is a solid lead off hitter, but that is where it starts to get dicey. Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta and Will Ryhmes are not consistent at the plate, and catcher Alex Avila is nothing to get excited about. The lineup isn’t a murderer’s row, but the 3-4-5 spots will be scary good. The pitching staff hasn’t changed much. Justin Verlander is still the ace and has Cy Young potential. After Verlander, however, is a lot of questions. Can Max Scherzer live up to his hype? Are Rick Porcello and Phil Coke good enough to be relied on as starters? Is Brad Penny going to be healthy into May? Who knows.

Pros – Heart of the order, Verlander, Detroit 1-8-7

Cons – Dead spots in batting order, Peralta’s range at short, questions in the starting rotation

MVP – Victor Martinez. Miguel Cabrera is a potential AL MVP, but Victor will be the key player for this Tigers team. His clubhouse leadership will be needed this season, especially following the Cabrera drunkenness fiasco. Victor can still hit with the best of them, and he knows how to lead a team.

MIP – Max Scherzer. If Scherzer can be a good number two pitcher, the Tigers could be a very scary team, not only in the regular season, but in the playoffs as well.

X – Austin Jackson. Jackson needs to get on base. A lot. If Jackson can get on, the big boppers can get him in. He needs to be a table setter.

Best thing- The best thing about the Tigers is their hats. I have always love the Tigers hats, even before I went through my Eminem loving stage. The Old English “D” is just so understated and awesome.

2010 Record – 81-81

2011 Prediction – 86-76

Kansas City Royals –

Season Outlook – I am not jumping on the “Royals will not finish 5th this year” bandwagon. Maybe it is my Indians bias, but I think this Royals team is awful. Billy Butler is really good at the plate. Kila Ka’aihue is supposed to be a up and coming star, but he is 27 years old. Why hasn’t he made the jump yet? The ESPN depth chart for the Royals has Melky Cabrera starting in center field and left field. That can’t be good. The starting left fielder is none other than hot prospect, .217 hitting Alex Gordon. The rest of the infield is Mike Aviles, Alcides Escobar, and Chris Getz is playing second. Excited yet Kansas City? The ageless Jason Kendall is still the starting catcher. At least they have good pitching right? Well yes and no. The bullpen should be alright with Robinson Tejeda and Sean O’Sullivan (who looked good at times as a starter last year). The real power is obviously at the closer role where Joakim Soria continues to wallow in obsecurity. He is perhaps the most lights out closer in the majors right now. The starting rotation is just terrible. Jeff Francs is the ace of the staff. Yes, that Jeff Francis. Luke Hochever, Kyle Davies and Bruce Chen fill roles in that rotation too. Better get someone a seat in the fountain at The K, because a lot of homers are going in there.

Pros – Billy Butler, Soria, the farm system

Cons – Starting pitching, inconsistent hitting, starting pitching

MVP – Billy Butler. Butler is the anchor of the lineup. If he doesn’t produce in 2011, it will be a loooong year in KC.

MIP – Joakim Soria. Soria is their best pitcher. He needs to continue to be a lock down closer because the Royals don’t get him many save opportunities, therefore he must convert the ones he does get.

X – Kila Ka’aihue. This guy is being hyped as the next big thing at first base. If he comes up and fails, much the way Alex Gordon did, then the Royals will be in trouble both now, and in the future.

Best thing- The best thing about the Royals is the ease of attending a game at Kauffman Stadium. Parking is right there on site. The tickets are really cheap. If you buy high seats, you can usually move down to wherever you want without some old bastard getting testy with you. Not a bad place to watch a game.

2010 Record – 67-95

2011 Prediction – 68-94

Minnesota Twins –

Season Outlook – The Twins are not going to be as good as they were last year. 94 games was a lot of wins for Minnesota, and I don’t see them getting that many in 2011. I do think they will still win the Central and win 90 games though, so don’t worry Twins fans. The lineup hasn’t changed much, except for the addition of Tsuyoshi Nishioka at second base. I have a good feeling about him. Sometimes for the foreign players, the team they come into makes all the difference. The baseball culture around the Twins with Ron Gardenhire managing is a good one, and it should benefit Nishioka. I like the addition. Joe Mauer will be Joe Mauer. Justin Morneau is still recovering from his concussion and it will be interesting to see how he plays to start the season. Jason Kubel will still be the DH, Delmon Young, Denard Span, and Michael Cuddyer will still man the infield. Alexi Casilla and Danny Valencia should be serviceable at worst on the left side of the infield. The Twins lineup and defense should be just fine. The pitching is about the same as last year also. Carl Pavano is back after a very good 2010. Francisco Liriano is another year removed from surgery and could have his best career year in 2011. Brian Duensing, Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker will be reliable as usual. The bullpen has Joe Nathan back, and still has Matt Capps in case Nathan struggles or is injured. Nothing flashy about the Twins, but what works, works. Let’s see if they can actually win a playoff series this year.

Pros – Consistent pitching, Joe Mauer, sound defense

Cons – No dominant pitcher (unless Liriano becomes one), can’t win in the playoffs, Thome doesn’t play enough

MVP – Justin Morneau. Mauer is obviously THE Twins, but Morneau is the guy who needs to produce for the Twins to be elite. His injury scare from last year seems to still be lingering. I hope the best for the former River Bandit.

MIP – Francisco Liriano. If Liriano can be dominant, not good, but dominant, then the Twins are World Title contenders. If not, then they will peter out in the playoffs again. He has the potential, he just needs to put it all together.

X - Tsuyoshi Nishioka. The Japanese second baseman is a huge question mark. Very high risk/reward with him. If he produces at 75% of what the Twins think he is capable of, then watch out AL Central.

Best thing- The best thing about the Twins is Joe Mauer. He is the consummate good guy in baseball. Home town guy, taking the home town discount, and just keeps on playing at a high level without any off field issues. The essential role model.

2010 Record – 94-68

2011 Prediction – 90-72