Its that time of the year again, spring is here and that means its time for America’s greatest sport, which is Baseball. Every season has its surprises, they are always surprise teams. Which team will be a surprise team in the American league this year. Here is my American League predictions for the 2014 season.
American League East
- Boston Red Sox-last year Boston did a complete turnaround winning 97 games compared to their 69-93 record in 2012. The 2013 Red Sox also won the World Series. The team pretty much returns intact. The only key piece is Jacob Ellisbury who took his services to the Yankees. Everybody else for the most part returns. The starting pitching should be good and so should the offense. Boston is the team to beat in this division. Projected Record 93-69
- Baltimore Orioles-The Orioles contended for most of the year last year but faded at the end. Tilman emerged as the ace of this staff but the pitching after him feel off some what. The O’s got Ubaldo Jiminez who had a bounce back year last year with the Indians. Ubaldo will be counted on to win 14-16 games this year. Gonzalez also looks to be a good pitcher in the making. The O’s also need a closer and for somebody in the bullpen to step up and close out games. The offense is anchored by Davis and Jones. Baltimore looks to be improved projected record 90-72
- Tampa Bay Rays-The Rays seem to find a way to get in the playoffs or come close despite not having the financial resources that other teams do. The Rays are loaded with pitching. The Rays just need some more offense to protect Longoria in the lineup. The Rays pitching should be good and it will keep them in games. if he Rays could get some offense then they could pass the Orioles. Projected record 89-73
- Toronto Blue Jays-Toronto last year spent big and many including myself thought they would be contenders. Injuries derailed their hopes. Toronto will probably be an offensive force again as 6vstaring players in the lineup could end up hitting 20 or more home runs. Bautista, Encarnacion, Lind, Lawrie, Rasmus, Navvaro will hit home runs in bunches. The bullpen looks to be good. The thing that will hold Toronto back is its starting pitching. RA Rickey and Mark Buehrle are good bets to win 13-16 games. Morrow could be a good starter if he is healthy. But after that the Jays have huge question marks. If the Jays contend it will be because of their offense. Projected Record 81-81
- New York Yankees,The Yankees have had a lot to deal with. A-rod or A-fraud however you want to call him created clubhouse problems with his cheating ways and lawsuits and round up being suspended for all of 2014 for using steroids. Cano took his services to Seattle. The Yankees did get MaCain and Elisburgy so that will help the offense. However both players have a history of injuries. The Yankees offense is good but lot of the players are aging. The pitching staff does not look good for the Yankees. The Yankees ace Sabathia has not looked good this spring and last year got lit up more than he usually does. Other starting rotation members are coming off of injuries. The Yankees also do not have an established closer anymore. The Yanks lost key leadership that kind of kept the clubhouse cool in Pettite and Riveria. This team has so many questions they could contend and since they are the Yankees do not count them out, but for the first time in nearly 20 years they seem more vulnerable this year Projected Record 79-83
American League Central
- Kansas City Royals-The Royals really improved last year winning 86 games, that was there first winning season in 10 years. The Royals look to have a good rotation that is anchored by shields and Guthrie. The rest of the rotation is young but it is quickly developing. The royals have a good closer in Holland who saved 47 games last year. Kansas City does not have a huge power guy yet, but what they have is several guys that hit doubles with occasional power. A lot of there hitters hit 15-20 home runs. Kansas City looks to be able to win its division. Projected Record 91-71
- Detroit Tigers-The Tigers are contenders and rightfully so. They have solid aces in Verlander and Scherzer to anchor their pitching staff. The offense lost Fielder but gained Kinsler in a trade with the Rangers. The offense should be good as usual. The thing that could hurt the Tigers is injuries this year some of their pitchers have had to undergo shoulder and Tommy John surgery. In past years the Tigers did not really have any competition in this division. But now they do and Kansas City and Cleveland will take advantage of it. The Tigers will contend but can they overcome their injuries projected record 90-72
- Cleveland Indians-The Tribe last year got a good manager in Terry Francona. Francona proved that he is a good manager getting the Tribe into the playoff’s. Getting back in the playoff’s this year is not going to be easy. The pitching staff will miss Ubaldo who had a turnaround last year and won 14 games. He was a solid mid rotation starter for them last year. That leaves Masterson as the ace of this staff and everybody else. The offense lost Reyolds and Stubbs who provided home runs. The Indians do have a lot of hitters that can hit 20 home runs so they are going to have to score to win. If the Indians can get some pitching they could contend again projected Record 83-79
- Minnesota Twins-The Twins used to be solid contenders from 2001-2010 they were the class of this division. Then came the reality the Twins had to lower payroll and the past 3 seasons they have averaged 66 wins and 96 loses. The pitching was very bad last year, but a few of the pitchers look like they are on the verge of becoming good. Correla is one of those pitchers as he lowered his ERA to 4.18. Everybody else’s ERA was over 5.2. The Twins do have a few good pitching prospects that could impact this year. The offense is not so too bad and they do have some prospects that could impact. The twins offense though depends on Mauer and that is a big question mark. The twins need some pitching and a power hitter to move up. Look for the Twins to improve but they are not contenders projected Record 72-90
- Chicago White Sox-The Sox were very bad last year and nearly avoided losing 100 games. The pitching is a lot like Minnesota’s. Sale is the ace of this staff and the problem is he is the only good pitcher on this team. Everybody else behind him is not ready yet for the majors. The offense is not real good either. In fact only one guy in this lineup scares pitchers and that is Adam Dunn. Dunn will hit about 35 home runs, but he strikes out a lot and is an all for the fences type hitter which pulls down his batting average. Konerko is a solid veteran and he still can contribute with the bat. The white Sox are in a rebuilding mode projected record 69-93.
American League West
- Texas Rangers-The Rangers are a consistent offensive team. But their pitching is not bad either. Darvish and Holland anchor the pitching staff. The rest of the staff does have some question marks especially the back end. The bullpen is a question mark on who will close out games. The offense should still be good Kinsler is gone but the Rangers gained fielder. The rangers will score a lot of runs and that is what will keep them in games projected record 92-70
- Seattle Mariners– The Mariners look like they can finally make some noise in this division especially with Oakland being short handed on pitching due to injuries. Felix Hernandez returns as the ace of this staff and he may win more games this year since he should get more run support. Iwakuma looks to join the team in late April after having hand surgery if he is healthy he will be a solid #2 starter. The Mariners seem to have found a good closer to close out games in Wilhemsen. The Mariners offense has been improved. Cano should boost this teams run production. Searger and Smoak look to improve form last year providing additional power. The Mariners for the first time in a while look like they could make some noise and be a surprise team this year can they take advantage of their opportunity projected record 88-74
- Oakland Athletics-The Athletics have gotten in the playoff’s for the past two years. However this year its going to be hard form them to get in. Their pitching staff has already been hit hard with injuries as a few of the starters will have to undergo Tommy John surgery. Oakland does have some good pitching in the minors. They will miss Parker and Straily though as they are lost for the year. The lineup is good and should return and score some runs to keep the Athletics in games. Injuries to the pitching staff is probably going to hold this team back, still the front office finds a way to get this team in the playoff picture projected record 86-76
- Anaheim Angels-The Angels spent big last year adding Hamilton to go along with Albert Pujols’s long contract signed in 2012. The result was a disaster both struggled with injuries and had the worst years of their careers. Trout showed why he was an MVP player in just his second year and he is the leader of this offense. Pujols said his foot is healthy this year and he he can hit 30 home runs than the offense gets a major boost. Hamilton if healthy needs a bounce back year too. The Angels spent huge amounts of money for these two sluggers. Trumbo will be missed because he was a 30-40 home run threat. The pitching rotation is anchored by Wilson and Weaver, but after them two the rotation has huge question marks. This team has too many questions can other pitchers step up, can Pujols return to form, and can Hamilton go back to his slugging ways? Those are big questions for this team projected record 82-80
- Houston Astros-Houston last year was well very bad as they had the worst record of 51-111. In fact had it not been for a few games in April and May they would have maybe threatened the 1962 Mets’ 120 loss record. Feldman is the only proving starter here. Since Norris is gone the rest of the rotation is young pitchers who are not ready. The offense does have some power guys in Castro, Carter, and Dominguez are 20 home run hitters or more. The bad news is they strike out a lot. The young players from last year should get better but its still going to be a long summer in this part of Texas projected Record 63-99
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