Future #8: The Atlanta Braves

Why they're ranked 8th
This was a tough one for me. I was crossed between the Marlins and the Braves. The Marlins have a deep offense with  a great young core of starters; the Braves have a good core in their lineup and they have the deepest farm pitching in the game. However, it eventually came down to payroll. The Braves have tons of room and no long-term liabilities, where the Marlins are constantly keeping theirs low. The Braves snuck into the rankings, but because of their weak defense and horrible outfield (besides Heyward) they need to make some real upgrades before they move further down the list.

TEAM: Atlanta Braves

LEAGUE: National League
DIVISION: East

Top Pitching Prospect: Julio Teheran

Top Hitting Prospect: Freddie Freeman

Marquee Player: Jason Heyward

The Jay-Hey kid rounding the bases in his first AB in the Majors

Future Lineup

Lineup Number. Name: Position, Bats- Best Tools

1. Martin Prado: 3^rd Base, RH- Contact

2. Freddie Freeman: 1^st Base, LH- Contact/Patience/Power/Defense

3. Dan Uggla: 2^nd Base, RH- Power

4. Jason Heyward: Rightfield, LH- 5-tools

5. Brian McCann: Catcher, LH- Power/Patience/Defense

6. Matt Lipka: Shortstop, RH- Speed/Contact/Defense

7. Jordan Schafer: Leftfield, LH- Speed/Power

8. Cory Harrilchack: Centerfield, LH- Speed/Defense

Future Rotation

Name, Throws

1. Tommy Hanson, RHP

2. Julio Teheran, RHP

3. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP       

4. Mike Minor, LHP

5. Jair Jurrjens, RHP

Closer: Craig Kimbrel

Overall Evaluation

Areas of Improvement:

The pitching is ridiculous, but since the days of Chipper and Andruw the Braves have had a rough time putting an offense together. The top of the order is really good, but they’re weak in left and center. The Braves suffered last year on defense, placing 27^th amongst all teams in UZR. It was clearly their Achilles heal in the NLDS. Things won’t get much better with Uggla at second, but Freeman is an upgrade at first.

Outfield:

Despite Jason Heyward there is no one good here. Luckily, Heyward is as good as he is. Heyward is a 5-tool player who displayed the patience of a veteran (.393 OBP) as a 21-year-old rookie. He battled injuries and a few slumps throughout his first season, but the abilities he displayed only exemplified his hype (netting him the ROY award). Jordan Schafer was once a top prospect, but his bat has struggled to transition to the Major League level; the Braves will be hoping he’s a late bloomer.

Infield:

Very well balanced. Freddie Freeman profiles as a contact hitter with above average power potential. Martin Prado has been getting better and better and could be a 15-15 player with a high average. He’s also incredibly versatile. Dan Uggla finally brings the right-handed power Atlanta’s been missing, and Brian McCann remains one of the best catchers in baseball (with the glove and the bat).

Rotation:

Atlanta is ridiculously deep in starting pitching. Jair Jurrjens has ace stuff, and he could be their fifth starter with all the talent they have. Tommy Hanson has electric stuff and is developing into a dominant number one. Julio Teheran has big upside and has received several Pedro Martinez comparisons.

Intangibles:

Frank Wren is the best GM in the NL East and has a great eye for talent. He has created a great farm system deep in pitching. The Mark Teixeirra trade hurt the Braves, but Wren still managed to produce top hitters and a staff full of aces. Losing Bobby Cox is going to hurt on the field, but Fredi Gonzalez is an underrated manager who already knows the NL East inside and out.

Despite a weak outfield, the offense is still built around a great young core. Jason Heyward has a spectacular future ahead of him, and Freddie Freeman could be competing for batting titles. A strong supportive cast of Prado, Uggla, and McCann also surrounds these two.

On top of the great rotation, the Braves have one of the best bullpens in baseball. They were absolutely dominant last year, and the best part is their youth. Craig Kimbrel is the next big thing in closers. Johnny Venters and Peter Moylan are powerful setup men who can cover the 7^th/8^th innings for a long time. The Braves already used their pitching depth to acquire Dan Uggla this offseason, and there’s no reason they can’t do the same to further improve their hurting outfield.  

Coming Up on Ravings of a Baseball Fan

Taking a look into the future I thought I'd give a rundown of some upcoming series' I'm going to be running:

The next series coming up is going to be the futures. I am taking a look into the future to try and determine who the dominate teams are going to be. I have picked eight teams, each representing the eight playoff slots. The teams are (in no particular order): Boston, Kansas City, Seattle, Toronto, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Washington. Yes, you read right, Kansas City, Seattle, and Washington are on that list. The theme of the futures series is to look into a 3-5 year window to determine what teams (using only current players and prospects) have the chance at dominating their divisions. I also tried to take into account the intangibles (payroll, management, contractual obligations, etc.). The series will begin February 28th, and will be posted in order 8-1 (the one spot being the team with the best future).

The series I plan on running after that is a four step program. It will be a deep look into teams that have had major moves, trades, and drafts over the last couple of seasons. It is a way of analyzing who the big time GMs have been. The teams I will be looking into are Toronto, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Texas, and Seattle. This piece has nothing to do with on field production, but front office activity and results.

In between these two series' I will be working on a piece called "Why I love Baseball." To construct this piece I will be interviewing close friends and relatives to get their perspective as to why they love the great sport of baseball. I will also be using snippets from my love of the game. I hope to build a mosaic of passion for baseball. 

If you have any suggestions, or ideas for blogs, please let me know. You guys can email me or Facebook me. I would love to hear what my readers are interested in so I can work more towards satisfying all of you and keeping you interested. Thanks for all the support everyone and I hope you enjoy what is coming up!

The Final Installment of the 2011 Preview

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 7: Postseason

PLAYOFFS:

(#-#) projected 2011 season record

(#-#) projected record in playoff series

AL STANDINGS:

East- Boston Red Sox (100-62)

Central- Detroit Tigers (95-67)

West- Oakland Athletics (89-73)

Wildcard- Toronto Blue Jays (90-72)

ALDS:

1. Boston Red Sox (3-0) vs. Oakland Athletics

2. Detroit Tigers (3-2) vs. Toronto Blue Jays

ALCS:

1. Boston Red Sox (4-1) vs. Detroit Tigers

The Red Sox are deeper in pitching and offense. They also have a lot more experience in the playoffs. The bats will be completely overpowering, and if Lester and Beckett’s track records mean anything, so will the pitching.

NL STANDINGS:

East- Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)

Central- Milwaukee Brewers (92-70)

West- Colorado Rockies (90-72)

Wildcard- Atlanta Braves (92-70)

NLDS:

1. Philadelphia Phillies (3-2) vs. Colorado Rockies

2. Milwaukee Brewers (3-0) vs. Atlanta Braves

NLCS:

1. Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers (4-2)

The Phillies only hit .216 in the ALCS last year, and Milwaukee has just as good a front three as San Francisco did. As long as they hit more than Philadelphia there’s no reason they can’t push through to the World Series.

WORLD SERIES:

Boston Red Sox (4-1) vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The Sox have more experience and a better offense. The rotations are pretty even, but if Beckett can return to offseason form it’d be real hard for the Brewers to beat him. They’ve also got Lester to deal with, who has been spectacular in October. Boston made some great offseason moves, and if healthy there’s no reason to think they’re not frontrunners for another World Title.

AWARDS:

Hitter: (Average/OBP/SLG/Homeruns/Stolen Bases)

Pitcher: (Wins or Saves/ERA/WHIP/Strikeouts)

Manager: (Team: Projected Record)

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

MVP:

1. Adrian Gonzalez (.310/.405/.600/42)

"Woohoo! I'm finally in Boston!"

A-Gon has been a great hitter his entire career, while playing in the best pitchers park in the entire Major Leagues. Over the last five seasons he’s averaged an OPS of .808 with 11 homeruns at home, versus .906 with 21 homers away. Playing in a left-handed haven like Fenway Gonzalez could put up 40-50 bombs with a 1.00+ OPS. He’s also played stellar defense his entire career. He’ll be at the center of a packed Sox lineup, and looking at his away splits he’s got the chance at an amazing season.

2. Miguel Cabrera- he puts up the big offensive numbers, but his lack of defense will hold him back from being the whole MVP package.

3. Evan Longoria- he’s a great 5-tool player, but unless he can support Tampa on his own I don’t think he’ll get enough exposure in 2011.

Cy Young:

1. Felix Hernandez (15/2.45/1.10/240)

King Felix won it last season and there’s no reason to think he can’t repeat. Greinke (’09 winner) and Lee (’08 winner) are both out of the AL, and Felix is looking like the best in the AL again. His biggest struggles will be his teammates. His peripherals are always good, but bad fielding could drag down his ERA and WHIP. Just like last year one has to expect he’ll be lagging in wins. Hernandez is definitely the front-runner, but with a string of bad luck it opens the door for anyone else.

2. Jon Lester- it was tempting to make him number one, but I didn’t want to seem too biased. He gets better every year and can put up big peripherals and wins.

3. Brandon Morrow- pitched great last season, but was hurt by bad luck. If he can stay healthy and post up huge strikeout numbers it’ll be hard to look past him.

Rookie:

It's a thing of beauty.

1. Dustin Ackley (.312/.375/.465/15)

When looking for a ROY it’s all about finding a pitcher with great stuff, or a hitter with a pure swing. Dustin Ackley has one of the purest swings amongst all prospects. He also plays in spacious Safeco Field. With his ability to hit to all fields he could be competing for a batting title in his first season. He also plays good defense, and can hit for some power (probably more away than home). If he breaks with the Mariners out of Spring Training he could have a great first year.

2. Jeremy Hellickson- was nothing but amazing in his first few starts at the major league level. He has great stuff, but being a pitcher there’s always risk involved.

3. Eric Hosmer- profiles a lot like Longoria in 2008. He’s got a lot of power and a great swing, Could make heads turn when he hits The Bigs in 2011.

Manager:

1. Bob Geren (Oakland: 89-73)

Geren has never stood out in Oakland. However, I think the Athletics are flying under the radar this season. If that’s so, and they have a good season, Geren could receive a lot of that credit. He’s got young players and a deep bullpen to manage. If he manages them well, and keeps the offense going, he could stand a great chance at Manager of the Year honors.

2. Jim Leyland (Detroit)- he’s a great manager, and if he leads the Tigers back to the playoffs, hardware could be headed his way.

3. Terry Francona (Boston)- always gets snuffed (especially last year). He’s more a player’s manager, so he doesn’t stick out, but he’ll still be in talks.

National League:

MVP:

We call that the "MVP Dance"

1. Ryan Braun (.315/.370/.575/35)

Braun lost some of his power last season, but he’s too good a player to continue that way. At 27 he’s hitting the prime years, and there’s no reason to believe his offense won’t be off the charts. When healthy he can have a 40-20 season with a high OBP and average. His defense doesn’t turn heads, but his offense is enough to make him a standout. If Milwaukee makes the playoffs Braun will be the leader and that’ll give him great reason to be the MVP.

2. Joey Votto- Votto is the best player in baseball right now. His offensive production is phenomenal, but unless Cincinnati makes the playoffs the exposure isn’t there.

3. Troy Tulowitzki- plays the best defense amongst all shortstops in the NL. He puts up great power numbers, but with the Coors influence he loses confidence.

Cy Young:

Que MC Hammer's U Can't Touch This

1. Clayton Kershaw (18/2.35/1.15/250)

Kershaw has always had a huge ceiling and that’s shown in each of his seasons. Like a certain lefty in the AL he gets better year in and year out. Last season saw him find control of the strike zone and pitch count. Kershaw has electric stuff and could very well lead the league in strikeouts. Hell, he could make a run at the Triple Crown. I love his stuff and that translates into the numbers. He’ll be a standout this season and there’s no reason to think he can’t bring home the award.

*2. Adam Wainwright- it’s amazing he doesn’t have one yet, and barring any injuries he’ll be putting up Triple Crown like numbers, as he does every year.

3. Josh Johnson- he’s got a fantastic pitchers frame and even better stuff. He completely overpowers hitters. With a healthy season he could be unstoppable.

* I wrote this up before the news of Wainwright having TJ surgery, but I respect his abilities and so I’m keeping him on my list.

Rookie:

1. Aroldis Chapman (35/2.80/1.15/100)

Normally I wouldn’t be crazy about giving this to a rookie pitcher who could be a closer in 2011. But, I figure if Neftali Feliz can do it so can the electric arm of Aroldis Chapman. He hits ridiculous velocity, and if he stays healthy he could have some eye-popping numbers in 2011. Chapman could also see spot starts, which will only add to his resume. There’s a lot to like about Chapman, and with all eyes watching him a good season could reap big rewards.

*If you're looking for a picture, go to the NL Central breakdown post and marvel at the radar gun.

2. Freddie Freeman- he’s got a pure swing, and plays good D, but I expect him to top out at .280 with 15-20 homers this season (not enough to standout).

3. Brandon Belt- he put up big numbers in the minors in 2010, and if that translates to the major leagues he’d look real good in a weak lineup.

Managers:

1. Edwin Rodriguez (Florida: 87-75)

Florida has a lot of youth and Rodriguez did pretty well leading them through the second half of the season last year. Just like Oakland, Florida has a lot of pieces, but they’re still flying under the radar. If Rodriguez gets the best out of his players and the Marlins have a good season I think he’ll be a standout in the NL. He could earn bonus points for getting Hanley Ramirez out of the limelight.

2. Fredi Gonzalez (Atlanta)- could lead Atlanta into the playoffs in his first year as manager. If he gets the youth on track he’d be hard to overlook.

3. Ron Roenicke (Milwaukee)- has a lot to work with and a lot of depth. If he pushes this team deep into the playoffs he immediately enters the discussion.

Around the Horn

Today I thought I'd try and branch out a little.

The NBA trade deadline is tomorrow so I figured why not give some updates. The biggest news is how the NW and Atlantic divisions have swapped stars. Utah gave up Deron Williams to New Jersey, and the 'Melo saga finally ends with him making the move to New York. The East gets that much stronger, but I'm glad there is now less pressure on the Blazers. 

With their competition getting weaker, Portland can sit put a little and not force a deal. I would have loved to see them land Davin Harris, but oh well. Word is they pretty much have a deal in place for Gerald Wallace, but as of an hour ago there's conflicting stories. I like his defense and athleticism, but it'd be hard to see where the Blazers fit him in. With Roy, Batum, Matthews, and Wallace they would have a lot of depth at SG and SF, without an actual PG (if Miller is moved in the trade).


Speaking of the Blazers, what robbery tonight. On one of the final drives in regulation Aldridge got moshed in the paint (Mike and Mike counted three fouls), and then in overtime the Lakers deserved about four technicals and nothing was called. I know it was overtime in a close game, but with Kobe in the referee's face, Gasol shoving Aldridge, and Knight on the court you think something would have been called. None the less, LaMarcus had another great game and we got to see the return of Brandon Roy (hopefully he sticks around for a while). 


The biggest news in the baseball world is Adam Wainwright. After some discomfort in his elbow (we all know what that means) he left camp to have some tests down. No one has said what he has yet, but it seems whenever someone from the team does say something it's  a death sentence. The early prognosis, based on pure speculation, is... Tommy John surgery! Wainwright will be seeking a second opinion, but I doubt it'll be any better. I hope it's not as bad as everyone thinks, and if it is, make a speedy recovery and get back soon Adam!

Sorry to Keep you all Waiting...

here's tips 6-10 of my 10 tips for Fantasy Baseball. Sorry for the wait, I had a long weekend and some technical difficulties when uploading the video. Hope you guys enjoy it and it helps you all out with your leagues this year.

Tips:

6. Use all the resources at your disposal

7. Your team is never cemented

8. Always be looking for pitching

9. Don’t over reach for prospects, let them come to you

10. Be aware of age and injury

10a. Research comeback players

Al Melchior: a Prophet of Sabermetrics

I found this awesome chart on CBSsportsline today. Al Melchior is one of there fantasy writers and he does phenomenal charts and graphs by using sabermetrics to measure fantasy value. Everybody (even those not into fantasy) should check this position regression chart out.

On the Eve of the Big 2-1...

I present to you my very first video blog! Today I discuss tips 1-5 of my 10 tips for succeeding in fantasy baseball. This is the first video blogging I've ever done, so it's a little raw haha.

 

Tips:

1. Have a Plan

2. Don’t draft a pitcher in the first round

2a. Draft at least one pitcher by the 4^th round

3. Never reach for a catcher

4. Look for sleepers 
4a. Use sleepers to combat position scarcity

5. Pay attention to September and Spring

It's a Menage-a-Trois of Competition

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 6: National League West

Projected Standings:

T-1. Colorado Rockies

T-1. Los Angeles Dodgers

T-1. San Francisco Giants

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

5.  San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants:

That’s right, I’m calling for a trifecta in the West. These three teams all excel in some ways, and lag in others, making them complement each other competitively. Right now I’m giving the edge to the Rockies, but the last couple of seasons the NL West has been decided down the stretch, and so it didn’t seem fair to pick one team. Instead of a team-by-team breakdown of these three I’m going to profile them all together and give a better in-depth view of their strengths.

Lineup:

In terms of offense the Rockies have the best amongst the three teams. They have a great blend of speed, power, contact, and OBP. They also play at an offense heavy ballpark. Tulo has eclipsed Hanley Ramirez as the best SS in the game. Behind him is Car-Go, who was insane at the plate last season and could be a Triple Crown contender. Ian Stewart has the power to break 25 homers, and I think this is the season he does that. On top of all these great players there’s now talk of the Rockies being in the mix for Michael Young. He’s a very consistent offensive player who could pick up Helton’s slack at first. Colorado also possesses the deepest, and most lethal, bench in the West.

The team with the most to prove offensively has to be the Dodgers. Besides Andre Ethier no one hit for LA last season, and that needs to change. Matt Kemp has a high ceiling, and possesses all five tools (see 2009). I think Kemp let too many things get to his head in ’10, and he’s too good to do that again (I foresee a run at 30-30). Besides that the Dodgers need to find a way to pick up the slack. If James Loney could hit .280-.290 and have a 20-20 season that’d be a big improvement. They also need Blake and Furcal to stay healthy. Without much depth at the minor league system everything needs to go right for the Dodgers

Hopefully the Panda hits Spring this fit

Bringing up the rear are the Giants. We all know Buster Posey by now. His bat is lethal, and with more power he could top Joe Mauer as the best catcher in baseball. Besides that San Fran is hoping all their power comes from Huff, Tejada, and Burrell. All three are on the wrong side of 30. Huff's been known to have spouts of power, but his .216 ISO was far off from his .193 career average (as was his OPS of .891, much higher than his career .821). San Francisco is dragged down by awful contracts (see Zito, Barry and Rowand, Aaron) and a farm system that has not produced hitters. If Pablo Sandoval returns to form, this becomes a different story.. Also, the Giants have a first base prospect, Brandon Belt, who seemed to come out of nowhere last season (1.036 OPS at AA). If he continues to hit and the Giants find a place for him, he could help right the ship.

Pitching

Sorry San Francisco, but it’s hard for me to say that you have the best rotation in the West. With their most recent moves the title has moved south to Los Angeles. Clayton Kershaw is a guy who has gotten better every year, and I think he’ll win the Cy Young this year. He finally broke 200 innings, and cut his walks down, while also breaking the 200 K plateau. Behind him is a Chad Billingsley, who is still young, and still has ace stuff. Ted Lilly is a workhorse who's always good for perfect control and good peripherals. Bringing up the rear is Kuroda, and Garland, two guys who aren’t fantastic, but they’ll favor from playing at pitcher friendly Dodger Stadium.

In the middle are the Giants. Despite a drop in strikeout rates and a raise in his walk rate Tim Lincecum’s FIP shows that he suffered from bad fielding, and should have had an ERA closer to 3.15. Sticking with FIP, it shows that Matt Cain may have outperformed himself, but he’s still a great number two. The Giants also have rising star Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner suffered from a high WHIP, but based on how well he pitched as a 21 year old there’s a lot to be excited about.  Bringing up the back end is Jonathan Sanchez, who was ridiculously lucky in 2010, and his awful control will catch up with him in 2011. I like the depth the Dodgers have, which is why the Giants are number two, but they still are going to have a great rotation.

Bringing up the rear are the Rockies, but they’re a lot better than people think. To pitch at Coors pitchers have to keep the ball on the ground and out of play. No one does this better than Ubaldo Jimenez. He finally hit his potential last season and his peripherals are perfect for his home park. Behind him are Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin. De La Rosa is an underrated strikeout pitcher who was having a good year before getting hurt. Chacin is a rising star who has great stuff. He’s only 23 and with another season under his belt he can develop into a great number two in Colorado. On the backend is workhorse, veteran, groundball pitcher, Aaron Cook, who when healthy, can put up pretty sufficient numbers.

Overall

In order to finish evaluating these three teams I’m going to go over three other factors: defense, bullpen, and farm systems.

Defense: Order- San Francisco, Colorado, Los Angeles

As far as UZR the Giants had the second best defense in the game. However, their numbers were also supported by Uribe and Renteria, who are now gone. With Sandoval at third their corner’s might suffer, but they still have a great defensive outfield. Meanwhile, the Rockies and Dodgers both stink on defense. Besides Troy Tulowitzki and Car-Go no one in Colorado has great defense. The Dodgers have a pretty good infield, but their outfield is lacking in range. If Matt Kemp can see the ball like he did in ’09 (3.0 UZR in 2009 vs. -24 UZR in 2010) they might stand a better chance.

Step 1 for 2011: Get Huston Street a cup for batting practive

Bullpen: Order- Colorado, Los Angeles, San Francisco

All three of these teams have great closers and set up guys. Brian Wilson and Huston Street are already well known, and Jonathan Broxton is much better than his 2010 season. The Rockies supporting staff is solid and power pitching Matt Lindstrom was a great pickup. The Giants are relying on guys like Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez, which could hurt them. The Dodgers are great in the setup department with Guerrier and Kuo, but lack depth before the 8^th inning.

Farm: Order- Colorado, San Francisco, Los Angeles

The Rockies, a team that could use more pitching, have top prospect Tyler Matzek just waiting to burst into the rotation. He’s a bit like Jimenez, where he’s got a great fastball and is effectively wild. There’s also young backstop Wilin Rosario, whose power is designed for Coors. The Giants have some standouts in the lower levels, but besides Brandon Belt there’s no one who can make an impact this year. The Dodgers have a weak farm that won’t make much impact this season. Their top prospect is Dee Gordon whose specialties are speed and defense. They’ll need more to put them over the top.

All in all I give the edge to the Rockies. They have the best offense, the most farm depth, a good bullpen, and a strong core of starting pitchers. Behind them I put the Giants who have some potential at the plate, three great starters, and a pretty good bullpen. The Dodgers have a lot better pitching than they did last year, but their lack of prospect depth and offense could drag them down this season. I don’t know how this division will end up, but if all three teams stay healthy there could be some great competition.

Arizona Diamondbacks:

Lineup:

Offensively the D-Backs lag behind the Rockies, but they’re probably the second best in the West. They’re young, but they also possess a great blend of speed and power. Their core is built around Chris Young and Justin Upton, who are both 30-30 caliber players. Upton struggled in 2010, after a stunning ‘09 campaign, but he’s still young, possesses all five tools, and there’s no reason he couldn’t excel in 2011. Arizona also has Miguel Montero, who despite injuries, turned in a pretty good offensive season, and he has great potential. They’re weak in the corner infield and left field, but the core is strong enough that they’ll hit enough to win games.

Pitching:

Over the last couple of seasons they’ve lost Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, yet they still have an okay rotation. Joe Saunders is no true ace, but he can at least compile some innings and keep the bullpen healthy (he’s shown upside and might be able to succeed in the NL). They’ve got a lot to like in Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy; both excelled last season. There’s a lot to like in top prospects Tyler Skaggs and Jarrod Parker; I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw them late in the season.

Overall:

Overall the Diamondbacks are still working hard to rebuild. They’ve got a really good core in the rotation and lineup. They’re still very young and learning how to succeed. Arizona has enough farm depth to push them over the top in the next couple seasons, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t holes. The bullpen is awful and the next rebuilding step needs to begin there. The fielding is really strong though and the fundamentals are there. Arizona is hanging tough in the West, but they’ve still got a ways to go.

San Diego Padres:

Overall:

Last year San Diego came out of nowhere, and in the end they faded. Their pitching excelled in PetCo, except they’re now missing Jon Garland, who they’ve replaced with broken Aaron Harang. Offensively they struggled (as expected), and now they’re missing their premier bat in Adrian Gonzalez. Looking at the offense I can see what they’re trying to do. It’s definitely speed heavy; I think the hope is, since PetCo is a pitcher’s park, they’ll win by getting on base and disrupting the paths. The problem is the highest OBP in 2010, among starters not named A-Gon, is Ryan Ludwick with .325. It’s a start, but there’s not enough patience on this team to succeed offensively. The pitching will be overrated (because of PetCo), and maybe it’ll make them look competitive, but over the long run I think they’ll flop.

It's Miller Time!

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 5: National League Central

Projected Standings:

1. Milwaukee Brewers

2. Cincinnati Reds

3. Chicago Cubs

4. St. Louis Cardinals

5. Houston Astros

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

It's only a matter of time until the doughnuts run out; make it count Brew Crew

 Milwaukee Brewers:

Lineup:

Offense has been Milwaukee’s bread and butter the last few seasons and that’s no different heading into 2011. 2010 saw the breakouts of Rickie Weeks and Casey McGehee, joining Braun and Fielder as mainstays in the lineup with big power. The lineup lacks speed, but Carlos Gomez is capable of 30 steals if he can get on base enough. In 2010 the Brewers saw five players hit 20+ homers, and two toped 30 (with Rickie Weeks just missing out with 29). The bottom line: expect these guys to take the ball out of the field.

Pitching:

Forget Cliff Lee going to the Phillies, the Brewers have the most improved pitching staff this season. They went from having a pseudo ace and no real number two, to having Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. Greinke had a rough season in Kansas City, but FIP shows he suffered from some bad luck. FIP says the same thing about Gallardo, and so I expect both these guys to dominate this year. Marcum is a workhorse who’s always been undervalued, and there are a lot worse number four starters than Randy Wolf. The Brewers also have top prospect Mark Rogers who cracked the roster last year and could see some starts.

Overall:

They have the premier power offense in baseball, and finally a competent rotation. I think Greinke is going to thrive in an environment where: a) he isn’t the only good player, and b) the team is in contention. The rotation is rebuilt and stacked and I don’t think anybody in the Central can stop the Brewers this year (which means a lot because I’m big on the Reds). However, they depleted the farm acquiring their two new studs and that could hurt them if they see significant injuries in 2011. One more area of improvement could be the bullpen, though I like Axford’s potential at closer.

Cincinnati Reds:

Lineup:

They were the NL’s best offense last season and things look pretty good heading into 2011. As it was last season I think Joey Votto will once again overtake Albert Pujols as the best hitter in the game. His bat is absolutely unstoppable. Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs are secretly becoming very good players and they had great numbers last season. My biggest worry is the Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes of 2010 not showing up in 2011. Luckily they have rookie Todd Frazier and Yonder Alonso to add depth, and both guys could add more power to an already stacked lineup.

Pitching:

Ridiculous

They have seven competent starters, and they’ve all got nasty stuff. Cueto gets better every year; Arroyo continues to defy the game and have good numbers; and I think Volquez is going to have a hell-of-a comeback campaign. Then there’s Mike Leake and Travis Wood who each made a splash last year by exploding into the rotation and putting up solid numbers. Last, but CERTAINLY not least, is Aroldis Chapman. I read a lot of positives and negatives about him in 2010, but when he hit 105 MPH you knew he was something special. The mechanics will be big in 2011, but if they can stay healthy this is a really good rotation.

Overall:

The Reds fought their way through the Central in 2010. I honestly believed they were the best in their division but, they didn’t always play like it. I think the rotation is still too young for the Reds to top the Brewers in 2011. It will be fun to watch these powerhouse arms develop, but I don’t think it’s all going to come together this season. The bullpen also lost some pieces and needs to get everything back together. They could surprise, but for right now the Brewers are the better pick.

Chicago Cubs:

Lineup:

The lineup isn’t pretty, but I think they’ll have more success in 2011 than they did in 2010. Starlin Castro makes me wonder what it’d be like if Ichiro played SS, and he’s charged with setting the table this year. Last season saw a bounce back for Geovany Soto, and now it’s Aramis Ramirez’s turn. Ramirez has been consistent for far too long, and I expect a .300 average and 30 homers out of him in 2011. New management might be the best thing for this club, particularly in the case of Lou playing Fukudome over Colvin too often in 2010.

Pitching:

Just like the lineup, it isn’t perfect, but it’s above average. I really like the acquisition of Matt Garza. He brings a passion with his game that could really help the other starters in 2011… or he could collide with Zambrano and make a super nova. Among other things: Ryan Dempster put up another great season, with 200 IP and 200 Ks; and Randy Wells fell to more reasonable numbers in 2011, but he’s still not bad as a number four.

Overall:

The Cubs are a team that has over spent and under developed the last few seasons, and this could be the beginning of a turn around. Matt Garza was a great trade, and the emergence of new, young, farm products could be a pick-me-up for an aging team. I’d love to see some big things from Colvin and Castro this season, and maybe even an appearance from Josh Vitters at the big league level. The big challenge for the Cubs will be getting over the egos and just having a fun, and well played, season.

St. Louis Cardinals:

Lineup:

It’s hard to rank any lineup with Albert Pujols low, but the fact is I’m underwhelmed by this Cardinal offense. Having two middle of the order bats ( Pujols+Holliday) means nothing without support. Colby Rasmus had a pretty good season last year, but you’ve already got him demanding a trade. David Freese has some impressive contact skills, and a fluid swing, but he was hurt last year and who knows how he’ll bounce back. Berkman will be the make-or-break piece for the Cardinals this year.

Pitching:

I love Adam Wainwright, and I am still baffled at his lack of a Cy-Young award; but, he cannot pitch every game for you St. Louis! Chris Carpenter was an enigma in 2009, and he started to show decline in 2010. Jake Westbrook is nothing more than a number four guy, and according to FIP Jaime Garcia had lady luck on his side last season. The supporting staff behind Wainwright is weak and the Cardinals can’t compete (especially in the playoffs) until that changes. 2009 first rounder Shelby Miller could be the answer, but I doubt we’ll see him in 2011.

Overall:

Right now I think the Cubs and Cardinals are pretty even, but because Chicago has deeper pitching and a better bullpen I gave them the edge. It could probably go either way though. St. Louis has a great ace, and a great 3-4 combo, but they need better complementary pieces. They also have an incredibly thin bullpen that doesn’t have anyone who really sticks out. A thinning farm system limits trades so they’ll have to play above their ceiling in 2011 to make a run.

Houston Astros:

Overall:

The only reason they’re slotted here is because they actually have a couple of good starters. Wandy Rodriguez has proved he wasn’t a one-year wonder, and Brett Meyers continues to be consistent. The offense continues to look ugly, especially with Carlos Lee’s decline last season. Brett Wallace and Chris Johnson could break out this season, but I’m not betting any money on that one. The biggest issue with Houston is they continue to have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, and that’s okay if you’re active in free agency, which they are not. They’ll have to figure something out and start rebuilding, or else they’re going to continue to fall behind.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

Overall:

Dear Pittsburgh: pitching is half the game; you do remember that, right? Okay, okay, that’s not completely fair, they do have James McDonald; but, besides that there is no one worthwhile in that rotation. I like McDonald’s upside, and I think he can have a good season, but besides that there is no one (except for Jameson Taillon, who is a long ways away). The offense has some interesting pieces in it. I really like Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker has a good contact bat, Jose Tabata has speed, and Pedro Alvarez has massive power. Despite those threats in the lineup they don’t have the pitching to compete. Consecutive losing season number 19 here they come.

The Other Beast

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 4: National League East

Projected Standings:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

T-2. Florida Marlins

T-2. Atlanta Braves

4. Washington Nationals

5. New York Mets

Philadelphia Phillies:

Lineup:

They’re past the days of the MVP trifecta, but they’re still deep in speed and power. Utley is the best second baseman in the game (I expect him to bounce back like one) and Howard is a shoe in for power. However, Rollins’ game keeps getting worse, they’re hanging a lot of hope on rookie Dominic Brown, and last year we started to see the effect of age and injuries on this team. This is a team that hit .216 in the NLCS, is a year older, and lost Jayson Werth. It’ll be the Phillies Achilles heal.

Things could not get more ridiculous in Philly

 Pitching:

Do I even need to address this? They’ve got the best overall pitcher in the game (Halladay), and one of the best lefties (Lee).  FIP shows that Hamels’ and Oswalt’s ERAs should move more towards their career norms this season, but that’s still great production from the middle of your rotation. Blanton won’t do anything special in the five spot, but does it matter with those four pitching in front of you? The bullpen could hurt them, but with the workhorses in the rotation who knows how often they’ll be used.

Overall:

Without Cliff Lee the Braves might have been able to overtake the Phillies, but Romero Jr.’s new splash puts this team on top. The offense still has a lot of holes, but for right now they’ll be great throughout the season. I’m not sure what they’ll do in the postseason, but this is at least a team designed to win in the regular season, with strong pitching and an adequate offense. Adding another bullpen arm or younger bat couldn’t hurt.

Florida Marlins:

Lineup:

This lineup may be young, but they’ve also got enough upside to be the best in the NL East. Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton are two big names that are ready to break out this season. Omar Infante brings a little bit of everything to the table, while John Buck (an under the radar signing) brings extra power. With a healthy Chris Coghlan leading off there’s a lot to like here. I’d love to see Hanley turn his attitude around, but at least I know, with his bat, to expect greatness.

Pitching:

They continue to fly under the radar, but I really like this rotation. I think Josh Johnson is the best up-and-comer in the league, and when healthy he can easily put together a Cy-Young caliber season. Ricky Nolasco continues to exhibit great control and a big slider, but suffering from bad luck has hurt his numbers. Anibal Sanchez, a name no one really hears that often, has quietly put together stellar back-to-back seasons.  Javvy Vazquez seemed to completely lose his control in New York last year, but maybe he can find it in his second tour of duty in the NL East.

Overall:

I love this team’s upside, but I seem like the only one. The young offense can be really good. Mike Stanton has tremendous power, and Logan Morrison has an incredibly fluid swing; having them around Hanley will mean big things. The starters have suffered from some bad fielding the last couple of years; however, Omar Infante and top prospect Matt Dominguez (known for his glove) are huge improvements over Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu. I wish they could have held on to Cameron Maybin, for the upside alone, but moving him shored up a weak bullpen. They’ve got a lot of fantastic pieces, and it’ll be exciting to see how the puzzle comes together.

Atlanta Braves:

Lineup:

There’s a lot to like about Atlanta’s improvements this winter. Uggla gives them right-handed power, and they’re able to move Martin Prado to the outfield. If healthy I think Heyward will have a huge season, and there’s a lot of positive talk around rookie Freddie Freeman. Then there’s Brian McCann, one of the best catcher’s in the NL. The biggest holes are Chipper Jones and Nate McLouth. I’m not going to bet big money on come back seasons for them, and that’s what is really holding this team back.

Pitching:

No one is deeper in pitching than the Braves. They’ve got Hudson and Lowe, the two workhorse veterans; Tommy Hanson, the up and coming ace with huge swing-and-miss stuff; and Jair Jurrjens, who enters the season pretty underrated after a tough injury last year. Then, they have incredible depth, with prospects Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, Randall Delgado, and top prospect Julio Teheran, who could all crack the rotation this season. They also return with the best bullpen in the NL, with young Craig Kimbrel who’s capable of having a big year as closer.

Overall:

The pitching is all there, the fielding is all there, the only thing they need is a healthy offense. I think the middle of the order (McCann, Heyward, Uggle, Freeman) will have a heck of a season, but the supporting cast could use some shoring up. Chipper Jones has played pretty well this deep into his career, but the injuries are really affecting his bat. Nate McLouth is quickly becoming a bust and he needs to do something to get his swing back on track. The Braves have enough farm depth that they could make a good run at the trade deadline. Time will tell, but with one more competent bat this team can easily leapfrog Philadelphia.

Washington Nationals:

Lineup:

Even without Bryce Harper they’ve got a pretty solid lineup. Ryan Zimmerman became the best third baseman in the NL last season, and his do-everything bat anchors this young lineup. Ian Desmond and Nyjer Morgan know how to disrupt the base paths, Espinosa and Ramos represent two prospects with a lot of power, and Jayson Werth adds another complete bat to slot behind Zimmerman. They’re young, but there’s a lot of upside here, and on the farm.

Pitching:

Yes, Strasburg is out indefinitely right now, but that doesn’t mean the season is over. The rotation is pretty mediocre, but they’ve got a couple guys who can put together respectable seasons. I also think Jordan Zimmerman (someone who’s flown under the radar ever since Strasburg) is going to have a big breakout season. He has a dynamic arm, great control, and an uncanny ability to make guys miss his stuff. The bullpen is also very good, headlined by Drew Storen, Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard.

Overall:

I don’t know if they’ll really overtake the Mets, but I wouldn’t be surprised. The offense and defense are pretty good, the bullpen is shaping up nicely, and the starting pitching is average. But, they have a deep farm with young guys ready to contribute. There’s also Jordan Zimmerman, who’s got ace stuff and will be a leader for the staff. Then there’s always the possibility that we could see Strasburg and Harper playing come September. I rated them 4^th in the division based purely on upside, but with a lucky season they could really deserve it.

New York Mets:

Overall:

The biggest reason I think this team will perform worse than the Nationals is the lack of an ace. Johan Santana doesn’t have a timetable for his return right now and that uncertainty is really going to hurt the Mets. Pelfrey is not dependable; knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has stats padded by spacious Citi Field (3.58 away ERA vs. 1.99 at home); and does anyone think Chris Young can stay healthy? The offense has it’s own issues too: Jason Bay lost all his power (and no, I do not think he is as dynamic a player as David Wright that he’ll gain it back); Carlos Beltran continues to break down; they still have Luis Castillo at second; and they lack a true starting right fielder. This is a team that continues to get damaged and bruised, and I don’t think this season will be any different.

What About the Other Side of the Bay?

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 3: American League West

Can the legend return to the top of the mountain?

Projected Standings:

1. Oakland Athletics

2. Texas Rangers

3. Los Angeles Angles

4. Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics:

Lineup:

Usually Oakland’s one weak point, and while not particularly impressive, Billy Beane made some great pick-ups this year. Everybody in the infield brings something different to the table, and Kurt Suzuki will have a bounce back year behind the dish. The real improvements came in the outfield and DH. Beane signed Hideki Matsui (who’s great at DH when h’s healthy) and traded for big names David DeJesus and Josh Willingham. The Hammer is a shoe in for 20 homers and a .370ish OBP. DeJesus brings a dynamic game, good defense, and with him and Coco at the top of the order those are two great table setters. Also top prospect, Chris Carter, brings some huge power potential to the table.

Pitching:

Always Oakland’s strong suit and that’ll be no different this year. They lost Curt Young as pitching coach, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost any talent. Cahill, Gonzalez, and Braden all saw break out seasons last year; and, when healthy, Brett Anderson is a force to be reckoned with. Balfour and Fuentes bring even more depth to a bullpen that was already shut down caliber.

Overall:

They’re not flashy, they don’t have the marquee bat, but Oakland will get the job done this season. They were 81-81 last season, and that was without the big additions to the offense or bullpen. It seems every player complements the other nicely. They’ll probably have an offensively average team, but you don’t need much more than that with the pitching they’ve got. I think Oakland flew under the radar this Winter, but in reality they’re a scary team.

Texas Rangers:

Lineup:

By far the best in the league. They’ve got seven guys who could hit at least 20 homeruns, and four guys who could steal at least 20 bases. The only concern is staying healthy. Kinsler, Hamilton, and Cruz are the big players with this team and they’ve all seen significant loss of playing time over the last two seasons because of being hurt. The balance is there, the clout is there, but it’s yet to be seen if being healthy is there.

Pitching:

They lost Cliff Lee and that hurt them big time. I like the Brandon Webb signing, but after missing two seasons who knows what they’re getting. If he can return to form then that’d be huge. The biggest issue with Texas is they lack an ace. Wilson, Hunter, and Lewis are all solid starters, but none of them have numbers better than a number three guy. They’ve got that Martin Perez kid (who I’ve already heard Pedro Martinez comparisons about), but he’s not going to make an impact this year.

Overall:

If the Rangers had resigned Lee I would have them in the number one spot here. However, they didn’t, and instead had to come up with Plan B: hope Nolan Ryan can return to the mound…. I mean hoping Brandon Webb’s arm stays intact. The farm is still deep and the hitting is still potent, but with the injury risk they really need an ace who can carry the team when the bats are slumping. Without that I don’t think they can overpower the stellar rotation of the A’s.

Los Angeles Angels:

Lineup:

The Angels tried to get Crawford, and they tried to get Beltre, and they got burned. Then, in an act of pure desperation they traded, for one of the WORST contracts in baseball, in Vernon Wells. Last year we saw the beginning of the end for Hunter, a long time staple in centerfield and gold glove discussions, as his numbers slipped and he was moved to right. The infield is filled with mediocrity, except for Kendry Morales. He will be the focal point of the offense, which is a lot of pressure for someone coming back from a big injury.

Pitching:

There’s actually a lot of upside here, but I don’t think we’ll see any of it. The best piece is Jered Weaver, who exploded last season. Next to King Felix he’s the premier starter in the AL West and you expect a win every time he takes the mound. Dan Haren posted some bad games last year, but perhaps a return to the AL can help him return to form. Ervin Santana is nothing to write home about, and home seems to be where Scott Kazmir has left his control.

Overall:

The team mantra this season seems to be mediocrity. They’ve got an all-star bat in Morales, and an all-star ace in Weaver, but the supporting cast is weak as they come. Mike Scioscia is a great manager, but even he needs a little something to work with. The ugliest piece of the puzzle is the bullpen: Fernando Rodney had 14 saves last year, and the only player with an ERA under 3 in 2010 is new addition Scott Downs. A lack of depth in the farm hurts this team and I wouldn’t be surprised if they failed to make .500 once again.

Seattle Mariners:

Overall:

To Mariners fans, I’m sorry. Being from the Northwest I know a lot of you, and you are some of the most devoted fans I’ve ever met. The good thing is, you’re building a future. The most recent developments: Dustin Ackley, Michael Pineda, and Nick Franklin were very big on a lot of top prospect lists; Felix Hernandez won the Cy Young; Justin Smoak hit .325 with three homers in 11 games in September/October; and you still play at Safeco (where mediocre pitchers can look like studs). The biggest challenge for the Mariners, moving forward, is finding hitters who can successfully hit for power in the AL’s best pitchers park. Saunders and Smoak can each put up 20+ homers, but it’s yet to be seen if they can do so in their home parks. Moving into the season it’ll be great to see some of this new talent get showcased, but don’t expect anything monumental just yet.

The Tiger's Roar

2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW

Part 2: American League Central

Projected Standings:

1. Detroit Tigers

2. Chicago White Sox

3. Minnesota Twins

4. Cleveland Indians

5.  Kansas City Royals

Detroit Tigers:

Lineup:

Who knew that all you needed to fix a lineup was Victor Martinez? There are some big bats in the Motor City this year and the lineup is jacked with power. I can’t wait to watch pitchers squirm as they try and pitch around V-Mart, Miggy, and Ordonez (who will hopefully be DH and stay healthy this year). The biggest holes are Inge and Guillen, but the Tigers still have Scott Sizemore just waiting to take over in the infield. Also, if you don’t know Ryan Raburn, learn his name, he’s going to breakout this season.

Pitching:

When Jim Leyland's around, no one slacks off

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, does it get better than that? Oh, Rick Porcello? Guess it does. We already know Verlander is an ace, and Scherzer really showcased his potential in the second half. Porcello is a groundball pitcher who has some effective stuff, and at the ripe age of 22 he’s got lots of time to tap into it. Brad Penny was a good depth signing with some upside swing. The bullpen could use a little support, but adding Benoit didn’t hurt.

Overall:

Since ’06 Detroit has had some awful luck trying to get back to the playoffs, but I think they could be one of the top two teams in the American League this year. The offense is very power heavy. Add playing in Comerica Park and it almost seems unfair. They’ve also finally bolstered that rotation and gotten a couple of tough arms behind Verlander. If the Twins can win the division with Liriano and Pavano, than Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, and Penny should dominate.

Chicago White Sox:

Lineup:

As if they weren’t good enough before? They led the Central in dingers last season, and so Kenny Williams decides, hell, let’s add 40 more. So they sign Adam Dunn. Why not? That seems to be the mantra with the ChiSox. Konerko had a pretty ridiculous season, and Beckham had a pretty disappointing one, but I expect both of those things to change this season. The lineup is probably the best in the Central, 1-9, and the balance of speed and power is all there.

Pitching:

This is what’s holding Chicago back. We know they’ve got the workhorses (Buehrle and Danks), but they lack the ace. A healthy Jake Peavy would really put things back on track. People continue to talk about Edwin Jackson and Gavin Floyd, but they both pitch like Jekyll and Hyde. Chris Sale brings a big time prospect, with upside, to the table, but there’s still a debate whether he’ll start or pitch out of the pen. Chicago does have a good bullpen going for them at least.

Overall:

They’ve got the stellar offense, they’ve got the shutdown ‘pen, but they’re lacking in the rotation department. A healthy Peavy and a developed Chris Sale could put them over the top, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Give it another season or two and this team could be real good, but for right now I don’t think they have that extra oomph to propel them above a second place finish.

Minnesota Twins:

Lineup:

There’s not much to dislike about the Twins offense. As always we can expect big things out of M&M, who are now supported by a dynamic Delmon Young. Further development out of Valencia and Casilla could give the Twins a very speedy and effective infield. They also have Denard Span (he gets walks, he steals bases, and he just makes things happen). No one is sure of what to expect from new Japanese import Tsuyoshi Nishioka, but I’ve already read some Ichiro comparisons, so excitement seems warranted.

Pitching:

The revival of Francisco Liriano was huge last season, and he still has ace stuff. Bringing back Pavano was a good move, but in my mind he’s still a ticking time bomb. I’m not counting out Brian Duensing, but no other pitcher in the rotation brings much to the table. Luckily, there’s hope in the form of Kyle Gibson. The Twins 2009 first rounder, out of Missouri, blasted through to AAA in his first professional season ever. However, pitching prospects are never very reliable out of the gate, and even if he makes the big league club this year I wouldn’t expect much impact.

Overall:

I’ve loved the Twins for a long time, but the pitching just isn’t there this year, and they didn’t try to fix that this winter. Liriano and Pavano were enough last season, but the two teams above them will be just too good this year. Also, the bullpen took a big hit over the winter, and they didn’t do anything to fix that. The offense is big, and the defense will probably be the best in the league, but without a big trade for a number three guy Minnesota is going to flop this year.

Cleveland Indians:

Lineup:

It feels like Cleveland is still scrapping together a team. The outfield seems set, there’s V-Mart 2.0 (AKA Carlos Santana) behind the dish, a maturing Matt LaPorta at 1^st, and Asdrubal Cabrera at short (I love this kid, very dynamic player). That still leaves big holes at 2^nd and 3^rd, and leftfield if they keep Crowe on the bench (which I pray they don’t; Westview High represent). The Tribe has big time prospects in Lonnia Chisenhall, who starts the hot corner, and Jason Kipnis; but, since they’ve only hit AA Spring will determine their arrival. I like the core a lot, but this year I wouldn’t expect anything amazing except from the usual suspects.

Pitching:

Like the offense there’s so much potential here, but it needs time to develop. For now Indian fans will have to be pleased with Carmona as the ace. Alex White and Drew Pomeranz bring something big to the table, but without more seasoning it won’t be this year. A future rotation of White, Pomeranz, Masterson, Hagadone, and Carmona should have Clevelanders salivating, but that’s at least two seasons away. One thing the Tribe could work on externally is the bullpen.

Overall:

When it comes to the AL Central everybody is talking about the ridiculous farm of the Royals, but Cleveland has some through the roof potential. Once Chisenhall and Kipnis make it they’ll have one of the best infields in the game, and that lineup will be very potent. Then there’s that rotation, which could, perhaps, add Pomeranz and White this season. These four prospects are going to be the big players in Cleveland’s future. They have a bit of a journey ahead of them, but with a year or two of seasoning we could see the Indians knocking on the door of the Central. Oh, and I can’t write something about the Indians and not mention Shin-Soo Choo. He’s been one of my favorite players for a long time and I love his game, I hope he gets to do something big in Cleveland soon.

Kansas City Royals:

Overall:

After moving Zach Greinke the Royals have been the talk of the prospect geeks. They absolutely have the best farm in the game. On the MLB’s list of top 50 prospects they were: the only team with two players in the top 10; four players in the top 20; and had more overall players in the top 50, than any other team, with six. The farm is deep with pitching and hitting and Kansas is going to be a force… in about three or four, or maybe even five seasons. Until then they’ve got Billy Butler, Joakim Soria, and, well, that’s about it. Trading Greinke definitely isn’t going to help them this season and for now there’s not much of a squad. Just remember Royal fans: Hosmer, Moustakas, and Montgomery are on their way.