AL Predictons: Yankees, Yankees, Yankees
After yet another spending spree in the offseason, the New York Yankees return to familiar territory: favorites to win it all once more.
With so much happening in the American League already this season, here's predictions on what to look for at the end of the 2002 campaign.
AL East: Generally, a team with something to prove is a dangerous team. A Yankees team with something to prove is team that likely will hoist a World Series trophy in October. After a crushing Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees, in typical Yankee fashion, retooled. Jason Giambi, Rondell White, Robin Ventura and David Wells all jumped on board, making New York the favorites to win it all once again.
And it seems as if their competition in the AL East is at an all-time low. Boston did what Boston typically does: just enough retooling not to knock the Yanks off the of the AL East throne. Pedro's spring ERA is terrible and that might be a sign of things to come. Much like Kevin Brown and the L.A. Dodgers, the Sox' success depends highly on Pedro's performance, which was less than stellar in the opener at Fenway.
The Sox also have John Burkett's and Dustin Hermanson's adjustment to the American League to look forward to. Hermanson has never pitched in the AL, and Burkett has enjoyed far greater success in the National League (109-84 career record) than in the AL (32-35). How each pitcher adapts could determine if the Sox are a wild-card contender or just one of a slew of AL East doormats for the Yankees.
The Blue Jays and Orioles are both going with youth movements and won't legitimately compete for the division title in 2002.
As for the Devil Rays, things look a lot better now than they did this time last year, but they're still a long way from worrying anyone.
AL Central: Much like its counterpart in the National League, the American League Central will be very entertaining. Perhaps no team will prove more interesting than the Minnesota Twins, who look primed to prove to Commissioner Bud Selig that they don't deserve to be contracted. Brad Radke, Eric Milton, and Joe Mays are the AL's best trio of starters east of Oakland but the Twins, whose 85 wins in 2001 was about 20 more than anyone expected, won't have the surprise factor on their side anymore. However, if Radke, Milton, and Mays stay healthy, they won't need it.
Second place in the AL Central could determine who wins the wild card. The White Sox, led by 16-game-winner Mark Buehrle (16-8, 3.29 ERA in 2001), have the edge. Paul Konerko has finally become more than a good beer league softball player, hitting for average (.282 in 2001) and power (32 HR) while driving in runs (99 RBI). If Frank Thomas can stay healthy after missing almost all of 2001, the White Sox lineup, which once again will feature underrated Magglio Ordonez (.305, 31 HR, 113 RBI in 2001), should score enough runs for the Sox' young rotation.
The new-look Indians have a better-than-average shot at the AL Wild Card. With starters Bartolo Colon and C.C. Sabathia, the Tribe has a young righty-lefty duo as good as any in the American League. Believe it or not, the Tribe's troubles might come from scoring runs. Gone are Kenny Lofton (White Sox), Juan Gonzalez (Rangers),a nd Robbie Alomar (Mets) and in are unproven Milton Bradley (.221, 1 HR, 19 RBI in 2001) and AL Central veteran Matt Lawton. Lawton is not the leadoff man that Lofton was, but he'll need to be if Ellis Burks (74 RBI) and Jim Thome (124 RBI) are to come anywhere near their production from a year ago.
Much like the bottom of the NL Central, the cellar dwellers in the AL Central aren't strong enough to compete. The Tigers were happy to see Roger Cedeno, who squablled with newly fired former Manager Phil Garner throughout the 2001 campaign, leave for the Mets, but they're still a long way from competing.
It was nice to see Mike Sweeney sign a five-year extension to stay in Kansas City a few weeks ago, but the Royals don't have the pitching or enough Mike Sweeneys to finish above .500.
AL West: What a 2001 season for the AL West. Two 100-game winners, a respectable showing from the Angels, and then the Texas Rangers. Three out of four ain't bad.
The Oakland A's, despite the loss of Jason Giambi to the Yankees, are still the favorites to win the division. Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito could all win 20 games in 2002, they're each that good. The problem might be scoring runs. Rookie and can't-miss prospect Carlos Pena will probably make most Bay Area fans forget about Jason Giambi qucker than they might have thought and 2002 could be third baseman Eric Chavez' (.288, 32 HR, 114 RBI) and shortstop Miguel Tejada's (.267, 31, 113) year to establish themselves as baseball's premier infield duo. Add newly acquired David Justice, whose poor 2001 campaign leaves him with something to prove in 2002, to the mix, and the A's should win the AL West. The Seattle Mariners won't win 116 games again this year, but they probably won't need to. Don't expect the Mariners to make the playoffs, but expect them to be entertaining. Jamie Moyer won't win 20 games in 2002, which will place added pressure on young ace Freddy Garcia. Outside of Moyer and Garcia, Aaron Sele's departure to division-rival Anaheim leave sthe Mariners with James Baldwin, Paul Abbott, and Joel Pineiro in the rotation, not exactly three guys who frighten hitters.
The Angels could be an interesting team in 2002. All five pitchers in the Angels rotation won at least 11 games in 2001 (Sele winning 15 with the Mariners and Kevin Appier 11 with the New York Mets). The continued development of young starters Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, and Scott Schoeneweis could dtermine a second or third place finish for the Halos.
Don't expect the Rangers to lose 89 games again in 2002, expect it to be worse. With perhaps the worst pitching staff in all of baseball, the Rangers, despite the acquisition of Chan Ho Park (who, coincidentally, is now on the DL after being shelled in the opener), Juan Gonzalez, and Carl Everett, will finish dead last in the AL West.
Postseason Awards:
AL MVP: Jason Giambi, NY Yankees
AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina, NY Yankees
AL Rookie of the Year: Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers (Nick Johnson a close second)
AL Pennant: NY Yankees
World Series: Yankees over Diamondbacks in six games
| A.L. East | A.L. Central | A.L. West |
| 1. Yankees | 1. Twins | 1. A's |
| 2. Red Sox | 2. White Sox | 2. Mariners |
| 3. Blue Jays | 3. Indians | 3. Angels |
| 4. Orioles | 4. Tigers | 4. Rangers |
| 5. Devil Rays | 5. Royals |
AL East: Generally, a team with something to prove is a dangerous team. A Yankees team with something to prove is team that likely will hoist a World Series trophy in October. After a crushing Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees, in typical Yankee fashion, retooled. Jason Giambi, Rondell White, Robin Ventura and David Wells all jumped on board, making New York the favorites to win it all once again.
And it seems as if their competition in the AL East is at an all-time low. Boston did what Boston typically does: just enough retooling not to knock the Yanks off the of the AL East throne. Pedro's spring ERA is terrible and that might be a sign of things to come. Much like Kevin Brown and the L.A. Dodgers, the Sox' success depends highly on Pedro's performance, which was less than stellar in the opener at Fenway.
The Sox also have John Burkett's and Dustin Hermanson's adjustment to the American League to look forward to. Hermanson has never pitched in the AL, and Burkett has enjoyed far greater success in the National League (109-84 career record) than in the AL (32-35). How each pitcher adapts could determine if the Sox are a wild-card contender or just one of a slew of AL East doormats for the Yankees.
The Blue Jays and Orioles are both going with youth movements and won't legitimately compete for the division title in 2002.
As for the Devil Rays, things look a lot better now than they did this time last year, but they're still a long way from worrying anyone.
AL Central: Much like its counterpart in the National League, the American League Central will be very entertaining. Perhaps no team will prove more interesting than the Minnesota Twins, who look primed to prove to Commissioner Bud Selig that they don't deserve to be contracted. Brad Radke, Eric Milton, and Joe Mays are the AL's best trio of starters east of Oakland but the Twins, whose 85 wins in 2001 was about 20 more than anyone expected, won't have the surprise factor on their side anymore. However, if Radke, Milton, and Mays stay healthy, they won't need it.
Second place in the AL Central could determine who wins the wild card. The White Sox, led by 16-game-winner Mark Buehrle (16-8, 3.29 ERA in 2001), have the edge. Paul Konerko has finally become more than a good beer league softball player, hitting for average (.282 in 2001) and power (32 HR) while driving in runs (99 RBI). If Frank Thomas can stay healthy after missing almost all of 2001, the White Sox lineup, which once again will feature underrated Magglio Ordonez (.305, 31 HR, 113 RBI in 2001), should score enough runs for the Sox' young rotation.
The new-look Indians have a better-than-average shot at the AL Wild Card. With starters Bartolo Colon and C.C. Sabathia, the Tribe has a young righty-lefty duo as good as any in the American League. Believe it or not, the Tribe's troubles might come from scoring runs. Gone are Kenny Lofton (White Sox), Juan Gonzalez (Rangers),a nd Robbie Alomar (Mets) and in are unproven Milton Bradley (.221, 1 HR, 19 RBI in 2001) and AL Central veteran Matt Lawton. Lawton is not the leadoff man that Lofton was, but he'll need to be if Ellis Burks (74 RBI) and Jim Thome (124 RBI) are to come anywhere near their production from a year ago.
Much like the bottom of the NL Central, the cellar dwellers in the AL Central aren't strong enough to compete. The Tigers were happy to see Roger Cedeno, who squablled with newly fired former Manager Phil Garner throughout the 2001 campaign, leave for the Mets, but they're still a long way from competing.
It was nice to see Mike Sweeney sign a five-year extension to stay in Kansas City a few weeks ago, but the Royals don't have the pitching or enough Mike Sweeneys to finish above .500.
AL West: What a 2001 season for the AL West. Two 100-game winners, a respectable showing from the Angels, and then the Texas Rangers. Three out of four ain't bad.
The Oakland A's, despite the loss of Jason Giambi to the Yankees, are still the favorites to win the division. Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito could all win 20 games in 2002, they're each that good. The problem might be scoring runs. Rookie and can't-miss prospect Carlos Pena will probably make most Bay Area fans forget about Jason Giambi qucker than they might have thought and 2002 could be third baseman Eric Chavez' (.288, 32 HR, 114 RBI) and shortstop Miguel Tejada's (.267, 31, 113) year to establish themselves as baseball's premier infield duo. Add newly acquired David Justice, whose poor 2001 campaign leaves him with something to prove in 2002, to the mix, and the A's should win the AL West. The Seattle Mariners won't win 116 games again this year, but they probably won't need to. Don't expect the Mariners to make the playoffs, but expect them to be entertaining. Jamie Moyer won't win 20 games in 2002, which will place added pressure on young ace Freddy Garcia. Outside of Moyer and Garcia, Aaron Sele's departure to division-rival Anaheim leave sthe Mariners with James Baldwin, Paul Abbott, and Joel Pineiro in the rotation, not exactly three guys who frighten hitters.
The Angels could be an interesting team in 2002. All five pitchers in the Angels rotation won at least 11 games in 2001 (Sele winning 15 with the Mariners and Kevin Appier 11 with the New York Mets). The continued development of young starters Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, and Scott Schoeneweis could dtermine a second or third place finish for the Halos.
Don't expect the Rangers to lose 89 games again in 2002, expect it to be worse. With perhaps the worst pitching staff in all of baseball, the Rangers, despite the acquisition of Chan Ho Park (who, coincidentally, is now on the DL after being shelled in the opener), Juan Gonzalez, and Carl Everett, will finish dead last in the AL West.
Postseason Awards:
AL MVP: Jason Giambi, NY Yankees
AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina, NY Yankees
AL Rookie of the Year: Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers (Nick Johnson a close second)
AL Pennant: NY Yankees
World Series: Yankees over Diamondbacks in six games
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