This division has one elite team, and a bunch of also rans. The elite team is the defending division champion Detroit Tigers. Then, it's the battle for second place between Kansas City, Minnesota, Chicago south siders, and Cleveland. The other four teams within the division are good, but not to the level that the Tigers are. Detroit will probably run away with the division by 15 or more games, like they did last season when they got hot and Cleveland decided to fall off the face of the earth. But, now on to the picks!
Chicago White Sox
Chicago is a good team, but they've got too many question marks, ranging from whether Adam Dunn went through an aberration season last year, when his average was lower than the number of times he struck out. Granted, Dunn was never a hitter for average, he's been a pure power hitter and it's all or nothing basically with him. Chicago also has questions with their starting staff, as each one has health concerns. Plus, they've got a guy who's it's his first time managing anywhere in Robin Ventura, so that's a question. Just too many question marks and everything having to break right for them.
Cleveland Indians
They are too young and last year's first two months where they went 32-20 and had one of the best records in baseball was probably an aberration, as after that, they had one month where they went over .500, and that was August where they went 15-13. Plus, they're relying on Ubaldo Jimenez to really be an anchor in their rotation, and he hasn't looked too good in the spring. Plus, they've got Grady Sizemore injured again which doesn't help. Finally, one of their former good pitchers, Fausto Carmona was revealed to be a fraud. Things aren't looking good in Cleveland.
Kansas City Royals
This team continues to stockpile young talent, and as long as these players don't have a setback, this team will continue to be on the rise. Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and others are really good hitters. Plus, the Royals are now trying to spend money wisely. This team is going to be good, just wait until 2013 for them to really try and make a dent as far as playoff races are concerned.
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota is relying on two players, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer to be fully healthy once again and for them to contribute like they did a few years ago, when they were MVPs. If those two players are capable of playing 250 games combined, then this team has a chance to really succeed. The rest of the lineup is solid, and the Twins still got a pretty good farm system to rely upon. But, the team will probably be looking up nearly the entire season at the team from Detroit.
Detroit Tigers
This team has zero excuses not to succeed, they signed the second biggest free agent out there in Prince Fielder, they've got the defending AL MVP and Cy Young award winner in Justin Verlander along with a closer who was perfect last season in Jose Valverde. The team won the division last season handily and should definitely do it again. All they've gotta do is live up to the lofty expectations, not an easy task.
Coming later today: NL Central preview!
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