I hope you enjoyed the Gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the last week we gave you a team by team look at the key players, new faces, potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, possible starting lineups and rotations as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management. 

After previewing all six divisions, today is the day we look at the big winners and managers who could be in trouble in 2011.  You can check out all the division previews by following the links.

Sunday: NL West

Monday: AL West

Tuesday: NL Central

Wednesday: AL Central

Thursday: NL East

Friday: AL East

Play Ball!

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

2011 Post Season picks, Award winners and Managers on the Hot Seat

In the final day of the Gigantic Sox and Dawgs 2011 MLB Preview I, with a little help from Ian, will reveal all my playoff picks, the World Series winner and the major Award winners for 2011 but first let’s take a quick look at what managers are in dire straits as we begin the new season.

In the National League, former Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills is entering the second year of his contract with Houston.  Lately Drayton McClain has been going through a manager every two seasons or so. Cecil Cooper got just under 2 seasons; Phil Garner a little over two and he took them to their first World Series and before him Jimy Williams lasted just over two seasons.  Hopefully McClain realizes a revolving door isn’t a good thing and Millsy gets to hang on for a while.  In Washington, Jim Riggleman is starting his 3rd season (2nd full) there and another 30 games below .500 finish or potential finish will mean the end of his job.  And in St.Louis look for the possibility that long time Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa pulls the plug after the season.  LaRussa is on yet another one year contract and he may feel that 16 years in one spot is enough.

In the American League I always feel as if Ozzie Guillen is on the hot seat.  Generally not for the way his teams play, he’s only had 2 sub .500 seasons and won a World Series in 2005, but because of his mouth and his antics.  At some point GM Ken Williams is going to feel enough is enough and Guillen will get the gate.  The question is will 2011 be the year? In Detroit Jim Leyland is in his 6th year leading the Tigers and you have to wonder if he may start feeling the fatigue he had felt in the late 90’s and he himself steps away at years end.  The only other manager I wonder about as the season starts is Oakland’s Bob Geren.  The A’s had a .500 season last year after 3 sub .500 years and they look to be much improved in ’11.  If the team doesn’t get off to a good start and is seemingly falling short of expectations he could get the gate.

Now here are the Sox & Dawgs picks for the 2011 playoffs and the major award winners:

Steve:

• AL East: Boston
• AL Central: Detroit
• AL West: Texas
• AL Wild Card: Minnesota

Ian:

• AL East: Boston
• AL Central: Detroit
• AL West: Texas
• AL Wild Card: New York

Steve:

• NL East: Philadelphia
• NL Central: St.Louis
• NL West: San Francisco
• NL Wild Card: Atlanta

Ian:

• NL East: Philadelphia
• NL Central: St.Louis
• NL West: San Francisco
• NL Wild Card: Cincinnati

Steve:

• AL Division Series: Minnesota over Texas 3-2; Boston over Detroit 3-1
• NL Division Series: Atlanta over St. Louis 3-1; Philadelphia over San Francisco 3-2

Ian:

• AL Division Series: Texas over New York 3-1; Boston over Detroit 3-1
• NL Division Series: Philadelphia over Cincinnati 3-0; St. Louis over San Francisco 3-2

Steve:

• AL Championship Series: Boston over Minnesota 4-2
• NL Championship Series: Philadelphia over Atlanta 4-2

Ian:

• AL Championship Series: Boston over Texas 4-2
• NL Championship Series: Philadelphia over St. Louis 4-2

Steve:

• World Series Champion: Boston over Philadelphia 4-3

Ian:

• World Series Champion: Boston over Philadelphia 4-3

Steve:

• AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Boston
• NL MVP: Chase Utley, 2B Philadelphia

Ian:

• AL MVP: Josh Hamilton, OF Texas
• NL MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis

Steve:

• AL Cy Young Winner: Jon Lester, SP Boston
• NL Cy Young Winner: Roy Halladay, SP Philadelphia

Ian:

• AL Cy Young Winner: Jon Lester, SP Boston
• NL Cy Young Winner: Roy Halladay, SP Philadelphia

Steve:

• AL Rookie of the Year: Desmond Jennings, LF Tampa Bay
• NL Rookie of the Year: Aroldis Chapman, RP Cincinnati

Ian:

• AL Rookie of the Year: Desmond Jennings, LF Tampa Bay
• NL Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman, 1B Atlanta

Steve:

• AL Manager of the Year: Jim Leyland, Detroit
• NL Manager of the Year: Fredi Gonzalez, Atlanta

Ian:

• AL Manager of the Year: Terry Francona, Boston
• NL Manager of the Year: Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia

Gold Gloves – AL

• P – Felix Hernandez, Seattle
• C – Joe Mauer, Minnesota
• 1B – Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
• 2B – Dustin Pedroia, Boston
• 3B – Alex Rodriguez, New York
• SS – Alexei Ramirez, Chicago
• LF – Carl Crawford, Boston
• CF – Coco Crisp, Oakland
• RF – Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle

Gold Gloves – NL

• P – Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia
• C – Yadier Molina, St Louis
• 1B – Lyle Overbay, Pittsburgh
• 2B – Freddy Sanchez, San Francisco
• 3B – Scott Rolen, Cincinnati
• SS – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
• LF – Carlos Lee, Houston
• CF – Shane Victorino, Philadelphia
• RF – Jayson Werth, Washington

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Note from Ian: A very big thank you goes out to Steve for taking the time to put together this huge and great preview for the 2011 season. I hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have.

Welcome to the Gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the offseason with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management. 

Yesterday we looked at the NL East, Sunday was the NL West, Monday was the AL West, Tuesday we previewed the NL Central, Wednesday we took a trip around the AL Central and today it’s the AL East.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

American League East

1. Boston – Manager: Terry Francona (8th year/11th overall)

Boston may have been the clear cut winner in the off season race to re-load.  While Philadelphia grabbed SP Cliff Lee in a late hour backdoor free agent signing, Boston was up front and throwing cash around.  First shot heard out of Boston was that they exercised DH David Ortiz option. Then on Dec 6 came the big bomb, they traded three highly regarded prospects to San Diego for 1B Adrian Gonzalez. But before Red Sox fans were done gushing over their new first baseman, five days later, Uncle Theo delivered another gift. Free Agent LF Carl Crawford.  For once we will not have to watch this guy kill them 18 times a year. Then the Sox set out to re-work the bullpen signing RP’s Matt Albers, Lenny DiNardo, Rich Hill, Andrew Miller, Dan Wheeler, Hideki Okajima and former ChiSox closer Bobby Jenks.  This was one productive off season in Boston and Red Sox fans everywhere are hoping it brings them their third World Series title since 2004.

Key Players: LF Carl Crawford; 2B Dustin Pedroia; 1B Adrian Gonzalez; SP Josh Beckett; SP John Lackey; RP Jonathan Papelbon; 3B Kevin Youkilis

MVP Candidate: 1B Adrian Gonzalez and LF Carl Crawford

Cy Young Candidate: SP Jon Lester

ROY Candidate: None.

Key Additions: LF Carl Crawford (FA-TB); 1B Adrian Gonzalez (Trade-SD); RP Bobby Jenks (FA-CWS); RP Dan Wheeler (FA-TB); RP Matt Albers (FA-Bal); RP Dennys Reyes (FA-StL); SP/RP Alfredo Aceves (FA-NYY)

Possible lineup: Ellsbury CF; Pedroia 2B; Crawford LF; Gonzalez 1B; Youkilis3B; Ortiz DH; Drew RF; Saltalamacchia C; Scutaro SS

Possible rotation: Beckett; Lester; Lackey; Buchholz; Matsuzaka

2. New York –  Manager: Joe Girardi (4thd year/5th overall)

The New York Yankees came up short last year losing in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers in six games.  In the off season they were losers again as they put all their eggs into the Cliff Lee basket only to find out they had expired and stunk like sulfur.  By the time they thought to look at Carl Crawford, he was gone as well, to the Boston Red Sox. By they time they really did anything they came away with P Mark Prior who hasn’t pitched in the majors in 4 years; severely overpaid RP Rafael Soriano to be Mariano Rivera‘s set up guy, when in the past he closed games and last year led the AL with 45 saves for Tampa Bay. This was because Hal or Hank, who cares really, over stepped the GM Brian Cashman and signed the check. Then in need of a RH outfield bat they shun Manny Ramirez in order to sign a washed up Andruw Jones and C Russell Martin has questions about his hip.  And hey let’s not forget that SP Andy Pettitte retired and he was replaced by…Freddy Garcia.  Then in an unprecedented act they pissed off FA SS Derek Jeter so much he actually bitched at his press conference and Boston drove up the years on Rivera’s contract by making an offer.  It could be a fun year in the Bronx, especially when they miss the playoffs.  I know the Brothers Steinbrenner have dad’s crazy gene it’s just a matter of time before we see it.

Key Players: 2B Robinson Cano; 1B Mark Teixeira; SP CC Sabathia; RP Mariano Rivera; 3B Alex Rodriguez

MVP Candidate: 1B Mark Teixeira and 3B Alex Rodriguez.

Cy Young Candidate: SP CC Sabathia.

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: C Russell Martin (FA-LAD); RP Rafael Soriano (FA-TB); OF Andruw Jones (FA-CWS); SP Freddy Garcia (FA-CWS); 3B Eric Chavez (FA-Oak); SP Bartolo Colon (FA-CWS 2009); RP Pedro Feliciano (FA-NYM)

Possible lineup: Jeter SS, Swisher RF; Rodriguez 3B; Teixeira1B; Cano 2B; Granderson CF; Posada DH; Martin C; Gardiner LF

Possible rotation: Sabathia; Hughes; Burnett; Nova; Garcia

3. Tampa Bay –  Manager: Joe Maddon (6th year/8th overall)

The days of the Rays competing with Boston and New York might just be on hiatus for a bit.  This past off season Tampa Bay lost a lot. They lost their 1B Carlos Pena; SS Jason Bartlett; LF Carl Crawford; Closer Rafael Soriano; RP Dan Wheeler and  SP Matt Garza.  They’re hoping the late signings of a pair of DH/OF’s in Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon will help bridge the gap and that their young starting staff will mature quickly behind David Price. It may be too much to ask for the next year or two but they will be back as they have a loaded minor league system.  Still they’ll be good enough for third in the AL East.

Key Players: 3B Evan Longoria; CF B.J. Upton; SP David Price; IF/OF Ben Zobrist; RP Jake McGee; LF Desmond Jennings.

MVP Candidate: 3B Evan Longoria

Cy Young Candidate: SP David Price

ROY Candidate: LF Desmond Jennings and SP Jeremy Hellickson

Key Additions: LF Desmond Jennings (Rookie); OF Johnny Damon (FA-Det); OF/DH Manny Ramirez (FA-CWS); RP Kyle Farnsworth (FA-Atl); 1B Casey Kotchman (FA-Sea); INF Felipe Lopez (FA-Bos); RP Joel Peralta (FA-Was)

Possible lineup: Damon LF; Upton CF; Zobrist 2B; Longoria 3B; Ramirez DH; Jaso C; Jennings RF; Kotchman 1B; Brignac SS

Possible rotation: Price; Sheilds; Davis; Niemann; Hellickson

4. Baltimore – Manager: Buck Showalter (2nd year/13th overall)

Last season after Buck Showalter took over the Orioles blossomed.  This year they will look to build on that but, the fact of the matter is, the division they are in they will need to do more besides blossom.  In any other division you’d see an improvement but when you compete against the three teams listed above this one you need a lot of help. But Showalter is a believer and he got former Cubs/Braves 1B Derrek Lee to come to Camden Yards as a free agent, they grabbed SS J.J. Hardy in a trade, signed free agent starter Justin Duchscherer plus they have two spectacular young outfielders, a fine young catcher and an up and coming starting rotation.  Then as Spring Training approached they signed free agent DH Vladimir Guerrero to a one year deal. Things are looking better in Baltimore, the lineup is really solid, now if they can cultivate the pitching they can start to climb.

Key Players: 2B Brian Roberts; RF Nick Markakis; CF Adam Jones; C Matt Wieters; SP Brian Matusz; SP Jake Arrieta; 1B Derrek Lee; DH Vladimir Guerrero

MVP Candidate: 1B Derrek Lee and RF Nick Markakis

CyYoung Candidate: SP Jeremy Guthrie

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: 1B Derrek Lee (FA-Atl); J.J. Hardy (Trade-Min); INF Brendan Harris (Trade-Min); 3B Mark Reynolds (Trade-Ari); SP Justin Duchscherer (FA-Oak); DH Vladimir Guerrero (FA-Tex); RP Jeremy Accardo (FA-Tor); RP Kevin Gregg (FA-Tor); OF Randy Winn (FA-StL)

Possible lineup: Roberts 2B; Jones CF; Markakis RF; Guerrero DH; Lee 1B; Scott LF; Reynolds 3B; Wieters C; Hardy SS

Possible rotation: Guthrie; Matusz; Vanden Hurk; Arrieta; Duchscherer

5. Toronto – Manager: John Farrell (1st year)

Toronto has a new manager this year and he is a 1st time skipper in former Boston pitching coach John Farrell.  Long regarded as a fine managerial prospect , Farrell finally thought it was time and became a MLB skipper.  Unfortunately he will be in for some hard times, which is usually what happens to 1st timers.  Luckily he has a young staff to work with and build around and some new players in the lineup after the January trade of long time Jay Vernon Wells to the Angels.  Toronto is clearly 5th this season but you have to feel for them and Baltimore just as they get better so do the big guys.

Key Players: SP Ricky Romero; 2B Aaron Hill; RF Travis Snider; C J. P. Arencibia; DH Adam Lind; 1B Jose Bautista

MVP Candidate: LF Jose Bautista

Cy Young Candidate: SP Ricky Romero

ROY Candidate: SP Kyle Drabek

Key Additions: RP Frank Francisco (Trade-Tex); OF/DH Juan Rivera (Trade-LAA); CF Rajai Davis (Trade-Oak); RP Octavio Dotel (FA-Col); RP Jon Rauch (FA-Min); Mgr John Farrell

Possible lineup: Davis CF; Escobar SS; Bautista 1B; Lind DH; Hill 2B; Snider RF; Rivera LF; Encarnacion 3B; Arencibia C

Possible rotation: Romero; Morrow; Cecil; Drabek; Litsch

Tomorrow, in our final day, we will look at the big winners in 2011.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo, Getty Images, AP Photo, Getty Images

Welcome to the Gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management. 

Yesterday we looked at the AL Central, Sunday was the NL West, Monday was the AL West, Tuesday we previewed the NL Central and today it’s the NL East.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

National League East

1. Philadelphia – Manager: Charlie Manuel (7th year/10th overall)

The Philadelphia Phillies will remain the class of the NL East in 2011 as they look to get to their third World Series in the last four seasons under skipper Charlie Manuel.  This team went big time and brought back SP Cliff Lee, who they traded away prior to 2010 because they didn’t think they could afford him.  Well afford him they could as well as 2010 NL Cy Young Award winner SP Roy Halladay, former Houston ace SP Roy Oswalt and the homegrown SP Cole Hamels.  Philadelphia now has a staff with four potential Cy Young winners.  The one big problem I see is that they let RF Jayson Werth go to NL East rival Washington and they have no one who can fill the power void left by Werth.  25+ HRs and nearly 100 RBI a year don’t grow on trees, so knowing this the Phils front office has decided they’re going to pitch their way through games.  Don’t get me wrong, they still have some bop but when you’re only bringing 8 sticks to the dish and you lose one it’s gotta hurt.

Key Players: SP Cliff Lee; SP Roy Halladay; SP Roy Oswalt; 1B Ryan Howard; 2B Chase Utley; SS Jimmy Rollins

MVP Candidate: 2B Chase Utley 2B and 1B Ryan Howard

Cy Young Candidate: SP Roy Halladay and SP Cliff Lee

ROY Candidate: RF Domonic Brown

Key Additions: SP Cliff Lee (FA-Tex); RF Domonic Brown (Rookie);

Possible lineup: Rollins SS; Polanco 3B; Utley 2B; Howard 1B; Victorino CF; Ruiz C; Ibanez LF; Brown RF

Possible rotation: Halladay, Lee; Oswalt; Hamels; Blanton

2. Atlanta – Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (1st year/5th overall)

The Atlanta Braves are going to be all over the Philadelphia Phillies like glue, all season long.  It’s a two horse race and it’s going to be tight because Atlanta has more power this year in the middle than they’ve had in a while and if the pitching pitches like the Braves usually do, one of these teams gets the division, the other gets the wild card.  There’s a new sheriff in town but he’s been here before.  Fredi Gonzalez, a former Bobby Cox 3rd base coach, returns to manage the team after 3 and half seasons in Florida where he was 275-279.  The team should have a fresh outlook and with 3B Chipper Jones returning from a torn ACL and the acquisition of 2B Dan Uggla plus the promotion of Rookie of the Year candidate 1B Freddie Freeman it looks like a good year to be a Braves fan.

Key Players: 2B Dan Uggla, 3B Chipper Jones; C Brian McCann; RF Jason Heyward; RP Jonny Venters; RP Craig Kimbrel

MVP Candidate: 2B Dan Uggla

Cy Young Candidate: SP Derek Lowe

ROY Candidate: 1B Freddie Freeman and RP Craig Kimbrel

Key Additions: 2B Dan Uggla (Trade-Fla); RP Craig Kimbrel (Rookie); 1B Freddie Freeman (Rookie); RP Scott Linebrink (Trade-CWS); RP George Sherrill (FA-LAD); Mgr Fredi Gonzalez

Possible lineup: Prado LF; McClouth CF; Heyward RF; Uggla 2B; McCann C; Jones 3B; Freeman 1B; Gonzalez SS

Possible rotation: Lowe; Hansen; Hudson; Jurrjens; Minor

3. Florida – Manager: Edwin Rodriguez (2nd year)

The Marlins finally get a new ballpark next season.  One more year at JoeRobbieDolphinSunlifeLandsharkNotMadeforBaseball stadium. Once again the team will probably hang tough until August like they usually do before fading away.  It will be a bit harder though for them to contend this season with out the power bat of 2B Dan Uggla who was traded to division rival Atlanta this winter.

Key Players: SP Josh Johnson; SS Hanley Ramirez; 1B Gaby Sanchez; LF Logan Morrison; CF Chris Coghlan; RF Mike Stanton

MVP Candidate: SS Hanley Ramirez

Cy Young Candidate: SP Josh Johnson

ROY Candidate: none

Key Additions: C John Buck (FA-Tor); 2B Omar Infante (Trade-Atl); SP Javier Vazquez (FA-NYY); RP Randy Choate (FA-TB)

Possible lineup: Coghlan CF; Infante 2B; Ramirez SS; Stanton RF; G. Sanchez 1B; Morrison LF; Helms 3B; Buck C

Possible rotation: Johnson; Vazquez; Nolasco; Volstad; A. Sanchez

4. Washington – Manager: Jim Riggelman (3rd year/11th overall)

The Nationals continued to make news this off season with the mega contract given to Jayson Werth in the area of $2 bazillion for 50 years. Actually it was for 7 years and $122 million for a soon to be 32 year old outfielder.  Hey I don’t blame Werth for signing it I’m sure they didn’t have to hold him hostage to do so.  Hopefully for the Nats he will continue to produce like he did the last three years in Philly where he had the protection of two MVPs and a possible 3rd something he won’t have in DC. Something else they won’t have in DC this year is SP Stephen Strasburg who is expected to miss the 2011 season after suffering an arm injury last year.  I have one question for the Nats front office.  Why pay Werth more than double what Adam Dunn was looking for in years and money? They’re the same age and Dunn has a longer track record. Hopefully the Nats can hold on because help is coming in Strasburg and in #1 draft pick OF Bryce Harper really soon.  I do see improvement though and I look for the Nats to finish 4th in the NL East.

Key Players: 3B Ryan Zimmerman; CF Nyjer Morgan; RF Jayson Werth; SP Livan Hernandez; 1B Adam LaRoche

MVP Candidate: RF Jayson Werth

Cy Young Candidate: SP Livan Hernandez

ROY Candidate: 2B Danny Espinosa

Key Additions: RF Jayson Werth (FA-Phi); LF Rick Ankiel (FA-Atl); 1B/PH Matt Stairs (FA-SD) 1B Adam LaRoche (FA-Ari); SP Tom Gorzelanny (Trade-Chi); 2B Jerry Hairston Jr (FA-SD); RP Todd Coffey (FA-Mil)

Possible lineup: Morgan CF; Desmond SS; R. Zimmerman 3B; Werth RF; LaRoche 1B; Ankiel LF; Rodriguez C; Espinosa 2B

Possible rotation: Hernandez; Lannan; J. Zimmerman; Marquis; Gorzelanny/Wang

5. New York – Manager: Terry Collins (1st year/ 7th overall)

Okay the Mets cleaned house and have a new GM in Sandy Alderson; a new AGM in J.P. Riccardi and they got together with ownership to make possibly the most important managerial hire in Mets history and they came up with…Terry Collins? Collins hasn’t managed a MLB club in nearly 12 years and the two teams he managed, Houston and Anaheim, he was run out of town on a rail in both locations.  Players threatened mutiny.  Nice job guys, especially when former Met hero Wally Backman was waiting in the wings.  He was what the fans wanted; what the fans and the players needed and they got some guy who reminds you of a drink mixer from the 70’s. If this is going to work LF Jason Bay needs to hit again, so does 3B David Wright.  SS Jose Reyes needs to regain a semblance of the once Top 10 player he was and CF Carlos Beltran needs to be the Superstar he was meant to be.  The pitching is borderline shaky to start especially with Johan Santana out until June and if they don’t pitch well from the start you can flush this season pretty quick.  I’ve chosen to flush them already and pick them for the basement.

Key Players: LF Jason Bay; 3B David Wright; SS Jose Reyes; SP Mike Pelfrey; CF Carlos Beltran; 1B Ike Davis

MVP Candidate: CF Carlos Beltran

Cy Young Candidate: RP Frankie Rodriguez

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: C Ronny Paulino (FA-Fla); RP D.J. Carrasco (FA-Ari); SP Taylor Buchholz (FA-Bos); SP Chris Young (FA-SD); SP Chris Capuano (FA- Mil); OF Scott Hairston (FA-SD); Mgr Terry Collins

Possible lineup: Reyes SS; Pagan RF; Wright 3B; Beltran CF; Bay LF; Davis 1B; Paulino C; Tejada 2B

Possible rotation: Pelfrey; Neise; Dickey; Young; Buchholz/Capuano

Tomorrow, in Day 6, we will preview the AL East.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images, AP Photo, Getty Images, Reuters Pictures

Welcome to the Gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period this off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management. 

Yesterday we looked at the NL Central, Sunday was the NL West, Monday was the AL West and today it’s the AL Central.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

American League Central

1. Detroit – Manager: Jim Leyland (6th year/20th overall)

Once again the Tigers intrigue me the most in this division.  They made some changes in the rotation with speculation that Brad Penny, Rick Porcello and Phil Coke will join Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer leaving Jeremy Bonderman out of the mix for now.  They also added a bat in DH/C Victor Martinez.  V-Mart will see some time behind the dish and possibly at first base but look for Alex Avila to be the starting backstop come opening day with Victor as the designated hitter.  I really like this team and I think they will not only contend but they’re my choice to win the division. The Tigers have built a very solid everyday lineup and have a lot of power arms in the pitching staff.  Jim Leyland will be able to do a lot with this club.

Key Players: 3B Brandon Inge; RF Magglio Ordonez; 1B Miguel Cabrera; DH/C Victor Martinez; C Alex Avila

MVP Candidate: Miguel Cabrera 1B.

Cy Young Candidate: Justin Verlander SP.

ROY Candidate: none

Key Additions: DH/C Victor Martinez (FA-Bos); RP Joaquin Benoit (FA-TB); SP Brad Penny (FA-StL)

Possible lineup: Jackson CF; Peralta SS; Martinez DH; Cabrera 1B; Ordonez RF; Guillen  2B; Inge 3B; Bosch LF; Avila C

Possibe rotation: Verlander; Scherzer; Porcello; Penny; Coke

2. Minnesota – Manager: Ron Gardenhire (10th year)

The Minnesota Twins opened Target Field last year and it was a huge success and they won the AL Central. The team will once again compete for the division with former AL MVPs  Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau along with re-signed veteran DH Jim Thome and RF Jason Kubel swinging the big bats.  The Twins also brought back SP Carl “the porn ‘stache” Pavano, they should have closer Joe Nathan back after missing all of last season with an injury to solidify the back end.  They also have a new double play combo up the middle.  This team is always in contention and it should be another three team race for the AL Central this fall. No team in the last 10-15 has done better at getting the most out of a mid range salary lineup.

Key Players: C Joe Mauer; 1B Justin Morneau; RF Jason Kubel; DH Jim Thome; RP Joe Nathan; SP Francisco Liriano.

MVP Candidate: C Joe Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau

Cy Young Candidate: SP Francisco Liriano

ROY Candidate: SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka

Key Additions: SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka (FA-Japan);

Possible lineup: Spann CF; Casilla 2B; Mauer C; Morneau 1B; Young LF; Cuddyer RF; Kubel DH; Valencia 3B; Nishioka SS

Possible rotation: Liriano; Baker; Slowey; Pavano; Blackburn

3. Chicago – Manager: Ozzie Guillen (8th year)

The Chicago White Sox after missing the playoffs in 2010 the White Sox overhauled their bullpen and signed power hitting DH/1B Adam Dunn, to hit in front of 1B Paul Konerko.  They also kept C A.J. Pierzynski.  The offense will be similar this year in fact they should have more bop with Dunn, which means more HRs and RBI and more Ks. If the rotation holds up they’ll be a player for the division title and possible AL wildcard.  They need Jake Peavy to be healthy and pitch most of the season and right now they do not know when he will be ready although they are hopeful for April.

Key Players: 1B Paul Konerko; 2B Gordon Beckham; CF Alexis Rios; DH Adam Dunn; RF Carlos Quentin; SP Mark Buehrle .

MVP Candidate: 1B Adam Dunn.

Cy Young Candidate: SP Mark Buehrle

ROY Candidate: 3B Brent Morel and RP Chris Sale

Key Additions: 1B Adam Dunn (FA-Was); RP Jesse Crain (FA-Min); RP Will Ohman (FA-Fla); 3B Brent Morel (Rookie)

Possible lineup: Pierre LF; Ramirez SS; Dunn DH; Konerko 1B; Rios CF; Quentin RF; Beckham 2B; Pierzynski C; Morel 3B

Possible rotation: Buehrle; Danks; Floyd; Jackson; Peavy/Harrell

4. Cleveland – Manager: Manny Acta (2nd year/5th overall)

The only thing that keeps this team out of the AL Central cellar is the Kansas City Royals.  Tribe fans there is a lot of work to do here and when you’re competing with Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago with decent payrolls and good players it’s hard to keep your head above the water line.  Hopefully the return of a fully healthy Grady Sizemore will help this team.  The real problem is the pitching after Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson in the rotation they are pretty thin.  Look for great things out of C Carlos Santana.

Key Players: CF Grady Sizemore; 1B Matt LaPorta; LF Michael Brantley; RF Shin-Soo Choo; SP Fausto Carmona

MVP Candidate: CF Grady Sizemore

Cy Young Candidate: SP Fausto Carmona

ROY Candidate: SP Josh Tomlin

Key Additions: INF Adam Everett (FA-Det): SS Orlando Cabrera (FA-Cin); OF Austin Kearns (FA-NYY)

Possible lineup: Sizemore CF; Cabrera SS; Choo RF; Santana C; LaPorta 1B; Hafner DH; Nix 3B; Brantley LF; Valbuena 2B

Possible rotation: Carmona; Masterson; Gomez; Carrasco; Tomlin

5. Kansas City – Manager: Ned Yost (2nd year/8th overall)

The Royals will once again be the bottom feeders in the AL Central.  Last season they changed managers 35 games into the year dumping Trey Hillman for Ned Yost.  Then this off season they traded away their star pitcher Zack Greinke to Milwaukee.  I don’t see how that will help them get any better.  They also lost SP Gil Meche to retirement just prior to spring training.  Good thing Royals fans are loyal the die hards still turn out all summer long and in 2012 they’ll host the All-Star game.

Key Players: SS Alcides Escobar; DH Billy Butler; CF Melky Cabrera; RF Jeff Francoeur; SP Luke Hochevar

MVP Candidate: RF Jeff Francoeur

Cy Young Candidate: RP Joakim Soria

ROY Candidate: 3B Mike Moustakas

Key Additions: SS Alcides Escobar (Trade-Mil); CF Melky Cabrera (FA-Atl); SP Jeff Francis (FA-Col); RF Jeff Francoeur (FA-Tex); 3B Mike Moustakas (Rookie)

Possible lineup: Cabrera CF; Aviles 2B; Gordon LF; Butler DH; Maier 1B; Francoeur RF; Moustakas 3B; Escobar SS; Pena C

Possible rotation: Hochevar; Francis; Davies; O’Sullivan; Mazzaro

Tomorrow, in Day 5, we will preview the NL East.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo, AP Photo, Reuters Pictures, Getty Images

Welcome to the Gigantic SOX & Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management. 

Yesterday we looked at the AL West and we started on Sunday with the NL West, today it’s the NL Central.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

National League Central

1. St. Louis – Manager: Tony LaRussa (16th year/34rd overall)

In what could be the tightest division race in all of baseball it will come down to three teams. Milwaukee, Cincinnati and St. Louis with all having a legit chance to grab the division flag.  In the end the Cardinals will be team crowned Central Division champs because the of dual 1-2 punches of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the lineup and Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright on the mound. This team should win about 90 games but it’s biggest battle will be to keep Pujols from going to elsewhere, like Boston, in free agency.

Key Players: 1B Albert Pujols; LF Matt Holliday; RF Lance Berkman; SP Kyle Lohse; RP Ryan Franklin; C Yadier Molina

MVP Candidate: 1B Albert Pujols and RF Matt Holliday

Cy Young Candidate: SP Chris Carpenter and SP Adam Wainwright

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: RF Lance Berkman (FA-NYY); SS Ryan Theriot (Trade-LAD); RP Brian Tallet (FA-Tor); INF Nick Punto (FA-Min); C Gerald Laird (FA-Det)

Possible lineup: Schumaker 2B; Berkman RF; Pujols 1B Holliday LF; Rasmus CF; Molina C; Punto 3B; Theriot SS

Possible rotation: Carpenter; Wainwright; Westbrook; Garcia; Lohse

2. Cincinnati – Manager: Dusty Baker (4th year/18th overall)

Look for more improvement out of Cincinnati this season.  A repeat as NL Central Champs could be in the cards but it will depend on how St.Louis rebounds from 2010. The Reds won the division and got to the playoffs for first time in 15 years last season.  Along the way they found an electrifying set up man in Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman and had the NL MVP in 1B Joey Votto.  All this got Dusty Baker a new contract and increased expectations for 2011.

Key Players: 1B Joey Votto; 2B Brandon Phillips; 3B Scott Rolen; RF Jay Bruce; RP Aroldis Chapman

MVP Candidate: 1B Joey Votto

Cy Young Candidate: SP Edinson Volquez

ROY Candidate: RP Aroldis Chapman

Key Additions: OF Jeremy Hermida (FA-Oak); SS Edgar Renteria (FA-SF)

Possible lineup: Stubbs CF; Phillips 2B; Votto 1B; Rolen 3B; Bruce RF; Gomes LF; Hernandez C; Renteria SS

Possible rotation: Arroyo; Cueto; Volquez; Leake; Bailey

3. Milwaukee – Manager: Ron Roenicke (1st year)

The Brew Crew made their own off season splash by grabbing former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke away from the Nationals and Yankees in a trade with Kansas City.  The Brewers under first year manager Ron Roenicke, who comes from the Angels, are going to try to get back to the post season in what is most likely the final year of 1B Prince Fielder playing in Miller Park.  Will the edition of Greinke do what getting CC Sabathia did for them in 2008?  Greinke is good but we will have to see if he can duplicate what Sabathia did but with some help from Yovani Gallardo and Shawn Marcum anything is possible.

Key Players: 1B Prince Fielder; LF Ryan Braun; CF Carlos Gomez; SS Yuniesky Betancourt; SP Zack Greinke; SP Shaun Marcum

MVP Candidate: 1B Prince Fielder

Cy Young Candidate: SP Zack Greinke

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: SP Zack Greinke (Trade-KC); RP Takashi Saito (FA-Atl); SP Shaun Marcum (Trade-Tor); SS Yuniesky Betancourt (Trade-KC); OF/1B Mark Kotsay (FA-CWS)

Possible lineup: Gomez CF; Weeks 2B; Braun LF; Fielder 1B; Hart RF; McGehee 3B; Bentancourt SS; Lucroy C

Possible rotation: Greinke; Gallardo; Marcum; Wolf; Narveson

4. Chicago Cubs – Manager: Mike Quade (1st year)

Sorry to disappoint the Northsiders but it will be another year without the Cubs bringing home baseballs holy grail.  They have a new field boss in Mike Quade, who was the interim manager the final month of 2010, a new 1B, a fairly new SS, a new SP and more disappointment. What’s it now 103 years since the last championship?  I hope it’s not another 103 years but it won’t be this year not when the front office pieces together this group.

Key Players: C Geovany Soto; 3B Aramis Ramirez; LF Alfonso Soriano; CF Marlon Byrd; SP Carlos Zambrano; 1B Carlos Pena

MVP Candidate: 1B Carlos Pena

Cy Young Candidate: SP Matt Garza

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: RP Kerry Wood (FA-NYY); 1B Carlos Pena (FA-TB); SP Matt Garza (Trade-TB)

Possible lineup: Castro SS; DeWitt 2B; Pena 1B; Ramirez 3B; Bryd CF; Soriano LF; Fukudome RF; Soto C

Possible rotation: Dempster; Garza; Wells; Gorzelanny; Zambrano

5. Houston Astros – Manager: Brad Mills (2nd year)

I feel bad for Brad Mills.  The guy really doesn’t have much of a team here and possibly only the Pittsburgh Pirates are what keeps them from the NL Central basement.  Last season they traded away two of their best players in Roy Oswalt (Phi) and Lance Berkman (NYY) and they’re a few years away from having anyone to replace them.  Long gone are the days of Bagwell and Biggio.  The ‘Stros did have a solid above .500 second half last year finishing 40-33 Mills hopes to build on that in 2011 and keep them moving forward.

Key Players: LF Carlos Lee; RF Hunter Pence; CF Michael Bourn; SS Clint Barmes; SP Wandy Rodriguez

MVP Candidate: LF Carlos Lee

Cy Young Candidate: SP Wandy Rodriguez

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: INF/OF Bill Hall (FA-Bos); SS Clint Barmes (Trade-Col); SP Gustavo Chacin (FA-Tor)

Possible lineup: Bourn CF; Barmes SS; Pence RF; Lee LF; Johnson 3B; Hall 2B; Wallace 1B; Castro C

Possible rotation: Rodriguez, Myers; Happ; Chacin; Norris

6. Pittsburgh Pirates – Manager: Clint Hurdle (1st year/9th overall)

Make it 19 losing seasons seasons in a row for Buco’s. There isn’t a lot here and what is will likely be wearing a different uniform by September 1.  New manager Clint Hurdle hopes to bring his background as a hitting coach and success with younger players as a field boss to the ‘Burgh as the Pirates ty to right the ship.  That’s going to be hard with what many consider the worst ownership and front office in all of baseball.  They did spend some money in the off season bringing in free agents Lyle Overbay, Garrett Atkins and Matt Diaz but they’re just more in the long run off short term signings of lower level players. If this team wins 58 games I’ll be shocked.

Key Players: CF Andrew McCutchen; RF Garrett Jones: SS Ronny Cedeno; 1B Lyle Overbay; SP Paul Maholm

MVP Candidate: RF Garrett Jones

Cy Young Candidate: SP Paul Maholm

ROY Candidate:

Key Additions: 1B Lyle Overbay (FA-Tor); LF Matt Diaz (FA-Atl); 1B/3B Garrett Atkins (FA-Balt); SP Kevin Correia (FA-SD)

Possible lineup: McCutchen CF; Diaz LF; Walker 2B; Alvarez 3B; Overbay 1B; Jones RF; Snyder C; Cedeno SS

Possible rotation: Maholm; Ohlendorff; McDonald; Correia; Olsen

Tomorrow we will preview the AL Central.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Photo credits: AP Photo, AP Photo, Reuters Pictures, AP Photo, Reuters Pictures, Getty Images

Welcome to the Gigantic Sox and Dawgs 2011 MLB preview.  Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the offseason with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication.  It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.

Yesterday we looked at the NL West, today it’s the AL West.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

American League West

1. Texas – Manager: Ron Washington (5th year)

The team I had a hard time figuring out where they’d finish last season, went on to win the AL West and the American League Pennant by beating up AL East monsters Tampa Bay and New York in the playoffs.  They then fell to the Giants in the World Series in 5 games.  This season, even with the losses of DH Vlad Guerrero and SP Cliff Lee I think they can win the division again because they replaced Guerrero’s bat with FA 3B Adrian Beltre and have made former 3B Michael Young the DH.  Young isn’t thrilled with the move and has asked for a trade but the Rangers say he isn’t going anywhere.  So can they repeat? The rotation got weaker and they are unproven at first base but they still look pretty solid in 2011. Biggest questions are what they will get from C.J. Wilson in the #1 starter slot and what can they get out of former NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb?  Also how will Michael Young wanting to be traded after him and the club as well as the potential move of closer Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation.  That decision will come during spring training and be based on how well Feliz pitches using 3 and 4 pitches.

Key Players: 2B Ian Kinsler; DH Michael Young; LF Josh Hamilton; 3B Adrian Beltre; SP Colby Lewis; 1B Mitch Moreland

MVP Candidate: LF Josh Hamilton and 2B Ian Kinsler.

Cy Young Candidate: RP Neftali Feliz.

ROY Candidate: 1B Mitch Moreland

Key Additions: SP Brandon Webb (FA-Ari); 3B Adrian Beltre (FA-Bos); RP Arthur Rhodes (FA-Cin); C Yorvit Torrealba (FA-SD)

Possible lineup: Andrus SS; Young DH; Hamilton LF; Beltre 3B; Cruz RF; Kinsler2B; Borbon CF; Moreland 1B; Torrealba C

Possible rotation: Wilson; Lewis; Hunter; Holland; Webb

2. Oakland – Manager: Bob Geren (5th year)

The Oakland A’s finished 2nd in the AL West last year with a cast of nobody’s.  This year I say that they get back to that spot again and finish 2nd in the division.  Their everyday line up is good, especially after adding Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui and I really like the starting rotation.  Face it, Billy Beane can build a ball club with little or no money.

Key Players: 2B Mark Ellis; LF Josh Willingham; CF Coco Crisp; SP Dallas Braden; RP Andrew Bailey and SP Trevor Cahill.

MVP Candidate: DH Hideki Matsui.

Cy Young Candidate: SP Trevor Cahill.

ROY Candidate: None.

Key Additions: SP Rich Harden (FA-Tex); DH Hideki Matsui (FA-LAA); RP Brian Fuentes (FA-Min); LF Josh Willingham (Trade-Was); RP Grant Balfour (FA-TB)

Possible lineup: Crisp CF; Barton 1B; DeJesus 3B; Willingham LF; Matsui DH; Sweeney RF; Suzuki C; Ellis 2B; Pennington SS

Possible rotation: Bradon; Cahill; Anderson; Gonzalez; Harden

3. Los Angeles – Manager: Mike Scioscia (12th year)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looked like they were going to do nothing this off season.  After owner Artie Moreno promised he’d spare no expense they whiffed on such FA’s as LF Carl Crawford, who went to Boston, SP Cliff Lee, who went to Philadelphia and 3B Adrian Beltre, who signed with their division rival the Texas Rangers.  Then in an act of desperation the Halo’s traded C Mike Napoli and OF Juan Rivera to Toronto for OF Vernon Wells and the $86 million dollars left on his contract over the next four years.  Once a promising superstar, Wells hasn’t hit a lefty with nothing but a feather for going on three years.  They panicked, this could get ugly in Anaheim.  Due to the poor off season I’m picking them for third in the AL West because there is still talent on this club it’s just the fact they did nothing last season with what they had and they failed miserably to make the team better. 

Key Players: 1B Kendry Morales; RF Torii Hunter; DH/OF Bobby Abreu; SP Dan Haren; OF/DH Vernon Wells; 3B Alberto Callaspo.

MVP Candidate: 1B Kendry Morales.

Cy Young Candidate: SP Dan Haren.

ROY Candidate: CF Peter Bourjos and OF/DH Mike Trout

Key Additions: CF Peter Bourjos (Rookie); LF Vernon Wells (Trade-Tor); OF/DH Mike Trout (Rookie); RP Scott Downs (FA-Tor) 

Possible lineup: Bourjos CF; Kendrick 2B; Abreau DH; Hunter RF; Morales 1B; Wells LF; Callaspo 3B; Aybar SS; Mathis C

Possible rotation: Weaver; Santana; Haren; Kazmir; Pineiro

4. Seattle – Manager: Eric Wedge (1st year/8th overall)

I’m not sure there was a team in more disarray in 2010 then the Seattle Mariners.  Picked by many, including me, to win the West, I also went all in on a World Series appearance and a Manager of the Year award winner.  They finished last and the manager got canned mid-season.  This year doesn’t figure to be much better for the team from the hometown of Grunge Rock and Starbucks. I got them dead last as I’m sure many others will as well.  Their bright spot was Felix Hernandez winning the AL Cy Young Award.  This year they may end up with a Rookie of the Year in 2B Dustin Ackley.

Key Players: RF Ichiro Suzuki; SP Felix Hernandez; CF Franklin Gutierrez; 2B Chone Figgins and 1B Justin Smoak

MVP Candidate: RF Ichiro Suzuki

Cy Young Candidate: SP Felix Hernandez

ROY Candidate: 2B Dustin Ackley

Key Additions: SS Brendan Ryan (Trade-StL); C Miguel Olivo (FA-Col); DH Jack Cust (FA-Oak); 2B Dustin Ackley (Rookie); OF Gabe Gross (FA-Oak); Mgr Eric Wedge

Possible lineup: Suzuki RF; Figgins 3B; Gutierrez CF; Cust DH; Smoak 1B; Olivo C; Saunders LF; Ackley 2B; Ryan SS;

Possible rotation: Hernandez; Vargas; Fister; Bedard; Pauley

Tomorrow: The National League Central

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images, Getty Images, AP Photo

Welcome to the Gigantic Sox and Dawgs 2011 MLB preview. Over the next week you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.

One of the changes from last year was a reader suggestion of naming a MVP candidate and Cy Young candidate for each team no matter what their predicted team outcome was. The point being that sometimes guys on bad teams with the award. And to back that up the last two AL Cy Young winners were Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals and Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners, both on teams who finished well into the basement in their division.

This preview was sculpted over a nearly seven week period in the off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading so many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites that in some cases I may know a team better that its own management.

I hope you enjoy this look at the upcoming season. I know everyone will not agree with me and that’s fine put it in the comments. But I can assure you I’ll most likely have an argument for each and every objection you could possibly raise. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun compiling this preview and starting today we will take a look at the National League West. The rest of the schedule follows with a different division being profiled each day and the final day will bring you my winners, my award selections and a list of managers who have a lot to prove in 2011 if they want to be on the bench in 2012. Tomorrow you will get the American League West preview followed by the NL Central, AL Central, NL East and AL East.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

National League West

1. San Francisco Giants – Manager: Bruce Bochy (5th year/17th overall)

Okay so you have 2 time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner making up one of the best and youngest 1-4’s in all of baseball, a good pen, good manager, timely hitting and a solid closer in Brian Wilson. This combination gave the Giants their first World Series title last season in 56 years, now the team has a giant bulls eye on its back as it tries to repeat. They also got a huge contribution from NL ROY C Buster Posey and a slew of mid season replacements like OF Cody Ross and OF Pat Burrell. Only major deal they did this off season was to sign FA SS Miguel Tejada while letting Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria go. But the question remains can the Giants take nearly the same team and repeat in 2011?

Key Players: C Buster Posey; SP Madison Bumgarner; 1B Aubrey Huff; ; RP Brian Wilson; SS Miguel Tejada

MVP Candidate: C Buster Posey

Cy Young Candidate: SP Tim Lincecum

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: SS Miguel Tejada (FA-Balt)

Possible lineup: Torres CF; Sanchez 2B; Huff 1B; Posey C; Burrell LF; Ross RF; Tejada SS; Sandoval 3B

Possible rotation: Lincecum; Cain; Bumgarner; Sanchez; Zito

2. Colorado Rockies – Manager: Jim Tracy (3rd year/10th overall)

The Colorado Rockies are looking to get back to the playoffs in 2011. Over the winter they locked down young stars, SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez, to long term, big money deals. Last season they finished third; this year they want to make the post season push. In an effort to add some more power off the bench they signed FA INF/OF Ty Wigginton, they also got 3B Jose Lopez in a trade. The pitching should be pretty solid again as Jorge de la Rosa returns and Matt Lindstrom comes to the mountains via trade. And a late signing of free agent starter John Maine will add some depth to the back end of the rotation as well.

Key Players: SS Troy Tulowitzki; RF Carlos Gonzalez; INF/OF Ty Wigginton; 3B Ian Stewart; SP Ubaldo Jimenez

MVP Candidate: SS Troy Tulowitzki and RF Carlos Gonzalez

Cy Young Candidate: SP Ubaldo Jimenez

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: INF/OF Ty Wigginton (FA-Balt); 3B Jose Lopez (Trade-Sea); RP Matt Lindstrom (Trade-Hou); C Jose Morales (Trade-Minn); SP John Maine (FA-NYM)

Possible lineup: Fowler CF; Lopez 2B; Gonzalez LF; Tulowitzki SS; Stewart 3B; Helton1B; Spilborghs RF; Iannetta C

Possible rotation: Jimenez; De La Rosa; Chacin; Hammel; Maine

3. San Diego Padres – Manager: Bud Black (5th year)

Did I ever get the San Diego Padres wrong last season. The team I picked for last and possibly worst in baseball finished in second place and took the Giants to the seasons final game before they were eliminated. But one thing I did get kind of right was that Adrian Gonzalez would end up in Boston. I just thought it’d be a trade deadline deal and not go until the off season. I expect the Pads to be in it most of the year again even without Gonzalez but face it the NL West isn’t all that good. This year with the loss of Gonzalez the everyday line up isn’t as good and I have some doubts about the back end of the rotation.

Key Players: SP Mat Latos; SS Jason Bartlett; RP Heath Bell; 3B Chase Headley; OF Ryan Ludwick

MVP Candidate: SS Jason Bartlett

Cy Young Candidate: SP Mat Latos

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: SS Jason Bartlett (Trade-TB); 1B Brad Hawpe (FA-TB); 2B Orlando Hudson (FA-Minn); SP Dustin Moseley (FA-NYY); OF Cameron Maybin (Trade-Fla); SP Aaron Harang (FA-Cin); OF Eric Patterson (Trade-Bos); RP Chad Qualls (FA-TB); C Gregg Zaun (FA-Mil)

Possible lineup: Maybin CF; Hudson 2B; Bartlett SS; Headley 3B; Hawpe 1B; Ludwick RF; Patterson LF; Hundley C

Possible rotation: Latos; Harrang; Richard; Stauffer; Moseley

4. Los Angeles Dodgers– Manager: Don Mattingly (1st year)

The Dodgers who stood pat last off season paid dearly when they didn’t meet the expectations of the owners, front office, manager, fans and media. It was a pretty awful year for them and before the season ended Joe Torre announced he wasn’t coming back. This lead to the hiring of long time Torre associate Don Mattingly as the new skipper. Mattingly has never managed at any level and he may be in over his head in LaLa Land. With the divorce battle between the McCourt’s and what appears to be a long term battle over who controls the team, things aren’t all that good for the Dodgers. This year they dipped into the market with the biggest signing being Juan Uribe but will those deals be enough to help?

Key Players: CF Andre Ethier; RF Matt Kemp; SP Clayton Kershaw; 2B Juan Uribe; SP Chad Billingsley; SP Vicente Padilla

MVP Candidate: Andre Ethier CF

Cy Young Candidate: Clayton Kershaw SP

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: C Dioner Navarro (FA-TB); RP Matt Guerrier (FA-Minn); 2B Juan Uribe (FA-SF); LF Tony Gwynn (FA-SD); C Rod Barajas (FA-LAD); SP Jon Garland (FA-SD); Jay Gibbons (FA-LAD); RP Ron Mahay (FA-Min); OF Gabe Kapler (FA-TB); OF Marcus Thames (FA-NYY)

Possible lineup: Furcal SS; Gwynn LF; Ethier CF; Kemp RF; Loney 1B; Blake 3B; Uribe 2B; Barajas C

Possible rotation: Kershaw; Billingsley; Lilly; Kuroda; Padilla/Garland

5. Arizona Diamondbacks – Manager: Kirk Gibson (2nd year)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are my pick for last place in the division. They were just awful last season, devastated by injuries and poor play they ended up getting the manager A.J. Hinch canned before he finished his second season at the helm. Kirk Gibson campaigned for the job and got it after taking over late last year. He’s going to need some patience though from the front office with this crew. He may have a couple bonafide young studs in the everyday line up but that starting rotation would even frighten Stephen King even after they got the up and down Armando Galarraga in a trade with the Tigers.

Key Players: RF Justin Upton; SP Ian Kennedy; SP Joe Saunders; SS Stephen Drew; CF Chris Young

MVP Candidate: RF Justin Upton

Cy Young Candidate: SP Ian Kennedy

ROY Candidate: None

Key Additions: LF Xavier Nady (FA-Chi); RP J.J. Putz (FA-NYM); 3B Melvin Mora (FA-Col); C Henry Blanco (FA-NYM); SP Zach Duke (Trade-Pitt); 1B Geoff Blum (FA-Hou); SP Armando Galarraga (Trade-Det)

Possible lineup: Drew SS; Upton RF; Johnson 2B; Young CF; Montero C; Mora 3B; Allen 1B; Nady LF

Possible rotation: Kennedy; Saunders; Galarraga; Hudson; Duke

Tomorrow: The American League West

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem and follow SOX & Dawgs on Twitter @soxanddawgs and become a fan of SOX & Dawgs on Facebook.

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