Sporting News Today is picking the White Sox to win the AL Central this season: Twins, Tigers, Sox set for three team race
I'm going the same way, but we differ at second and third. Sporting News has the Tigers second and Twins third. I'm flip-flopping them. The Indians and Royals are both awful, and they might tie for last.
Bruce Miles and Scot Gregor
Bruce Miles has been covering the Chicago Cubs for the Daily Herald since 1998, and major-league baseball since 1989. He grew up in Chicago and is one of those rare birds who followed both the Cubs and White Sox.
Along with Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes, Bruce co-authored the book, "Harry Caray: Voice of the Fans."
He checks in on the fan blogs and is a daily reader of Baseball Prospectus.
Scot Gregor has been covering the Chicago White Sox for the Daily Herald since 1994, and major-league baseball since 1990.
He grew up in Pittsburgh, where he idolized Roberto Clemente. Scott graduated high school in 1979, when the Steelers and the Pirates were both the best in the world.
He often checks out whitesoxinteractive.com and southsidesox.com, and contributes to Street & Smith’s Sporting News baseball guide.
Sox in good shape if Quentin and Rio's hit. Believe Q will lite it up with his bat, if he can stay healthy. Rio's should rebound. Sox sound in all other categories with a outstanding pitching staff. Tigers younger at many positions , but older in some. Twins will be right at the top with the Sox fighting for the Central to the end with Sox. KC will be much better than you think and will not be awful with Greinke and Soria and Pod's and Getz to help them. A lot depends on how well there other starters fare. Meche, Bannister,Ramirez and maybe Davies. Indians have some good young players. Expect them to bring up the basement tho.
They may have enough pitching if everyone throws well (just no one has a bad year). But the defense must be above average. The middle infielders are going to play stellar defense? Can't rely on either to be solid pro's throughout the season. How well they perform in the field the first two months is going to be telltale for the team's getting off to a good start. Elsewhere defensively ....Take the extra base always on Pierre? The catcher doesn't rank well among those in either league in the SB category. You must have a descent season from Rios, which could happen.
The bullpen depth needs to work itself out. If Jenks isn't really good, then that starting pitching doesn't hold up so well. Unless they add a big bat, this team will have to win more often than not with strong pitching. You aren't betting the mortgage on that to happen, are you?
Hudson is an interesting prospect to watch develop. This organization needs more than anything else to develop/produce more bluechip prospects. Especially pitching. How much money in two years is Reinsdorf going to set aside for his starters?
They may have enough pitching if everyone throws well (just no one has a bad year). But the defense must be above average. The middle infielders are going to play stellar defense? Can't rely on either to be solid pro's throughout the season. How well they perform in the field the first two months is going to be telltale for the team's getting off to a good start. Elsewhere defensively ....Take the extra base always on Pierre? The catcher doesn't rank well among those in either league in the SB category. You must have a descent season from Rios, which could happen.
The bullpen depth needs to work itself out. If Jenks isn't really good, then that starting pitching doesn't hold up so well. Unless they add a big bat, this team will have to win more often than not with strong pitching. You aren't betting the mortgage on that to happen, are you?
Hudson is an interesting prospect to watch develop. This organization needs more than anything else to develop/produce more bluechip prospects. Especially pitching. How much money in two years is Reinsdorf going to set aside for his starters?