With the Twins signing of 2nd baseman Orlando Hudson last night to a 1 year 5 million dollar contract it appears the Twins are pretty much done for the offseason. All that still needs to be done is to finalize the Joe Mauer contract and I am very confident they will get that done before spring training. With that I think it would be fun and interesting to take a look at the AL Central and am doing an unscientific way to evaluate the division. So here is how it is going to work I will rank 1-5 for every position with 1 being the best and 5 being the worst. At the end I will add up all the numbers and the team with the fewest points is the favorite to win the 2010 AL Central. Point totals are pretty simple in that 1= 1 point, 2= 2 points, and so on. So give me some feedback on this to let me know what you think. You can either send me an email at
travis_aune@yahoo.com or leave a comment in the comment box. With that lets get started.
- Joe Mauer(MN)- .365 avg 28 hr 96 rbi's .444/.587/1.031
- AJ Pierzynski(CH)- .300 avg 13 hr 49 rbi's .331/.425/.756
- Gerald Laird(Det)- .225 avg 4 hr 33 rbi's .306/.320/.626
- Jason Kendall(KC)- .241 avg 2 hr 43 rbi's .331/.305/.636
- Lou Marson(Cle)- .246 avg 0 hr 4 rbi's .347/.361/.708
- Miguel Cabrera(Det)- .324 avg 34 hr 103 rbi's .396/.547/.942
- Justin Morneau(MN)- .274 avg 30 hr 100 rbi's .363/.516/.878
- Paul Konerko(CH)- .277 avg 28 hr 88 rbi's .353/.489/.842
- Billy Butler(KC)- .301 avg 21 hr 93 rbi's .362/.492/.853
- Matt Laporta(Cle)- .254 avg 7 hr 21 rbi's .308/.442/.750
- Gordan Beckham(CH)- .270 avg 14 hr 63 rbi's .347/.460/.808
- Orlando Hudson(MN)- .283 avg 9 hr 62 rbi's .357/.417/.774
- Alberto Callaspo(KC)- .300 avg 11hr 73 rbi's .356/.457/.813
- Luis Valbuena(Cle)- .250 avg 10 hr 31 rbi's .298/.416/.714
- Scott Sizemore(Det)- .308 avg 8 hr 33 rbi's 10sb .378/.473/.851 in minors
- Asdrubal Cabrera(Cle)- .308 avg 6 hr 68 rbi's 17sb .361/.438/.799
- Alexei Ramirez(CH)- .277 avg 15 hr 68 rbi's 14sb .333/.389/.723
- J.J. Hardy(MN)- .229 avg 11 hr 47 rbi's .302/.357/.659
- Yuniesky Betancourt(KC)- .245 avg 6 hr 49 rbi's .274/.351/.625
- Adam Everett(Det)- .238 avg 3 hr 44 rbi's .288/.325/.613
- Brandon Inge(Det)- .230 avg 27 hr 84 rbi's .314/.406/.720
- Mark Teahen(CH)- .271 avg 12 hr 50 rbi's .325/.408/.734
- Alex Gorden(KC)- .232 avg 6 hr 22 rbi's .324/.378/.703
- Jhonny Peralta(Cle)- .254 avg 11 hr 83 rbi's .316/.375/.690
- Nick Punto(MN)- .228 avg 1 hr 38 rbi's 16sb .337/.284/.621
- Carlos Quentin(CH)- .236 avg 21 hr 56 rbi's .323/.456/.779
- Carlos Guillen(Det)- .242 avg 11 hr 41 rbi's .339/.419/.757
- Delmon Young(MN)- .284 avg 12 hr 60 rbi's .308/.425/.733
- Scott Podsednik(KC)- .304 avg 7 hr 48 rbi's 30 sb .353/.412/.764
- Michael Brantley(Cle)- .313 avg 0 hr 11 rbi's .313/.358/.707
- Grady Sizemore(Cle)- .248 avg 18 hr 64 rbi's 13sb .343/.445/.788
- Denard Span(MN)- .311 avg 8 hr 68 rbi's 23sb .392/.415/.807
- Juan Pierre(CH)- .308 avg 0 hr 31 rbi's 30sb .365/.392/.757
- Rick Ankiel(KC)- .231 avg 11 hr 38 rbi's .285/.387/.672
- Austin Jackson(Det)- .300 avg 4 hr 65 rbi's 24sb .354/.405/.759 in minors
- Michael Cuddyer(MN)- .276 avg 32 hr 94 rbi's .342/.520/.862
- Shin-Soo Choo(Cle)- .300 avg 20 hr 86 rbi's 21sb .394/.489/.883
- Alex Rios(CH)- .247 avg 17 hr 71 rbi's 24sb .296/.395/.691
- Magglio Ordonez(Det)- .310 avg 9 hr 50 rbi's .376/.428/.804
- David Dejesus(KC)- .281 avg 13 hr 71 rbi's .347/.434/.781
- Jason Kubel(MN)- .300 avg 28 hr 103 rbi's .369/.539/.907
- Travis Hafner(Cle)- .272 avg 16 hr 49 rbi's .355/.470/.826
- Jose Guillen(KC)- .242 avg 9 hr 40 rbi's .314/.367/.681
- Clete Thomas(Det)- .240 avg 7 hr 39 rbi's .324/.385/.709
- Andruw Jones(Chi)- .214 avg 17 hr 43 rbi's .323/.459/.782
- Chicago White Sox
- Minnesota Twins
- Detroit Tigers
- Cleveland Indians
- Kansas City Royals
- Zach Grienke(KC)- 16-8 2.16 era 229.1 inn 242 k's 1.07 whip
- Justin Verlander(Det)- 19-9 3.45 era 240 inn 269 k's 1.18 whip
- Jake Peavy(Chi)- 9-6 3.45 era 101.2 inn 110 k's 1.12 whip
- Scott Baker(MN)- 15-9 4.37 era 200 inn 162 k's 1.19 whip
- Jake Westbrook(Cle)- 1-2 3.12 era 34.2 inn 19 k's 1.15 whip in 2008
- Mark Buehrle(Chi)- 13-10 3.84 era 213.1 inn 105 k's 1.25 whip
- Rick Porcello(Det)- 14-9 3.96 era 170.2 inn 89 k's 1.34 whip
- Carl Pavano(MN)- 14-12 5.10 era 199.1 inn 147 k's 1.37 whip
- Gil Meche(KC)- 6-10 5.09 era 129 inn 95 k's 1.57 whip
- Fausto Carmona(Cle)- 5-12 6.32 era 125.1 inn 79 k's 1.76 whip
- Gavin Floyd(Chi)- 11-11 4.06 era 193 inn 163 k's 1.23 whip
- Kevin Slowey(MN)- 10-3 4.86 era 90.2 inn 75 k's 1.41 whip
- Brian Bannister(KC)- 7-12 4.73 era 154 inn 98 k's 1.37 whip
- Armando Galarraga(Det)- 6-10 5.64 era 143.2 inn 95 k's 1.57 whip
- Justin Masterson(Cle)- 4-10 4.52 era 129.1 119 k's 1.45 whip
- John Danks(Chi)- 13-11 3.77 era 200.1 inn 149 k's 1.28 whip
- Nick Blackburn(MN)- 11-11 4.03 era 205.2 inn 98 k's 1.37 whip
- Max Scherzer(Det)- 9-11 4.12 era 170.1 inn 174 k's 1.34 whip
- Aaron Laffey(Cle)- 7-9 4.44 era 121.2 inn 59 k's 1.62 whip
- Kyle Davies(KC)- 8-9 5.27 era 123 inn 86 k's 1.53 whip
- Francisco Liriano(MN)- 5-13 5.80 era 136.2 inn 122 k's 1.55 whip
- Jeremy Bonderman(Det)- 0-1 8.71 era 10.1 inn 5 k's 2.32 whip
- Freddy Garcia(Chi)- 3-4 4.34 era 56 inn 37 k's 1.21 whip
- Luke Hochevar(KC)- 7-13 6.55 era 143 inn 106 k's 1.49 whip
- Jeremy Sowers(Cle)- 6-11 5.25 era 123.1 inn 51 k's 1.51 whip
- Joe Nathan(MN)- 2-2 2.10 era 47 saves 68.2 inn 89 k's 0.93 whip
- Joakim Soria(KC)- 3-2 2.21 era 30 saves 53 inn 69 k's 1.13 whip
- Jose Valverde(Det)- 4-2 2.33 era 25 saves 54 inn 56 k's 1.13 whip
- Bobby Jenks(CH)- 3-4 3.71 era 29 saves 53.1 inn 49 k's 1.28 whip
- Kerry Wood(Cle)- 3-3 4.25 era 20 saves 55 inn 63 k's 1.38 whip
- Minnesota
- Chicago
- Detroit
- Kansas City
- Cleveland
- Minnesota
- Detroit
- Chicago
- Kansas City
- Cleveland
- Final Totals:
- Minnesota 37 points
- Chicago 41 points
- Detroit 54 points
- Kansas City 66 points
- Cleveland 72 points
- After doing this unscientific experiment based totally on my opinion things turned out how I felt they would going in. The Twins and White Sox are going to battle all year long for the division title in my opinion. The Twins have a superior offense, while the White Sox have a better starting rotation. I have Detroit a step below with all the inexperience that they will send out there on a daily basis. I have Kansas City and Cleveland battling to stay out of the cellar this year so it should be exciting. Did I mention lately it is 15 days until pitchers and catcher report to spring training. I would like to get some feedback on this experiment so let me know what you think.
14 comments:
Bullpen?
I love unscientific evaluations. Especially when the results confirm my gut feelings :)
This is an excellent view of your opinions of the AL Central, position by position. It should create good discussion and debate on position rankings and such. I like it.
These strictly use last season's stats, correct? I like it, but I'd imagine that there would be some progression. It also doesn't cover gaps... but I like the prediction so I'll shut up now. :)
Second base is interesting. Do you feel Callaspo isn't going going to have a solid year to follow up his first?
actually no I don't because the Royals picked up Chris Getz from the White Sox and I think they will end up splitting time because Getz is superior to Callaspo defensively. So I think Callaspo won't have the same number of at bats as he did last year.
Interesting comparison.
I overall agree that the Twins have the best team on paper in the AL Central, but I have to disagree on some of the rankings:
- Span (based on OPS) should be ranked ahead of Sizemore.
- Harris and not Punto will be the 3B starter, so that should push the Twins at least a couple of spots
- It is unfair to use Hardy's 2009 numbers for comparison. He is the best SS in the division based on career numbers (and is fair to use those because he is before his prime)
- You ranked Gardenhire about 3 spots too high :) The man with the ring should be #1
Thrylos-
First As much as I like Denard Span if I had to pick one of those guys to start a team with it would be Sizemore.
2nd- You are not that nieve are you about Harris/Punto. Punto will play 80% of the time and Harris will pick up the scraps.
3rd- I think J.J. Hardy is going to be good but until he does it on the field again I can't rate him any higher. If he has a year like I expect him to have then I would have no issue ranking him number 1.
4th- I don't think Gardy gets the credit he deserves for beign a great manager. He gets plenty of the blame, but not much of the credit and in my opinion he and Mike Sciossia are the best managers in the American League.
Thanks for your input it is greatly appreciated.
Naive, not nieve.
thanks for the english lesson jack
Ron Gardenhire chose to play an OF of span, Dy and Kubel with Gomez on the bench in order to get jose morales in as DH. He truly is one of the great, most innovative managers of a generation. He also played tolbert and punto, sub 600 ops guys, for large portions of the season. He loves to micro manage games with low percentage plays like bunts and hit and runs. Perhaps you should change your manager list for "best" to Luckiest. I think gardy might be one of the luckiest managers in baseball history; no one gets more out of truly awful players than gardy. But I dont think hes a good game manager at all.
Dave- Thanks for the input but I respectfully disagree. To win 5 division titles in 8 years with lesser rosters than other teams. I love how he bunts and hits and runs to me thats just good baseball. I think he gets too much criticism and not enough credit. If you ask me him and Mike Sciossia are by far the 2 best managers in the American League.
I love the preview. Keep up the good work.
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