The Procrastinator's Guide to a Season Preview

The Almost-1-Week-In look at 2011

Some of this is old news to many people, although we've updated a few points here and there recently. We're simply identifying moments or themes to anticipate and appreciate this baseball season. As usual, we'll have individual awards and postseason predictions. Plus, to make up for our tardiness, this year's season preview will include extra nuggets like the all new Divisional All-Pro teams.

AL East

Big Papi is helping the new guys relax...

Red Sox
Yankees
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays

The Wild Card has come out of the AL East every year since 2006, and that trend should continue this year.

... by showing why he's a DH.

The Rays could wind up winning 89 or 90 games and bumping one of the big spenders out of the postseason. In fact, before the season started, coolstandings had the following expected wins in this division:

Rays 91.5
Yankees: 91.3
Red Sox: 85.8
Blue Jays: 81.3
Orioles: 69.9

As for the big-spending rivals fighting with the Rays, fans in Boston are hoping that expensive acquisitions Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez will return them to glory. Meanwhile, the Yankees are trying to win with offense, offense, more offense, a pitching ace, and a sick bullpen.

Buck's O's have got it going on.

In many circles, the cellar of this division is expected to compete at a high level. The Orioles record after hiring Buck Showalter has been well documented, and Toronto has great young pitching. How possible is it that the balance in this division costs the AL East its 5th straight Wild Card?

AL East All-Pro Team
C: Matt Wieters, Orioles
1b: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2b: Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS: Jed Lowrie, Red Sox
3b: Evan Longoria, Rays
LF: Carl Crawford, Red Sox
CF: Curtis Granderson, Yankees
RF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
DH: Manny Ramirez, Rays
SP: Jon Lester, Red Sox
RP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees

Ozzie Guillen's got it under control.

AL Central
White Sox
Tigers
Twins
Royals
Indians

Depending on health, any of the top three teams can win the division this year. There are plenty of seats available on the Royals 2013 bandwagon. The Indians have building blocks in Carlos Carrasco, Shin-Soo Choo, and Chris Perez, but they need more consistent help.

AL Central All-Pro Team

Who do you think is the
best 3b in the AL Central?

C: Victor Martinez, Tigers
1b: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2b: Gordon Beckham, White Sox
SS: Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
3b: Mike Aviles, Royals
LF: Delmon Young, Twins
CF: Alexis Rios, White Sox
RF: Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
DH: Adam Dunn, White Sox
SP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
RP: Joakim Soria, Royals

AL West
Athletics

A's have the best AL pitching

Rangers
Angels
Mariners

The defending pennant champion Rangers and upstart A's have the look of a budding young rivalry. There is too much talent in Anaheim's roster, management, and front office for the Angels to be a nonfactor for long. The Mariners are a big market team, and I think their front office resents the thoughts that, when it comes to their young Ace, Felix Hernandez, they're much like the Cavs holding LeBron before his Decision. It's not going to happen this year, but I really hope this becomes an awesome division, with all four teams worthy of the postseason.

AL West All-Pro Team
C: Kurt Suzuki, A's

Wow, the Rangers' lineup!

1b: Daric Barton, A's
2b: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
SS: Elvis Andrus, Rangers
3b: Adrian Beltre, Rangers
LF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
CF: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
RF: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
DH: Bobby Abreu, Angels
SP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RP: Neftali Feliz, Rangers

NL East
Phillies
Braves
Marlins
Nationals
Mets

It's nice when Mets' fans are realistic.

While their starting rotation is not too far from Mt Rushmore status, the Phillies have genuine issues with age, defense, and offense. The Braves or Marlins may challenge for the division or a Wild Card birth. It should, as usual, all come down to pitching and health. The Nationals look like they are about a year, or two, away from something special.* Living in New York, I've grown a bit sympathetic for the recent plight of the Met fan. While Opening Day (or Opening Week - as it said on the grass at Yankee Stadium) is all about hope for every franchise, the best thing I can say about the Mets is that they're getting better. They are in the capable hands of Sandy Alderson, and they will be better. It takes time, and would behoove Mets fans to maintain patience with the Major League club.

Who's this Joe Blanton character?

The Phillies pitching was God's gift to a generation of Philadelphia fans, after they reacquired Cliff Lee this offseason. They will be outstanding if they can stay healthy, but how the Phillies really differentiated themselves is that if one or two of their Aces succumbs to injury, they'll still have two or three Aces for the postseason. The biggest understatement of this post: the Phillies are in really good shape with their rotation. Their question marks begin in the bullpen, where Brad Lidge is hurt again and the rest of the firemen appear unsettled. Those question marks are exacerbated in the lineup. They lost Jayson Werth, and Domonic Brown is hurt. Chase Utley may never be himself again. Ryan Howard may be just a one-sided weapon, or at best an overpaid masher. Jimmy Rollins will probably never contend for another league MVP. The Hawaiian hasn't really been flyin' much lately. Polanco isn't exactly, pardon me, Mike Schmidt in the batters box either.

*The Nationals look like they're going in the right direction. We may only be a couple of years away from a thrilling Nationals vs Royals World Series!

To be more specific on the Braves, they actually have a great chance at winning this division. Tommy Hanson could win the Cy Young this season, and Freddie Freeman looks like the real deal at first base. This team can go far, with their good looking blend of youth and experience. It's like they're the Touch of Gray guy in the commercial!



NL East All-Pro Team

At just 21, Jason Heyward
keeps great company.

C: Brian McCann, Braves
1b: Ike Davis, Mets
2b: Dan Uggla, Braves
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
3b: Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
LF: Logan Morrison, Marlins
CF: Angel Pagan, Mets
RF: Jason Heyward, Braves
SP: Josh Johnson, Marlins
RP: Craig Kimbrel, Braves

NL Central
Brewers
Reds
Cardinals
Cubs
Pirates
Astros

I feel like the National League Wild Card is coming out of the Central. It would be more than nice if the Cubs could shock the world and win the World Series this year. That's the plan, right? Right?? Hello?

Let's hope the fans are
smiling after a few months.

The Cardinals look like they're getting worse, but with that pitching coach, they could seemingly turn any bum into a 15-game winner. I'm always worried about a few retreads on that staff figuring out how to throw a sinker and destroying the Cubs' season. The Reds currently look like the class of the division, while the Brewers look like the most improved team. Perhaps the division will come down to the comparative performances of guys like Fielder and Votto, Axford and Chapman. My initial feeling is that Zack Greinke is the key. His performance could decide Milwaukee's baseball fate this season.

The Pirates are and exciting team, and folks in Houston were really excited by the Astros at the end of last season. For the Astros to make one of their patented 2nd half runs, they'll need excellence from Brett Myers, health from Wandy, steady contribution from Hunter Pence, a return to form from Carlos Lee, and a leap in performance from new first baseman Brett Wallace.

After considering all the evidence, the Cubs could finish in first or last place this year, with indicators sadly pointing towards not 1st place.

NL Central All-Pro Team
C: Geovany Soto, Cubs
1b: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2b: Rickie Weeks, Brewers
SS: Starlin Castro, Cubs
3b: Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
LF: Ryan Braun, Brewers
CF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
RF: Jay Bruce, Reds
SP: Zack Greinke, Brewers
RP: Carlos Marmol, Cubs

How good will Tulo be?

NL West
Giants
Rockies
Padres
Dodgers
Diamondbacks

The Wild West was a lot of fun last year and is star studded again, with the World Champs, the Blake Street Improvement Project, the young arms of the Padres, and the Hollywood guys. Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson ought to have the D'Backs playing the right way soon, winning eventually. Interestingly, after the Adrian Gonzalez trade with Boston, the NL West's premier first baseman is either 37-year old Todd Helton or rookie Brandon Belt.

NL West All-Pro Team
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1b: Todd Helton, Rockies
2b: Kelly Johnson, D'backs
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3b: Pablo Sandoval, Giants
LF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
CF: Matt Kemp, Dodgers
RF: Justin Upton, D'backs
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RP: Brian Wilson, Giants

What's your  Super Bowl XLV memory?

AL Manager of the Year
Ozzie Guillen
Of all the silly things to try to predict six months ahead of time, few are sillier than a Manager of the Year award. This must be done in retrospect, looking at who dealt with adversity and success the best.

AL Comeback Player
Erik Bedard
Double-digit wins should lock this up for the southpaw.

AL Rookie of the Year
Jeremy Hellickson
Hellickson was like a shutdown machine from the future, when in the rotation last year. After judicious study and consideration, it's prudent to expect more success.

AL Cy Young
Felix Hernandez
It's likely that Seattle's ace may never pitch better than he has the past two years, but the status quo for the 25-year old Ace is still mighty regal.

"It's already been broughten!"

AL MVP
Robinson Cano
What's not to like about the in-his-prime, slick hitting and fielding, middle of the order middle-infielder from the Bronx Bombers? Picking MVP's before the season starts is like trying to pick the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

NL Manager of the Year
Tony LaRussa
Ugh, the detestable know-it-all has already faced adversity in Spring Training by getting engulfed in Pujols contract drama and losing his ace pitcher for the season. If the Cardinals have another fine season, the Post-Dispatch guys will be getting Prof. La Russa's virtual honorary degrees lined up.

NL Comeback Player
Pablo Sandoval
Check it: Kung-Fu Panda is back, lighter, and better than ever.

NL Rookie of the Year
Brandon Belt
If Andrew Cashner* winds up winning this award, then the Cubs' may have a good season. I'll root for that.

*Editor's note: This is already a bad sign for the season, as Cashner was removed in the 6th inning of his first Major League start, with tightness in his shoulder.

Who else likes Kershaw for the Cy?

NL Cy Young
Clayton Kershaw
Gallardo, Jimenez, Greinke, Lincecum, Carpenter, Cain, Josh Johnson, Tim Hudson, and others will undoubtedly make this a fun competition again this season. Few things get me as jazzed as talking pitching.

NL MVP
Albert Pujols
For the record, I hope the Cubs do not sign Pujols. If they get him, I'll root for him. It's just that I think he will be grossly overpaid for the last 3, 4, or 5 years of his contract, to the extent of being an albatross. He seems a bit older than he lets on, too.

AL Division Series
Yankees over White Sox
Athletics over Red Sox

NL Division Series
Phillies over Reds
Brewers over Giants

ALCS
Athletics over Yankees

NLCS
Phillies over Brewers

World Series
Athletics over Phillies
(Series MVP: Kurt Suzuki)

I bet Vegas doesn't even have a line on
Kurt Suzuki for World Series MVP.