Ah, springtime. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and perhaps most importantly, Baseball is about to begin. The homeruns, the strikeouts, Chuck Knoblauch's laughable fielding -- what could be better? Sure, everyone says Baseball bores them to tears, but last October, it seemed like everyone I knew suddenly became a Yankees or Mets fan. So, without further ado, let us take a look at which teams seem to have the best chance at that championship ring.
10. Texas Rangers: Alex and Ivan Rodriguez will terrify opposing pitchers, and both can work just as well defensively. Rafael Palmeiro provides veteran experience, and does not need to be the top run producer. So does Ken Caminiti. But the pitching here is the question. They need a starter and a closer, and that is hard to get without giving some good players up. It all comes down to pitching for the Rangers. I think they have enough to challenge for the wild card.
Tasty tidbit: The Rodriquez's hitting and defense. Two of the best overall in two of the hardest defensive positions in the game.
9. Cincinnati Reds: The Reds still have one of the more talented clubs in baseball, but they need to show some heart this year. The Cardinals came out fast last year, and the Reds just seemed to give up after the all-star break. If they can recover, they can win their division. The pitching rotation is not as bad as many seem to think. Even though the Mets had a huge 20-win month in August, the Reds still only finished five games behind them for the wild card. Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin will put up solid to big numbers, and they have a solid supporting cast. But can they win in the Playoffs?
Tasty tidbit: Griffey Jr. hit for a .271 average, had 40 home runs and 118 runs batted in. People in Cincinnati still said he sucked. If they do not want Griffey, I'll sure take him on a New York club.
8. St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals have a lot of question marks. Good overall, but not very deep, the Cardinals will need to pick up a closer, as well as a threat, to put in behind First Baseman (1B) Mark McGwire. Outfield is among the strongest in the National League. It will be dangerous if 21 year old Left Handed Pitcher (LHP) Rick Ankiel regains his control, and if McGwire stays healthy. That is easier said then done. The only pitchers that are frightened by 1B backup Lawrence Sutton are the ones counting on him for run support. They did beat the Braves, so they proved they can do it in the postseason--but can they do it now that they're not one of baseball's best-kept secrets?
Tasty tidbit: In the playoff opener against Atlanta last Oct. 3, Rick Ankiel became the first pitcher in 110 years to throw five wild pitches in one inning of a major league game. Ouch.
7. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox come into 2001 with a lot of talent, but also some questions: Pedro Martinez is the arm of the century, but can the team produce runs for him? Can Nomar Garciaparra be the hitter he was after what seems to be a more serious than originally reported wrist injury? Will Manny Ramirez be able to handle the horrifying right field walls in Fenway? Can the Red Sox finally get past the Yankees? Where is that legitimate number two starter? They may win the division, but the playoffs are an entirely different story; Pedro cannot give you two starts every series.
Tasty tidbit: Martinez's 1.74 Earned Run Average. Yummy.
6. San Francisco Giants: They'll win the division again, but they will not finish first in baseball. Outfielder (OF) Barry Bonds and Second Baseman (2B) Jeff Kent are among the best in baseball, but it basically stops there. 1B J.T. Snow is a model of consistency, and Right Handed Pitcher (RHP) Livan Hernandez won seventeen games last year. Good team, but got trounced in the playoffs. No reason to expect anything different, unless some bats are found.
Tasty tidbit: For the past nine years, Barry Bonds has had more than thirty home runs. He should be arrested for being that good.
5.Clevland Indians: The only threat to the Indians in the American League Central is the White Sox. The Indians did not make the playoffs last year, although they won ninety games. If I were the Indians, I would be looking for blood as well. Still, the Indians lack what they have been missing for years: pitching. They will need two quality starters and a closer if they want to really make a run. Still, the Indians lineup (Kenny Lofton, Juan Gonzalez, Jim Thome, and Roberto Alomar) will terrify opposing pitchers into loss of bowel control. The Indians should take one more run at the title, then look to rebuild.
Tasty tidbit: Cleveland traded David Justice away to the Yankees, mainly to create salary room for Manny Ramirez. Afterwards, Cleveland's front office challenged Ramirez's desire to rehab his hamstring injury, prompting Ramirez to sign with Boston. Irony, thy name is General Manager John Hart.
4. New York Mets: The Mets have one of the best squads in baseball when everything is working for them. While Third Baseman (3B) Robin Ventura did not produce on the level he did in 1999, there is no reason not to expect improvement. Catcher (C) Mike Piazza and 2B Edgardo Alfonzo are among the best in baseball. The loss of Mike Hampton and Bobby Jones hurts, and the Mets will need another starter before they can take a real run at the rejuvenated Braves.
Tasty tidbit: Last year, the Mets' outfield went from consisting of a 41 year old, a 36 year old, and a 31 year old to becoming an outfield with Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton, and Timo Perez, some of the better young outfielders in the game. And to think, the Mets' front office wanted to drop Agbayani to the minors.
3. Atlanta Braves: The Braves are back, and perhaps scarier than ever. Sure, they have an aging pitching rotation, and no real prospects in the minors, but RHP Greg Maddux and LHP Tom Glavine are both good for sixteen wins. RHP John Smoltz returns from the dreaded "Tommy John" shoulder surgery. Center Fielder (CF) Andrew Jones had one of his best years, and 3B Chipper Jones will return to MVP contender status. But the Mets are hungry, and the Braves are aging. They'll win the division, maybe the league, but not the series.
Tasty tidbit: Short-Stop (SS) Rafael Furcal is listed at age 20, but evidence (e.g. Birth certificates) suggests that he is 23. Think the Braves were lying to up his worth in a potential trade?
2.Oakland Athletics: The most exciting young team in baseball. Put together on a $32 million "shoe-string" budget (at least for baseball,) the A's were able to win the American League on the strength of 1B Jason Giambi's MVP year. The pitching rotation is solid. Finally taking RHP Jason Isringhausen out of the starting rotation and putting him in the bullpen has done wonders for his career. But can they hold off the new and scary Texas Rangers?
Tasty tidbit: Jose Ortiz, last year's Pacific Coast league's MVP, has moved up to the A's major league squad. That is all you need to know.
1. New York Yankees: Make no mistake; the Yankees are still the team to beat. David Cone is mercifully gone. Mike Mussina comes in to take his place, rounding out what is still one of the better rotations in the league. Still, the Yankees have a lot of questions: Can Tino Martinez start to hit again? Can Paul O'Neill have another solid year? Can Chuck Knoblauch learn to throw? David Justice will produce, so will Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter. But who else? Expect a wild card birth at the least, and keep in mind that in October, no one can match the Yankees in poise or experience. The best way to beat the Yankees is to keep them out of the postseason.
Tasty tidbit: Yankees won the series after only winning 87 games, one of the lowest in years. Can they repeat that?
It sure looks like it is going to be an exciting year for the boys of summer. While I would love to see another subway series, I do not think that is in the cards. Both the Cardinals and the Braves can beat the Mets, and the Athletics have the best shot at knocking off the Yankees in the American League. It will be nice to see the Yankee dominance challenged; baseball needs some new blood to keep it interesting.
