2008 Woodie Awards
With spring's arrival, here comes MLB
Sports Staff
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News
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AL West
The AL West appears to be the weakest division in an American League that contains many powerhouses.
Assuming that the Anaheim Angels (certainly not from Los Angeles) can keep their clubhouse free of distractions and injuries, they should run away with the division. However, the revelations about Gary Matthews Jr.'s (just signed for $50 million) possible use of human growth hormone may tear the organization apart in bloody litigation. With a strong rotation and the ever dangerous V-lad powering the offense, the Angels should take the West for the 3rd time in the last four seasons.
The Oakland Athletics are a much weaker team this year. Of course, this is the same team that loses its best players to free agency every year, and yet somehow GM Billy Bean puts together a winning puzzle year after year. The A's will look to DH Mike Piazza to hit as well as Frank Thomas did last year. However, the loss of consistent pitching from Barry Zito and the reliance on Rich Harden to be a staff ace leave 2007 uncertain in the Bay.
The Rangers always hit well. This year they may pitch well too. The acquisition of oft-injured Eric Gagne and a good year from Kevin Milwood could lead the Southerners to a surprising finish.
The Mariners need to fire their General Manager and restart their failed rebuilding process that will see a team who felt paying Jeff Weaver (8-14, 5.14 ERA) upwards of $8 million a good deal.
NL West
The often ridiculed NL West finally should be good enough to earn some respect and turn some heads this season. The additions of aces Barry Zito, Randy Johnson and Randy Wolf to the division that featured the Cy Young Award winning Brandon Webb (Arizona) last year, should lead to the strongest-armed division in the National League.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best starting pitching in baseball. The rotation of Derek Lowe, Jason Schmidt (formerly of the Giants), Randy Wolf, Brad Penny and Brett Tomko will be enough to offset the loss of J.D Drew. However, the Dodgers lack power and will most likely rely on timely hitting from veterans like Nomar Garciaparra. The Dodgers also have the benefit of too many prospects. A possible trade with James Loney, Matt Kemp, or Wilson Betemit could provide a power boost if the young players don't fulfill expectations this year.
San Diego is a close second in the West. Veterans Greg Maddox and David Wells will try to guide a young pitching staff through a season where the Padres will rely heavily on their arms. The losses of Mike Piazza and Dave Roberts will make the weak hitting Pads even weaker at the plate.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have Randy Johnson again. The fire-thrower needs to prove that he can still pitch well under pressure. The D'backs may be the surprise in the West, combining strong young pitching with a lineup featuring many young faces.
Colorado still plays at altitude and will be able to continue their threat as a power hitting team. Todd Helton didn't get traded after all.
The San Francisco Giants landed Barry Zito, then resigned Barry Bonds (bad move). The resigning of Bonds will keep the Giants from moving in the right direction and will provide another year of the circus that is the home run chase of Hank Aaron's impressive mark.
• Sam Kussin-Shoptaw
AL Central
The American League Central was one of the most dominant divisions in baseball for the 2006 season. Three of the five teams had winning percentages of more than fifty percent, two of those teams went on to compete in the post season and one of those teams made it to the World Series. The 2007 season should be as competitive as the previous, and the American Central division will get noticed with its returning talent and hopeful additions.
The fans of the Minnesota Twins show their excitement for the up coming season as the Twins sell out their opening day. With the loss of Francisco Liriano, a young star pitcher and veteran Brad Radke, it seemed as if the Twins would be struggling to find a solid starting rotation. Surprisingly, the Twins bullpen had excellent spring training with a combined ERA of 3.71, much better than expected. Offensivly, the Twins are sitting pretty with the League MVP and batting champions returning for more glory.
Quick Note: Minnesota Twins have perhaps the easiest schedule in April among the American League.
The Detroit Tigers are coming off a hot season in 2006 and their momentum is rushing. Despite losing two high caliber pitchers, Humberto Sanchez and Kevin Whelan, the Tigers possess some of the best young talent in the league. In addition, the return of Joel Zumaya, who throws a 103 mph fast ball, will fuel the Tigers back to the playoffs.
Although the Chicago White Sox finished second to last in Spring Training, on opening day they embark upon what they plan on becoming the second championship season in the last three years. Ozzie Guillen is ready to focus on baseball, however contract talks with potential free agents in Mark Buehrle, Jermaine Dye and Tadahito Iguchi are looming as the regular season approaches. Offensive production in spring training has been excellent for the Sox.
Kansas City is trying to bounce back from years of not making the playoffs. This year will be nothing new, they just don't seem to have the special ingredients to become a productive and competitive team.
Cleveland Indians are not looking bad with their off season addition of Josh Barfield and a .560 spring training winning percentage. After taking an unexpected step backwards in 2006, the Indians are looking to use their MVP- Caliber hitters, Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore, and a deep lineup to take two steps forward in 2007. Their Achilles heal is their weak infield and limited bullpen.
NL Central
National Leauge Central is the division home of the World Series winner St. Louis Cardinals. This is no cupcake division. It is the largest in baseball, and they have credentials to prove their worth.
St. Louis Cardinals are the returning World Champions and lit looks like they are still glowing after successful spring training. Time will tell whether this years Cardinals squad begin their quest to become the first team since the 2000 Yankees to win back to back World Series.
The Houston Astros are looking to prove their worth this year by not only repeating a fifty percent winning PCT season, but by getting back some of their top hitters. There are still some unanswered questions in the Astros camp, being, who will round out their rotation and who will start in right field.
Cincinnati Reds are coming back from turn around season in 2006. They have proven that they have the ability to compete for a post-season spot and intend to improve on their weaknesses from last year. Being the first professional franchise, established in 1869, baseball is woven deep in the cities culture and identity. With an impressive spring training, you will want to keep an eye on this team.
Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs are all looking to improve in many aspects of their game this year. It will be important for these teams to get out to an early start and make the right adjustments ASAP. These teams have not impressed the media or caught the attention of fans, but they intend to do so as the season begins in the next week.
• Mike Jones
NL East
Call me crazy but it's about time for a year of brotherly love. The Phillies have denied Philadelphia man hugs for too long and this is the year they figure it out. And don't be surprised if a few old Emerald City arms prove to be the glue that pulls them together. Freddy Garcia and Jamie Moyer give the Philly rotation the talent and stability it so greatly lacked last year.
Despite a shaky bullpen that has potential in Ryan Madsen, Philadelphia has three perennial All-Stars at the bat in the ever-emerging Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins that will hoist them over the ever-imploding Mets. Any team relying on ageless wonders like Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez to anchor their staff is asking for it. Plus, Pedro Martinez could be out for the year and Oliver Perez seems to have an unquenchable affection for terrorizing backstops with baseballs.
There aren't many better lineups 1-8 in baseball, especially with the likes of young studs like Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright. Their bullpen is solid also, but there are just too many question marks. Guillermo Mota has been overworked and Duaner Sanchez nearly went AWOL after being sent home this spring by Willie Randolph for being overweight, plus Billy Wagner is far too inconsistent for my taste.
Washington will be the bottom feeder of the league as they pursue a season that will likely be referred to the year of, "What's his name again?" as they seek to rebuild their farm system. The Braves and Marlins will battle for third and fourth place with decent starting pitching and solid lineups 1-4. I give the Braves the edge this year because I believe their team is a better roundup and they are taking the steps to shore up their bullpen, plus they have the ever ingenious Bobby Cox.
However, the Marlins are embarking with one of Cox's top former staff in new skipper Fredi Gonzalez and have better potential with the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera combined with arms like Donrelle Willis and Anibal Sanchez.
AL East
If Frank Thomas overcomes age and injury (easy task right?) the Blue Jays could very well make the AL East a three horse race. And horses it will be for the Blue Jays staff if A.J. Burnett comes back healthy. With Roy Halladay and Burnett, the Blue Jays would have one of the best 1-2 punches in the league.
But let's be frank, everyone knows that the talent level of the Red Sox and Yankees is just too high for Toronto, who flew off the handle at points last season (not to mention a head coach with an fondness for haymakers).
I see the edge lying with New York. Not because the Yankees are that much better than Boston, but because they make better use of the talent they do have. I believe it was a regrettable decision to keep Jonathan Papelbon in his closer role. Granted he is one of the game's best, the decision makes the acquisition of Joel Pinero look foolish because he has no business trying to go even five innings, as he more than proved with the Mariners. And the prune-faced Julian Taravez, who the Red Sox will use instead of Pinero, might be the only man worse for the job than the former.
For the Yankees, the rich get richer. Not only do they have the absolute best offensive lineup in the game, they retained the dynamite Andy Pettitte. Their rotation has depth, their farm system is back on the rise as Brian Cashman is being given more control, and forget about rattling their bullpen. With cannons like Kyle Farnsworth, you're as likely to be struck out as you are to be piledrived.
And now I could go on to mention the chances of Baltimore and Tampa Bay, but the real question is: would you keep reading? That's what I thought.
• Will Holden, Mike Jones, and Sam Kussin-Shoptaw used to play baseball, but they got made fun of for how small their bats were. Now they play tee-ball.
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