2010 MLB Preview - Old, Familiar Territory

PROJECTED AL WILD CARD STANDINGS:
(Top five contenders only)

1. Boston Red Sox

2. Chicago White Sox
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
5. Tampa Bay Rays


Last season, a good arguement could have been made that the Yankees were the best team in baseball, followed by the Phillies, with the Red Sox in third. With their offseason moves, Boston may have moved in to second. This could be the last time thats true for a while, unless they do something about their declining players and get younger in center. The White Sox, Rangers, and Angels may all put up a fight, but the Red Sox are the clear frony-runner here. The Rays make it in at #5 thanks to feasting on Toronto and Baltimore in their division, while getting beat down by Boston and the Yankees.

2010 MLB Preview - The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

PROJECTED AL EAST STANDINGS:

1. New York Yankees

2. Boston Red Sox
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles


After a start to last season that had them looking like they may be out of the playoffs, the Yankees ended up the only 100 game winner, and won their 27th World Series. They cut out their older position players, traded away the sometimes underacheiving Melky Cabrera, and brought in Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson to fill their spaces. They still have a hole in left, but when you only have one hole on your roster, you're in pretty good shape. The Red Sox made a lot of changes to a team that was good enough for the Wild Card last season. Most of them are solid moves, like signing Marco Scutaro and John Lackey, but I have to question the wisdom of putting a 37-year-old Mike Cameron, with a history of injuries, into the cavernous center field at Fenway. It could be a concern in a late season push. The Rays had their run at a title, and they lost to the Phillies. They may contend this year, but they don't have the overall depth and ability to win in the AL East. The Central or West, maybe, but not the East. The only shakeup in the divison could be at the bottom. Loses of Scutaro and Roy Halladay will really hurt the Jays, and the Orioles have some up and coming players from the minors that could pay off. I'm thinking it won't until next year, but anything can happen.

2010 MLB Preview - No Single Game Playoff This Season!

PROJECTED AL CENTRAL STANDINGS:

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Kansas City Royals


The Twins barely pulled out this division last season, winning a play-in game against the Tigers. This year, they should win it outright, but not by much. Last season's roster is mostly intact, and the players they brought in are more for leadership and role playing, rather than trying to bring in a big name player to push them over the top. It will win them the division, but probably won't get them anywhere in the playoffs. The White Sox are the Central's most improved team. Unfortunately, most of their improvement could easily sink the team. JJ Putz, Andrew Jones, and Omar Vizquel are all risky signings. They keep the Sox in contention, but won't win them any titles. The Tigers continue to try to pretend that the local economy isn't hurting the team. They give up Curtis Granderson, then sign over-the-hill Johnny Damon to replace him. They bring in young, cheap, untested players. This year is probably going to begin a down cycle for the team, so don't expect them in the playoffs the next few years. And at the bottom, the Indians and Royals continue to do what they do best lately: not a whole lot.

2010 MLB Preview - This is Seattle's Year. Really.

PROJECTED AL WEST STANDINGS:

1. Seattle Mariners

2. Texas Rangers
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4. Oakland A's


Last season, a lot of people picked the Mariners to win the AL West. A quick glance at their roster would have told anyone with a brain that, while the team had some excellent hitters, they had no pitching. This offseason, they added Cliff Lee as their new ace, and brought in even more speed by signing Chone Figgins from the Angels. The loss of Figgins, as well as losing P John Lackey to the Red Sox, significantly weakens the team, dropping them to third. The Rangers made some decent offseason moves, but none of them add up to a division title. The A's took some risks in their free agent signings, bringing in the likes of Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer, and Jack Cust, all hit-or-miss, and I don't see them paying off overall.