1. Minnesota Twins (B+), 88-75, Justin Morneau, Scott Baker-- The Twins don't have a power rotation like the Yankees, Giants or Red Sox but what they do have is 5 or 6 number two and number three starters. In short, they're a well rounded team. Joe Nathan is still one of the top three closers in baseball and with Jesse Crain healthy they're looking pretty good bullpen-wise. their starting rotation deserves a B+ as of now. Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey all have the potential to pitch 200 innings of Andy Pettitte ball. Baker was the best in 2008 and racked up some decent strike out numbers, in 172 innings pitched he struck out 141. Liriano is a wild car, and although he looked good coming back form surgery in 2008 his velocity was down and his breaking stuff was more tumbly than usual. Either way, Liriano is a special player and was Joba Chamerblain before Joba Chamberlain. Slowey, Blackburn and Perkins are all soft tossers that win ball games and racked up quality starts. None of them will blow you away, but with good fastball placement and their changes they get some wins and post a respectable ERA around 4.00.
The Twins' offense isn't too shabby either. Former uber-prospect Michael Cuddyer is back and ready to belt 20, while Delmon young seemed to come into his own (finally) in the latter half of 2008. In June and July 2008 Delmon picked it up and hit .321 and .326. Carlos Gomez needs to improve his whiff rate but he's a good weapon on the bases and can cover some ground in the outfield. Mauer is hands down the best all around catcher in both leagues both defensively, offensively and he posses the intangibles to win a ring. Already securing two batting titles, Mauer is looking Hall of Fame voters right in the eye, and theirs no doubt, as the teams leader, Mauer wants some wins in the playoffs. Morneau almost won his second MVP in 2008 batting .300 with 23 homers in 2008. His homerun numbers continue to decline but his doubles, strikeouts and walk numbers continue to increase. Jason Kubel is a nice DH and could hit .300 someday and belt around 20-25 homers. Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto are a good duo up the middle and although neither of them will impress you with their bats they'll definitely be a pesky presence. All and all the Twins look good and I'd be surpri sed if they didn't win 90 games in 2009.
2. Kansas City Royals, (B) 75-87, David Dejesus, Zach Greinke- Trey Hillman's Royals are suddenly a contender. Although they finished fourth in their division last year they did a good job developing their young guns. In the infield they're looking good. Alex Gordon and Mike Aviles will lead the way and both of them are plus hitters. If Gordon matures he could easily belt 30 bombs and maybe steal 15-20 bases. Aviles has always been a good hitter but was finally called up in 2008 and he responded well by hitting .325 with 10 homers in a shade over 400 at bats. The trio of Jacobs, Kila Ka'aihue and Ryan Shealy is a blessing in disguise and if Hillman can keep them all satisfied with playing time, especially Ka'aihue you could have a combined All Star easily. Callaspo is a decent fielder and can slap .300 as well. Their outfield looks pretty good and with Guillen, Dejesus and Crisp they've built a good top of the order punch. Crisp doesn't have much power and will barely it 10 homers in a full season, but his defense is very good and he can steal about 30 bases without getting caught. DeJesus is solid both in the field and at the plate. He is good for .280-.300, 10-15 hr, 10-15 sb and some good run numbers. He's a nice no. 2. Guillen is underrated and productive. Besides posessing a cannon arm in Right Field, Guillen hits 20 homers yearly. Mark Teahen will play some at second and the outfield. He's a nice guy off the bench and could it 20 homers in a full season. Billy Butler is still developing but hits the ball squarely with the best of 'em. He has the potential to win a batting title.
The Royals staff looks mightily improved as well. Greinke and Meche are very soli d pitchers now. Meche is an innings eat and a very productive one at that. Since coming to the Royals Meche has pitched 426 innings of 3.80 era - ball. Greinke came in to his own last year a
nd looked like a future ace (finally). He pitched 202 innings, won 13 games and struck out 183. Kyle Davies finally showed some promise and could be a nice number 3-- a 4.00 ERA and 200 innings is very possible. Former first round pick Hochevar has the makings of a good number 3, but still needs to develop. The 95 mph fastball-wielding Danny Cortes, a guy that posted naked pictures of himself on myspace, has the stuff to be a top pitcher on this staff and Bannister, if he bounces back could be a decent innings eater. The bullpen sparkles as well. Soria is one of the best closers in baseball, Farnsworth, Bale and Mahay are all good set-up men and Robinson Tejeda proved that he can pitch. All and all the Royals should be a .500 team in 2009. 2010 they could be playoff-bound.
3. San Francisco Giants, (B), 72-90, Fred Lewis, Tim Lincecum- The Giants are all pitching and with their projected '09 staff that's AOK. Lincecum proved that he can be the best pitcher in the bigs with his first CY Young. His stuff is the best in both leagues and that 97 mph heat and diving 12-6 curve can strikeout the best hitters. Matt Cain is super underrated and has the stuff to win 20 games one day. Randy Johnson and Jonathan Sanchez are both lefty-strikeout-machines. Johnson is old and needn't go more than 6 innings per start but he's still effective in the NL. Sanchez is blossoming but with only two effective pitches, a four-seamer and a 2 seamer he can get hit at times. Zito has proven to be the worst free agent signing in history but wasn't that terrible in 2008. He's been working out hardcore and could be a decent 4.50 era and 180 ip pitcher in 2008. Noah Lowry is back and has always been solid. Alderson and Bumgarner, two top pitching prospects (Bumgarner is THE top). The bullpen isn't lights out but Brian Wilson isn't half bad.
The offense was god aweful in 2008 and a slap hitter was their high OPS guy. Anyway the offense has improved for 2009. Pablo Sandoval is a very good hitter and would be a good fit for first base. Travis Ishikawa is going to start, somehow, and had some serious power numbers in AAA in 2009, belting 16 homers in 172 at bats. Bengie Molina is still a top 10 catcher, Fred Lewis is a solid player as is Randy Winn. Aaron Rowand is good on defense but isn't as good a hitter as he was in Philly. .280, 15-20 homers and a handful of stolen bases is pretty decent. Schierholtz is a very good hitter and has the potential to hit .300 with some power. He's hit .310 through 187 at bats in the majors. Velez and Burris are both simply speed and both have good range up the middle. All and all the Giants look good enough to NOT repeat their 72 win season in 2008.
4. Washington Nationals, (B-) 59-102, Guzman, Lannan- The Nationals were atrocious in 2009 and I saw flashes of the early 2000's Tigers. Lannan , Guzman, Dukes, Milledge and Flores all proved to be good players and looking ahead to 2009 look like a pretty nice group on offense. Zimmerman took yet another step back with a shoulder injury in 2008 but his potential is still there. I hope he works himself back into shape because he looks soft and overweight. Anyway the Nationals are looking pretty good for 2009. Milledge and Dukes could both go 20-20, Dukes even 30-20. Dukes went 13-13 through less than a half-season in 2008. Guzman is a solid shortstop and is good for a .280-.300 batting average with decent line-drive power. The signing of Adam Dunn has added a big bat to the lineup, and although he may not hit 40 homers like he did in Cincy, 30-35 homers and a good OBP are still nice assets to have. Willingham, even with the back problems, is a nice player to have. He can play the corners, man first and maybe even slot in as a catcher in emergencies. Zimmerman, hopefully making a comeback, still has 30 homerun power and plays sparkling defence. The young Jesus Flores looked prett solid in 2008 hitting 8 homers in a half season. His arm is good and if he continues to develop he could hit around .280 with 20 bombs. Kearns has fallen apart and is riding the bench in 2009, but as a plus defender, and a hitter with 20 homerun potential he's a pretty nice asset there (or trade bait). Anderson Hernandez and Alberto Gonzalez both went on hitting streets upon being traded to the Nats but neither are known for their bat and both can really pick it. All and all I'd give the offense a B.
The rotation was in shambles in 2008. Lannan and Odaliz Perez were the lone brightspots. Balester got his feet wet and as a solid prospect could put it together and win some ball games in 2009. Jordan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler are both waiting for the call and both have good stuff and good track records. Detwiler was awesome in college but less impressive in his professional debut, posting a 4.86 era in A ball. His crappy delivery was to blame but the kid still throws 93-97 mph with an electric splitter. Zimmerman has a ton of potential and put up a 3.21 era and struck out 103 in 106 innings pitched in AA. Lannan is the Nats version of Paul Maholm and is a solid innings eater as long as he keeps his fastball low. He lead the starting staff with a 3.91 ERA in 2008. Scott Olsen is underrated, and although his ERA will go up after leaving the Marlins, his 88-93 mph fastball, change and slider are good enough to win some ball games and slot 200 innings yearly. Perez and Redding are gone but Martis, Mock, Detwiler and Balester shouldn't have a problem taking their place
The Nats bullpen, although rebuilt in 2008, looks pretty strong. Joel Hanrahan showed his 95 mph fastball and plus slider/cutter as closer with a 3.95 era, 93 k's in 84 ip and saved 9 after the all star break. Steve Shell is a nice setup/middle reliever and his funky delivery through opposing batters off in 2008. Shell posted a sexy 2.16 era through 50 innings. Garrett Mock is a good spot starter/middle reliever and he struck out 46 in 41 ip in 2008. Saul Rivera is solid but not great. Rivera will rack up some innings and provide some stability. Former prospect Mike Hinckley didn't give up an earned run in 14 September innings and looks like he'll fill the long spot in the bullpen. Detwiler and Martis could round it out as well. All and all the Nats don't look like they'll lose 100 again. A record approaching .500 in a hard division is possible though.
5. Florida Marlins, 84-77, Hanley Ramirez, Ricky Nolasco- Poor Marlins, just when the get another chance to make the playoffs *poof* fire sale. Its discouraging to see a team thats WON two world series since 1997 go through such trouble to retain talent. The ownership is crossing their fingers that a new stadium, sans the hornets' nests, will attract some fans. The Marlins are once again looking very solid. Hanley Ramirez, the player that forced Theo Epstein to quit, in disgust, after ownership forced him to trade him to the Marlins for Josh Beckett, is one of the best hitters/players in baseball. His play at short is stinky but a kid that can hit
30 bombs and steal 40-50 bases, all while batting .300 is hard to come by and is damn valuable. Dan Uggla is a good all around itter, kind of a Jason Giambi at second. He has some mental lapses on 'D, evident in the '08 All Star game, and is prone to hitting streaks and slumps (his second half was atrocious). Still Uggla is a top five second basemen and can hit about 30 homers and draw a ton of walks. Jorge Cantu finally got it back together and hit 29 homers at third base for the Marlins last year. Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida both have taken, Hermida especially, and both could hit 30 homeruns. Cameron Maybin, the former Eye of the Tigers' is a superb athlete. He hit .400 in September for the Marlins upon his call-up, and covers some serious ground in center. 20-20 is very in reach for the kid. John Baker, now 28, drew some ROY votes after batting .299 with 5 homeruns through a third of the season, all while playing a good catcher. He's not a power threat but a good average, OBP and 10-15 homers is pretty nice. Gaby Sanchez from UMiami was converted to first base from catcher and had a .917 OPS with AA Carolina in 2008. Hell play first. Overall I'd give the Marlins a B on offense.
The Rotation is looking damn good. Ricky Nolasco, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad and Andrew Miller are all good pitchers. Nolasco and Johnson are both aces when healthy, Chris Volstad is a superb prospect and posted a 2.88 ERA through 14 starts. If Sanchez makes a come back, his former no-hitter self could be a pretty nice number 3 and the young Andrew Miller, although not showing very much in the majors, has ace potential. A- for the rotation.
After losing Kevin Gregg the Marlins are closer-less. Matt Lindstrom and Leo Nunez both will get a shot in spring training with Lindy probably getting the edge. 22 year old Jose Ceda, the fruit of the Gregg trade is a hard thrower and posted a 2.08 era and 42 strikeouts through 30 innings with AA Tennessee has the potential to be the Marlins closer by 2010. Scott Proctor and Logan Kensing are both solid middle relievers. Proctor is a horse. Ryan Tucker is a nice prospect and could get a shot somewhere on the staff for 2009. The bullpen is their weakest aspect but is definitely passable.
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