Making spring training predictions (and getting egg on your face) is a time honored tradition that dates back as far as the game of baseball itself. The Viral Global News Sports team presents the 2014 MLB Season Preview, this installment-American League Central.
American League Central
1- Detroit Tigers- Not only are the Tigers our pick to win the division, we have them going all the way to the World Series. The Tigers have an All-Universe pitching staff led by Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez. Add perennial MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera and you have our 2014 MLB Prediction for World Series Champs. Prince Fielder will be missed but the Tigers won’t.
2- Cleveland Indians- We don’t see the Tribe keeping pace with Detroit but a Wild Card run is easily in the cards. Losing their best pitcher in Scott Kazmir to free agency without replacing him will be too hard a loss to make up. An exciting crop of young talent makes Cleveland’s future beyond 2014 bright, but for 2014 we see them as just good enough to get to a Wild Card but not much further.
3- Kansas City Royals- Just like the Orioles, the Royals have been teasing us the past few seasons. James Shields, Jeremy Guthrie and Jason Vargas are the core of a respectable starting rotation. Norichika Aoki at top of the lineup should get the groove flowing early and often for this ever improving young lineup
4- Chicago White Sox- The Sox were 63-99 last year and there were no significant additions since last year, so even if they show modest improvement, they still will be out of contention by mid-season. Unless Robin Ventura finds a way to pitch Chris Sale every day, this will be a long season in the South Side.
5- Minnesota Twins- The good news: The Twins have an amazing farm system and emerging superstar caliber players coming out of the minors like Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Those two are just the tip of the iceberg. The bad news: This is 2014, not 2015. Modest short -term improvements will reduce the losses this year but it’ll still being a losing season. However, it should prove to be the Twins’ last losing season for quite a while.
Outlook: The Tigers will continue to dominate; Indians make a sustained but unsuccessful Wild Card push; the Royals hover just north of .500; White Sox will not be a factor and Twins’ youngsters start showing us something special in the second half.
On Deck- AL West
By: Dave Schwartz