Predictions for 2011 (for Tigers et al.)

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

* Rays finish 4th in AL East

* Tsuyoshi Nishioka becomes the next Kaz Matsui and Twins are forced to play Alexi Casilla and Trevor Plouffe up the middle for the stretch run

* Brad Penny makes 30 starts

* Bartolo Colon lasts 2 starts w/ the Yankees before going 0-2 and being DFA'ed

* bounce back years for Carlos Quentin, Aaron Hill and Josh Beckett

* no bounce back years for AJ Burnett, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Zobrist, or Grady Sizemore

* Carlos Santana becomes an absolute star in Cleveland

* Guys who get traded by deadline: Fausto Carmona and Joakim Soria

[DrRay11]

Tigers miss the playoffs

[Timone]

Tigers miss the playoffs

This

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

Also I don't think Texas's pitching will be as strong as last year. Colby Lewis, Tommy Hunter & C.J. Wilson will have a hard time duplicating last year's success and I have zero faith that Brandon Webb will be able to stay healthy. Their pen is strong though w/ Rhodes, O'Day, Oliver and Feliz, but they don't have the horses in the rotation to make it back to the playoffs without adding a front-line starter at the deadline again (likely won't be any elite ones available).

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

Tigers miss the playoffs

I think they'll make the playoffs. Minnesota is in no way shape or form better this year than last year and Chicago has a ton of variables w/ Peavy, E-Jax and no real closer. Plus they're giving the 3B job to an unproven Brent Morel.

[Timone]

Few things in life are certain, the Twins finishing ahead of the Tigers being one of them.

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

Minnesota incoming: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka

Minnesota outgoing: 2B Orlando Hudson, SS J.J. Hardy, RP Jon Rauch, RP Matt Guerreir, RP Jesse Crain, RP Brian Fuentes, RP Ron Mahay, C Jose Morales


Best case scenario: Nishioka puts up the same numbers as Hudson last year. Hardy wasn't a valuable player but he's better than Alexi Casilla on a full time basis. The bullpen loses a ton w/ Guerrier, Crain & Rauch all putting in heavy innings for them late in games. Asking Jose Mijares, Pat Neshek, and Alex Burnett to fill the void will be a tall task. Joe Nathan will be back, and I think he'll be fine, but somebody needs to bridge the gap between him and the starters (a few of which are coming off less than stellar seasons: Blackburn, Slowey, and Baker).

Also the Morneau issue is worth watching. The guy is still dealing w/ headaches after his concussion last summer. Now they've been able to play well w/o Morneau the last 2 years in the stretch runs, but its naive to think a team that has lost so much this past offseason can continue to win w/o their best hitter at 100%.

[DrRay11]

We're giving the 2B job to Will Rhymes, lol

[Wilfredo Ledezma]

We're giving the 2B job to Will Rhymes, lol

I don't get the vibe the organization is very high on Rhymes. Sizemore has way more upside and also has some value as a potential trade chip. I think they'll look for any excuse possible to give the job to Sizemore -- even if Rhymes outperforms him in the spring. Will Rhymes is basically Ramon Santiago.

[Glenn]

3rd place for DETRIOT.