AL Central Preview: Can Detroit Bounce Back into Contention?

American League Central  

Cleveland Indians

The Indians are coming off a 96-66 season in which they won the AL Central by eight games, only to lose to Boston in the ALCS.
 
C.C Sabathia contributed a career-high 19 wins with seven losses, while he posted a career best 3.21 ERA and 209 strikeouts. Sabathia was key to the Indians success in 2007, and will be key to getting to the World Series.

Another gem in the Indians starting rotation is Fausto Carmona, who went 19-8 last year, posting a .308 ERA. Look for big things from this possible All-Star. He can easily win 20 games this season no doubt.

If Paul Byrd can have another solid season and Jake Westbrook can get back to his former self, this could be a really solid rotation. Aaron Laffey is also a good young pitcher. Who I look for big thing from in the future.
 
Solid middle relief with Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Japanese newcomer Masahide Kobayashi, with a solid closer in Joe Borowski, who closed 45 games last year.
 
Grady Sizemore, 2007 All-Star, will start in center with David Dellucci on his left and Franklin Gutierrez on his right. If Sizemore can have another solid year, he can easily pass career-high numbers for a breakout year.

If Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Garko, and Travis Hafner can continue to hit the ball and knock in runs Cleveland will be a serious contender, it’s hitting is one of the strongest in the AL, and is only going to get better.

Casey Blake will have to contribute much greater, as I felt his performance last year was not what he is capable of. He is a player that could put up big numbers if he plays to the level he is capable of. 

I can’t forget about catcher Victor Martinez who hit a career high 25 home runs, while knocking in 114 runs with a solid .301 average (which has remained around .300 for the past three seasons).
 
The only negative is the loss of veteran Kenny Lofton, the team will lose speed and experience, but is very capable of clinching the Central Division again, but will they be able to challenge the Red Sox?

Detroit Tigers

Detroit boasts the strongest offence in the Central, by far. The Tigers were 88-74 last season, six games out of the Wild Card. Pitching is above average, but bullpen drags down credibility and may cause the Tigers to have a less than desirable results.

Look for big things from ace Justin Verlander who went 18-6 last year with a 3.66 ERA, striking out 183 batters. Verlander, although young, has shown he knows what it takes to win and will be key to the Detroit pitching staff.
 
This is do or die for Kenny Rogers who will show if he still has what it takes to play ball. Rogers has shown if he can stay healthy he can still be one of the most exciting pitchers in baseball.
 
Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Nate Robertson round out a strong rotation.
 
Bullpen is the team's weak spot. Look for Todd Jones to get closing duties.
 
Batting competes with, and perhaps even outdoes, the Indians with Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Edgar Renteria, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera, Placido Polanco, Pudge Rodriguez, and Curtis Granderson—who are all superstars in their own right and can hurt pitchers all night.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?