MLB's 11 Burning Questions for the New Year

Even though we are in the thick of Bowl Season and the NFL Playoffs are looming large on the sports landscape, it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2011 Baseball Season.

This offseason brought a flurry of activity. Some teams got healthy, while others weren’t so lucky. As with every baseball season, there are plenty of questions to be answered and 2011 will be no different.

So as we enter the new year, we seek the answers to these 10 burning questions of 2011. 

1. Philadelphia Phillies

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PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 15: Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies adjusts his hat after being introduced to the media during a press conference as Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. (L) looks on at Citizens Bank Park on Dec

Question:

Will the rotation really be that good?

Answer:

Yes and no. They will be a serious rotation, but rarely does any rotation live up to the hype. What makes this rotation so scary is their health. All four of their starters have started 28 or more games in the last three seasons. They are as durable as they are good.

With that being said, don’t bet on more than one of these guys rattling off 20 wins. Still, it’s realistic that all these guys win 15 games or more. As long as they stay healthy, they will be a nightmare in the National League. 

2. New York Yankees

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout against the Texas Rangers in Game Four of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 19, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo

Question:

Can the Yankees win the East with their current staff? 

Answer:

No way. Not in a season where Boston’s rotation should be healthy again, and the Rays still have a solid staff. The Yankees have C.C. Sabathia and bunch of question marks. Even if the Yankees can coax Andy Pettitte into coming back for another year, that doesn't guarantee anything.

Still, they are the Yankees and come July, someone will have a starting pitching available. That’s when the Yankees will have to land a big name. The Yankees whiffed on Greinke, but expect them to revisit him as an option if the Brewers aren’t going anywhere.

3. Minnesota Twins

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 1: Eddie Guardardo #18 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates a 7-5 victory with catcher A.J. Pierzynski #126 against the Oakland Athletics during game one in the American League Western Division Series on October 1, 2002 at the Network

Question:

Can anyone overtake the Twins in the Central?

Answer:

Yes. Every year it seems people are ready to count the Twins out, but every year the Twins seem to stand atop the AL Central by season's end.

This is the year they fall short.

The Sox have the best shot to overtake them. The Tigers will keep it competitive, but they haven’t made a lot of significant additions this offseason, so it’s unlikely they’ll be good enough to keep up.

The Sox, on the other hand, have signed Dunn to give them left handed power to complement a strong pitching staff. As long as the Sox can settle on a closer early, they should be good at the back end of the bullpen. The Sox always seem to fall short of the Twins, but this season the Sox should win, not for their additions, but for the Twins' lack thereof. 

4. Offseason Contracts

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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 24: Adam Dunn #44 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Question:

What offseason signing will prove to be the most valuable? 

Answer:

Adam Dunn. Remember the question here is “value.” Cliff Lee is the biggest icing on the cake because he makes Philly so dangerous, but by the end of that contract, what will his worth be?

Dunn is only 31 and signed for just four years. It’s likely he’ll still be worth close to the investment at the end of the deal too. He gives the Sox the left handed power they need, and he could DH to avoid his awful defensive play. Not only that, but Dunn has a reputation of being a good clubhouse guy, which is never a bad thing on the South Side. 

5. Offseason Contracts (2)

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: Jayson Werth #28 of the Washington Nationals poses before being introduced to the media on December 15, 2010 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Question:

What offseason signing will prove to be the least valuable? 

Answer:

Jayson Werth. Seven years for 126 million is borderline insane. He is a career .272 hitter who knocks in around 85 runs a year. Even if his production goes up as the featured hitter in that lineup, don’t expect Werth to ever be worth the contract they gave him. And the icing on the cake: he’ll be 38 in the last year of the contract. 

6. Washington Nationals

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper #34 playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions warms up before the AZ Fall League game against the Phoenix Desert Dogs at Scottsdale Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (P

Question:

Will Bryce Harper be a significant part of the Nationals this season?

Answer:

Yes. The initial instinct is to say “no,” but Harper was so good in the Arizona Fall league and he seems more ready than most 18 year olds are. After losing Strasburg, the Nationals will want to do anything they can to keep their fans hopeful for the future. If Harper is hitting well in the minors, you can bet he’ll be a mid-summer call up. 

7. St. Louis Cardinals

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ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals returns to the dugout after striking out against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium on September 18, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Padres beat the Cardinals 8-4. (Photo by Dilip

Question:

What will the Cardinals do about Pujols?

Answer:

Whatever they have to. Pujols is a free agent at the end of the season, but don’t expect him to go anywhere. The problem is Pujols can command serious money and the Cardinals don’t have it to pay him. However, most other teams don’t either.

Pujols knows his value, but expects that he won’t get his full worth. Look for St. Louis to get creative on a deal, like 5 years/150 million, and to try deferring some money. Pujols stays a Cardinal. 

8.Milwaukee Brewers

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ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 11: Zack Greinke #23 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on August 11, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Question:

Will Zack Grienke last the season in Milwaukee?

Answer:

No. While it was a nice grab for the Brew Crew, they know Grienke’s true value. He’s better trade bait for teams in the playoff hunt. The Brewers will struggle to compete in the NL Central and a team like the Yankees or the Twins will come calling, and the Brewers will answer. 

9. The Playoffs

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers bats against the San Francisco Giants in Game Five of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on November 1, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Giants won 3-1. (Photo by Ro

Question:

Which playoff team will take a step back next season? 

Answer:

The Texas Rangers. It might seem like a stretch, but you have to look at what the Rangers did in the offseason.

They didn’t do much.

They made no notable acquisitions and they lost Cliff Lee. Teams have to improve each season or they get worse. If you are asking if the Rangers get to the World Series next season, I would almost bet they won’t. They might not make the playoffs. 

10. The Playoffs (2)

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BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 11: Carl Crawford answers questions during a press conference to announce his joining the Boston Red Sox on December 11, 2010 at the Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Question:

What team with take a big step forward this season? 

Answer:

The Boston Red Sox.  They could go from missing the playoffs to winning a World Series. The addition of Crawford solidifies a lineup that already has a some big time hitters.

Don’t discount the recent of signing of closer Bobby Jenks as an afterthought. He’s a proven closer with World Series success. He’ll be a good insurance policy for Papelbon if he struggles. 

11. Cincinnati Reds

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 12: (FILE PHOTO) Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds stands at the plate during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ballpark on September 12, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.The Baseball Writers' Association of A

Question:

Are the Cincinnati Reds for real? 

Answer:

Yes. They are for real for two important reasons: their pitching and their division.  They have a strong rotation with Volquez, Cueto and Arroyo. Their bullpen has a big arm in Chapman and a big time closer in Cordero.

The other reason is their division. Houston, Pittsburgh and Chicago are all rebuilding. St. Louis has a lot of question marks in their lineup and their rotation (not to mention the ever growing concern with the health of Albert Pujols), and Milwaukee is a bit unpredictable. No one else concerns you in that division, so the Reds have a great shot to get back to the post-season. 

Bonus Question: San Francisco Giants

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 03: (L-R) San Francisco Giants pitchers Brian Wilson, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain speak to fans outside San Francisco city hall during the Giants' victory parade and celebration on November 3, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Th

Bonus Question:

Will the Giants repeat?

Answer:

No. It’s nothing against a talented pitching staff, but the Giants were the beneficiary of everyone playing well at exactly the same time. That kind of good fortune doesn’t happen in consecutive years. Since the Yankees repeated in 1977, only the 1993 Blue Jays and the 2000 Yankees have repeated. It’s just tough to do.