MLB 2011: Biggest Questions Surrounding All 30 Teams
As teams prepare to begin the exhibition season, the fans continue to prepare for what the upcoming season may bring from their favorite teams and players.
With plenty of unexpected movement this past offseason, we are guaranteed to experience some more major surprises, as the season is just over one month away from the first pitch.
After all, how many people predicted that the San Francisco Giants would defeat the Texas Rangers in the 2010 Fall Classic? If you did, can you please tell me who you like in 2011?
The Giants will try and defend their crown, while 29 other teams will look to dethrone them. Many new players will be heavily counted on to bring their new team to glory, while the teams who stood pat this past Winter will be expecting to take the next step toward reaching their destiny.
So even though most fans are expecting the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies to meet in the 2011 World Series, nothing can ever be counted on as a foregone conclusion.
Like I already said, how many of you had the Giants and Rangers squaring off last year before the season started?
Exactly. That is why they play the games.
The games may not start for a little longer, but the questions have already begun. Here is a look at a few pesky questions that each team will face heading into the 2011 MLB season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Will The Revamped Lineup Be Able To Produce?
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The Diamondbacks will have a very different looking lineup in 2011. Everyone wants to know what they will look like without some of their hitters who departed via free agency or trades.
We basically know two things.
1. They will strike out far less often. Mark Reynolds was traded to Baltimore and Adam LaRoche signed with Washington. The whiffs will go way down.
2. The home runs will also drop off significantly. Replacing Reynolds and LaRoche in the lineup will be Melvin Mora and Russell Branyan.
This team will attempt to play more of a small-ball type of game, but whether they have the personnel to succeed remains to be seen.
Atlanta Braves: Will Fredi Gonzalez Be Allowed To Be His Own Man?
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Gonzalez will attempt to replace a legend in Bobby Cox, and a return trip to the postseason is all that will be accepted in Atlanta. That is not an easy task when you have to play in the N.L. East.
The new skipper is joined by a familiar face after the team was able to trade for Dan Uggla, so the lineup may be better than it was last season.
But the biggest issue that the Braves and Gonzalez may face will be at the end of the bullpen. Will Craig Kimbrel and Johnny Venters be able to close out games as well as Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner?
That will determine how far the Braves go in Gonzalez's first season in Atlanta.
Baltimore Orioles: They Failed To Sign a Star Player, So How Can They Produce?
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That may cause a lot of people to yell in anger, but I do not feel as if Vladimir Guerrero is any longer a marquee player. He can still produce, but this will be a very different situation than he is used to in the past, and it is far from ideal.
The Orioles do have some solid young talent, and adding Guerrero, Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee will not hurt. I'm just not sure how much it will help, either.
This lineup has the ability to score a few runs. But will they be able to finish anywhere besides the basement in perhaps the toughest division in baseball? I would say that it is highly doubtful.
Boston Red Sox: Can Anything Outside of Injuries Alter Their World Series Dream?
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The Red Sox had arguably the best offseason, landing Adrian Gonzalez in a trade and signing Carl Crawford away from their division rivals in Tampa. Their lineup should be unstoppable.
But that was the case last year as well, until more or less the entire team went down with injuries. But this year, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury are expected to be healthy and join the most potent lineup in the game.
While Boston may be the team to beat, and while their offense could easily lead the league in scoring when healthy, the team still has to rely of pitchers such as John Lackey and Josh Beckett to be the players they thought they were getting when they signed them to long-term deals.
If that does not happen, this team may actually not win it all. But it would still have to be considered a monumental upset if they do not at least reach the World Series.
Chicago Cubs: Will Two Former Rays Help The Cubs Contend?
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Matt Garza and Carlos Pena were brought in for one reason and one reason only: Get this team back on the winning track.
But will it be enough? The Cubs may have made a couple of nice moves, but will it be enough to keep up with some of the moves made by some of the younger and more talented teams in their division?
The short answer is no. Garza will help the rotation and Pena will hit a few homers, but the Cubs will still struggle to pick up wins in a division that got a lot more competitive this past offseason.
I guess the long answer is also no. Sorry, Cubbies fans, but the chants of 1908 will not go away any time soon.
Chicago White Sox: Will Adam Dunn Be Able To Adjust To Full-Time DH Status?
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Adam Dunn signed a lucrative deal with the White Sox, and he was specifically told that he was coming there to be the team's regular designated hitter. But will he have the same type of success coming off the bench for all of his plate appearances?
Dunn is a power hitter and switching to play in U.S. Cellular Park will not hurt those numbers at all. But some hitters have struggled to find success after they switch from a full-time fielder to strictly a designated hitter.
If that happens, then do not expect the White Sox to let him sit long. They will have no choice but to play him in right field and platoon him at first base and try to give Paul Konerko some rest as the season progresses.
It will certainly be interesting to see how it will all work out in the Windy City.
Cincinnati Reds: Still Intact, Can The Young Reds Defend Their Division Crown?
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Cincinnati locked up Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and many of the team's core players to long-term contracts. That should guarantee that the Reds put a solid product out for many years to come.
But while winning the division last year may have been challenging, it will be even harder for this young team to repeat last season's success.
But as long as Votto and Bruce continue to produce and Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto keep throwing strikes, there is no reason not to think that this team will be back playing in the postseason.
Cleveland Indians: Will Grady Sizemore Be Healthy...Finally?
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Sizemore is one of the special players in the game today...when he is actually healthy enough to be on the field. Unfortunately for the Tribe, that not has not been often over the last couple of seasons.
The Indians continue to spend very little money in free agency, so a healthy Sizemore is vital to the team's success. And by success, I mean the difference between the team winning 65 games vs. possibly winning 75 games.
With apologies to Cleveland fans, this team will not be much better than your beloved Cavaliers.
Colorado Rockies: Isn't It Always The Same Question? Is The Pitching There?
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The Rockies locked up Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez for a long time, and they have promised Ubaldo Jimenez that they will take care of him next. But after him, is the pitching deep enough to keep Colorado in contention in the N.L. West?
Re-signing Jorge De La Rosa will certainly help, and hoping that John Maine can turn things around is more of a low-end risk.
But it has always been the same old question for the Rockies: Is the pitching good enough to keep the team in the race?
If they continue to score eight or nine runs per game, then why not?
Detroit Tigers: Which Miguel Cabrera Will Show Up In 2011?
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The Tigers are centered around their star first baseman, Miguel Cabrera. But his demons continue to haunt him, and they will do the same to Detroit in a season of high expectations before Miggy's arrest.
Cabrera will have to prove to himself and his teammates that he can beat drinking. So far, he has failed. It appeared as if he had turned the corner last season, but his recent arrest in Florida could be a huge setback.
There may be no team who is expected to compete for a division that pins more of their hopes on one player than the Tigers. Victor Martinez will help the batting order, and the bullpen has been solidified, as it cost them many games last season.
But without Cabrera, this team is a third-place squad at best.
Florida Marlins: Can The Baby Fish Take This Team to The Next Level?
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Dan Uggla may have been dealt to the Braves, but the Marlins have plenty of young bats who are ready to lead this franchise.
Mike "The Stanchise" Stanton is a phenom in the making, and Logan Morrison is another talented player who could compete for Rookie of the Year honors.
Along with Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez and Chris Coghlan, this team should be able to find ways to score runs.
Combine that with their top two starters of Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, this could be a dangerous team.
If only they played in any other division...
Houston Astros: What Do You Do With Carlos Lee?
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Carlos Lee was one of the most feared men in all of baseball. That may no longer be the case.
Now the questions continue to surface about Lee. What should the Astros do with him this season?
Play him in the outfield? Move him to first? Give him more time off throughout the season?
There is one simple solution for the Astros. Do not worry about changing his position. Don't fret about changing his spot in the batting order. The team should focus on changing two things:
His address and his uniform.
In other words, trade him while you still can, unless it is already too late.
Kansas City Royals: Without Zack Greinke, Will This Team's Attitude Change?
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Playing for the Royals cannot be easy. But now that the team traded away its best player for prospects, what must be going through the minds of the rest of the players?
Sure, they have some good, young talent. But after watching them make very little effort to lock up their star player long-term, why would anyone else on the Royals expect anything different?
Will they still play hard? Of course. But they know that they are simply playing for a contract somewhere else.
Los Angeles Angels: By Missing Out On So Many Players, Can They Compete?
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The Angels were the favorites to land Carl Crawford. They were in on Cliff Lee. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that they would sign Adrian Beltre.
They got none of those players.
What they got was an aging Vernon Wells and his big fat contract.
That screams desperation.
That is not good for a team chasing at least one other team ahead of them in an already watered-down division.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Will The Messy McCourt Divorce Ruin This Team?
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The lawyers are involved in the Los Angeles Dodgers' business more than the owners or players. That is never a good sign.
The team has some talent, and they brought in some more veterans who could help out for a season or two.
But does anyone think Joe Torre would have left if he thought his team could compete?
Good luck to you, Mr. Mattingly. Something tells me that you are going to need it this year.
Milwaukee Brewers: Have The Prince Fielder Trade Rumors Started Yet?
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Even though the Brew Crew traded for Zack Greinke, that does not mean they will lock up Fielder for the long run. They just had to tell Greinke that so he would waive his no-trade clause.
It worked.
But there is no way Fielder signs an extension during the season, and he may only be a rental to another contender if Milwaukee falls out of things in the N.L. Central.
Of course, that is provided the Brewers will trade him at some point.
Their early success will go a long way to determining how long Fielder is wearing a Brewers' uniform.
Minnesota Twins: Will The Fragility Continue For The Twins?
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The Twins have the talent in place to win. At least on offense. I will never be a believer in Carl Pavano. But the team can never seem to stay healthy.
At this point, how could you expect anything else? Justin Morneau seems to be injured as often as he is not, and many others seem to go down at the most inopportune times.
Unless that changes, they may make the playoffs. But a first-round exit is almost inevitable.
New York Mets: Is It Time To Break Up The Mets and Meet The New Mets?
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The New York Mets are a complete mess. Did I mention that the season is still over a month away?
Between the mess with the Wilpons, K-Rod beating up his in-laws (although who hasn't wanted to do that at least once or twice?) and so many highly paid players on the downswing of their careers, what else can go wrong in New York?
I'm sure we won't have to wait long to find out the answer to that question.
New York Yankees: Will Stars From a Decade Ago Still Be Able To Contribute?
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I'm not talking about Derek Jeter. The Steinbrenners can say what they want, but The Captain will bounce back. He is too good to struggle again this season.
I'm not even talking about A-Rod or C.C. or Jorge or Mo. They will all be fine.
I'm talking about the players they signed this offseason who they are counting on to help, and help in a big way.
Andruw Jones would have been a better signing than Carl Crawford...eight years ago.
Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia would have been an improvement over Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte...about a decade ago.
The team failed to land the big names that they coveted (and needed), so they brought in players who are about 10 years or so past their prime.
Did I mention Mark Prior?
Oakland Athletics: Will Their Hodgepodge Of New Players Fit In Together?
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Enter the new Athletics: Hideki Matsui, David DeJesus, Brian Fuentes, Rich Harden and Josh Willingham. All were once very good players.
But how much do they have left? Matsui is declining, unless the team makes the postseason, where I'm assuming he would still shine.
Harden will be on the shelf a lot, and Fuentes is only the set-up guy again.
I like DeJesus and Willingham, but not enough. Expect Oakland to trade some of them to contenders by the end of July.
Philadelphia Phillies: How Many 20-Game Winners Will Pitch On This Staff?
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It is insane even to be asking that question, but what would the over/under be on that actually taking place?
Consider that three of the top four have won 20+ games in a season in the past. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt have done it before, and Cole Hamels is more than capable.
So if I put the over/under at two, what would you bet?
Simply put, they have the potential to be that good. Scary.
Pittsburgh Pirates: How Many Good Players Get Dealt Before The Deadline?
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The countdown is already on for Ryan Doumit, who is a man without a position. He will be traded sooner rather than later.
But who else will this team trade to gain some more prospects...that they can trade once they become good?
It is a revolving door on teams such as the Pirates, which is bad for baseball.
But players such as Kevin Correia, Lyle Overbay and Matt Diaz could be good for a contender come July or August.
San Diego Padres: How Do They Replace a Fan Favorite Such As Adrian Gonzalez?
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A-Gon is long gone. So is Miguel Tejada. How will the Padres replace them in the lineup and in the hearts of the fans?
It is easy. They won't.
But the team still has some pieces in place to compete. They acquired some veterans who, if they have anything left in the tank, this is the year to find out how much.
The Padres brought in Jason Bartlett, Jorge Cantu, Brad Hawpe, Orlando Hudson, Cameron Maybin and Gregg Zaun. They also signed Aaron Harang.
Are you as excited about that as I am?
Neither are San Diego fans, but this team will be better than they think.
San Francisco Giants: Quite Simply Put, Can This Team Compete?
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The team is still more or less the same. They replaced Edgar Renteria with Miguel Tejada, and if you take away what Renteria did in the World Series, then this is an upgrade.
Buster Posey will have a full season to develop, and Pablo Sandoval has lost a lot of weight.
The pitchers are still amongst the elite, and Madison Bumgarner will also have a full year to develop.
Why would they not be able to make it back to the World Series?
Oh yeah, those guys in Philadelphia.
Seattle Mariners: Just How Bad Can This Team Be This Season?
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Taking away the guy in the photo, name one other player for the Mariners?
Time is up. Did you guess anyone else?
No, Ken Griffey Jr. is no longer in Seattle.
Tell me you all at least got Ichiro. You have to be able to name one of the most consistent hitters over the last decade. Now seriously, name another Mariner.
It isn't easy, is it?
St. Louis Cardinals: Will Albert Pujols' Contract Situation Be a Distraction?
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Of course!
Just because a player does not want to negotiate during the season does not mean that it will not be a distraction. It is a nice premise, but an impossibility in reality.
Pujols wants to wait until the offseason to talk terms. The team decided not to give him the big contract he is asking for...and deserves. They are taking a huge risk.
But in a way, so is Pujols. What if he has a down season for the Cardinals?
Alright, that was my joke of the day.
There are no bad seasons for Albert Pujols, and some team will give him the type of contract he demands next season.
The questions is, will it be the Cardinals?
I still say yes. He means too much to the team and the community.
Tampa Bay Rays: Will The Fans Take To Manny and Johnny at The Trop?
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The Rays are another team in the A.L. East that made a lot of changes this offseason. But in my opinion, they will fall further behind the Red Sox and Yankees.
Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon may be good as far as public relations are concerned. They are always entertaining, even when the situation does not call for it in Manny's case.
But the team will not compete for a playoff berth, as they simply lost too much. The window was closing already, and it may be awhile before another one opens.
Texas Rangers: Can They Win Without Cliff Lee?
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Texas was a good team without Cliff Lee for the first part of last season.
They were flat-out great with him.
But Lee is gone, and the Rangers will suffer on the mound. They added Brandon Webb, but no one knows how much he can help this season.
Vlad Guerrero is also gone, but Adrian Beltre is capable of replacing him in the order.
Michael Young is still there, but he is not happy about anything.
Ron Washington is still leading the way, but his decision-making skills are constantly being questioned.
Can the Rangers win without Lee? Sure.
But will they? That is another question that remains to be seen.
Toronto Blue Jays: How Will Jose Bautista Fare This Year?
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Bautista hit 54 dingers last season. Prior to that, he had hit 59 in his career.
Anyone expecting him to come anywhere close to replicating last season's numbers is fooling themselves into a false sense of hope.
If he hits 30 homers this year, I would consider it a big deal.
Washington Nationals: At What Point Will The Fans Turn On Jayson Werth?
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Werth had his fair share of troubles in Philly with the media and the fans. He then parlayed a couple of big years into a huge contract.
With that being said, how long will it be before the Nats and their fans come to regret that decision?
When is the first game of the regular season?
With So Many Questions Left To Be Answered, Who Will Meet In Late October?
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How could anyone predict a World Series that does not include the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies?
I know that I cannot, and that is in no way any disrespect to the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees or any other team.
If Boston and Philadelphia stay healthy, then they are just that much better than everyone else.
That is, on paper.
