2011 MLB Predictions: 5 Sleeper Teams That Will Shock the League
It seems like every year a surprise team competes and makes a run at the World Series. In 2010 it was the San Francisco Giants who shocked the league by beating out all of the favorites for a title.
The Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are the favorite in each league, but undoubtedly there will be a team that will shock and surprise.
Here are five teams that will surprise in the 2011 MLB season.
Cleveland Indians
1 of 5
When you stop laughing after realizing the Cleveland Indians made the list, stop and check out what they have to offer.
The Indians had 69 wins in 2010 and finished fourth in the American league Central. The Indians have a few question marks, but if things work out just right, this team could compete for the AL Wild Card.
The Indians need to have players get healthy and stay healthy in the form of Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore. Shin-Soo Choo is easily one of the most underrated players in the league and Carlos Santana has tremendous upside as the team’s catcher.
The Indians pitching rotation has three solid starters in Fausto Carmona, Carlos Carrasco and Justin Masterson.
Manager Manny Acta will be perfect to guide and mold these youngsters as they make some noise in the AL Central in 2011.
Florida Marlins
2 of 5
Every expert in MLB has already gift wrapped the NL East and handed it over to the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the Phillies have been known to have injury issues and it has already hit the team this year.
This could open up the division for the Florida Marlins.
In 2010 the Marlins struggled early and fired their manager. They rebounded to finish the season strong and saw the emergence of three young studs that will power this franchise well into the future. Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton will be very familiar names be the end of the season, if not already.
Hanley Ramirez will put up monster numbers and the Marlins will be improved defensively.
The strength of this marlins staff will be pitching as they boast an impressive lineup. Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Javier Vazquez and Chris Volstad may not match up to the Phillies, but they will keep the fish in contention.
Chicago Cubs
3 of 5
While Cub fans may argue that their team winning would not be shocking, the past would suggest otherwise.
The Cubs are not expected to make too much noise in the division with the emerging Reds and the ever powerful Cardinals, but this could actually be their year.
The Cubs were active in the offseason, bringing in slugger Carlos Pena to take over for Derrick Lee, Matt Garza to add to an already solid rotation and Kerry Wood to improve a pitiful bullpen.
If (and it’s a big "if") the Cubs starting rotation can live up to their potential, they could be one of the best in the Central. Ryan Dempster is reliable and Carlos Zambrano needs to keep his head on straight. Matt Garza is ready to join Randy Wells and Carlos Silva as a nice end to a sweet rotation.
The lineup is an infusion of impressive youngsters and talented veterans. If the bullpen improves from last year, the Cubs could surprise and win the Central.
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Baltimore Orioles
4 of 5
With all due apologies to the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles can make some noise in 2011. Buck Showalter came into town last year and gave the O’s an attitude makeover. The O's were 34-23 under Showalter and were busy in the offseason.
The O’s brought in the veteran bats such of Derrek Lee, Vladimir Guerrero and Mark Reynolds. They boast a young rotation with Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Matusz anchoring the front line.
Kevin Gregg is a proven closer and Showalter has shown the O’s that they can compete with the big dogs in the AL East. At 25:1, the odds look nice to back the birds to make some noise in 2011.
Oakland Athletics
5 of 5
Some fans may not consider the A’s a sleeper as they finished second in the American League West last year, only trailing the Texas Rangers.
The A’s are powered by pitching and led the league in American League in earned run average, shutouts and quality starts by developing a young staff. Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson are the young guns for the A’s and are a solid three options in a deep rotation.
Left-hander Brian Fuentes and fiery righty Grant Balfour were brought in to secure the bullpen and the A’s will have the pitching that will make them dangerous all year long. On offense the A’s added Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui and that will be all they need to make some noise in 2011.
The season is underway in MLB and it will be interesting to see what team surprises in 2011.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.
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