AL Owns MLB Again in 2008: Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox Look Like World Series Contenders

Jeremy Bonderman (11-9, 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) struggled last season, but has the potential to be a 15-game winner in the major leagues, which was proven in 2006 when he went 14-8, with a 4.08 ERA.  If he can get his ERA back down to the 4.08 range, his win total will approach the 16-17 range, due to the tremendous offense he will have backing him.

Dontrelle Willis (10-15, 5.17 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) has had two consecutive off-years, but the potential he has showed his entire career is something the Tigers can bank on.  Playing for crummy Marlin teams led to his decline, and I believe that playing for a winning team, like the Tigers, will put Willis back to his 22-10 days of 2005.  He is only 26 years old, and is in no way washed-up.

Nate Robertson (9-13, 4.76 ERA) and Kenny Rogers (3-4, 4.43 ERA) are quality pitchers to have at the back end of a rotation.  Rogers is back in good health, and if he can stay healthy, you would have to imagine he will have a winning season based on the fact that he's had only three losing seasons in his career as a starter.  And all three of those seasons have been injury riddled seasons (6-7 in 1997, 5-7 in 2001, and 3-4 last season).  Robertson is probably this team's fifth starter, and has showed that he can be a .500 pitcher, which is something you come to expect out of your fifth starter.  If he can have a 13-13 season, like he did in 2006, the Tigers will be more than happy with his performance.

After the starters leave the game, the Tigers have one of the best bullpens in the game.

With the tandem of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney handling the seventh and eighth innings of games; it is unlikely that if Detroit will lose if leading at that point.

And, if Bobby Seay can pitch the same way he did last season, that will make for a very dangerous trio, leading up to Todd Jones closing the game out.

All in all, the Detroit Tigers are a serious threat on offense, and have the potential to be a very good defensive team, as well. 

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox may not have as scary a lineup as the Tigers do, from top to bottom, but the top of their lineup is one that will put fright into any pitching staff.

With Jacoby Ellsbury taking over at the top of the lineup, it is not exactly certain what the Red Sox will get out of him, but if it's anything like what he showed at the end of last season, the entire league better take notice.  He is a legitimate threat to go .300-30-100, and to steal over 30 bases, as well.  And, that's just being nice to the other teams in the league.  He could have better numbers than that.  But, for now, he's untested.

After him, the lineup goes into terror mode for opposing pitchers.

Whether it be Dustin Pedroia or Kevin Youkilis at the two-spot in the order, teams will have to deal with a .300+ quality hitter that doesn't strike out much, which means more baserunners for the Many Ramirez-DavidOrtiz tandem.

And, we don't even need to mention anything about what they can do with men on base. 

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