Predictions 2011: AL Edition

With Opening Day only a day away, its time for this year's predictions.  Let's start with the AL.


AL East: Boston Red Sox

Despite some key injuries last year, the Red Sox were able to win 89 games led by a somewhat rejuvenated Big Papi and their two young aces, John Lester and Clay Bucholz.  This offseason, all they did was add Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to a lineup that finished second in the AL in runs scored.  Of course, the Yankees are still the Yankees, and this division will probably come down to the Sep 23-25 series at Yankee stadium do decide a winner.  I know Lackey, Dice-K, and Beckett may not be what they once were (or are being paid like now), but I've still got more faith in them than the back end of the Yankees rotation.

AL Central: Minnesota Twins

Ok, maybe I'm letting my man crush on Joe Mauer  (and the fact that I'm writing this from Minneapolis) affect my AL Central pick, but I'm sticking with the Twins.  Health is, of course, going to play a huge role in how good this team ends up being.  Getting the real Morneau and Nathan back should be a huge boost to a team that won their division last year comfortably without them.  Another question is the addition of Tsuyoshi Nikiosha.  Replacing the O-Dog's .268/.338/.372 line from last year is not asking him to be the next Ichiro, but much will still be expected of the pricey (3yrs/$9 mill + $5 mill posting fee) Japanese import.  The White Sox and Tigers should challenge, but as long as they can avoid any catastrophic injuries (I'm looking at you, Mauer), the Twins should once again be ready to bow out in the Division Series to the Yankees.




 AL West: Oakland A's

I think it's pretty simple for the A's: if they hit, they win.  Even with Andrew Bailey starting the season on the DL, this team should have plenty of pitching to get the job done.  It's clear that this team needs their offseason acquisitions: Josh Willingham, Hideki Matsui, and David DeJesus, to pick up the offensive slack.  The Texas Rangers are going to have something to say about this division, when all is said and done.  Moving Neftali Feliz back to the closer role gives them piece of mind at the end of games and they can certainly put up crooked numbers, especially at home, but I'm just not convinced that CJ Wilson, as good as he was last year, is the ace of a division winning ball club.





AL Wild Card: New York Yankees

 
The Yankees should be able to hit their way into the playoffs, pure and simple.  Even as their big ticket players, A-Rod and the Captain, continue their downward slides, the depth of their lineup (and getting to play 81 games at Yankee Stadium) is still the envy of basically every team not named the Boston Red Sox.  Mariano can't be Mariano forever, but he should be good for at least this year.  As much as I'd love to see the Damon-Manny Rays challenge them for a playoff spot, I just don't see it happening.  The White Sox could also give the Yankees a run for the Wild Card, but I see them having a better shot at the AL Central crown.