2010 Preview: AL Central

This is a preview of the 2010 season. We will look at the different divisions, teams, and players. This is also featured on Phillies Nation, as part of their 2010 preview.

Last season, it took 163 games to decide the winner of the American League Central. The Detroit Tigers had a three game lead with four games left, but were unable to hold it as the Minnesota Twins forced a tiebreaker. In a game for the ages, the Twins defeated the Tigers, 6-5. Alexi Casilla's 12th inning walk-off single dramatically sent the Twins into the postseason. Unfortunately, the Twins were unable to make it past the first round of the postseason.

Minnesota Twins

The Metrodome would give a slight advantage to the home team, but this April, Target Field will become the new home of the Minnesota Twins. Last year, the Twins ranked fifth in runs scored (817); it'll be interesting to see if their new ballpark will benefit pitchers or hitters. Either way, the Twins have a scary lineup that includes the American League MVP and batting champion, Joe Mauer.

Along with Mauer, the Twins have several players who are capable of hitting 20 or more home runs: Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, and their newest addition, Jim Thome. In addition, the Twins acquired a new double play combination: J.J Hardy and Orlando Hudson.

Pitching is the Twins biggest question mark. Joe Nathan, a top-notch closer, has been sidelined with an elbow tear. Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey will anchor the rotation, but the Twins would like a comeback from Francisco Liriano, who had a phenomenal rookie season. Liriano has been plagued with injuries and struggles since 2006.

2009: 87-76, 1st in AL Central
2010 Prediction: 88-74, 1st place

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers made headlines when they traded Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson for Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke. While they got some key players in return, losing a player of Granderson's caliber is huge. They also lost Placido Polanco to free agency.

Among other off-season moves, the Tigers signed Johnny Damon to a one-year, $8 million contract. With the health problems of flame-throwing Joel Zumaya, the Tigers also signed closer Jose Valverde to a two-year, $14 million deal.

Since his trade to Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hasn't been in the spotlight, but he always has an All Star type season. Additionally, the Tigers have a solid 1-2 punch with Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello.

2009: 86-77, 2nd in AL Central
2010 Prediction: 82-80, 3rd place

Chicago White Sox

In 2009, the Chicago White Sox made a couple trades that didn't impact the team at the time. However, Jake Peavy and Alex Rios could make big impacts on the team in 2010. With Mark Buehrle and a healthy Peavy, the White Sox could have an impressive front of the rotation.

The health of Peavy is important, but so is the health of Carlos Quentin, who has been bothered with injuries over the last few years.

2009: 79-83, 3rd in AL Central
2010 Prediction: 86-76, 2nd place

Cleveland Indains

Over the course of the last two years, the Cleveland Indians traded most of their team to get younger. They have plenty of prospects (Carlos Santana to name one), but aren't likely to contend in 2010.

The only "big name player" left is Grady Sizemore. While Sizemore is an All Star caliber player, the Indians have other established players, such as Travis Hafner and Shin-Soo Choo. Most of their club consists of up and coming players like Matt LaPorta and Justin Masterson.

2009: 65-97, Tied for last in AL Central
2010: 70-92, last place

Kansas City Royals

The Royals didn't have too many bright spots last year, but one of them was Zach Greinke. The American League Cy Young winner dominated, despite being on one of the worst teams in basbeall.

Besides Greinke, the Royals have a few players they can count on. They've added Rick Ankiel to the outfield and have gotten some production out of first baseman Billy Butler. Joakim Soria doesn't get too many save opportunities as a Royal, but when he does, he gets the job done.

The Royals seem to be high on their third baseman, Alex Gordon. He has been bothered with injuries and so far has yet to live up to his potential.

2009: 65-97, Tied for last in AL Central
2010 Prediction: 71-91, 4th place

The Other Side of the Trade

Many are calling the cops on Ruben Amaro Jr. for stealing. As you know by now, the Indians traded Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies in exchange for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson.

The edge appears to be for the Phillies who got a Cy Young winner, a right handed bat, and saved their best prosepcts in J.A Happ, Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor. While they aren't the highest ranked prospects, the Indians got four decent prospects in return, two who are very close to being Major League ready.

The Indians are set in the catching department with Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach, but Marson is very close to being MLB ready. The 23 year old doesn't have much power, but hits for a high average. His catching abilities are impressive; he blocks the ball well and has a strong arm.

Donald, like Marson, is returning from an injury this year. Donald can also hit for average, but has a little more pop than Marson. Donald is very versatile. Primarily a plays shortstop, he can also play second and third. In the long haul, I think second will be a better option for him because he doesn't have the greatest arm strength. Asdrubal Cabrera is doing okay for the Tribe this year, but Donald could make an impact in 2010.

Jason Knapp has the most potential of the bunch, and he was the centerpiece of this deal. He is a strikeout machine, and he is only 18. He has 111 strikeouts in 85.1 innings, that's 11.7 K/9.

Carlos Carrasco has fallen off the radar, but he once touted as the Phillies best prospect. He has a very good curveball, and people forget how young he is (22). He'll probably be a middle of the rotation starter in the future, but he has always been a top prospect despite a shaky year this season. A change of scenery might help him too. He can turn around his struggles, he is a talented pitcher.

Even though the Indians didn't get the Phillies best prospects, the Indians still received a good amount of talent in return.

Phillies Acquire Lee

Fox Sports reports that the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal that sends Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. Both team still have to examine medical records before the deal is official.

The Phillies were able to get the deal done without trading Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, J.A Happ or Dominic Brown, their best prospects.

Knapp has a lot of potential, but Marson and Donald were being blocked anyway, and Carlos Carrasco has been falling off the radar. Carrasco, Donald, and Marson have all been scratched from today's IronPigs lineup.

Ben Francisco is the right-handed bat that the Phillies have been looking for. Francisco is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs.

Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He is the reigning American League Cy Young winner.

Not only do they get a former Cy Young winner, but a bat off the bench.

DeRosa To Cards

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later.

The 34 year old, DeRosa, is a very versatile player, playing almost any position. DeRosa is batting .270 with 13 HR and 50 RBI this year. DeRosa was traded from the Chicago Cubs to Indians during the off season. He is in the final year of a three year deal that pays him $5.5 million this year.

In 23.2 innings, Perez has a 4.18 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He has struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings. Perez is young, and still has a lot of potential.

The Cardinals are also pursuing Matt Holliday from the Oakland A's.

Umps are Busy with no DH

While there are errors on the field, there are errors in.. the lineup?

The Tampa Bay Rays made a mistake in their lineup on Sunday that forced starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine to bat.

Evan Longoria was supposed to be the Ray's designated hitter, instead the lineup card had two third baseman: Longoria and Ben Zobrist. No DH was listed.

Making sure the decision was correct, the game was delayed 13 minutes before the umpires declared that Sonnanstine would have to bat third and the Rays would lose a DH. Longoria would be available to come off the bench.

Sonnanstine didn't look like a pitcher at the plate. In the fourth inning, Sonnanstine smoked an RBI double to left. He also reached based on a failed sacrifice attempt. He became the first pitcher since Matt Garza in 2007 to get at least two plate appearances in an American League game.

"I knew something was up, but I didn't know exactly what was going to happen,"
Sonnanstine said. "They told me that I was going to have to hit, and I corrected
them and told them 'I get to hit.' I took it as an opportunity. That was one of
the craziest games I've ever been a part of."

On the mound, Sonnanstine allowed five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Maddon took the blame, but the players backed him up winning it 7-5. In the process of the win, benches cleared when Kerry Wood nearly hit B.J Upton twice. Victor Martinez, who almost was hit by a pitch earlier in the series, got into a verbal argument with somebody on the Rays bench until the dugouts emptied.

Troy Percival responded plunking Mark DeRosa in the ninth, but was likely unintentional as it was a save situation and DeRosa was buried in an 0-2 count.

Besides figuring out the DH situation and separating the players from each other, the umpires were busy. They appeared to have missed a call on Ryan Garko's fly ball to left field. Carl Crawford caught the ball against the wall, but the replay shows that the ball clearly hit the padding before entering Crawford's glove.

The outcome of the game may have been different if the Rays had their regular DH, Pat Burrell. Burrell was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 11. Burrell suffered a neck strain, but Joe Maddon doesn't expect it to be more than 15 days.

QUOTE SOURCE: ESPN

Deal and No Deal

The New York Mets went from a team with one of the worst back end bullpens to potentially one of the best. The Mets acquired relief pitcher J.J Putz in 12 player, 3 team, blockbuster trade.

Mets receive:

J.J Putz, Jeremy Reed, Sean Green from Seattle Mariners.

Mariners receive:

Franklin Gutierrez (from Cleveland Indians)

Aaron Heilman and Endy Chavez (from Mets)

Minor Leaguers: Mike Carp, Maikel Cleto, Jason Vargas, Ezekiel Carrera

Indians receive:

Joe Smith (From Mets)

Luis Valbuena (From Mariners)

Putz will likely be the setup man for newly signed Francisco Rodriguez. Putz missed much of the 2008 season due to injury. Putz has a career 3.07 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

While a big blockbuster trade was made, another was called off. The San Diego Padres called off the Jake Peavy to Cubs deal, which invovled the Phillies. The Phillies would have acquired Mark DeRosa, but would of had to give up one of their top prospects.

Therefore, I'm happy this deal didn't fall through. DeRosa would fill in for Chase Utley, who may be out until June at the very latest. When Utley returns, DeRosa could of played some outfield, but otherwise, there isn't much use for him. I'd rather save our few prospects. As for the Putz trade, not so much happy, but that's baseball.