Post by Royals GM (BigRussi) on Oct 17, 2012 4:37:10 GMT -5
1.)New York Yankees- A strong all around team fresh off a World Series Championship, with the additions of James Shields to anchor down the staff and Jason Kubel to provide a boost offensively, they look to return strong to defend their title.
2.)Detroit Tigers- The Dream Team of 12' Faded at the end of the season in true Detroit fashion but remain a force to be reckoned with in a strong AL Central Division, a real World Series caliber team, Verlander and Cutch look to avenge their loss.
3.)Kansas City Royals- Look out, a true rags to riches story, the Royals have managed to add Ryan Braun, Justin Upton, Nelson Cruz, and Starlin Castro give them a giant boost to be supplemented by the development of Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez, sound pitching behind veteran Jared Weaver make for a soild team.
4.)Boston Red Sox- What a solid young nucleus to a pitching staff, Price, Scherzer, Cueto, Parker nice life, 4 guys who can bring it on any night and are true 5 Cat starters, the offense is a bit shakey but with 50M free on the books it will be intresting to see this team in the near future.
5.)California Angels- Honestly the Angels should be a bit higher on this list but with the cap deficit I believe there may be some brown outs to some pos in cap dumping efforts, however an OF of Matt Kemp, Jay Bruce, and Josh Reddick will power them along just fine. CC and Hamels will give teams a run for their money but overall the Angels are an unfinished yet potential laden team.
6.)White Sox- What a division right 3 of the top 6 teams and the White Sox are another AL Central scapper with a strong rotation and a triple crown winner in Miguel Cabrerra, a recent stint with alcohol by Mike sent Miley packing but Longoria will be able to provide some nice numbers if he can stay healthy.
7.)Minnesota Twins- Alot of young talent on the offensive side of the ball with not much pitching to go along with it, Middlebrooks, Jay, and Freeman will be able to keep the line up a float but maybe some good signings in FA and a productive farm will help them in the near future.
8.)Texas Rangers- A team that I believe will have a mediocre season with a tough 14' ahead of them with lots of names dropping off the talent list however there is some good hitting peices in the lineup in Butler, Pedoria, and Ellsbury if he can get a full season in, Josh Johnson will have to return to form in a major way if the Rangers expect to compete with the Angels.
9.)Oakland Athletics- A young team with some peices that has improved its MLB lineup and rotation in some good ways picking up a SP in Justin Masterson and OF Alejandro De Aza, they look to be about 1 to 2 years away but we will see an improvement from last year no doubt
10.)Cleveland Indians-Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Hanley Ramirez + 22 Shitbums, the obvious peices are there but the rest of the team is in need of some major upgrade/remodel, in a strong AL Central the Indians will have a tough time competing
11.)Tampa Bay Rays- A top MiLB system will be the only chance for this rebuilding franchise, its all speculation but depending on the breaks the Rays catch they may win every so often.
12.)Baltimore Orioles- Yadier Molina and Mark Trumbo are bright spots in a desolate lineup with a few veterans like Howie Kendrick and Wandy Rodriguez holding down some major cap money that maybe should be being used for a task such as rebuilding, there is some peices here but a lot of work will be needed to make this franchise into a contender.
13.)Seattle Mariners-Honestly this is take your pick to me which is the worst team in the AL but since the Mariners have been able to make some moves Tim Lincecum bouncing back may win them a cat or two. But the rebuild is on we will see what the future holds.
14.)Toronto Blue Jays- Right in the middle of a rebuild the Jays are in a awkward spot that you hate to be in but they are headed in the right track aquiring young talent, hard to read where this journeys going but from the looks of it they wont need roads..
2.)Detroit Tigers- The Dream Team of 12' Faded at the end of the season in true Detroit fashion but remain a force to be reckoned with in a strong AL Central Division, a real World Series caliber team, Verlander and Cutch look to avenge their loss.
3.)Kansas City Royals- Look out, a true rags to riches story, the Royals have managed to add Ryan Braun, Justin Upton, Nelson Cruz, and Starlin Castro give them a giant boost to be supplemented by the development of Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez, sound pitching behind veteran Jared Weaver make for a soild team.
4.)Boston Red Sox- What a solid young nucleus to a pitching staff, Price, Scherzer, Cueto, Parker nice life, 4 guys who can bring it on any night and are true 5 Cat starters, the offense is a bit shakey but with 50M free on the books it will be intresting to see this team in the near future.
5.)California Angels- Honestly the Angels should be a bit higher on this list but with the cap deficit I believe there may be some brown outs to some pos in cap dumping efforts, however an OF of Matt Kemp, Jay Bruce, and Josh Reddick will power them along just fine. CC and Hamels will give teams a run for their money but overall the Angels are an unfinished yet potential laden team.
6.)White Sox- What a division right 3 of the top 6 teams and the White Sox are another AL Central scapper with a strong rotation and a triple crown winner in Miguel Cabrerra, a recent stint with alcohol by Mike sent Miley packing but Longoria will be able to provide some nice numbers if he can stay healthy.
7.)Minnesota Twins- Alot of young talent on the offensive side of the ball with not much pitching to go along with it, Middlebrooks, Jay, and Freeman will be able to keep the line up a float but maybe some good signings in FA and a productive farm will help them in the near future.
8.)Texas Rangers- A team that I believe will have a mediocre season with a tough 14' ahead of them with lots of names dropping off the talent list however there is some good hitting peices in the lineup in Butler, Pedoria, and Ellsbury if he can get a full season in, Josh Johnson will have to return to form in a major way if the Rangers expect to compete with the Angels.
9.)Oakland Athletics- A young team with some peices that has improved its MLB lineup and rotation in some good ways picking up a SP in Justin Masterson and OF Alejandro De Aza, they look to be about 1 to 2 years away but we will see an improvement from last year no doubt
10.)Cleveland Indians-Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Hanley Ramirez + 22 Shitbums, the obvious peices are there but the rest of the team is in need of some major upgrade/remodel, in a strong AL Central the Indians will have a tough time competing
11.)Tampa Bay Rays- A top MiLB system will be the only chance for this rebuilding franchise, its all speculation but depending on the breaks the Rays catch they may win every so often.
12.)Baltimore Orioles- Yadier Molina and Mark Trumbo are bright spots in a desolate lineup with a few veterans like Howie Kendrick and Wandy Rodriguez holding down some major cap money that maybe should be being used for a task such as rebuilding, there is some peices here but a lot of work will be needed to make this franchise into a contender.
13.)Seattle Mariners-Honestly this is take your pick to me which is the worst team in the AL but since the Mariners have been able to make some moves Tim Lincecum bouncing back may win them a cat or two. But the rebuild is on we will see what the future holds.
14.)Toronto Blue Jays- Right in the middle of a rebuild the Jays are in a awkward spot that you hate to be in but they are headed in the right track aquiring young talent, hard to read where this journeys going but from the looks of it they wont need roads..
