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Monday, February 25, 2013

MLB Predictions: Final Standings AL Edition

Baseball is back! Will these guys be even better in 2013?

Here in Michigan we're expecting another nasty snow storm, but down south baseball is heating up! With Spring training finally here, and teams starting to play a little ball again, you can almost smell the flowers blooming. The boys of summer are back, and here's how I believe the season will go. Highlighted teams are who I believe will make the playoffs.

American League

East

1. New York Yankees. While the team has got older, and injuries have slowed them down, no one can deny the power of their line-up. Pitching is always a concern, but the Yankees still win this division filled with talent.

2. Toronto Blue Jays. Adding guys like Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson will without a doubt give the Jays just what they needed. While R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle are nice additions, I'm not really putting much stock in either of them. The Jays improve to 90 wins this season.

3. Boston Red Sox. Surprise, surprise. The Sox were hindered by injuries last season, and come back this season with maybe the best relief pitching in baseball. Their line-up can still match-up with any team, and starting pitching is right about average. The Sox improve this season.

4. Tampa Bay Rays. Most people have the Rays are a top two team in the East, I have them falling a little this season.

5. Baltimore Orioles. The Cinderella 93 win team last season gets a dose of reality in this stacked division. Too many teams with more talent, and the O's fall back into last place.

Central

1. Detroit Tigers. By far the most talented team in the division and should have no problem working their way to a 90+ win season. Put it this way, the Tigers were a World Series team last year without Victor Martinez. He's back, and Tori Hunter is now a Tiger, giving Detroit arguably the best line-up in baseball. Not to mention they have some guy named Justin Verlander.

2. Cleveland Indians. No one can say they haven't got any better. With tons of move this off-season (for once) to bulk up their team, the Indians who already have great relief pitching will be a problem for a lot of teams. I think they finish with just under 80 wins this season.

3. Kansas City Royals. Finally have some starting pitching for the first time in a long time. And remember all those young prospects in KC? Well they grew up. All have over a season of MLB experience and should without a doubt make the Royals and pain in a lot of teams butt.

4. Chicago White Sox. A little hard to believe, after finishing second in the division last season with 85 wins, I expect the Sox to fall all the way to fourth this year. I mean, look at who they've added to their team ... Still looking?

5. Minnesota Twins. They'd make a pretty good AAA team.

West

1. Los Angeles Angels. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Mark Trumbo. Enough said. The Angels will have tons of fire power!

2. Oakland Athletics. With one of the premiere pitching staffs in all of baseball, and young super stars Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick with the bat, the A's are not going anywhere.

3. Texas Rangers. Still a very good team, but after loosing Hamilton I believe the Rangers get pushed down the AL West ranks by Hamilton's new crew.

4. Seattle Mariners. I love what they're doing in the great North-West! They're a team with a ton of talented young guys, and a pretty good group of vets. Seattle is on the rise, but still a year away from any real playoff contention.

5. Houston Astros. Not only are the Astros bad, they're really bad. And to make matters worse, they move to one of the toughest divisions in all of baseball.

Happy Baseball Season!


Come back and check out the NL edition this Thursday!

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