Hooters baseball preview Part One!

Sportsbyfletch was obviously cool enough to be asked to do the official MLB 2010 preview for its upcoming issue. Hey, we are global, what can we say?
Anyways, because we preview ALL of the teams, we decided to break it into two parts. We'll do the AL today and then move to the senior circuit tomorrow. Enjoy the American League look today!

If the 2000 decade was in fact Star Wars with Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York fighting for supreme baseball power, the New York Yankee Empire struck back with its 27th title in 2009. Those teams were also seemingly the only ones that went after the major stars all decade, with nearly every major free agent signing with one of those clubs. The Yankees won the 2000 title and the 2009 title and reached the World Series two other times. The Red Sox broke an 86 year championship drought then won another three seasons later. Philadelphia, Los Angeles/Anaheim and the Chicago White Sox claimed titles with the Cubs and the Mets both nearly claiming titles themselves. Some of the smaller teams were fun to watch too as they made postseason runs with the Marlins claiming a title, the A’s playing Moneyball and the Twins employing two MVPs.
In 2010, expect the small market teams to return to the forefront for a big-time battle with the larger markets this postseason. Player movement has made the big fish even bigger but several of the “small market” teams have the resources to make a serious run at a title. While Philadelphia traded one former Cy Young award winner (Cliff Lee) for another Cy Young award winner (Roy Halladay), the San Francisco Giants still boast a two-time winner themselves in Tim Lincecum and another potential winner in Matt Cain. Oh and Barry Zito once won one himself. The National League will be won by one of those two squads with the Dodgers, Cardinals and Mets, despite the huge payrolls, watching the pennant play out with all of the other small market clubs.
In the American League, Boston reloaded to take another run at the Yankees but Seattle seemingly had the best off-season, picking up Cliff Lee. The Yankees picked up Javy Vazquez from Atlanta to fortify its already strong pitching staff and if the offense keeps raking, I’m not certain anyone can catch the Bombers. Out west, the Angels lost too much to continue its run of dominance, so Seattle should take the division and Boston will take the Wild Card. In the Central, expect reigning MVP Joe Mauer to continue to impressing the heck out of everyone and lead the Twins right to the World Series. Does Minnesota have enough to knock off Philadelphia? I doubt it. That’s why the Phillies take their second World Series title in three years.

In the American League…

AL East
New York Yankees
In the dugout: Joe Girardi, 3rd year with team. The Yankees skipper may not be as loved as Joe Torre, but he won a title in his second season.
Analysis: The Bombers are called that for a reason: Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira can crush with the best of them and the rest of the lineup isn’t too shabby itself. Derek Jeter always shows up when the game is on the line and Jorge Posada, whose numbers might be declining, can still call an impressive game. New addition Curtis Granderson improves the outfield defense and is a threat on the base paths. The pitching staff is the most impressive part of the team though as CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett are both joined by Javier Vazquez, Atlanta’s best pitcher last season. Oh, and Mariano Rivera is still closing games. If you didn’t know, he’s GOOD.

Boston Red Sox
In the dugout: Terry Francona, 7th year with team. After winning two World Series titles, this guy owns Boston.
Analysis: Red Sox Nation could not have been happy watching the hated rival Yankees celebrate yet another title last Fall. That is probably why GM Theo Epstein was all over the trade market and free agent market, attempting to get back to postseason play. Boston signed pitcher John Lackey from the Angels and plucked Adrian Beltre from Seattle, improving itself and weakening two Wild Card rivals. Victor Martinez returns to a DH role and will give Jason Varitek an occasional breather behind the plate and Kevin Youkilis a rest at first. And if something isn’t working come July, these guys have the ability to add payroll via a trade.

Tampa Bay Rays
In the dugout: Joe Maddon, 5th year with the team. Maddon is well respected around the league and the players seem to like him too.
Analysis: Tampa finished above .500 again last season for the second straight year but it was a big drop off from reaching the World Series. The pieces are still in place for a run towards the postseason…in any division except the AL East. Unless stud third baseman Evan Longoria can reach his potential now and Carl Crawford can steal 200 bases this season so that Carlos Pena can drive him in every time up to bat, this team won’t challenge the Yankees for the division. The pitching staff has two young guns headlining in James Shields and David Price, but those two aren’t quite at the level of Beckett and Lester/Lackey or Sabathia and Burnett/Vazquez/Pettitte.

Baltimore Orioles
In the dugout: Dave Trembley, 4th year with the team. Trembley had better hope the Baby Birds grow this season, otherwise he’s likely out.
Analysis: The Orioles roster is full of young talent but is this the year the team pulls a Tampa-2008? Adam Jones has gotten better each year with the Orioles since coming over from Seattle a few years ago. He and Nick Markakis form one of the best one-two outfield punches in the division. Behind the plate, Matt Wieters brings his array of skills that rival Atlanta’s Brian McCann and Minnesota’s Joe Mauer. Wieters, the former Baseball America minor league player of the year, made his debut last season and figures to only get better this year.

Toronto Blue Jays
In the dugout: Cito Gaston, 12th season with Toronto. Gaston, a two-time World Series champion, will oversee one of the worst seasons ever for the Jays.
Analysis: The Blue Jays didn’t give its fans much of a reason to go to games last season, except to see Roy Halladay. Well Halladay now pitches in Philadelphia so what will the draw be in Toronto this season, especially since Marco Scutaro also left for Boston? The team still has two home run bashers in Aaron Hill (36 HR in 2009) and Adam Lind (35 HR, 114 RBI). And several years ago the team brass gave Vernon Wells big money; perhaps he earns some of it this year, otherwise the Blue Jays may cut him free.

AL Central
Minnesota Twins
Dugout: Ron Gardenhire, 12th year with Minnesota. Why does it take a while to come to Gardenhire’s name when naming the game’s best managers?
Analysis: Any discussion about the Twins must start with 2009 MVP Joe Mauer. The catcher-extraordinaire has the potential to crank 30 home runs and flirt with .400, all while calling one of the best games in baseball. This kid can do it all and was once recruited by Bobby Bowden to play QB for the Seminoles. The Paul to Mauer’s John has to be Justin Morneau, the 2006 MVP. Morneau has a pair of Silver Slugger awards on his resume and would be a superstar in a bigger market. While the starting pitching isn’t what it once was, the bullpen is headed up by closer Joe Nathan, one of the game’s best.

Chicago White Sox
Dugout: Ozzie Guillen, 7th year with Chicago. The combustible manager won a World Series title in 2004 but has fallen below .500 twice since then.
Analysis: The Chicago White Sox were aggressive this offseason in an attempt to get back over .500 and back into the playoffs. Several moves the team made last season were with 2010 in mind including the acquisition of starting pitcher Jake Peavy and outfielder Alex Rios. Peavy was hurt most of 2009 but should be fully healthy in 2010 and ready to contribute for Guillen. Add in Mr. Perfecto Mark Buehrle and the rotation seems strong enough to get to the bullpen one-two combo of JJ Putz and Bobby Jenks. Rookie of the year Gordon Beckham might be on the move on the infield and the outfield gets a new CF in Andruw Jones, who could also DH.

Detroit Tigers
Dugout: Jim Leyland, 5th year with Detroit. After a World Series appearance in his first year, Detroit has hovered around .500 since.
Analysis: Despite on of the biggest payrolls in baseball the last few seasons, the Tigers have missed the playoffs ever since going to the World Series. Last year the team began to get some big efforts from the talented yet enigmatic Miguel Cabrera, receiving 34 HR, 103 RBI with a .324 average. This season he will have a little less help however after the team traded Granderson. Carlos Guillen will have to return to his all-star form for the Tigers to really challenge in the division. The pitching staff will be built around youngsters Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer while Justin Verlander mentors both.

Cleveland Indians
Dugout: Manny Acta, 1st year with Cleveland. Acta spent three seasons on the Nationals pine, never winning more than 73 games. He will have about as much talent here as he did there.
Analysis: Cleveland is in a rebuilding phase right now, after reaching the playoffs just a few seasons ago. The last two years have found the team dealing a former Cy Young award winner in midseason, but don’t worry Cleveland fans: that won’t happen this year! Fans longing for the days of CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee will have to make due with Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook, more than just a small drop from Lee and Sabathia. The offense meanwhile is centered around the declining Travis Hafner and the plateaued Grady Sizemore. Shin-Soo Choo had a nice season last year and Matt LaPorta offers hope for the future…distant future.

Kansas City Royals
Dugout: Trey Hillman, 3rd season with Kansas City. The Royals won 75 games under Hillman in his first season, though that number dropped to just 65 last year. If it drops by 10 more in 2010, look for a new manager in 2011.
Analysis: Zack Greinke was 16-8 last season and led the league with a 2.16 ERA. And that’s about all that can be positively said about Kansas City last season. Seriously though, Greinke was tough to hit in 2009 and the 25-year-old’s win total keeps climbing. The rest of the rotation has pieces that just need to pitch their butts off for the Royals to sniff the playoffs. On offense, Jose Guillen and Jason Kendall make most of the money, but Billy Butler and Alberto Callaspo make the lineup flip over. Expect Scott Podsednik to make an impact on the base paths.

AL West
Seattle Mariners
Dugout: Don Wakamatsu, 2nd season with Seattle. In just his first season on the bench, Wakamatsu led the M’s to an 85-77 record. Now that his team is loaded, look out win total.
Analysis: How do you push Felix Hernandez to become even better after the King wins 19 games, strikes out 217 and posts a 2.49 ERA? Acquire for Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, Philly’s best pitcher in the postseason who’s in a contract year. Then have David Aardsma close out their games, like he did 38 times last year. Behind those two might be one of the better defensive outfields in baseball as Ichiro mans right field and Franklin Gutierrez patrols center. And the Ms will hit the ball too with Jack Wilson, Chone Figgins and Jose Lopez all calling Seattle home now. Seattle looks ready for a run.

LA Angels
Dugout: Mike Scioscia, 11th season with Los Angeles of Anaheim. Five division titles and a World Series title give Scioscia plenty of leash. Should the Angels win 100 games this year, Scioscia would have 1000 for his career.
Analysis: The Angels lost yet another big-time pitcher this off-season in John Lackey and yet everything seems fine in Disneyland. Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver return and Scott Kazmir will be counted on to pick up the slack in Lackey’s absence. The offense took a few huge hits as well as Chone Figgins went north to division-rival Seattle and Vlad Guerrero signed with Texas. Hideki Matsui was signed to DH and Kendry Morales will need to prove that his 2009 (34 HR) was no fluke. The Angles always seem to lose players (Teixeira, Lackey, K-Rod) yet they keep rolling. That doesn’t happen this year.

Oakland A’s
Dugout: Bob Geren, 4th season with Oakland. Geren’s win total has been 76, 75, and 75 with a shoestring budget. The skipper will reach 500 career wins with just 15 victories this year.
Analysis: Oakland once again was active in sending out “big” contracts and bringing in prospects under GM Billy Beane’s Moneyball philosophy. The starting rotation though doesn’t seem to have another Mulder/Hudson/Zito/Harden/Haren though on the current roster. Justin Duchscherer was resigned to a one-year deal to get things done in 2010 but the A’s are counting on younger arms in the pipeline to help make noise in 2011 or 2012. On offense, newcomer Coco Crisp and Jack Cust will find help scarcely available. Catcher Kurt Suzuki led the team in RBI last season and that happens again, Oakland may finish below Texas in a suddenly competitive AL West.

Texas Rangers
Dugout: Ron Washington, 4th season with Texas. After nearly being fired before last season, Washington had the Rangers competing well into the summer months. Washington is just 4 games under .500 for his career.
Analysis: The Texas Rangers franchise is on the road back to respectability and potentially the playoffs and the Atlanta Braves are to thank. Atlanta gave Texas six players in exchange for Mark Teixeira several seasons ago and the Rangers are starting to reap the benefits. Elvis Andrus has already established himself as one of the top defensive players in the AL and Neftali Feliz was nearly unhittable last season. The pitching staff will rely on newcomer Rich Harden to replace Kevin Millwood and hope Matt Harrison overcomes injury problems. If Josh Hamilton returns to 2008-form, the Rangers could contend well into the summer and maybe the fall.