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2009 AL Central Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on February 16, 2009

al-central-pred-21609 1st Place – Minnesota Twins +175 to Win AL Central
It would only be fitting that Minnesota takes home a Central division crown in its last season in the Metrodome. The Twins have been the class of the Central this decade, winning four division titles since 2002. They were one game away from making it five as they lost 1-0 to the Chicago White Sox in a play-in game last year. There’s nothing flashy about the Twins, they just find ways to win with solid pitching and timely hitting. While I like Minnesota’s chances of taking the division, I’d like to see this team do some damage in the postseason. They’ve won just one playoff series since 2002. This is a young, talented team with pitchers like Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker and position players like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

2nd Place - Cleveland Indians +200 to Win AL Central
Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and the talented Fausto Carmona will keep Cleveland competitive in the Central. Adding former Cub Kerry Wood to the pen as the team’s closer fill’s a big void as well. If only this starting rotation still had C.C. Sabathia. The good thing about playing in the Central is that quick rebounds are possible. Detroit and Chicago are outspending the Indians, but talent-wise, Cleveland has enough to win the division, as long as they stay healthy. Grady Sizemore is one of the game’s elite lead off men and he leads the charge on this team. A now healthy Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez figure to boost the lineup.

3rd Place – Chicago White Sox +400 to Win AL Central
The bar has been raised for the White Sox this season following a division title and that likely means the Sox will come in below it. This team has performed the best when the least has been expected. In 2005, the Sox exploded to win 99 games, going on to win the World Series a year after the team won just 83. The next year they sunk to third in the division. The Sox were back on top again with an 89-win season after winning only 72 games in 2007. Not resigning Joe Crede and Orlando Cabrera along with trading pitcher Javier Vazquez figures to haunt the Sox this season. The Sox still have Carlos Quentin, Jermain Dye, and Jim Thome to smack the long ball, but I’m not sure trying to win with a younger, more athletic lineup was the call this season.

4th Place – Kansas City Royals +1200 to Win AL Central
The Royals made it out of the AL Central basement with a 75-win season in 2008, their first season of 70 or more wins in recent memory. This team has made steady improvement over the past couple years, improving seven wins from 2006 to 2007 and six more wins from 2007 to 2008. What’s most impressive is how the Royals finished off last season, going 18-8 in September. While this young team still likely has a couple years before we can talk about it in the same breath with AL Central crown, getting out of the cellar should give Kansas City a big psychological boost. Kansas City has a chance to play .500 baseball for the second time in 15 years and that’s what it will shoot for.

5th Place – Detroit Tigers +350 to Win AL Central
A Tigers team designed to make a World Series run in 2008 was a huge disaster and I expect the disaster to continue. Detroit peaked with 95 wins in 2006, followed that up with an 88-win 2007, and then dropped clear back down to 74 wins to find the cellar. The downturn can be put largely on the pitching staff. After winning the pennant in 2006, the pitching staff has begun to slide. Ace Justin Verlander’s ERA jumped from 3.63 to 4.84 and Dontrelle Willis appears to be an expensive liability. Here’s the bad news; the pen appears to be in even worse shape.

2007 MLB World Handicapping Champion Jimmy Boyd is ready to make a run at another title with his award-winning baseball picks. Do your baseball betting with Jimmy in 2009 and beat the MLB odds on a consistent basis.

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