LestersLegends.com

LestersLegends.com is teaming up with EE Sports World.com to break down all the divisions in baseball. My assignment was the AL Central. I’ll review the teams in the order I expect them to finish.
.

First Place:  Minnesota Twins
The key to the Twins success is the health of Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan. Minnesota did an excellent job piecing things together last year with Jim Thome, Michael Cuddyer and company, but if they want to repeat as American League Central Champions, they’ll need Morneau’s bat. The Twins always seem to get by at closer so this isn’t nearly as primary a concern. Even if he falters, they have Matt Capps as an insurance policy.
.
The Twins added Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the offseason to bolster their middle infield. The rest of their moves were just securing their free agents, namely Carl Pavano and Jim Thome. Delmon Young and Danny Valencia were pleasant surprises for the Twins last year while Michael Cuddyer once again showed his versatility. Denard Span struggled at times, but should bounce back.
.
Francisco Liriano shined in the rotation, which will be the key to the Twins success. If they can get strong efforts from Liriano, Pavano, Scott Baker, and company there is a good chance that Ron Gardenhire pulls the right strings again to maintain A.L. Central dominance.
.

Second Place:  Chicago White Sox
The White Sox added some firepower in the offseason by bringing in Adam Dunn to join the likes of Alex Rios, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, and Carlos Quentin. Juan Pierre will once again set the table, and Gordon Beckham looks to break out.
.
The White Sox have a solid rotation, and should get a nice boost when Jake Peavy returns from shoulder surgery around the All-Star Break. Until then, it will be up to John Danks, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and Edwin Jackson to carry the load. The White Sox lost Bobby Jenks in the bullpen, but Matt Thornton and Chris Sale should be up to the task.
.
Ozzie Guillen will be entertaining, or annoying depending on your point of view, once again. You cannot accuse him of not speaking his mind. The White Sox seem to have a mental block that keeps them from getting past the Twins. If they can overcome it, the division is theirs for the taking.
.

Third Place:  Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera is the most talented player in the division, but he may also be the most troubled. Good news for Tigers fans and his fantasy owners that his arrest happened before the season started. He’s dealing with a serious issue though that is bigger than baseball. Fortunately the structure of the season could be what he needs to keep his life in order.
.
On a less serious note, the addition of Victor Martinez gives the team a little more firepower. With Austin Jackson, Ryan Raburn, Carlos Guillen, and Jhonny Peralta, the Tigers could have a potent offense in 2011. Justin Verlander anchors the pitching staff with Max Scherzer living up to his promise. There are question marks in the back end of their rotation, which makes it hard for me to imagine they can surpass the Twins or the White Sox.
.

Fourth Place:  Cleveland Indians
The Indians could actually surprise some people this year. Shin-Soo Choo is one of the most underrated players in the American League. Grady Sizemore is trying to recover from knee surgery. He was one of the most exciting players in baseball, and could really help their offense. Carlos Santana looks like one of the best young catchers in the league while Orlando Cabrera will provide veteran leadership. If players like Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta can take the next step, the Tribe have an outside shot of taking third place.
.
That is, if they get the pitching they need. Fausto Carmona had a strong year, but if he loses his mechanics on his sinker, he can go south fast. Justin Masterson has the goods, he just needs to work on his control issues. Too many free passes lead to big innings. Chris Perez is a solid closer, but the rest of the pitching staff is loaded with question marks.
.

Fifth Place:  Kansas City Royals
Zack Greinke is gone. Jeff Francis, Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, and Vin Mazzaro do not intimidate opposing batters. Joakim Soria is one of the best closers in the American League, but how many leads will he be able to protect? Speaking of protecting, who is going to protect Billy Butler in the Royals’ lineup? Mike Aviles had a strong finish to last year and Kila Ka’aihue has a cool name and some pop, but this is a team that is going to struggle to avoid 100 losses.
.
.

Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
• 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings

Justin Morneau landed on the 15-day DL with a concussion. The move was made retroactive to July 8th. Morneau’s condition is as painful to fantasy owners as it is to the Twins’ playoff hopes. OK, maybe they aren’t on the same level, but it’s tough.

Morneau is hitting .345 with 18 HRs and 56 RBIs. Replacing him on your fantasy roster won’t be easy, but here are some reasonable available options (stats over past 30 days):

Ike Davis, NYM – .247, 3 HR, 18 RBIs (Owned: 22% ESPN, 54% CBS)
Russell Branyan, SEA – .264, 5, 13 (12% ESPN, 31% CBS)
Travis Ishikawa, SF – .390, 1, 12 (Virtually all ESPN & CBS leagues)
Matt LaPorta, CLE – .357, 4, 11 (18% ESPN, 54% CBS)
Eric Hinske, ATL – .200, 2, 10 (1% ESPN, 6% CBS)
Justin Smoak, TEX – .193, 2, 10 (8% ESPN, 39% CBS)
Daric Barton, OAK – .239, 1, 9 (3% ESPN, 24% CBS)
Casey Kotchman, SEA – .378, 4, 8 (2% ESPN, 11% CBS)
Wilson Betemit, KC – .364, 2, 8 (Virtually all ESPN & CBS leagues)

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

If you’re a sports nut like me you factor that aspect in when selecting a place to take a vacation.  When you are planning your Summer vacation, I ask that you consider Minnesota.  Unless you are an avid ice fisher or snowmobile, I recommend staying away from Minnesota in the Winter, but it is a beautiful place in the other three seasons.

It should come as no surprise that the land that gave birth to water skiing would know how to turn water into a playground. Sailing. Wakeboarding. Windsurfing. Jet skiing. Boating. Scuba Diving.  Minnesota is also host to the world’s largest tub of fresh water—Lake Superior—a great location for adventure kayaking. And don’t forget world-class canoeing in the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Our almost 12,000 lakes hold some of the finest game fish to ever wear scales: large and smallmouth bass, trout, pike, muskies, and of course, Minnesota‘s state fish – the mighty walleye.  Plus, Minnesota has about 10 million acres of public land open to hunting–that’s about one-fifth of the state’s area. There’s great hunting for deer, waterfowl, grouse, pheasant, and all manner of large and small game. 

Minnesota has become an established travel destination for the golf aficionado. After all, it is home to more national USGA events than any other state. Here you’ll find the perfect blend of technical challenges and breathtaking beauty. From the open links of the prairie to the woodsy parkland courses with their rolling fairways and water hazards. And with 90% of Minnesota’s 498 golf courses open to the public, a dream round is just a trip away.

Minnesota’s natural scenery is thrilling all on its own. But it’s even more breathtaking when it’s amplified by high adrenaline and adventure. Whether you like to commune with nature by thundering through the woods on a mountain bike or by way of kayak, your inner adventurer will love Minnesota’s wild side.

If you prefer more traditional sports like baseball, it’s your last chance to see the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome.  I prefer baseball outdoors, but if you’ve never watched a game in a dome, it does have some intrigue, especially when the Twins are playing well.  The loudest gave I have ever been to in any sport was a Twins-Red Sox game in the dome around the time of their 1991 World Series title.  They have two of the best players in the game in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

What are you waiting for?  Explore Minnesota.

 
5/18/09

Hitters
Jack Wilson – 4 for 4, 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, Triple, 2 RBIs, Walk
Justin Morneau – 4 for 5, 2 Doubles, RBI
Angel Pagan – 4 for 6, Run, Double
Jason Bartlett – 3 for 3, 3 Runs, Triple, 5 RBIs, Walk
Kendry Morales – 3 for 5, 3 Runs, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs
Mark Teixeira – 2 for 4, 2 Runs, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs
Ryan Braun – 2 for 3, 4 Runs, Double, RBI, 2 Walks
Akinori Iwamura – 2 for 4, 3 RBIs
Torii Hunter – 2 for 5, Double, 3 RBIs, SB
Juan Rivera – 2 for 4, 3 Runs, HR, RBI, Walk
Nick Johnson – 1 for 2, 2 Runs, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Walks
Carlos Pena – 1 for 2, 3 Runs, 3 Walks
Willy Aybar – 1 for 2, 3 Runs, RBI, 2 Walks
Mat Gamel -1 for 3, Run, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk
Craig Monroe – 1 for 5, Run, HR, 3RBIs

Pitchers
Jason Marquis – W, 8 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits
Braden Looper – W, 6 IP, 1 Earned Run, 3 Hits
Scott Richmond – ND, 7 IP, 0 Runs, 5 Hits, 7 Ks
Clayton Richard – ND, 7 IP, 1 Earned Run, 3 Hits
R.A. Dickey – ND, 4-1/3 Innings of scoreless relief
Randy Wolf – ND, 7 IP, 2 Runs
Tim Redding – ND, 6 IP, 2 Runs, 2 Hits
Derek Lowe – 8 IP, 2 Runs, 3 Hits

Thursday, July 31st
Jim Edmonds scored 3 Runs and hit 2 HRs (one a Grand Slam) and had 5 RBI.  Chone Figgins went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs.  Garrett Anderson also had 4 Hits.  Grady Sizemore had 4 RBI.  Gabe Kapler, Cesar Izturis, Omar Infante, Clint Sammons (3 RBI), Chris Davis, Joe Mauer, Stephen Drew, Pete Orr, Jeremy Hermedia (3 RBI), each had 3 Hits.  Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera, Jimmy Rollins, Adrian Beltre, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Ramon Vazquez,and Torii Hunter each had 3 RBI.

Rich Harden gave up 1 Run in 7 Innings with 9 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 1.11 ERA with Chicago (6-2, 2.00 overall).  Kyle Kendrick gave up 2 Runs in 6-2/3 Innings to improve to 9-5.  R.A. Dickey gave up 2 Runs, in 7-2/3 Innings to improve to 3-6.  Brandon Webb gave up 1 Run in 8 Innings with 6 Ks to improve to 15-4 with a 3.04 ERA.  Derek Lowe gave up 2 Runs in 6-1/3 Innings, but took the Loss.

Tuesday, July 29th
Aubrey Huff went 4 for 5 with 2 Runs, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Ramon Vazquez went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI.  Gregor Blanco and Aramis Ramirez also had 4 Hits.  Marlon Byrd went 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Carlos Lee hit a Grand Slam.  Albert Pujols scored 3 Runs.  Yadier Molina, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Jose Reyes, Brad Hawpe, Luis Rivas (3 RBI), Jose Lopez (3 Runs), Bryan LaHair (3 Runs), Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley, Gerald Laird, and Orlando Hudson each had 3 Hits.  Justin Morneau, John Buck, and Brandon Inge each had 3 RBI.

Matt Garza threw a Complete Game Shutout allowing 5 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 9-6 with a 3.56 ERA.  Carlos Zambrano gave up 5 Hits in 8 scoreless Innings with 9 Ks to improve to 12-4 with a 2.80 ERA.  John Lackey tossed a Complete Game allowing 2 Runs to improve to 9-2 with a 2.93 ERA.  Jorge Campillo (7 Innings, 2 Runs, 5 Ks) and Todd Wellemeyer (6 Innings, 2 Runs, 5 Ks) got no-decisions.  Brett Myers gave up 1 unearned Run on 4 Hits to improve to 4-9.  Collin Balester gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings, but took the Loss.  Oliver Perez gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 6 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 7-6.  Brian Moehler gave up 2 Runs in 8-2/3 Innings to improve to 6-4.  Gil Meche gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 7-7.  Doug Davis gave up 2 Hits in 7-2/3 scoreless Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA.  Chris Young gave up 2 Hits in 5 scoreless Inning with 8 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Jason Johnson gave up 5 Hits in 6 scoreless Innings for his first Win of the Year.  Matt Cain gave up 1 Earned Run in 7 Innings with 8 Ks, but took the Loss.

Monday, July 28th
Adam “Space Invaders” Jones went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Triple, a Grand Slam, and 5 RBI.  Adrian Beltre hit 2 HRs and had 4 RBI.  Adam Dunn hit a Grand Slam.  Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Torii Hunter, Aubrey Huff, Johnny Damon, Geoff Blum, Nick Hundley, and Justin Morneau each had 3 RBI.  Ryan Ludwick, Joe Mather, Kevin Millar (3 RBI), Ryan Doumit, Doug Mientkiewicz, Derrick Lee (3 RBI), Mike Aviles, Alex Gordon, Kurt Suzuki, and Chris Young each had 3 Hits.

Kevin Slowey tossed a Complete Game Shutout to improve to 7-7.  Paul Byrd tossed 7-2/3 scoreless Innings to improve to 5-10.  Braden Looper gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 10-8.  Jeremy Guthrie gave up 1 Run on 3  Hits in 6-1/3 Innings to improve to 7-8 with a 3.49 ERA.  A.J. Burnett gave up 1 unearned Run in 7 Innings with 10 Ks to improve to 12-9.  Ricky Nolasco gave up 2 Runs with 8 Ks in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Zack Greinke gave up 2 Runs in 7-1/3 Innings with 1 Ks to improve to 8-7 with a 3.98 ERA.