Loose Talk: The Editors’ Take
For the past month, I’ve been teased by games in Florida and Arizona. I watched players who even I’ve never heard of pitch and hit as stars rested or refused to make the road trips to opposing parks. Announcers filled the game by talking about where the best fishing locations or ribs were. This was not real baseball. After all, it was Spring Training, but it was better than staring out my window at the depressing New England landscape. However, I could not help but think of the greener days lying ahead. So as I sit here Sunday night on my couch, watching the Cardinals and Cubs play at Wrigley, I cannot help but smile. Without further ado, here is my (very) abbreviated MLB season preview.
The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are clearly the most improved teams in the American League East. The Red Sox bolstered what was an anemic offense last year by snagging third baseman Pablo Sandoval and left fielder Hanley Ramirez. They now boast one of the top lineups in MLB and hope that offense can carry them and negate a questionable pitching staff. The Blue Jays also enhanced their offense by getting catcher Russell Martin and third baseman Josh Donaldson. Their rotation is also an issue as it’s full of either aging or unproven talent. These teams are the front runners in an unusually weak AL East. Last season’s winner, the Orioles, didn’t do anything in the offseason but lose production. The Yankees are getting old and frail. And the Rays seem to be in a rebuilding process.
The Chicago White Sox dominated the offseason. They traded for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and signed three key free agents: outfielder Melky Cabrera, first baseman Adam LaRoche and closer David Robertson. With these additions, they became a legitimate threat to win the AL Central. The Cleveland Indians are also looking good with AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber anchoring a promising rotation. With the Tigers waning, the defending AL champions Kansas City Royals not doing much and the Minnesota Twins looking forward to the future, this is the time for either the White Sox or Indians to win the division.
The Seattle Mariners built upon their strong 2014 offseason by adding reigning home run leader Nelson Cruz and outfielder Seth Smith. Their rotation is headlined by (King) Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. With possible emrgences from prospects, Seattle is looking at what could be the best rotation in the AL. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are still a team to be reckoned with as long as MVP outfielder Mike Trout is on the team. The Oakland A’s appear to be in a quasi-rebuilding mode, but you never know with GM Billy Beane. The Houston Astros will look to develop young players again and the Texas Rangers are behind the eight ball with ace Yu Darvish lost to Tommy John surgery.
In the NL East, it’s all about the Washington Nationals. They created arguably the greatest rotation of all time by adding former Tiger and Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer. The rotation’s filled out by Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasbourg, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister, all of who could be a number one on many teams. Their lineup is looking pretty stacked, too. The Miami Marlins are probably the next best in the East, albeit by a great distance. The Atlanta Braves hit the reset button this offseason and look to be a non-factor in the East. The New York Mets boast a promising rotation and some young guns down on the farm, but their lineup is still weak. The division is rounded out by a glorified Triple-A team, the Philadelphia Phillies, whose biggest storyline this season will be who they get rid of before July 31st.
The Cubs aced the offseason and their farm system is the best in the league. The biggest news might have been the (temporary!) demotion of super-prospect Kris Bryant. The Cardinals still reign supreme, the Pittsburgh Pirates look to make it to the playoffs for the third straight year, the Cincinnati Reds look to rebound from a down year and the Milwaukee Brewers hope to put together a complete season after getting off to a sizzling start and flaming out down the stretch.
The biggest movers of the offseason were the San Diego Padres. Led by new General Manager A.J. Preller, they made deals for outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Melvin “B.J.” Upton Jr. and Wil Myers, catcher Derek Norris, closer Craig Kimbrel and third baseman Will Middlebrooks. In addition, they signed their new number one, James Shields. Look for the Friars to make the postseason for the first time since 2006. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a revamped infield with shortstop Jimmy Rollins and second baseman Howie Kendrick. They’re still the favorites to win the division. With it being an odd year, in addition to the staff being giant (puns!) question marks behind postseason hero Madison Bumgarner, the San Fransisco Giants won’t make another run. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies are still awaiting a healthy season and pitchers who can throw a mile above sea level and the Arizona Diamondbacks are amidst a rebuild.
Baseball is back.