Every Year, we here at Serious Baseball like to take a step back on the last weekend of spring training and, in the true spirit of opening day, take stock of every team's blessings. As opening day fast approaches, all of the Cactus and Grapefruit League standings are wiped clean, and for one day every team is in first place and any team can be a champion. We like to remind fans of even the most unlikely of teams that anything can happen and that opening day is still something to be prized and enjoyed. Baseball is back, and every team has something to look forward to.
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Another year, another contending team in Anaheim. Despite the lack of much in the way of offense, the Angels will be tough to beat. The good news if you're an Angels fan is that this is "fish or cut bait" year for a number of prized prospects who are starting on opening day or some time very soon, including Casey Kotchman, Dallas McPherson, Jeff Mathis, Kendry Morales, and Ervin Santana. Win or lose, the Angels will have a good idea where they stand by the end of the year. |
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The NL West is definitely a weak division this year, meaning that even with some pretty lousy pitching, the playoffs aren't out of reach for the Snakes. Even if they don't make it to October, we will get to see a number of young and promising hitters in the coming season and they'll be fun to watch. |
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The Mets made a serious push to get into the thick of the NL East race, meaning for once, Braves fans have a reason to sweat the regular season. They'll once again feature a solid rotation, and an exciting mix of youth and veteran leaders that should get them into October. |
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For a franchise that has long been bereft of quality pitching, the Orioles have a number of nice prospects slated to pitch for them this season, and just in the nick of time, they've brought in a miracle worker to be their pitching coach. How the pitchers respond to Leo Mazzone will be of keen interest this year. |
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If Curt Schilling pitches the way he is still capable, and the Sox get healthy production from newcomers like Hee Seop Choi, Mark Loretta and Coco Crisp, they should stay right with the Yankees all season. The AL East is definitely available if things break right in Beantown. |
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How long has it been since the Cubs had a decent lead-off hitter...a decade? Juan Pierre gives the Cubs a legitimate threat at the top of the order. If they can find some offense from streaky Jacque Jones and their middle infielders, and keep Kerry Wood and Mark Prior healthy for at least 3/4 of the season, it should be a fun year for Chicago. |
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Check out this rotation and be astounded. Mark Buehrle/Freddy Garcia/Javier Vazquez/Jon Garland/Jose Contreras or Brandon McCarthy. It's pretty frightening to even think about American League teams trying to hit against the White Sox! |
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The acquisition of Bronson Arroyo didn't make front page headlines, but for the Reds, it could mean a sizeable improvement to a horrendous pitching staff that badly needed a workhorse who didn't give up 2 long-balls a game. This may also be the second straight season in which the Reds have benefited from a healthy Ken Griffey Jr. Who would have thought it possible! |
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They're young...they're cheap...they're GOOD! Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, Vic Martinez, Travis Hafner, Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia...that's quite a nucleus. Add to that a healthy and red hot Aaron Boone and this club looks dangerous. |
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Would somebody please free Byung-Hyun Kim from the unfriendly confines of Coors Field and realize he's a stud? And while we're at it, can we please recognize how talented Matt Holliday is, even if it means taking a few moments out of our days to even think about the Rockies? |
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A long-time struggle with the rotation may be nearing an end with the rise of Justin Verlander and the maturation of Mike Maroth and Jeremy Bonderman. With a healthy Carlos Guillen and a full year of Placido Polanco, not to mention to arrival of Curtis Granderson and Chris Shelton, these Tigers are a threat to break .500 for the first time in a few years. |
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They may not win much this year, but boy the Marlins are loaded with great prospects for their next run in, oh...2009. |
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Jason Lane was finally freed to get some regular playing time last year and he responded by mashing almost 30 long-balls and playing a solid RF. One of the biggest keys to the success of the 2006 Astros might well be Lane's ability to build on that success and turn himself into a household name. |
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If this team is as bad as I think it is...the most important story this season will be the danger of a major front office house-cleaning spree. If the Royals can put some people in charge who know what they're doing, maybe they can find a way to become respectable again. |
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With Nomar now playing first base, the Dodgers have reason to hope he stays healthy, because if he does, he could be a candidate for "Comeback Player of the Year" honors. IF Drew and Nomar both stay healthy, the Dodgers may suddenly find themselves with more run scoring than they know how to handle. |
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Get a load of this impressive youth movement! Rickie Weeks (2B), Prince Fielder (1B), JJ Hardy (SS), Chris Capuano (P), Cory Hart (3B), Gabe Gross (RF), Bill Hall (UT). That's quite a lot to build around and that core will be with the Brewers for many years to come. |
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The Twins were riddled with injuries and inconsistent performances from a number of young players getting their first true taste of the big leagues, but they're in a good position to make a serious run at the central if they can stay healthy this time around. You can't be too far away from contention when you're building around guys like Morneau, Mauer, Nathan, Santana, Radke and Hunter. |
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Anyone thinking Beltran would hit 40 HRs two years in a row, then suddenly disappear off the face of the earth, never to been heard from again isn't thinking straight. The Mets, with the help of newly acquired Carlos Delgado, resurgent Carlos Beltran, veteran leader Paul LoDuca, maturing David Wright, and a well rounded pitching staff should be a force in 2006. |
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How many wins can 215 million dollars buy? I guess we'll find out this year. Yankee fans don't need cheering up prior to any season! |
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With Frank Thomas mashing in Spring Training, Milton Bradley playing good solid defense and expected to be a big contributor to the offense, and a nucleus of great young pitchers like Street and Harden backing up a core of talented players like Ellis, Chavez, Dan Johnson and Nick Swisher, the As promise to be one of the most balanced clubs in baseball. |
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A team that has been perennially starved for good defense manages to parlay an aging 25 year old slugger into a gold glove defensive CF. Could be the key to a serious run at contention if some of the marginal members of the Phillies' pitching staff come around. |
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Beware of Oliver Perez. Aside from Jason Bay's exploits, the Pirates don't have a lot to look forward to, but Perez is certainly one very bright ray of hope. If he doesn't rebound from last season's injury-created disappointment and lift up this team every fifth day, I'll be shocked. |
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Not that Peavy and a solid supporting cast weren't already a good start to a team defense, but sticking Mike Cameron in CF and managing to resign both Hoffman and Giles has put the Padres in a good position to take maximum advantage of their outstanding pitcher's park and win a lot of low scoring games. In a wide open NL West, the Padres are contenders. |
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Say what you want about the steroid issue - many of you guys probably already have - but he reinvents this line-up if he stays healthy and no matter how much we may not want to get excited, if he's chasing down Hank Aaron, the buzz will be immense. |
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The Cards are still the team to beat in the NL this year. They may have lost a few important pieces from last year's team, but they will have the services of Scott Rolen for the full season, and their pitching defense continue to look solid on paper. |
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The Mariners haven't produced a wave of young talented position players like the Jose Lopez/Yuniesky Betancourt/Jeremy Reed/Jeff Clement/Shin-Soo Choo/Chris Snelling wave that will be having a major impact on this team since the days of Griffey/A-Rod/Buhner and the two Martinez lunch. If they can get any kind of pitching from the back of their rotation, they'll be exciting to watch. |
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This is probably the first year we'll get to see the much heralded outfield of Delmon Young/Rocco Baldelli/Carl Crawford (right to left) play together. Look out for a big season from Scott Kazmir, and a major rebound for Aubrey Huff as well. The D-Rays aren't going to make the post-season, but they won't be pushovers this year. |
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They're short on pitching for the moment, even with the addition of Millwood, but the Roger Clemens watch is already on. If he decides to take a shot with the Rangers down the stretch, they have a shot at a title. |
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The Blue Jays basically reinvented their roster this off-season. If the players gel together well and they find some offensive production from SS, 2B and LF this year, they are a real threat in the AL East. |
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The #1 thing to look forward to this year...the Nats will finally acquire an owner other than Major League Baseball itself by mid-season. If he's willing to spend some dough on this club, they could have a quick rise to glory. |
Questions or Comments? E-mail the author at m_souders@yahoo.com
Thanks for reading and PLAY BALL!
