2021 Season Previews: AL Central
Mar 29, 2018 21:52:57 GMT -8
johnw- ATL, samtigers, and 1 more like this
Post by aaron_commissioner on Mar 29, 2018 21:52:57 GMT -8
I usually value last season’s performance and GM continuity when predicting future results. As such, I think it is finally time for the Minnesota Twins to step up as leaders in the AL Central. They have an extremely young and dangerous lineup. The additions of Tinoco and Lange certainly help their rotation, but there are still plenty of question marks about the arms. As one of the youngest teams in the ABL, the Twins have a wide range of possibilities. However, I feel the sky is truly the limit for this club.
It is hard coming in to a league and leading your team to a division title, but if any team could do it, it would probably be the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe have won the AL Central every year in the ABL, and still boast a very strong team, anchored by a stellar rotation. This group was boosted by the addition of Blake Snell this offseason. The rotation sets them apart from nearly any team in the ABL, let alone their division. If Cleveland can have another record setting year like the one they had in 2019, they are fully capable of a deep run in the playoffs.
Welcomed back to the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers may enjoy a smaller-market division. The Tigers made a lot of moves this offseason, including moving Manny Machado for Richard Urena. The team is no longer in a rebuild, but rather more of a “reboot” to try and quickly contend and stay relevant long-term. If 2021 spells doom for Detroit, the Machado trade may come back to haunt them. Otherwise, newcomers McCutchen, Profar, Harvey, and Wacha could carry this team to a .500 record.
The Kansas City Royals surprised many by playing close to .500 ball in 2020. The team still lacks elite talent, but there are plenty of young specs to have hope for the future. With an overall quiet offseason, I still see this team as in rebuild, but another overachieving season could boost popularity and revenue for the team. They are not playoff relevant yet, but they could be in a couple of years.
The Chicago White Sox have really sputtered the last couple of years, and now they are fully embracing a complete rebuild. They have a lineup that can cause some damage, but their pitching staff is still really in need. They loaded up with valuable draft picks this offseason when they traded Dustin Fowler, and were finally able to create some budget room with their Justin Grimm trade. The team seems to be going in the right direction, but this is a long rebuild ahead.
Questions for everyone:
- Who wins: Cleveland or Minnesota, and why?
- This division faced quick postseasons in 2020. What did you do to your team this offseason to get you closer to postseason success?
- Introduce us to a player on your team that we may not yet know about but could have an impact in 2021.
It is hard coming in to a league and leading your team to a division title, but if any team could do it, it would probably be the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe have won the AL Central every year in the ABL, and still boast a very strong team, anchored by a stellar rotation. This group was boosted by the addition of Blake Snell this offseason. The rotation sets them apart from nearly any team in the ABL, let alone their division. If Cleveland can have another record setting year like the one they had in 2019, they are fully capable of a deep run in the playoffs.
Welcomed back to the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers may enjoy a smaller-market division. The Tigers made a lot of moves this offseason, including moving Manny Machado for Richard Urena. The team is no longer in a rebuild, but rather more of a “reboot” to try and quickly contend and stay relevant long-term. If 2021 spells doom for Detroit, the Machado trade may come back to haunt them. Otherwise, newcomers McCutchen, Profar, Harvey, and Wacha could carry this team to a .500 record.
The Kansas City Royals surprised many by playing close to .500 ball in 2020. The team still lacks elite talent, but there are plenty of young specs to have hope for the future. With an overall quiet offseason, I still see this team as in rebuild, but another overachieving season could boost popularity and revenue for the team. They are not playoff relevant yet, but they could be in a couple of years.
The Chicago White Sox have really sputtered the last couple of years, and now they are fully embracing a complete rebuild. They have a lineup that can cause some damage, but their pitching staff is still really in need. They loaded up with valuable draft picks this offseason when they traded Dustin Fowler, and were finally able to create some budget room with their Justin Grimm trade. The team seems to be going in the right direction, but this is a long rebuild ahead.
Questions for everyone:
- Who wins: Cleveland or Minnesota, and why?
- This division faced quick postseasons in 2020. What did you do to your team this offseason to get you closer to postseason success?
- Introduce us to a player on your team that we may not yet know about but could have an impact in 2021.