2008 Woodie Awards
Opening day fast approaches: 2008 MLB Preview
Nelson Gray
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Sports
A.L. West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Vladimir Guerrero has finally been given some protection in the form of Torii Hunter. They have one of the best closers in baseball in Francisco Rodriguez and a great pitching staff headlined by John Lackey and Jered Weaver.
2. Seattle Mariners Erik Bedard was a great pickup and will give them a chance to contend with Anaheim. After sporting a 3.15 ERA in the A.L. East, he's a legit shot to lead all of baseball in strikeouts and getting out of the misery that is the Baltimore Orioles organization should get him plenty of wins this year.
3. Oakland Athletics They slide into the third spot because the Rangers are in their ninth season of rebuilding. Gone is staff ace Dan Haren. So too are fan favorites Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay. This leaves the offense up to… Travis Buck? Billy Beane has pretty much thrown in the towel on the 2008 season, but with their farm system once again chalked full of budding superstars, '09 will see the A's back in serious contention for the playoffs.
4. Texas Rangers As mentioned previously, the Rangers can't quite seem to get out of the rebuilding phase. Josh Hamilton will be fun to watch in the hitter friendly Ballpark in Arlington. When Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla are your horses at the top of the rotation, your chances are never good.
A.L. Central
1. Cleveland Indians Grady Sizemore is one of the best players in baseball. He's a five-tool leadoff man. Reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia is in a contract year and is again atop the rotation.
2. Detroit Tigers Their lineup could be the best in baseball with Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Curtis Granderson and Edgar Renteria. Whether or not Cabrera's ever expanding waste line begins to catch up with him remains to be seen. Sheffield and his most violent swing in the history of baseball is another year older and coming off an injury riddled 2007.
3. Chicago White Sox. Ozzie Guillen will start the season on the hot seat in the South Side. The additions of Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher strengthen an already potentially scary lineup. Jermaine Dye is slipping as is Jim Thome, but each can still provide plenty of pop in the Windy City.
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Vladimir Guerrero has finally been given some protection in the form of Torii Hunter. They have one of the best closers in baseball in Francisco Rodriguez and a great pitching staff headlined by John Lackey and Jered Weaver.
2. Seattle Mariners Erik Bedard was a great pickup and will give them a chance to contend with Anaheim. After sporting a 3.15 ERA in the A.L. East, he's a legit shot to lead all of baseball in strikeouts and getting out of the misery that is the Baltimore Orioles organization should get him plenty of wins this year.
3. Oakland Athletics They slide into the third spot because the Rangers are in their ninth season of rebuilding. Gone is staff ace Dan Haren. So too are fan favorites Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay. This leaves the offense up to… Travis Buck? Billy Beane has pretty much thrown in the towel on the 2008 season, but with their farm system once again chalked full of budding superstars, '09 will see the A's back in serious contention for the playoffs.
4. Texas Rangers As mentioned previously, the Rangers can't quite seem to get out of the rebuilding phase. Josh Hamilton will be fun to watch in the hitter friendly Ballpark in Arlington. When Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla are your horses at the top of the rotation, your chances are never good.
A.L. Central
1. Cleveland Indians Grady Sizemore is one of the best players in baseball. He's a five-tool leadoff man. Reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia is in a contract year and is again atop the rotation.
2. Detroit Tigers Their lineup could be the best in baseball with Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Curtis Granderson and Edgar Renteria. Whether or not Cabrera's ever expanding waste line begins to catch up with him remains to be seen. Sheffield and his most violent swing in the history of baseball is another year older and coming off an injury riddled 2007.
3. Chicago White Sox. Ozzie Guillen will start the season on the hot seat in the South Side. The additions of Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher strengthen an already potentially scary lineup. Jermaine Dye is slipping as is Jim Thome, but each can still provide plenty of pop in the Windy City.