American League Central grades

The Indians and the Tigers are the tops of the division again

Jul 8, 2007 Rob Greenfield

If C.C. Sabathia continues his career season and Travis Hafner heats up, then the Indians have a chance at winning the division, but the Tigers are hot on their heels.

Grades for the American League Central Division:

• Cleveland Indians – While C.C. Sabathia has conjured a career year with 12 wins and over 120 strikeouts at the All-Star break, there was a hint of weakness with his last start against Detroit in which the Tigers ran his pitch count high and hit three home runs. Either that was the fluke or that was the preview for the second half, and without Sabathia on top of his game they’ll wilt. However, Paul Byrd and Fausto Carmona have been steady and Cliff Lee has the potential to be a solid starter, and in the playoffs you only need three good starters to compete. Their bullpen has been good enough and Travis Hafner is warming up after a slow start, so the Indians should be around in September and will be in the playoffs in some capacity.

• Detroit Tigers – This is the team you will see in the American League Championship Series. They have the pitching and the bats to make it to the World Series and the Angels and the Red Sox are the only two teams that will be able to take them out. Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Velander, and Kenny Rogers are the core of the starting rotation and the Detroit organization has high hopes for fifth starter and uber-prospect Andrew Miller. The Tiger hitters are better than ever, and by adding Gary Sheffield into the lineup they have propelled the offense into one of the best run-producing teams in major league baseball. Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, Curtis Granderson, Sheffield and Ivan Rodriguez make a potent lineup with speed and power.

• Minnesota Twins – Francisco Liriano's unfortunate departure with a possible career-ending injury really set this franchise back. Now Johan Santana is flying solo at the top of the rotation and there is only so much one Cy Young award winner can do without a supporting cast. Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser aren’t exactly the ideal No. 2 and No. 3 starters. Joe Mauer was injured for a solid chunk of the first half of the season but is back, and Justin Morneau is having another great year. But without the arms there is no baseball in Minnesota in October.

• Chicago White Sox – This squad is probably the biggest disappointment in baseball this season. The pitching staff is experienced and so is the offense, but Mark Buehrle isn’t an ace and Jose Contreras’ extreme inconsistency (always aggravating considering his nasty stuff) has caught with him yet again in the form of his 5-plus earned run average this season. On the offensive side, Jim Thome has been injured for a good part of this season and Paul Konerko is a shell of his former self at the dish. All of it spells trouble and disappointment for the south side fans.

• Kansas City Royals – The Royals are the Royals, and will always be the punching bag of the central division if they don’t grab some more pitchers to surround Gil Meche in the starting rotation. Meche is a good No. 2 starter, maybe No. 3 starter, but he definitely doesn’t belong at the top of any rotation. Looks like the basement and padding records for the Royals again.

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