Page 130 - Phoenix2002-03

Wednesday, April 2, 2003 ~Page 14 SPORTS Ed Schulthesis American League Baseball Preview Each year, EA Sports simulates the upcoming baseball season using the~ latest this wayward franchise is turned around. video game incarnation. This time, usmg the AMERlCAN LEAGUE CENTRAL recently released MVP Baseball 2003, they predicted a surprising winner for the season. In the ALC, Minnesota looks as if they _Unexpectedly, the Toronto BlueJays took will continue their string of recent success home the trophy after beating-the Houston with another divisional crown. Astros in the World Series. For one, I do The WhiteSox do have a chance at vying not believe the Jays are going to make it to for the pole position in the central, but the series this year. inconsistency has been their downfall, and Secondly. I see this season being a this year should be no exception. The rest rather pedestrian one in the American of the central will duke it out for the rest of League. So lets get to it, and we'U find out the positions. who is still standing come October. The Twins start this season with pretty much the same company as last year. with AMERlCAN LEAGUE EAST: mainstays Torii Hunter, Brad Radke and Doug Mientkiewicz and recently added In the ALE, the Yankees are once again Kenny Rogers, the Twinkies are looking at the perennial favorites. In fact, barring any another solid year in the Metrodome. surprising tum of events, the east looks like The White Sox cannot seem to break it will finish the exact same way it has the through (he ceiling. First, they were second past 4 years. Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, fiddle to the Indians in the late90s, now they Orioles, and the DeviI Rays, in that exact order. are trapped behind the Twins. Chicago The Yankees look to continue their probably has the most potent lineup in the dominance of the east thanks to ability to division and on paper, their pitching staff looks well off with pitchers Mark Buehrle, spend more money on players than any other Bartolo Colon, and closer Billy Koch. team in the league. During the off-season, However, r think that once again the White they managed to sign Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, Cuban pitching sensation Sox are going to disappoint their fans again Jose Contreras. and a few more players to this year because of their inconsistent play their arsenal. They coupled with the already and the fact that the Twins are just going to outplay them. solid pitching staff and powerful lineup Cleveland has all but fallen from their should lead the Yanks [0 yet another ALE seat of power in the Central division. The crown ~ that is if the tabloid fodder does not team is undergoing a youth movement and rip the team's chemistry apart. both the pitching staff and lineup have Boston, who has not won the World Series since 1918 probably will nOI be question marks riddled throughout. A few bright spots they have are Omar Visquel, winning it this year either. Yes, they have their decent outfield, and hard throwing PedroMartinez,MannyRamirez, andNomar Garciuparra, but can the rest of team pick up pitchers, but look for the Indians to be in [he middle of the pack this season. some of slack? Can Derek Lowe follow up Sorry to say, but you can place the other on his success from last season, or was rt two teams, the DetroitTigers and the Kansas just a fluke? These are some of the questions City Royals in the "Does anyone care that management will be asking this season. category?" The starting rotation of KC has Boston is a good team, but they just cannot an aggregate 21 career victories, but Mike play ccnsistemly good baseball for the entire season, which willland them in second place Sweeney should put up good numbers for the season, even if the team will not finish again. . . anywhere near .500. The Blue Jays could be the surpnstng team of 2003. Roy Halladay, Eric Hinske, Detroit decided to pass up on any Carlos Delgado, and Vernon Wells lead a veterans during free agency, and with a team postseason. Look for them 10 try to regain big-league numbers and may contend for the as young as they are, look for many mistakes group of youngsters inToronto. Hinske,.last in Detroit, and a lot of empty seats in first in the west, but withquestions regarding Rookie-of-the_Year. Unless the Rangers' year's Rookie of the Year, looks to conunue Comerica Park. The Tigers and the Royals the health and performance of some of the pitching staff can keep the runs down, no his success along with a talented squad of will be fighting to stay out of the cellar. starters, including Freddy Garcia, and their amount of offense will be able [0 offset the kids up north. The largest question will be closer Kaz Sasaki, they may have a problem deficit. If the team does pitch better they the pitching staff. After Halladay and C?TY AMER]CAN LEAGUE WEST: surpassing the A's. The addition of Randy can definitely content in the west though. Lidle, the team has no other proven starting Wino will up the stealtotals for the Mariners, pitcher. If the team catches some breaks to possibly the most exciting division in and Ichiro Suzuki always gives 100%, so during the season and gets lucky, it may be the American League, each team seems to there is a chance if Seattle is lucky to finish East Champions: New York possible to see them in the wild card spot have an equal chance of winning the west. in first, or with the wild card. Yankees come October. With Anaheim trying to defend its crown, I Anaheim, the 2002 World Champions, Bringing up the rear in the east will be do not see them being able to win the have pretty much the same lineup and staff Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The Orioles division, but more likely the wild card. as last year, but to repeat, they are going to Central Champions: Minnesota picked up some free agents during th.eoff- Oakland looks like it has the best chance have to get some breaks this year ~ namely Twins season, but this team is too young, IS too to win in the west. WithTim Hudson, Barry staying healthy. inconsistent, and strikes out way too much Zito and Mark Mulder leading the pitching The Texas Rangers, with the most to have a shot. They may have a shot in a staff for the A's, and with a solid lineup expensive player in baseball, looks to West Champions: Oakland couple years, and they definitely h.ave the featuring MiguelTejada and Erubiel Durazo, improve on their last place finish. With Athletics money to shop a bit more for some big name looks ready to repeat. Expect a lot from sluggers Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, players. Tejada especially since this is his last season and Juan Gonzalez, the Rangers can sure put Tampa, even with the addition of up big numbers on the board. However,their manager Lou Piniella, will be in the cellar before free agency. The amy question mark pitching staff will give up a huge number as Wild Card: Boston Red Sox is in the outfield, but the team may be aided again. With such low attendance totals, it is by acquisition Ron Gant. well. (possibly Toronto Blue Jays, or hard for the team to make serious roster The Seattle Mariners had a good season One player to look at may be Mark Seattle Mariners) updates and to be honest, there isn't much last year, but not good enough to make the Teixeira, the Rangers' 3B, who if given a for the fans in Tampa to see, at least not until chance to play could very well put up some