Rise of the Surprises: 2009 Season Preview

By Broadside Sports Editor Brian Chan
& Broadside Correspondent Chris Demarco

AL East

The Baltimore Orioles tried not so hard to try and land prized free agent Mark Teixeira. They have one of the best second basemen in the game in Brian Roberts (181 hits and 40 SB last year) along with one of the most underrated players in baseball in Nick Markakis (20 HR). The Boston Red Sox did not make the big signings like the Yankees did, but they are trying to rely on what they already have to lead them back to the playoffs. With an extremely potent rotation consisting of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, along with future Hall of Famer John Smoltz, they believe they will be able to win the division. The New York Yankees try to redeem themselves for failing to make it to the playoffs for the first
time in 12 seasons. They are hoping that CC Sabathia returns to his Cy Young form
during his days with the Cleveland Indians. The most surprising team from last year,
the Tampa Bay Rays, is expecting the same as last season. Adding Pat Burrell
from the Philadelphia Phillies gives their lineup another power hitter. The Toronto Blue Jays did not do much to keep up with the top teams in the division. They plan on heavily relying on former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, like they always do.

AL Central

The Chicago White Sox look to defend their division title as left fielder Carlos Quentin returns for his second year with the team after hitting 36 home runs and 100 RBIs last season. Quentin, once a highly-touted prospect with the Arizona
Diamondbacks, may have saved his career after turning in one of the most surprising
performances, which included winning his first Silver Slugger award. Pitcher Cliff Lee, last season’s AL Cy Young winner, also won the AL Comeback Player of the Year award after yielding only 12 home runs and 34 walks while striking out 170
batters in 223-1/3 innings for the Cleveland Indians. Lee went 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA in
2007, giving up 17 home runs in just 97-1/3 innings. Despite a disappointing 2008 season, first baseman Miguel Cabrera led the Detroit Tigers with 37 home runs and 127 RBIs, both career highs for the 25-year old. Pitcher Joakim Soria may be one of the best closers in the division after recording 42 saves and a 1.60 ERA with the
Kansas City Royals last season. Batters hit only .169 off the 24-year old. The Minnesota Twins have a strong rotation in pitchers Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey.

AL West

The Los Angeles Angels may benefit in having pitcher Brian Fuentes closing games
rather than Francisco Rodriguez. Fuentes, who is less costly than Rodriguez, struck
out 82 batters in 62-2/3 innings and gave up only three home runs and 22 walks. Pitching prospects Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill provide young, powerful arms for the Oakland Athletics. Cahill struck out 136 batters and gave up only five home runs during his time in High-A and AA minor leagues last season. Third baseman
Adrian Beltre is in the last year of his contract and has yet to provide to expected power numbers with the Seattle Mariners. Beltre, who hit 48 home runs in 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, never hit more than 26 home runs in four seasons with the Mariners, but he remains to be one of the AL’s best defensive third basemen after winning his second consecutive Gold Glove award. Catcher Jarrod
Saltalamacchia may be the projected starter for the Texas Rangers, but Taylor Teagarden may get some playing time after hitting .319/.396/.809 with six home runs in only 47 at-bats last season. The 23-year old Saltalamacchia continues to develop, but Teagarden is a very strong backup at the position.

NL East

The Atlanta Braves lost their ace John Smoltz to the Boston Red Sox, and have been
trying to replace him ever since. They are hoping the signing of Derek Lowe (14-11
with Dodgers) can be their ace. The Florida Marlins are a young, talented team capable of pulling off what the Tampa Bay Rays did last year, but that seems unlikely. But they do have a young nucleus of infielders and outfielders behind Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Nothing makes the New York Mets’ players more
bitter than seeing their rival Phillies winning the World Series. The signing of
Francisco Rodriguez (62 saves) bolsters a once weak bullpen. The defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies did not do much their roster, and did not lose all that much in the offseason. They replaced Pat Burrell with the aging Raul Ibanez. They locked up key contributors Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer to deals that will keep them in Philadelphia for the next three years. With one of the most
potent lineups in baseball, they have a legitimate shot at defending their title. The
Washington Nationals can only get better than their MLBworst 59 wins last year. The
addition of Adam Dunn gives the Nats the power hitter they have been coveting since they lost Alfonso Soriano.

NL Central

Could this be the Chicago Cubs’ year to end their curse? They have one of the best
lineups in baseball with the likes of Derrick Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. Edinson Volquez was a nice surprise for the Cincinnati Reds last year. He heads a rotation that has Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang behind him. The Houston Astros are an interesting team. Behind Roy Oswalt, their rotation is very suspect. Beyond Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada, they lack power in their offense, which is needed to make up for a lacking rotation. The loss of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets will hurt the Milwaukee Brewers pretty badly. But now they have to rely heavily on Jeff Suppan and a young rotation behind him along with closer Trevor Hoffman. The Pittsburgh Pirates do not have much to be competitive this year. Nate McLouth was the lone bright spot on another dreadful season for them last year, and it seems like it is going to be the same story again this year.
They have no real ace in their rotation, and do not really have any other bats besides
McLouth in their lineup. The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to make their way back to the playoffs behind MVP Albert Pujols. They did not make any big additions this offseason, but they are hoping they can compete with what they have.

NL West

First baseman/left fielder Conor Jackson is the jack of all trades for the Arizona
Diamondbacks, but he continues to be an underappreciated ballplayer. Jackson, who is one of the more disciplined batters in the league, had only six hits in 62 at-bats during full count situations, but walked 31 times. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was snubbed the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2007, but things did not get any better for the defensive specialist and the Colorado Rockies. Tulowitzki had his 2008 season cut short due to injuries. After hitting .396/.489/.783 in 187 at-bats with the Los Angeles Dodgers, left fielder Manny Ramirez agreed to return to the team as
the two sides came to an agreement nearly three weeks ago with the deal being worth $45 million for two years. Second baseman Matt Antonelli struggled last season in the minor leagues, but he will be part of the future for the San Diego Padres. Pitcher Tim Lincecum’s funky delivery earned him the Cy Young award after striking out 265 batters, most in the major leagues last season. The San Francisco Giants have one of the best rotations with pitchers Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Randy Johnson and Jonathan Sanchez.