With 2011 now behind us, it's time to look forward to the 2012 MLB season. Some teams have been busy this winter, but others have been rather quiet. Here is a list of what teams in the AL Central need in order to contend in 2012.

Detroit Tigers - This team has everything they need to contend in 2012, but could use a little consistency from the starters not named Justin Verlander or Doug Fister. Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello are very good pitchers but they need to step up their game in 2012. Offensively, this team is pretty scary with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in their lineup. I felt that Austin Jackson had a decent year in center for the Tigers, but still took a small step back. If he can pick it back up, he will help out that already dangerous offense.

Cleveland Indians - The Indians can definitely use some help at the plate. Asdrubal Cabrera "led" the team with a .273 average in 2011. I'm not saying that's bad, because Cabrera had a great year, but they can definitely use some offensive help if they have any dreams of competing in 2012. Wondering if Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore can stay healthy for a whole season is like me wondering what life would be like if I looked like Brad Pitt. It's just not going to happen. They also need to keep Shin-Soo Choo healthy, which would greatly help out in 2012. As for their rotation they will need Ubaldo Jimenez to regain his 2010 form.

Chicago White Sox - The post Ozzie era starts in 2012 and they will do so without longtime ace Mark Buehrle who joins Guillen in Miami. Newly re-signed John Danks will need to take charge of that rotation which looks pretty mediocre. If they can improve upon their pitching, they can make a run at the AL Central in 2012. Offensively, Adam Dunn can't get any worse in 2012, can he? And for the record, is Paul Konerko the most underrated baseball player in the last 15 years? Something tells me the answer to that riddle is yes.

Kansas City Royals - Here is an interesting bit of trivia question for you. What baseball team had the fourth highest team average in the majors in 2011? If you guessed the Kansas City Royals, you are indeed correct. Kansas City hit .275 last year which topped teams like the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. Sadly their team ERA of 4.44 was the fourth worst in the majors, which isn't so good. In order to contend, they need to get their rotation moving in the right direction. I felt the trade that sent Melky Cabrera to San Francisco for Jonathan Sanchez was a great move. I doubt Melky will repeat his 2011 numbers, and Sanchez can help out that rotation. Luke Hochevar started to pitch like the number one overall pick he was back in 2006 but still has room for improvement. Speaking of reaching potential, thanks for showing up Alex Gordon!

Minnesota Twins - 2011 was not kind to the Twins as they actually had a worse record than the Baltimore Orioles. In order for Minnesota to contend in 2012, they will need both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau to stay healthy. They also need to not have Carl Pavano as their number one starter. If Francisco Liriano can stay healthy and find that thing called a strike zone, that would also be a nice treat for the Minnesota faithful. I would also like to apologize in advance to the Twins fans for having Matt Capps as their closer. No one should have to endure that.

The Tigers will cruise to another central title.  just like in 2011.

Any Central thread this year will be mostly tigers fans.
of course you will get the Indian haters.  They just hate when they know they just cant compete with  the michigan teams.

Twins just have to many holes to fill.

chicago should get better with out Ozzie. that was the best move they made.

KC...well they will be  the same ol KC....   some times always getting in the Tigers way of course.        

With 2011 now behind us, it's time to look forward to the 2012 MLB season. Some teams have been busy this winter, but others have been rather quiet. Here is a list of what teams in the AL Central need in order to contend in 2012.

Detroit Tigers - This team has everything they need to contend in 2012, but could use a little consistency from the starters not named Justin Verlander or Doug Fister. Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello are very good pitchers but they need to step up their game in 2012. Offensively, this team is pretty scary with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in their lineup. I felt that Austin Jackson had a decent year in center for the Tigers, but still took a small step back. If he can pick it back up, he will help out that already dangerous offense.

Cleveland Indians - The Indians can definitely use some help at the plate. Asdrubal Cabrera "led" the team with a .273 average in 2011. I'm not saying that's bad, because Cabrera had a great year, but they can definitely use some offensive help if they have any dreams of competing in 2012. Wondering if Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore can stay healthy for a whole season is like me wondering what life would be like if I looked like Brad Pitt. It's just not going to happen. They also need to keep Shin-Soo Choo healthy, which would greatly help out in 2012. As for their rotation they will need Ubaldo Jimenez to regain his 2010 form.

Chicago White Sox - The post Ozzie era starts in 2012 and they will do so without longtime ace Mark Buehrle who joins Guillen in Miami. Newly re-signed John Danks will need to take charge of that rotation which looks pretty mediocre. If they can improve upon their pitching, they can make a run at the AL Central in 2012. Offensively, Adam Dunn can't get any worse in 2012, can he? And for the record, is Paul Konerko the most underrated baseball player in the last 15 years? Something tells me the answer to that riddle is yes.

Kansas City Royals - Here is an interesting bit of trivia question for you. What baseball team had the fourth highest team average in the majors in 2011? If you guessed the Kansas City Royals, you are indeed correct. Kansas City hit .275 last year which topped teams like the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. Sadly their team ERA of 4.44 was the fourth worst in the majors, which isn't so good. In order to contend, they need to get their rotation moving in the right direction. I felt the trade that sent Melky Cabrera to San Francisco for Jonathan Sanchez was a great move. I doubt Melky will repeat his 2011 numbers, and Sanchez can help out that rotation. Luke Hochevar started to pitch like the number one overall pick he was back in 2006 but still has room for improvement. Speaking of reaching potential, thanks for showing up Alex Gordon!

Minnesota Twins - 2011 was not kind to the Twins as they actually had a worse record than the Baltimore Orioles. In order for Minnesota to contend in 2012, they will need both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau to stay healthy. They also need to not have Carl Pavano as their number one starter. If Francisco Liriano can stay healthy and find that thing called a strike zone, that would also be a nice treat for the Minnesota faithful. I would also like to apologize in advance to the Twins fans for having Matt Capps as their closer. No one should have to endure that.
______________

Does anyone care about the Central?

first post since july 16th

interesting timing you have

The Tigers will cruise to another central title.  just like in 2011.

best way to beat the Tigers.

Hit the ball to an infielder

If we are telling it like it is I sure hope this season isn't like 2008 when people were talking about us getting 1000+ runs and our offense being so great but then our defense sucks it up, players underperform, and we finish the season under .500.

Yes we have a potentially great pitching staff so that will help but people have to realize pitchers rely on their infield to make plays if our guys aren't making plays our pitchers numbers are going to dip.

With that said our defense doesn't change much from last year, and I'm in no way upset or in disagreement with the Prince Fielder signing. I absolutely am ecstatic about getting Prince Fielder and I'm sure before the year is over with Fielder will be my favorite Tiger because since Granderson left haven't really found a favorite Tiger to root for. 

I don't have high expectations for the Twins this year, seeing as their rotation is full of #3 and #4-type guys, but I'll still cheer them on to the bitter end.

I, too, expect the Tigers to run away with the division this year. With Verlander pitching every fifth day, and Cabrera and Fielder hitting at 3 and 4, yikes. Victor Martinez will be out for a while, and their infield might be one of the worst in baseball from a defensive standpoint, the offense should more than make up for those deficiencies.

2-5 in this division is a toss-up in my eyes. I could very well see the Royals turning the corner and finishing second or third. They have what I'm guessing is the youngest team in baseball (only Bruce Chen was born in the 1970s). The White Sox, on the other hand, are getting old and have a pitching staff that is average at best, especially with Mark Buerhle signing with the Marlins. The Indians are solid top to bottom, and I expect them to outplay the White Sox and Twins this year.

Doug you are right.  You will get Tiger fans and Indian haters.  Of course they are the same people.

It is about time we started a 2012 AL Central Thread. No better timing than when the Tigers sign Prince Fielder

The signing of Prince Fielder made this thread kind of unfair. The Tigers won the AL Central by 15 games last season and now we just signed a guy who finished third last year in the NL MVP voting and finished in top 4 two other times. Sure we lost Vmart, which will hurt, but Prince is a difference maker. Add him to our roster and we have three guys who finished top 5 in MVP voting last year, one who won it, in Verlander. It's not just them either. We have Doug Fister, a guy who was 4th in ERA last year in the AL (bet you didn't know that), in Detroit for the entire season. Really if you look back at last year...it was when we picked up Doug Fister that we separated ourselves from the rest of the mediocre AL Central. And of course we are returning the rest of our key guys from last year, like Avila, Valverde, Peralta etc.

I just don't see how any other team in the AL Central competes with the Tigers this year. The Angels got a ton better by adding Pujols and Wilson so they could compete with the Rangers in the AL West. The Yankees got much better by adding Pineda and Kuroda to solidify them in the AL East. Those divisions are going to be a battle. The AL Central?? Well..the team that won the division by 15 games last season just got richer...and no other team in the division really has done much. On that note...the Tigers should dominate and win the division handily.
 
 Here is how I see the AL Central playing out as of now:

1. Tigers -- Just too tough. I think we win 100 games this season.
2. Royals - 19 GB (Royals can hit and Hosmer for a full season helps. I also love the Jonathan Sanchez trade they made)
3. Twins - 25 GB (No way can the Twins get as many injuries as they had last season, but they are still bad)
4. White Sox - 26 GB (Adam Dunn can't be any worse than last season, can he?)     
5. Indians - 26 GB (We saw the real Indians in August and September last year. Look for more of the same this season)

Is it April yet? 

The AL Central?? Well..the team that won the division by 15 games last season just got richer...and no other team in the division really has done much. On that note...the Tigers should dominate and win the division handily.

They didnt get that much richer

Prince Fielder is probably worth 2 or 3 more wins, but there is no way Verlander repeats what he did last season
Plus the defense is going to be atrocious.
Pretty sure your closer will blow a save or two this year.
Still the favorite to win the division, but I doubt you have a much better record over last season.

I doubt you have a much better record over last season.

Whoopty do.

Still the favorite to win the division,

Groovy!

I foresee lots of box scores like...

Tigers     10  15   3

Visitors    6   10  1       

Hahahaha, only three errors? 

You planning on a lot more Ramon Santiago than Ryan Raburn?

Miggy will handle the error job.

no way Verlander repeats last season?????


dude is locked in.  He is in his prime.  i look for even a better season from the ACE of all MLB.



the real key will be  IF  A Jackson can turn into just a decent lead off hitter.

Plus.  B Boesch.  will he take a step forward and become a real star in this game? i think so on Boesch. But i have my doubts on Jackson.
He figures to be down at the bottom of the order before the all star break.

ps.  kinik..i knew you would catch that mis play on words about indian haters...you know what i meant.       


No body mentions the butcher in left field... Delmon Young.  His bat could also be a big factor in this line up.

Jhonny P at SS..  this team is in even better shape than last year.You forget we lost Boesch right before the play offs.


Only 2 dead weights that hurt us in Inge and Raburn           

for sure  Comerica Park will be dreaded by other teams.   This could be the best home team this year.


It would be like any  visiting  Hockey team trying to   win in The Joe Loius Arnea.

it just wont be done very often   

Prince Fielder is probably worth 2 or 3 more wins, but there is no way Verlander repeats what he did last season.
Pretty sure your closer will blow a save or two this year.

I knew somebody would bring this up. The whole "Verlander, Avila, Valverde" won't repeat what they did last year. They probably won't. But guess what? Austin Jackson probably won't strike out as much as he did last year. The Tigers won't be trotting out Brad Penny every 5 days. Scherzer probably has a better 2012 than he did 2011. We have Fister for a full season. We have Delmon for a full season.

We won 95 games last season. There is no reason to think this Tigers squad can't win 5 more games than last year. Especially considering no other team in our division got much better. I expect the Tigers to have more wins than any other team in the AL next season. Not necessarily because we have the best team. The AL is loaded. The Rangers, Angels, Yankees, and Red Sox are all good teams. Buuuuuut because the Angels and Rangers will beat up on each other and we all know the Yankees/Red Sox/Rays will beat up on each other. The Tigers'  biggest competitor in their division, in my opinion, is the Royals. The Royals are nothing close to those other teams.

Tigers 100 WINS. Mark it down. 

Doug, Verlander is a great pitcher but it will be very difficult for him to repeat (24-5).  It has been over 20 years since a MLB pitcher won 25 games.  Possible but not likely.

If verlander can get off to a good start...thats what has held him back..


he doesnt have to be as good to win 25 now. But i think he will be pushing 25 this year.

of course....   even if he wins 25... If his  ERA is above  2.5   the nay sayers will  spout off about how wins are a team stat.


He likes being a star.  He enjoyed being on the cover of that video game and going on late night  TV.   He wants to stay on top.      

If he wins 25 I wouldn't care what his ERA is.  ERA is for Cy Young winners that can't win.