NL West
San Francisco Giants – 2010 Defending World Series Champions
There has been a new buzz around baseball after seeing the Giants win the World Series last year, a team who was picked to maybe win the NL wild card, won their division on the second to last day of the season last year and became the hot team to beat in the postseason. They beat the Braves in 4 games in the NLDS, then beat the Phillies in 6 games in the NLCS, then beat the Rangers in 6 games in the World Series and won their first World Series title in team history and how did they do this? Well their pitching was unstoppable in the postseason, leading the way was the 2 time CY Young award winner Tim Lincecum and he never looked back. He was followed up by Matt Chain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner. In 2011 the Giants will look to defend their crown and I think this team will win their division and will be a tough team yet again to beat in the postseason.
Giants Starting Five
1.Tim Lincecum 2010 – ERA 3.43, 16 wins, 10 losses, 231 strikeouts, 26 years old.
2.Matt Cain 2010 – ERA 3.14, 13 wins, 11 losses, 177 strikeouts, 26 years old.
3.Jonathan Sanchez 2010 – ERA 3.07, 13 wins, 9 losses, 205 strikeouts, 28 years old.
4.Madison Bumgarner 2010 – ERA 3.00, 7 wins, 6 losses, 86 strikeouts, 21 years old – Rookie.
5.Barry Zito 2010 – ERA 4.15, 9 wins, 14 losses, 150 strikeouts, 32 years old.
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies – 2010 NL East Division Champions
Some might say this might be the best starting five in baseball after the Phillies in the offseason came from behind and stole left handed pitcher Cliff Lee away from the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. Lee turned down the Yankees 168 million dollar offers and turned down the Rangers 148 million dollar offers to return to the “City of Brotherly Love” for 120 million dollars. Now that Lee is a Phillie once again he will join probably one of the greatest pitching staff in baseball with Roy Halladay, Roy Owsalt, and Cole Hamels. Yes on paper it looks really good but remember they have to do the work on the field. Also don’t forget about Joe Blanton as their number five starting pitcher. Some say he might not be on this pitching staff come opening day but if he is he’s not a bad number fiver starter. After losing to the Giants in the NLCS last year the Phillies know what they need to get done. Healthy line-up and pitching staff would make them the most dangerous team in baseball. I think the Phillies are going to win their 5th straight division title and I think they will go deep in the playoffs. People in Philadelphia are saying “World Series or Bust”
Phillies Starting Five
1.Roy Halladay 2010 NL CY Young winner – ERA 2.44, 21 wins, 10 losses, 219 strikeouts, 33 years old.
2.Cliff Lee 2010 – ERA 3.18, 12 wins, 9 losses, 185 strikeouts, 32 years old.
3.Roy Oswalt 2010 – ERA 2.76, 13 wins, 13 losses, 193 strikeouts, 33 years old.
4.Cole Hamels 2010 – ERA 3.06, 12 wins, 11 losses, 211 strikeouts, 27 years old.
5.Joe Blanton 2010 – ERA 4.82, 9 wins, 6 losses, 134 strikeouts, 30 years old or Kyle Kendrick 2010 – ERA 4.73, 11 wins, 10 losses, 84 strikeouts, 26 years old.
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals
After the Red Birds had a upset year not winning their division or making the postseason with their pitching staff having Adam Wainwrigth who was once again the runner up for the NL CY Young award you would have to think they want to take back their division and get to the postseason and I think they have the pitching to do so. However their line-up isn’t as strong as it used to be. I think the Cards will win their division but I also think it’s going to be a tight race to the finish line in the NL Central.
Cardinals Starting Five
1.Adam Wainwright 2010 runner up for the 2010 NL CY Young– ERA 2.42, 20 wins, 11 losses, 213 strikeouts, 29 years old.
2.Chris Carpenter 2010 – ERA 3.22, 16 wins, 9 losses, 174, strikeouts, 35 years old
3.Jamie Garcia 2010 – ERA 2.70, 13 wins, 8 losses, 132 strikeouts, 24 years old.
4.Jack Westbrook 2010 – ERA 4.22, 10 wins, 11 losses, 128 strikeouts, 33 years old.
5.Brad Penny 2010 – ERA 3.22, 3 wins, 4 losses, 35 strikeouts, 32 years old or Kyle Lohse 2010 – ERA 6.55, 4 wins, 8 losses, 54 strikeouts, 32 years old.
NL Surprise Teams
Milwaukee Brewers
After the Brewers got Shaun Marcum the Brewers got 2008 former AL CY Young winner Zack Greinke after reports we’re saying Greinke was going to sign with the Rangers after the Cliff Lee deal went south but some way the Brewers managed to bring him in. Marcum and Greinke are now teamed up with team ace Yovani Gallardo and look like they won’t back down in the NL Central division. Look for them to have a better year than last year.
Brewers Starting Five
1.Yovani Gallardo 2010 – ERA 3.84, 14 wins, 7 losses, 200 striekouts, 24 years old.
2.Zack Greinke 2010 – ERA 4.17, 10 wins, 14 losses, 181 strikeouts, 27 years old.
3.Shaun Marcum 2010 – ERA 3.64, 13 wins, 8 losses, 165 strikeouts, 29 years old.
4.Randy Wolf 2010 – ERA 4.17, 13 wins, 12 losses, 142 strikeouts, 34 years old.
5.Dave Bush 2010 – ERA 4.54, 8 wins, 5 losses, 107 strikeouts, 31 years old.
Atlanta Braves – 2010 NL Wild Card winner
After the Braves had the lead in the NL East they weren’t able to hold onto it as they became the NL Wild Card team and others thought that they would have won the East but as we know the Phillies won the East title yet again. The Braves have a pretty good pitching staff and after getting a taste of the postseason they will be looking for more. Their line-up got some help but their pitching I think is going to be key because we know they have a good starting line-up but it’s going to be interesting to see how their pitching holds up.
Braves Starting Five
1.Tim Hudson 2010 – ERA 2.83, 17 wins, 9 losses, 139 strikeouts, 35 years old.
2.Tommy Hason 2010 – ERA 3.33, 10 wins, 11 losses, 173, strikeouts, 24 years old.
3.Jair Jurrjens 2010 – ERA 4.64, 7 wins, 6 losses, 86 strikeouts, 24 years old.
4.Derek Lowe 2010 – ERA 4.00, 16 wins, 12 losses, 136 strikeouts, 37 years old.
5.Mike Minor 2010 – ERA 5.98, 3 wins, 2 losses, 43 strikeouts, 23 years old – Rookie.
Cincinnati Reds – 2010 NL Central Division Champions
The Reds last year surprised everyone after winning the NL Central division because in the beginning of 2010 no one really picked them to be a team to be scared of just because their pitching wasn’t all there and this year coming up I think they’re going to be another surprise team just because everyone is asking the question will they’re pitching staff do the same thing as they did in 2010? We already know they have probably one the best line-ups in the NL but I would like to see how the 2011 pitching staff will do again this year.
Reds Starting Five
1.Bronson Arroyo 2010 – ERA 3.88, 17 wins, 10 losses, 121 strikeouts, 33 years old.
2.Johnny Cueto 2010 – ERA 3.64, 12 wins, 7 losses, 138 strikeouts, 24 years old.
3.Edinson Voquez 2010 – ERA 4.31, 4 wins, 3 losses, 67 strikeouts, 27 years old.
4.Travis Wood 2010 – ERA 3.51, 5 wins, 4 losses, 86 strikeouts, 23 years old – Rookie.
5.Homer Baily 2010 – ERA 4.46, 4 wins, 3 losses, 100 strikeouts, 24 years old or Mike Leake 2010 – ERA 4.23, 8 wins, 4 losses, 91 strikeouts, 23 years old.
So I think out of these three surprise teams I think one of them will win the 2011 NL Wild Card and make a trip to the postseason. Then again I have been wrong before, but expect all three of these teams to have a good year.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels
After the 2010 season everyone thought that the Angels would be in postseason as they have been in the last 4 years, but for some reason things didn’t go their way. As we know the Texas Rangers won the AL West division title for the first time since 1998. The Rangers did it with great pitching and great hitting and that’s how I think the Angels will get it done this year, staying healthy and focus and they will win themselves another division title. I also think a full Dan Haren for a whole season will be just what they need after losing John Lackey a year ago. They finally have an ace on this staff to lead the way and to be followed up by Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana is just a sweet thing.
Angels Starting Five
1.Dan Haren 2010 – ERA 3.91, 12 wins, 12 losses, 216 strikeouts, 30 years old.
2.Jered Weaver 2010 – ERA 3.01, 13 wins, 12 losses, 233 strikeouts, 28 years old.
3.Ervin Santana 2010 – ERA 3.92, 17 wins, 10 losses, 169 strikeouts, 28 years old.
4.Joel Pineiro 2010 – ERA 3.84, 10 wins, 7 losses, 92 strikeouts, 32 years old.
5.Scott Kazmir 2010 – ERA 5.94, 9 wins, 15 losses, 93 strikeouts, 26 years old.
AL East
Boston Red Sox
After the Red Sox in 2010 it was probably one of their worst season’s in a long time where 18 to 19 players were put on the DL and put their chances to getting to the postseason out of reach, where in the beginning of 2010 they had high hopes after getting big free agent John Lackey they were picked to have one of the best starting five in 2010 but injures held them back. In offseason of 2010 the Sox made some big moves signing free agent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford and with a healthy pitching staff and line-up they are the favorite to win the AL East division title and I have picked them to win their division and to go far into the playoffs, they might even get to their third World Series in last 8 years something the Red Sox have never done.
Red Sox Starting Five
1.Jon Lester 2010 runner up for the 2010 AL CY Young – ERA 3.25, 19 wins, 9losses, 225 strikeouts, 27 years old.
2.Clay Buchholz 2010 – ERA 2.33, 17 wins, 7 losses, 120 strikeouts, 26 years old.
3.Josh Beckett 2010 – ERA 5.78, 6 wins, 6 losses, 116 strikeouts, 30 years old.
4.John Lackey 2010 – ERA 4.40, 14 wins, 11 losses, 156 strikeouts, 32 years old.
5.Daisuke Matsuzaka 2010 – ERA 4.69, 9 wins, 6 losses, 123 strikeouts, 30 years old.
AL Central
Minnesota Twins – 2010 AL Central Division Champions
The Twins have been the team to beat for the last 2 years in the AL Central and I think it’s going to stay that way. They have the best starting five in this division with Carl Pavano returning the only problem with this team is that can’t seem to past the ALDS. In 2009 and 2010 they have been sweated by the New York Yankees. I think it’s time to crack down to business to put up a better fight in playoffs and they’re going to need their pitching to step up big and also have a healthy bullpen. I think the Twins win their division once again and do their thing in 2011.
Twins Starting Five
1.Carl Pavano 2010 – ERA 3.75, 17 wins, 11 losses, 117 strikeouts, 35 years old.
2.Francisco Liriano 2010 – ERA 3.62, 14 wins, 10 losses, 201 strikeouts, 27 years old.
3.Scott Baker 2010 – ERA 4.49, 12 wins, 9 losses, 148 strikeouts, 29 years old.
4.Kevin Slowey 2010 – ERA 4.45, 13 wins, 6 losses, 116 strikeouts, 26 years old.
5.Nick Blackburn 2010 – ERA 5.42, 10 wins, 12 losses, 68 strikeouts, 28 years old.
AL Surprise Teams
New York Yankees – 2010 Wild Card Winners
Now I have picked the Yankees as a surprise team only because 1 – I don’t think will be able to keep up with the Red Sox and 2 – they have no pitching. After not closing a deal on free agent Cliff Lee who returned to Phillies in offseason, that really put a dent in the Yanks pitching staff. Now there has been a rumor that long time Yankee free agent Andy Pettitte will retire and there has been rumor that he will return. Now if he returns that will help them out a lot, he would either be their third or fourth starter, but if he doesn’t return and retires then the Yankees will have a big problem and they would have to rely on two rookies at the bottom of their rotation to get things done or they will have to wait till then for the trade deadline to come around or pick someone before then. So if you’re a Yankees fan you better hope Pettitte returns for 2011.
Yankees Starting Five
1.C.C. Sabathia 2010 runner up for the AL CY Young – ERA 3.10, 21 wins, 7 losses, 197 strikeouts, 30 years old.
2.Phil Hughes 2010 – ERA 4.19, 18 wins, 8 losses, 146 strikeouts, 24 years old.
3.A.J. Burnett 2010 – ERA 5.26, 10 wins, 15 losses, 145 strikeouts, 34 years old.
4.Ivan Nova 2010 – ERA 4.50, 1 win, 2 losses, 26 strikeouts, 24 years old – Rookie.
5.Hector Noes – 23 years old Rookie – If Pettitte doesn’t return.
Texas Rangers – 2010 AL League Champions
The only reason why the Rangers are one of my surprise teams is because who is the ace on this team? After losing their ace Cliff Lee in the offseason the question has been asked who will be the ace on this team? Who will be the guy to step up and pitch on the big stage? Will it C.J. Wilson or someone else? I can’t answer that. We all know the Rangers have a great line-up and that was one of the big seasons they made it to the World Series last year but in baseball you need pitching to win you games. Now the Rangers did sign free agent Brandon Webb who won a CY Young back 2006 but he hasn’t pitched in 2 years after having arm problems and I think we all know he is not the answer. The Rangers still don’t know how healthy he is and what will they use him as, a starter or a bullpen pitcher? A lot question leading up the 2011 season.
Rangers Starting Five
1.C.J. Wilson 2010 – ERA 3.35, 15 wins, 8 losses, 170 strikeouts, 30 years old.
2.Tommy Hunter 2010 – ERA 3.73, 13 wins, 4 losses, 68 strikeouts, 24 years old.
3.Colby Lewis 2010 – ERA 3.72, 12 wins, 13 losses, 193 strikeouts, 31 years old.
4.Scott Feldman 2010 – ERA 5.78, 7 wins, 12 losses, 75 strikeouts, 27 years old.
5.Derek Holland 2010 – ERA 4.08, 3 wins, 4 losses, 54 strikeouts, 24 years old or Brandon Webb – 31 years old, he hasn’t pitched since 2009 and his ERA was a 13.50 after being put on the DL for season ending surgery.
Tampa Bay Rays – 2010 AL East Division Champions
The Rays for the last 3 years have been probably one the best teams in the AL but in 2011 things don’t seem to be that way after losing three of their big pieces in first baseman Carlos Pena who went to the Cubs, outfielder Carl Crawford who went to the Red Sox, and starting pitcher Matt Garza who also went to the Cubs. The Rays really have no idea how the will keep up this year by losing those three players who have helped them win 2 of 3 division titles, they also helped the Rays make it to their first World Series in 2008 but lost to the Phillies. Another note is the Rays have yet not to sign free agent closer Rafeal Soriano who lead the league in save with 45. The Rays pitching staff is still pretty good but I don’t think its good enough, the bottom of their rotation is a question as well.
Rays Starting Five
1.David Price 2010 runner up for the AL CY Young – ERA 2.72, 19 wins, 6 losses, 188 strikeouts, 25 years old.
2.James Shields 2010 – ERA 5.19, 13 wins, 15 losses, 187 strikeouts, 29 years old.
3.Jeff Niemann 2010 – ERA 4.49, 12 wins, 8 losses, 131 strikeouts, 27 years old.
4.Wade Davis 2010 – ERA 4.07, 12 wins, 10 losses, 113 strikeouts, 25 years old.
5.Jeremy Hellickson 2010 – ERA 3.47, 4 wins, 0 losses, 33 strikeouts, 23 years old – Rookie.
Now I have picked these three teams because I think one of these teams will win the AL Wild Card because I think they have the best shot at doing so. Look for one of these teams to make the postseason and look for the other two teams to just miss out on the postseason in 2011.
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