Chicago White Sox
MVP: Paul Konerko
Chris Sale deserves a shout out here.
His WHIP is under 1.00, his ERA is under 3.00 (an AL-leading 2.30)
and he is holding opponents to a batting average under .200. Those
are ace numbers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the MVP for the
ChiSox because Paul Konerko is playing out of his mind. He leads the
team (and the AL) in batting average at .366, and is third in all of
baseball with a 1.062 OPS. While the White Sox are playing well
offensively as a whole, there is no doubt Konerko is sparking the
whole thing.
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| Sale has been exceptional in his first season as a starter |
Best Case Scenario:
Konerko continues his torrid pace,
while youngsters Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo continue to
impress with speed and power, respectively. Adam Dunn keeps hitting
home runs (his average will never get into the .260 area where it
once was), while Chris Sale and Jake Peavy continue to form a
formidable top-2 in the rotation. Having Addison Reed develop into
the elite closer he is projected to be would just be a bonus this
year.
Worst Case Scenario:
Konerko cools off, the rest of the AL
figures out De Aza and Viciedo, Dunn goes back to his 2011
production, and Sale’s elbow issues flare up again. If sale goes
down, the rotation gets ridiculously thin, as Gavin Floyd, Phillip
Humber and John Danks have all been terrible so far.
Bottom Line:
This division is totally up in the air
at this point. The White Sox should be able to put up runs, so the
team will really go as far as the pitching takes them.
Cleveland Indians
MVP: Jason Kipnis
Simply, the rookie second baseman has
been the most exciting player for the Indians. His mix of speed and
power, and his plus-ability on defense have secured him as the future
of the Indians. If Cleveland are to stay in contention for the AL
Central crown, though, Kipnis will have to maintain this pace, and
avoid the slump so many rookies go through.
Best Case Scenario:
The rotation dramatically improves.
That’s the big one. The Indians need Kipnis to maintain, and
players like Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana to match expectations,
but the rotation picking it up has to be the primary goal going
forward.
Worst Case Scenario:
The youngsters like Kipnis, Santana and
center fielder Michael Brantley all slump, and the rotation continues
to rank among the AL’s worst.
Bottom Line:This team
just doesn’t feel like it has enough pieces to stay in the playoff
hunt. Asdrubal Cabrera is a nice player, but he’ll have to
dramatically improve his power numbers (harkening back to last year)
for this offense to put enough runs on the board, countering the poor
pitching.
Detroit Tigers
MVP(s): Miguel Cabrera, Prince
Fielder
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| Fielder and Cabrera have thrived despite the Tigers' slow start |
Yes, this is the obvious pick. But with
a thus-far disappointing Tigers team, who else could claim the MVP?
Verlander is having a (by his now-lofty standards) down season thus
far, and by all statistical accounts, the Tigers are a team that
doesn’t do anything particularly well. Then there are Cabrera and
Fielder, who are doing exactly what we all expected: raking. Both
players are hitting around .320, and slugging over .500. These two
guys are doing exactly what they are paid the big bucks for, so they
split the first-third MVP.
Best Case Scenario:
Austin Jackson returns from injury,
providing the Tigers with a legitimate lead-off hitter, and table
setter for Prince and Miggy. Verlander continues to be Verlander,
while the rest of the rotation dramatically improves their
production. The Tigers need better results out of the back end of
their rotation to catch up to the White Sox.
Worst Case Scenario:
The team proves to be nothing more than
two good bats, and one ace. They simply don’t have enough weapons
to push for a playoff spot.
Bottom Line:
In all likelihood, the AL Central will
come down to the Tigers and the White Sox. If some of the secondary
pieces in Detroit can show up in the second half of the season, this
team should push for a division crown.
Kansas City Royals
MVP: Billy Butler
While starter Felipe Paulino has been
nothing short of dominant so far, the fact that he has only started a
handful of games hurts his candidacy for MVP. Instead, the award goes
to Billy Butler, who leads the team with a .297 average, 11 home
runs, and 35 RBI. Butler has to be one of the most underrated
sluggers in the league, thanks in large part to the fact he plays in
Kansas City. While he may not get a ton of national coverage, Butler
is once again having a stellar offensive year.
Best Case Scenario:
The Royals will not be in playoff
contention by the time fall rolls around. Instead, they have to hope
for continued development from their young players. If Felipe Paulino
can continue his rise towards ace-status, and Eric Hosmer and Mike
Moustakas steadily improve, this season will be considered a success.
Worst Case Scenario:
Paulino continues his career trend, and
hits the DL again, Hosmer and Moustakis struggle, and the team
nestles in with the Twins at the bottom of the division.
Bottom Line:
This team is not deep enough to contend
for a playoff spot. Once again, look for the Royals to be
mathematically eliminated from playoff contention relatively early in
the year.
Minnesota Twins
MVP: Byron Buxton
The years of the Twins perennially
being in the playoff hunt are over. This team is bad. Really bad. So
bad, in fact that no regular player deserves the MVP. So, why not
give it to 2nd overall pick Byron Buxton. This kid could
be the face of the franchise in a couple years. Let’s give him some
props now.
Best Case Scenario:
The team moves a couple veterans for
prospects, and sets themselves up nicely to draft high next year.
This team is in rebuilding mode, so the goal should really be to set
up some pieces for the future.
Worst Case Scenario:
The team goes on a mid-to-late season
run, puts themselves in playoff contention, but just misses out. They
hold on to some vets thinking they can squeak into the playoffs, and
end up wasting a rebuilding year. Don’t worry this team isn’t
talented enough to be in contention.
Bottom Line:
More of the same. It could be a long
season, Twins fans.
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| Don't expect to see this scene at Target Field much in 2012 |
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