Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.
The division tour continues with the A.L. Central, home of the Tigers. This division is a runaway, with the White Sox 9.5 games clear of second place Cleveland (new team name for next year announced: the Guardians! At least it’s not the Chief Wahoos anymore). In fact, Chicago is the only team with a winning record, with Cleveland losing four of six this week to drop to 49-49. Concerns that the young, exciting team led by Tim Anderson, not known for strict adherence to baseball’s unwritten rules (which prohibit having fun in case it may lead to hurt feelings on the other team), would mesh with a 76-year-old Tony LaRussa (one of the staunchest defenders of traditionalism in baseball) have been largely unfounded. Winning tends to take care of that sort of thing.
Cleveland is one of three disappointing teams in the division. The Royals weren’t necessarily expected to contend for the division title, but maybe sniff .500 if all went well. After a 16-9 start, an 11 game losing streak followed. The Royals recovered with a 13-6 run to reach 29-26, but any hope the team was on the right track was eliminated when they lost 18 of their next 22 games. Veterans Whit Merrifield, Salvador Perez, and Carlos Santana have been steady if not exceptional. 3B Hunter Dozier, RF Jorge Soler, and LF Andrew Benintendi been varying degrees of unexpectedly poor, and their best young player, Adalberto Mondesi, can’t stay healthy, playing in only 10 games so far this season.
But, even with Cleveland and Kansas City’s struggles, the Twins have been the biggest underachiever in the Central. Many experts had them ahead of or maybe just behind the White Sox before the season began, but it has been a train wreck from almost the very beginning. A 3-1 start was their high water mark, and they haven’t been able to put it together all year. The issue has been pitching. The offense, although perhaps underperforming, has managed 4.55 runs per game, 12th in MLB. On the mound, however, the Twins give up 5.25, 28th in the league. You can blame the rotation (4.89 ERA) and the bullpen (4.88 ERA) equally.
The Tigers’ season has been a success so far despite the losing record. Expectations were low and there was plenty of doubt about the rebuild. But the team has recovered from its poor beginning to the season to play winning baseball for the last 70 games (39-31). Over a 162 game season, that projects to a 90-72 record. The second wild card slot is currently held by Oakland, and their 56-46 record is on pace for 89 wins. It is no exaggeration to say the Tigers have been playing well enough make the playoffs (if you excise the 9-24 start). Young player development and coaching have been key, and I love the aggressive base running approach we haven’t seen in Detroit in a long time (61 stolen bases, 2nd in the A.L.). The season has gone better than expected and has me excited for the rest of this year and the next, which should include more talented prospects getting to the big show.
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