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Home  DCMS Blog 2008 Major League Baseball Preview: Teams to Watch
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2008 Major League Baseball Preview: Teams to Watch |
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Written by David DeIulis
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
TAMPA BAY RAYS
For the Tampa Bay Rays, while a Division Title or World Series appearance is not commensurate to the workings of even the most optimistic prognosticators’ minds, the first winning season in the franchise’s eight year history is. The Rays finished 66-96, fifth in the American League East last year under second year manager Joe Maddon, but after an offseason influx of veterans, including outfielder Cliff Floyd and shortstop Jason Bartlett, that will most likely change. The acquisition of a veteran such as Floyd, while seemingly inconsequential, provides much-needed protection in a lineup featuring supremely talented young hitters like Carlos Pena, who set career highs in virtually every statistical category last year including 46 home runs and 121 RBIs, and Carl Crawford, owner of the most triples in the major leagues since 2003. Jason Bartlett, light-hitting as he may be, provides intangibles often overlooked in the big-money American League that are climacteric to the success of a young team. The Rays have enough offensive ammunition to compete even in the AL East, but their strike-out susceptibility – six Rays struck out over 110 times last year- combined with a collective lack of plate discipline- only one Ray, Carols Pena, walked over 100 times- could cause the Ray’s gun to misfire. The Tampa Bay pitching rotation could be a pleasant surprise for pitching coach Jim Hickey. Scott Kazmir and James Shields, after combining for 25 wins and 423 strikeouts, are worthy of their top-of-the rotation status. Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson round out one of the league’s youngest starting rotations, but with careful coaching, these young arms may turn out to be young in age only.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Continuing the AL East theme, the Toronto Blue Jays are a team that, when healthy, is capable of winning the American League and interjecting an international flavor into the World Series. The Blue Jays’ starting rotation is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated units in the major leagues, and should improve a disappointing .500 record against the Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox and Rays from a year ago. Perennial All-Star Roy Halladay and hard-throwing A.J. Burnett lead a rotation that suffered through an injury plagued 2007, but appears healthy enough to carry the Jays through an arduous American League in 2008. The back of the rotation features Dustin McGowan, who posted 144 strikeouts in 169 2/3 innings last year, and Shaun Marcum, who struck out 122 in 12 2007 wins. Also, a healthy B.J. Ryan and the 74 games he saved from 2005 to 2006 would give the Toronto bullpen the power arm it lacked late last year.
CHICAGO CUBS
After 100 years of billy goats, curses, and Steve Bartman, The Chicago Cubs are due. On paper, the Cubs are the team to beat in the National League Central, and if the pitching staff slightly overachieves, Wrigley Field might witness its first World Series since 1945. The offense, infused with Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, 2007 Pacific Coast League MVP Geovany Soto, and a healthy Derek Lee, will pepper the Wrigley ivy and bombard Sheffield Avenue. Second year center fielder Felix Pie, shortstop Ryan Theriot and outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who, after beginning 2007 mired in a slump, recovered to belt 33 home runs and steal 19 bases, add speed to an otherwise languid lineup. The top of the Cubs rotation is only solid, but could be formidable against weak NL Central offenses like the Pirates and Cardinals. The back end, though, is laden with potential downfalls. Rich Hill, while placing among the league leaders in opponents’ batting average and strikeouts per nine innings last season, only won 11 games and struggled with control. Ryan Dempster is making the transition from closer to starter, and Lou Pinella is hoping Jason Marquis or Jon Lieber can provide just enough serviceable innings. Even if Pinella’s arrangement does turn out as planned, those questions are a lot to ask of a rookie catcher.
CINCINNATI REDS
With Ken Griffey Jr. coming off of a resurgent 30 home run, 93 RBI season, Brandon Phillips emerging as one of the league’s most promising young second baseman, and Adam Dunn, who, with 40 home runs or more the past four seasons continues to scale the all-time home run list, the Reds should generate impressive numbers both on the field and in the seats of Great American Ballpark. The key to the lineup will be the consistency of Edwin Encarnacion, who recovered in the second half of last year after a demotion to the minors, and the emergence of centerfielder Norris Hopper as a competent lead-off hitter. Hard-throwing rookies Johnny Cueto, 22, and Edinson Volquez, 24, give the Reds a complement to soft-tossing veterans Bronson Arroyo and Josh Fogg, and the addition of Francisco Cordero should extrude last season’s bullpen woes.
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