With final roster decisions in the books and the 2020 season underway at long last, it’s time to make some predictions. We’ll poll the MLBTR readership on each of the game’s six divisions — though plenty more teams will crack the postseason under the rather inclusive new playoff qualification system.
There’s rather an interesting dynamic in the American League Central division this year. The Twins stepped up in 2019 and have added Josh Donaldson to an already potent lineup. They’ll try to hold off the Indians, who had previously enjoyed a stranglehold on the division and have some of the best core talent around. There’s no denying the immense potential that resides on the White Sox roster, which features both elite youngsters and newly inked quality veterans. The Royals feel they’ve got quick bounceback potential after a few down seasons; if a few players hit their ceilings, perhaps they could surprise. It’s harder to see a path for the Tigers, but they’ve also got a load of elite young hurlers pushing into the majors and will enter the season determined to make strides.
Which team do you think is the best of the bunch? (Poll link for app users.)
Easy; Twins
Same. So much power. Upgraded starting pitching. Excellent regular season team. Playoffs I think they need a ace.
If you listen to all the Chisox announcers, and radio talk shows in Chicago- you’d never think this poll ever needs to be taken. The Chisox hype machine is in its usual, full speed ahead. I doubt there is a professional team in any sport that gets more undeserved publicity. Only been about 10 years since they’ve been.500.
@Dogbone
You crack me up.
Just a wild guess, but I’m guessing no one outside of Chicago listens to the Sox announcers and radio talk shows in Chicago.
As for the “undeserved publicity”, before the media latched onto Robert, the Sox barely got a whiff of publicity the last 10 years (unsurprisingly, by looking at their record over that 10 year period). And the majority of that brief taste of publicity was usually for the wrong reasons (take the Shields/Tatis trade, for example).
But once the Sox start winning consistently, you, I and the rest of the Sox fan base can celebrate together. Won’t that be fun, Dogbone?
I watch Sox NBC Sports Chicago feed via MLB.tv in Tucson, AZ.
Also listen to AM670THESCORE via Radio.com app every day.
So, wrong!
Great game today!!
@ChiSox_Fan
Not exactly what I meant (since you’re a Sox fan), but point taken.
How about this instead:
Just a wild guess, but I’m guessing no one outside of Chicago (other than a White Sox fan) listens to the Sox announcers and radio talk shows in Chicago.
I’m safely assuming Mariners fans living in the Seattle area aren’t listening to Chicago talk radio, nor Braves fans from the Atlanta area. I know I’m not listening to Denver, Toronto, or Kansas City talk radio. In fact, I don’t listen to any other city’s talk radio. That was my point.
Definitely the Twins and in fact may actually finally have a roster to beat the Yankees unfortunately.
HahahahahahhahahahahAhahahahahahahahahahahahahah…deep breath…hahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahah
I mean he’s not wrong
I have the Twins winning the Central, losing to the Yankees in the ALCS, who lose to the Nationals in the WS.
Nationals are not winning the WS with that anemic lineup.
Great Pitching beats great hitting every time
Thats a very short sighted view. They won the WS last year because their offense clutched up in every big spot. Their roster is flat out not good enough from an offensive perspective.
Every time? Tell that to the 1990’s Braves
@GoLandCrabs
“Nationals are not winning the WS with that anemic lineup.”
Isn’t that what was said about the Nats last year?
Nationals will not be in the WS.
As the team’s pitching staffs lineup, it’s an easy choice to go with NYY. And that’s even with an upgraded Twins bullpen-but the Twins definitely have some elite arms nearly ML ready that could tip the scales. See how the season and injuries play out!
Yankees added Cole and Twins closed the gap??? LoL.
Leaning to the Indians with that pitching
Twins for sure. Indians and Sox have chance tho, with the sox a long shot.
White Sox depending on Giolito. How’d he do tonight?
7 ER
Back to 2018 batting practice form I see.
Ya if you watched the game it should of been one run in 1st inning
No way it was 7
Yes, he pitched better than the 7 ER but still ended up with 7 ER next to his name.
Leury Garcia let the team down last night.
Sox should have started the season with Madrigal.
But Nick will be up soon enough and Sox have him for an extra year of control.
How did Berrios do!?
5 ER in 4 innings.
11.25 ERA
Tim Anderson on pace (.400) to win MLB Batting title again…
Unless he gets beat out by Moncada (.600), Eloy (.667), or Robert (.500)!
@walterfranciswhite
He did pretty well, only 7 ER.
So we can pencil you in for the White Sox? Great.
Twins crushed the division last year and have Donaldson. No brainer they are the favorites but far from a lock. Indians and Sox will be tough.
Pass.
Twins but I don’t assume it will be easy. Indians were good last year and the White Sox could easily be a .500 team.
Whoever concentrates on baseball more than political platforms and kneeling?
What’s so funny Chip. Just trying to be realistic. The Yankees are the AL favorites but far from a cake walk with all the extra rounds in the Post Season this year
The Twins look like the easy pick. The bigger question is who will get the second playoff spot in the ALC. I would guess the Indians but the White Sox could be a struggle for the tribe.
It’s Tribe Time.
The White Sox beating out the Twins with this roster would be insanely entertaining, but I don’t think it happens.
Cleveland’s cheapness will cost them
Twins easily. But their SP depth is taking some early hits. Oderizzi? Now Hill, both scratched from opening series.
Since when has Rich Hill ever been dependable? Twins had that one coming by signing that guy. Its all on them.
Cleveland wins as they have the best starting pitching in the division.
They had the best starting pitching, even with the injuries, in the division in 2019 and did not win.
As I said above though, they will be tough to play.
What slappies picked the Tigers or the Royals? Royals 1 in 100. Tigers maybe 1 in 150. Not going to happen in 2020.
You could play out this season 1,000 times; in no scenario are the Tigers taking the division
Royals 1 in 100. Tigers maybe 1 in 150. So you’re telling me there’s a chance! Yeah
Personally I think there is a better chance of beating Thanos.
I voted Royals because 2020
GO TRIBE!
Twins, but I think Indians give them a run for their money. Its a shame because they cannot win in the postseason (or against the Yankees).
I love baseball. I was skeptical, but I’m unbelievably happy to have it back. Nothing quite like it.
Also, Twins.
The Spiders
Naps
I think the more interesting question is who finishes last Tigers or Royals?
Is it just me, or is there some really God awful lineups this opening day, worse than in years past? Tigers, Royals and Giants have some of the worst non-September call up lineups I’ve seen. Throw in the Orioles as well.
Since most teams make the playoffs, does it even matter?
I think the Twins are by far the best team in the division. But anything can happen in a short season.
Gotta be the Twins. They’re very tough. Sox are in their transition year, so it’s probably not even close right now.
GO TIGERS LOL
Didn’t take long for the injury bug to hit the Sox this year. Two guys who could use the 60 games of development this year.
Hopefully neither injury is serious. I guess we just wait and see.
Great game by Gio Gonzalez, picking up right where Lopez left off.
With Verlander out for the year and the huge question mark regarding Kluber’s injury, it puts Lopez and Eloy’s injuries into perspective (at least I hope it puts Lopez’s injury into perspective).
I see any improvements Herrera made for this season haven’t quite paid off yet lol.
The results don’t bother me this year. The development of key players are what I’m focused on. If it weren’t for that, I’m not sure I would pay attention this season, at least not more than a passing interest.
On the positive side, nice bomb by Robert. It’s only 3 games, but I like what I see so far from him.
Agreed on Robert. I’d like to see him learn to lay off sliders low and away, but that pitch can fool seasoned veterans. The exit velocity we’ve seen from him has been very impressive. It looks like he got under that HR just a hair and still hit it out. So far, he’s lived up to the billing as the odds-on favorite for RoY.
The Twins home uniforms are incredibly ugly! They look like something out of a bad reality tv romance show if it warped back to the 1970s.