The American League Central - Pitching 2009

The pitching in the American League Central is also tilted. All teams have starters to practice the six inning game, however only the Indians, White Soxs and Twins are actually fielding major league starters and relievers. If you don’t talk about Carl Pavano, the Cleveland Indians have the best pitching in the division, maybe even in baseball. The Chicago White Soxs close trying to scalp the Tribe, and Minnesota Twins can’t be counted out. Floundering like fish are the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals.

Chicago White Soxs:
The White Soxs starters can give them an average of 6 innings and relief can give 3, Bobby Jenks is no Mariano Rivera or Jon Papelbon, but he can stop the game.

The winning potential of the starters is 0.486; relief is 0.457 and that makes for a potential winning percentage of 0.476 or 77 games.

The White Soxs are in it to win it.

The Soxs have the capability to win 95 starts. Their starters can give them an average of 6 innings while relief can give only another 6 innings; Chicago is famous for their extra inning games. The winning potential of the starters is 0.617; relief is 0.976 and that makes for a potential winning percentage of 0.737 or 119 games: with the Indians in the same division if the White Soxs break 100 wins, they will be lucky.

Cleveland Indians:
The Cleveland Indians have the best pitching staff in the American League starters can give them an average of 6 innings and relief can give the required 3, they lack a solid closer, however look for Jensen Lewis to improve. The winning potential of the starters is 0.812; relief is 0.999 and that makes for a potential winning percentage of 0.975 or 110 games.

The Cleveland Indians have the capability to take on all comers and take their scalps.

The Tribe could easily win 123 games. The will battle with the White Soxs, Yankees and Boston. Those teams with the Indians, should be pitching duels. If Carl Pavano makes the Indians roster and does not feign illness, he will be rudely received in the Bronx.

Detroit Tigers:
The Detroit Tigers don’t have bad pitching, they are just it the wrong division this year. Its hard to win when two of the 4 teams you play can dominate you.

The Detroit Tigers starters can give them an average of 6 innings and relief can give 3. The winning potential of the starters is 0.503; relief is 0.963, but their closers are no show stoppers. The have a potential winning percentage of 0.606 or 82 games.

The Tigers may bite and roar, but for all respects they will be tame.

Kansas City Royals:
Kansas City still haves the best steakhouses, but no baseball. The best chance for the Royals is to poison the Gatorade in the visiting clubhouses when other teams come to town. Maybe they can get come peanuts packaged by the Peanut Corporation of America.

The Royals are still building, and if they can remain steady, they have a chance in a few years, but not in 2009. Their relief pitching is their best asset at this time.

The Royals starters can play the 6 innings game and relief finish it off, they lack a solid closer. The winning potential of the starters is 0.503; relief is 0.963 and that makes for a potential winning percentage of 0.606 or 82 games.
The Kansas City Royals are not a playoff team.

Minnesota Twins:
The Twins are the spoiler in the Central with their ultimate secret weapon, Manager Ron Gardenhire.

Their starters can give a solid 6 innings innings and relief can give the needed 3, and they Joe Nathan for a closer. The winning potential of the starters is 0.575; relief is 0.963 and that makes for a potential winning percentage of 0.662 or 85 games.

The Twins could surprise everyone.

AL Central Winner: Cleveland Indians (100 wins or better)

Also rans: Chicago (97 wins or better), Minnesota (98 wins or better), Detroit (80 wins or better), Kansas City (77 wins or better).