'08 RAPs: New York Mets

Following a year that ended in disaster, the Mets have turned the page as a franchise. The acquisition of Johan Santana have made the Mets a super-power for the next five years guaranteed. Despite not having a great off-season quantity wise, and starting off with some sub-par moves, Omar Minaya has had a quality winter that reastablished him as a top-notch GM.

Here are Omar's moves:

• Re-signed second baseman Luis Castillo, catcher Ramon Castro, and Damion Easley.
• Acquired pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.
• Acquired outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider from the Washington Nationals for outfielder Lastings Milledge.
• Signed pitcher Matt Wise to a one-year contract.
• Acquired outfielder Angel Pagan from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Ryan Meyers and outfielder Corey Coles.
• Signed outfielder Brady Clark, second baseman Jose Valentin, and pitcher Tony Armas Jr. to minor league contracts.
• Acquired pitcher Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra and signed him to a six-year contract with a vesting option for 2014.
• Signed infielder Olmedo Saenz to a one-year deal.

Team Rundown:

Pitching Staff:
SP1: Johan Santana
SP2: Pedro Martinez
SP3: John Maine
SP4: Oliver Perez
SP5: Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez/Mike Pelfrey
CL: Billy Wagner
SUM: Aaron Heilman/Duaner Sanchez

Field:
C: Brian Schneider/Ramon Castro
1B: Carlos Delgado
2B: Luis Castillo
SS: Jose Reyes
3B: David Wright
LF: Moises Alou/Endy Chavez
CF: Carlos Beltran
RF: Ryan Church/Endy Chavez

Predictions:
Easiest- The Mets will win the division.
Boldest- John Maine and Johan Santana will both win 20 games.
Team MVP- Duaner Sanchez (sub-2.00 ERA)
Best Season- Johan Santana (20-23 wins, sub-2.50 ERA)
Best Hitter- Carlos Beltran (40-50 HRs, 145-160 RBI, NL MVP)
Breakout Player- John Maine (18-21 wins, 2.75-3.25 ERA)

Stay Tuned: Tomorrow will be the final Rundown and Predictions for the 2008 NL Eastern Division!

'08 RAPs: Philadelphia Phillies

After a promising season in Philly, and a trip to the World Series last year, it all came to an end after a blast off the bat of Joe Carter, as the Blue Jays won their second straight World Series.

Here's how the Phils shape up this year:

Staff:
1: Danny Jackson
2: Bobby Munoz
3: Shawn Boskie
4: Curt Schilling
5: Mike Williams
CL: Doug Jones

Field:
C: Darren Daulton
1B: John Kruk
2B: Mickey Morandini
SS: Kevin Stocker
3B: Dave Hollins
OF: Jim Eisenreich
OF: Lenny Dykstra
OF: Milt Thompson

So you can see... What's that? Oh, it's not 1994. Then why are the Phillies' fans bragging about the playoffs? The last playoff game they won was in 1993, and they're bragging in 2008 about something with the playoffs. What kind of freaks are they?

Anyway, here's the real Phillies '08 RAPs:

After getting extremely lucky in 2008, the irrationally arrogant Phillies, and GM Pat Gillick, have been inexcusably irrelevant this off-season.

Here are the moves they made this off-season:

• Acquired pitcher Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett from the Houston Astros for pitcher Geoff Geary, outfielder Michael Bourn and third baseman Mike Costanzo.
• Acquired outfielder Chris Snelling from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash.
• Signed outfielder Geoff Jenkins to a two-year contract.
• Signed pitcher Chad Durbin to a one-year contract.
• Signed third baseman Pedro Feliz to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.
• Signed pitcher Kris Benson to a minor league contract.
• Claimed infielder Ray Olmedo and pitcher Shane Youman off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates
  

Here's the outlook:

Pitching Staff:

SP1: Cole Hamels
SP2: Brett Myers
SP3: Kyle Kendrick
SP4: Jaime Moyer
SP5: Adam Eaton
CL: Brad Lidge
SUM: Tom Gordon

Field:

C: Carlos Ruiz
1B: Ryan Howard
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Jimmy Rollins
3B: Pedro Feliz
LF: Pat Burrell
CF: Shane Victorino
RF: Geoff Jenkins/Jason Werth

Predictions:
Easiest- The Phillies will finish in second in the division.
Boldest- Ryan Howard will not hit more than 25 homers.
Team MVP/Best Hitter- Chase Utley (20-25 HRs, 90-110 RBIs)
Best Season- Cole Hamels (14-18 wins, sub-4.00 ERA)
Breakout Player- NONE

Stay Tuned: New York Mets Tomorrow! By the way, the reason I did the Phils before the Mets is because, as far as I'm concerned, if you get swept in the first round of the playoffs and haven't won a playoff game in 15 years, you're not allowed to be called a division champion.

'08 RAPs: Atlanta Braves

It's not the best of times for Braves fans. Not only did they finish in third, making it back-to-back years without a division title, they lost long-time GM John Schuerholz. Shuerholz, along with an expert scouting team that included Royals' GM Dayton Moore, was the main reason for the Braves 15-year dynasty. Schuerholz was replaced by John Wren, a less than average GM.

Here are Wren's moves as GM of the Braves:

• Acquired pitcher Jeff Ridgway from the Tampa Bay Rays for infielders Willy Aybar and Chase Fontaine.
• Acquired outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics for pitchers Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond and cash.
• Acquired pitcher Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Jose Ascanio.
• Signed pitcher Tom Glavine to a one-year contract.
  

Here's the team rundown:

Rotation:

SP1: John Smoltz
SP2: Tim Hudson
SP3: Tom Glavine
SP4: Chuck James (Middle of April)
SP5: Mike Hampton/Jair Jurrjens/Jo-Jo Reyes
CL: Rafeal Soriano
SUM: Peter Moylan

Field:
C: Brian McCann
1B: Mark Teixeira
2B: Kelly Johnson
SS: Yunel Escobar/Omar Infante
3B: Larry "Chipper" Jones
LF: Matt Diaz/Brandon Jones
CF: Mark Kotsay
RF: Jeff Francoer

Predictions:
Easiest- Mike Hampton will not start more than five games.
Boldest- Peter Moylan/Rafeal Soriano will blow more than 25 saves combined this year.
Team MVP- Larry Jones
Best Season- Mark Teixeira (30-35 HRs, +100 RBIs)
Best Pitcher- Tim Hudson (14-18 wins, sub 3.75 ERA)
Breakout Player- Brandon Jones (8-12 HR's, +.300 AVG.)

Stay Tuned: Tomorrow; Philly Steaks

'08 RAPs: Washington Nationals

Thanks in large part to first-year manager, Manny Acta, the Nationals, a team picked to be historically bad by many, were a splendid surprise. General manager, Jim Bowden, has proven to me with his aggressive offseason that he is indeed an above average GM. He, much like Florida GM Larry Beinfest, spent the offseason building for his club's future in their new ballpark, Nationals Park, while bringing in veterans to help out the kids (and a special aid for Elijiah Dukes).

Here's a list of Bowden's impressive offseason:

• Acquired outfielder Lastings Milledge from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider.
• Acquired outfielder Elijah Dukes from the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Glenn Gibson.
• Acquired pitcher Tyler Clippard from the New York Yankees for pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo.
• Signed infielder Aaron Boone to a one-year deal and his older brother, Brett (2B) to a minor league deal.
• Signed catcher Paul LoDuca to a one-year deal.
• Signed outfielders Rob Mackowiak and Willie Harris to one-year contracts.
• Signed catcher Johnny Estrada to a one-year deal.
• Signed pitcher Odalis Perez to a one-year deal.

Rotation:
SP1: Shawn Hill
SP2: John Patterson
SP3: Jason Bergmann
SP4/5: Matt Chico/Odalis Perez/Tyler Clippard/John Lannan
CL: Chad Cordero
SUM: Jon Rauch

Field:
C: Paul LoDuca/Johnny Estrada/Jesus Flores
1B: Nick Johnson/Dmitri Young
2B: Ronnie Belliard
SS: Christian Guzman/Felipe Lopez
3B: Ryan Zimmerman
LF: Wily Mo Pena/Elijiah Dukes/Dmitri Young
CF: Lastings Milledge/Austin Kearns/Elijiah Dukes/Willie Harris
RF: Austin Kearns/Elijiah Dukes/Dmitri Young

Predictions:
Easiest- The Nats will finish in fourth place.
Boldest- Lastings Milledge will hit 20-30 HR's and drive in 75-85 RBIs.
Team MVP- Chad Cordero (25 saves/traded at deadline)
Best Season- Lastings Milledge (20-30HRs, 75-85 RBIs, 25-30 SBs)
Best Pitcher- Shawn Hill (8-10 wins, sub-4 ERA)
Breakout Player- Tyler Clippard (5-7 wins, sub 4.25 ERA)

'08 RAPs: Florida Marlins

After a strong showing in 2006, the Marlins fired manager Joe Girardi and hired Fredi Gonzalez. This move, coupled with injuries to the Marlins top young pitchers, led to a last place, 2007 season in which the Marlins only achievement was knocking off the Mets on the last day of the season. General manager, Larry Beinfest has spent the offseason bringing in veterans to aid in the growth of the young players while also stockpiling young players (mainly from the Cabrera/Willis deal) who will be the faces of the franchise heading into their new stadium.

Here's a list of Beinfest's moves:

• Signed Luis Gonzalez to a one-year deal.
• Signed Mark Hendrickson to a one-year deal.
• Signed Dallas McPherson to a one-year deal.
• Trade pitcher Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera to Detroit for outfielder Cameron Maybin, catcher Mike Rabelo and pitchers Andrew Miller, Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz and Dallas Trahern.

Here's the roster rundown:

Pitching Staff:
SP1: Sergio Mitre
SP2: Scott Olsen
SP3: Andrew Miller
SP4: Mark Hendrickson
SP5: Ricky Nolasco/Rick Vanden Hurk
CL: Kevin Gregg
SUM: Justin Miller/Henry Owens/Matt Lindstrom

C: Matt Treanor/Mike Rabelo
1B: Mike Jacobs
2B: Dan Uggla
SS: Hanley Ramirez
3B: Dallas McPherson/Jorge Cantu/Jose Castillo/Alfredo Amezaga
LF: Josh Willingham/Luis Gonzalez
CF: Cameron Maybin/Alejandro De Aza/Cody Ross
RF: Jeremy Hermida/Brett Carroll

Predictions:
Easiest- The Marlins will have a worse record than last year.
Boldest- The Marlins will finish at least 30 games back of first.
Team MVP/Best Season- Hanley Ramirez (28-32 HRs, 85-90 RBIs, 20 SBs, 100-115 RS)
Best Pitcher/Breakout Player- Andrew Miller (7-9 Wins, sub-4 ERA)

Stay Tuned: Nationals Rundown and Predictions Tomorrow afternoon!

'08 RAPs: NL East

We all know how the NL East ended in 2007. It was the single most shocking week in baseball history. The Philadelphia Cheese-Steaks proved that the best team doesn't always win. They also proved that luck is a vital aspect of professional sports. Well, anyway, here's the rundown:

On May 1st, the Braves were a half game ahead of the Mets, while the 4th place Steaks were 3 back.
On June 1st, the Mets were in first, 3.5 ahead of Atlanta and 8.5 ahead of Philly.
On July 1st, third place Philly was back in the race, 5 back of the Mets, and one back of second place Atlanta.
At the break, Atlanta was only 2 back, while Philly was still 4.5 back.
About a week later I made a bet of $20 that the Mets would win the division... oops!
On August 1st, the Braves were 3.5 back and the Phils were 4 back.

Here it is: The Month of September
On September 1st, the second place Phils were 3 back; Atlanta, at 6.5 back were pretty much dead.
On the fifth, Philly was 5 back; seemingly, out of the race.
On the 10th Philly was 6 back; still, out of the race.
On the 15th, the Phils were back within 4.5; yet, nobody was worrying.
On the 20th, Philly got back within 1.5 games.
On the 23rd the Phils were back 2.5. Whew... that was close!
On the 26th they were a game back. Good thing there's only 4 games left... Right?
September 27th: OH MY GOD!!! They tied it up! That's not good.
28th: What the Hell!? The Steaks take a one game lead.
29th: Johnny Maine to the rescue. No hitter into the eighth, 14K's. Just for those of you who don't think this kid's an ace, here are his numbers in the two must win games he ever pitched in (2006 NLCS game 6 and the game on the second to last day of the '07 season):
13.1IP 3H 19Ks, NO RUNS!!!

Anyway, the day all you have been waiting for:
September 30th, 2007: Tom Glavine takes the hill in the biggest game of his life. He fires 8 shutout innings, Billy Wagner comes in and strikes out Miguel Cabrera in his last at bat as a Marlin. After the game, the Mets watch as Brett Myers blows a 5 run lead in the ninth to the Nationals. And there you have it, the Mets are the 2007 NL East Champs!!!

What? 7 Run 1st? Impossible... Tom Terrific was on the mound... Seriously??? The Phillies couldn't of won. I just looked it up, they haven't won a playoff game in over a decade! Liars!

Oh, I remember now. Glavine sucks! Well, we're just about out of time.

Anyway, here's the 2007 NL East Standings:

Phillies: 89-73 0GB
Mets: 88-74 1GB
Braves: 84-78 5GB
Nationals: 73-89 16GB
Marlins: 71-91 18GB

'08 RAPs: AL Central Final Rundown and Predictions

The time has come to finally make my predictions for the 2008 AL Central Division. During the past week I've covered the Royals, White Sox, Twins, Tigers, and Indians offseason moves, team outlook, and made my predictions about each. So, before I make my final predictions as to the outcome of the division, I'll first break down the division by offense and pitching.

Pitching:

5. Minnesota Twins:
The loss of Santana clearly hurts. The only thing that can save the Twins is if Liriano returns and dominates. Livan Hernandez, who's got to be like 50, is their #2 starter, after a mediocre year in the NL. I can see his ERA reaching the 7.00 marker with ease.
I do love the Twin's pen though. Neshek and Nathan are two of my favorite relievers in the game. However, Billy Smith cannot possibly hold onto Nathan all year.
4. Cleveland Indians:
I can hear you all laughing at the Indians being ranked fourth, but trust me on this one. If Joe Borowski posts an ERA under 5.00 this season, I'll be shocked. Whoever believes that a team with Joe Borowski as their closer can reach the playoffs in back-to-back years is crazy. Sure, Rafeal Betancourt, who was recently granted an extension, is talented enough to take over the closer's role if need be, but then Cleveland's middle relief would take a horrible blow.
As for the rotation, I'll give you that C.C. Sabathia is a great pitcher. I'll give you that Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook are more-than-capable veterans. But, I will not give you that Fausto Carmona is anywhere near as good as he performed last season. If he proves me wrong, then he proves me wrong, but every time I think of him I see him blowing games a couple of years ago as the closer for the Tribe. Also, who knows how Paul Byrd will do after the HGH revelations he suffered through, or how Sabathia will do with his mind on his next contract.
3. Chicago White Sox:
They have a great back end of the pen in Jenks and Dotel. However, neither one of those two is a sure thing. While the back end of their rotation is very weak, Buehrle and Vazquez are two of the most reliable and consistent starters in the game. If Contreras returns to his old form, this team could have a solid pitching staff.
2. Detroit Tigers:
The Tigers weak pen is the only thing keeping them out of first in this category. I have serious doubts that Todd Jones holds onto the closer's role for more than a couple of months, if that. And if Fernando Rodney has to close for the Tigers, they're in serious trouble!
That being said, Detroit's rotation isn't dominant by any means. Who knows what they'll get from Willis, Rogers, Robertson, or even Bonderman (Who, I'll admit, I don't believe to be anything more than an overrated 4th starter). The only sure thing is Justin Verlander, who I'll admit I had my doubts about; however, I believe he is the AL's best regular season pitcher.
1. Kansas City Royals:
Now before you start calling me crazy, hear me out. The two teams considered to be the powerhouses of the league (Detroit and Cleveland), have Joe Borowski and Todd Jones as their closers. Whereas, although he's not as proven as Joe Nathan or Bobby Jenks, Joakim Soria is more youthful than Nathan; and, in my opinion, more talented than Jenks. Their acquisition of Yasuhiko Yabuta is perhaps the most underrated move of the entire offseason. Japanese relievers have had tremendous success (Okajima, Otsuka, ect.) in the States recently. Combine that with the fact that Yabuta will not take as much time to adjust as Okajima since Trey Hillman is an accomplished Japanese manager and I'm confident Yabuta will post an ERA well under 2.00 this season. Yabuta as well as recently signed, veteran lefty, Ron Mahay, as well as the other young, talented arms in the KC pen gives KC the best pen.
As for rotation, sure the Royals lack a true "ace" and are filled with unproven talent I believe they have the second deepest rotation from top to bottom. Leo Nunez, considering he is the #5 guy, is better than every fifth starter in that division other than Robertson. Also, I'm one of the few that thought Gil Meche was going to succeed last year (I thought he'd win 14-16 games), so I am optimistic that not only will he repeat, he'll do even better than last season!

Offense:

5. Twins:
I feel very sorry for Mauer and Morneau. The only way the Twins can come close to having an average offense is if Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young have monster seasons. I can see Gomez stealing a bunch of bases, but not much more this season. I don't trust Delmon Young as a person. He's no longer the center of attention like in Tampa. I can see him imploding because of the fact that Morneau and Mauer are going to steal his thunder. Of course he can combat that by having a monstrous year.
4. Royals:
Question marks and potential. That's the theme of the Royals offense. The question marks include Jose Guillen who Dayton Moore over-spent on. If Guillen can have a good year, the Royals' offense won't be terrible.
There is a ton of potential in the likes of Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Mark Teahen, John Buck, Joey Gathright, and Alberto Callaspo. All of those players are capable of having an All-Star type year this year. Also, all of them are extremely capable of hitting under .250 and striking out 200 times, you never know.
3. Indians:
The only real stars in this squad are Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Victor Martinez. Behind that, their probably won't be much production. Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta will probably have average to slightly above average seasons. Other than that, there's pretty much nothing.
2. White Sox:
The additions of Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera make this a highly formidable lineup. They still have their potent old bats in Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, and Jermaine Dye, and now they have youth in the likes of Danny Richar, Josh Fields, Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez, and Jerry Owens. Sox fans should be proud of Ken Williams for creating this potentially dominating mix.
1. Tigers:

What can I say? Just look at this for a second:

1. Curtis Granderson

2. Placido Polanco

3. Miguel Cabrera

4. Magglio Ordonez

5. Edgar Renteria

6. Carlos Guillen

7. Gary Sheffield

8. Pudge Rodriguez

9. Jaque Jones

That is better than some of the past few All-Star lineups. It's just indescribable, unstoppable, unfair, and unmatched. Imagine, Miguel Cabrera, out of Dolphin Stadium, now in Detroit, with Magglio Ordonez hitting behind him instead of Mike Jacobs. Is 73 HRs out of the question? I mean, he'll get at least 50 easily. This could be the greatest lineup of all time!

Final Predictions:

Now for the final prediction. Let me guess, you're expecting Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, KC. If that's what you're expecting don't bother sitting down (although you're probably already sitting down since you're at a computer) cause you'll just stand up when you see this. Just know; honestly, this is NOT a joke.

Final Standings:

1. Kansas City Royals; 89-73

2. Detroit Tigers; 89-73

3. White Sox; 84-78

4. Indians; 75-87

5. Twins; 67-95

That's right! Remember that you heard it here, at C-Goud's Ultimate Baseball, first! The KC Royals will win the AL Central in 2008. Notice the fact that Detroit and KC have the same record. I believe that the Tigers are strong enough to over-power the league... except for the Royals. Trey Hillman is a smart guy who wants to win. He'll use his strong bullpen to beat Tigers no matter how many arms he has to use. I can see the Royals beating Detroi 15 times this year!
Honestly, before the Cabrera/Willis deal I was much more confident about this than I am now. The Royals are a weak team offensively and filled with question marks elsewhere. However, I will not back down from this prediction, even if the Royals lose their first ten games this year! I just have a feeling that the KC Kiddies will use their youthfulness to shock the world! (Or it could just be a manner of my Greek pride getting the best of me.)

Awards Prediction:

Division MVP: Yasuhiko Yabuta - Since I picked the Royals to win the division, I had to pick a Royal as the league MVP. Also, I do believe Yabuta will have the greatest effect on the outcome of the division. I can see him coming in and disposing of Cabrera, Maggs, and Renteria 1,2,3 several times in key games this year. Runner Up: Miguel Cabrera
Divisional CY-Young: Justin Verlander - With the offensive production he is going to get this year, he could lead the league in wins. Do I hear 23 wins anybody? Runner Up: Mark Buehrle (if Sabathia is traded)

Stay Tuned: Tommorow I will start the NL East RAPs!

'08 RAPs: Cleveland Indians

Last year the Indians won the tough AL Central Division and knocked off the Yankees in the ALDS. That has seemingly given them a sense of security going into 2008 that has kept them from being overly active this offseason.

Here are the Indians' offseason moves:

Signed pitcher Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010. Acquired infielder Jamey Carroll from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named.
Signed pitchers Brendan Donnelly, Jorge Julio, and Scott Elarton to minor league contracts.
Exercised the 2008 contract options on pitchers Joe Borowski, Paul Byrd and Aaron Fultz.

Here's the team outlook:

Pitching Staff:
SP1: C.C. Sabathia
SP2: Fausto Carmona
SP3: Paul Byrd
SP4: Jake Westbrook
SP5: Aaron Laffey
CL: Joe Borowski
SUM: Rafeal Betancourt

Field:
DH: Travis Hafner
C: Victor Martinez
1B: Ryan Garko
2B: Asdrubal Cabrera/ Jamey Carroll
SS: Jhonny Peralta
3B: Casey Blake
LF: Davi Dellucci/Jason Micheals/Franklin Gutierrez
CF: Grady Sizemore
RF: Franklin Gutierrez/Jason Micheals

Predictions:
Easiest- The Indians will not win the division again.
Boldest- Fausto Carmona will post an ERA above 4.50, possibly above 5.50.
Team MVP/Best Hitter- Grady Sizemore
Best Season- C.C. Sabathia (8-11 wins, sub 3.25 ERA; traded around the deadline)
Breakout Player- Adam Miller (5-6 wins, sub 2.50 ERA in August and September)

'08 RAPs: Detroit Tigers

The reigning AL Champion, Tigers failed to make the playoffs in 2007, falling short of the Wild Card. However, GM Dave Dombrowski was busy this offseason. Many believe that he put together the greatest team in baseball with the acquisitions of players such as Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria.

Here are the Tigers' offseason moves:

• Acquired SS Edgar Renteria from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Jair Jurrjens and OF Gorkys Hernandez.
• Acquired pitcher Denny Bautista from the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Jose Capellan.
• Acquired pitcher Dontrelle Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera from the Florida Marlins for OFCameron Maybin, C Mike Rabelo, and pitchers Andrew Miller, Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz and Dallas Trahern.
• Resigned pitchers Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones.

So, here's the team outlook:

Pitching Staff:
SP1: Justin Verlander
SP2: Kenny Rogers
SP3: Dontrelle Willis
SP4: Jeremy Bonderman
SP5: Nate Robertson
CL: Todd Jones
SUM: Fernando Rodney

Field:
DH: Gary Shefield
C: Ivan Rodriguez
1B: Carlos Guillen
2B: Placido Polanco
SS: Edgar Renteria
3B: Miguel Cabrera
LF: Jaque Jones/Marcue Thames/Brandon Inge
CF: Curtis Granderson
RF: Magglio Ordonez

Predictions:
Easiest- The Tigers will make the playoffs.
Boldest- The Royals will win the season series against Detroit.
Team MVP/Best Season- Miguel Cabrera (50 HR, 130 RBI)
Best Pitcher- Justin Verlander (17-20 wins, sub 3.50 ERA)
Breakout Player- Dontrelle Willis (12-15 wins, sub 4.25 ERA)

Stay Tuned: Indians Tommorow; Final AL Central Predictions Saturday!

'08 RAPs: Minnesota Twins

The Twins weren't able to pull off one of their typical come-from-behind runs in 2007. This led to the subtraction of Luis Castillo, Tori Hunter, Matt Garza and of course, Johan Santana from their team. Not only did the Twins lose this solid group of players, they also lost a great general manager in Terry Ryan. Ryan was replaced by Billy Smith, who isn't exactly a fan favorite after the Johan debacle.

Here are Smith's offseason moves:

• Traded pitcher, Johan Santana to the New York Mets for OF Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and Phil Humber.
• Acquired outfielder Craig Monroe from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named.
• Acquired OFs Delmon Young and Jason Pridie and IF Brendan Harris from the Tampa Bay Rays for SS Jason Bartlett and pitchers Matt Garza and Eduardo Morlan.
• Agreed to terms with first baseman Justin Morneau on a six-year contract and outfielder Michael Cuddyer on a three-year contract.
• Signed pitcher Livan Hernandez to a one-year contract.

With those moves, here's the team outlook:

Pitching Staff:
SP1: Francisco Liriano
SP2: Livan Hernandez
SP3: Boof Bonser
SP4: Scott Baker
SP5: Kevin Slowey
CL: Joe Nathan
SUM: Pat Neshek/ Juan Rincon

Position Players:
DH: Jason Kubel/Craig Monroe
C: Joe Mauer
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Alexi Castilla/Nick Punto/Brendon Harris
SS: Nick Punto/Adam Everett
3B: Mike Lamb
LF: Delmon Young
CF: Carlos Gomez
RF: Micheal Cuddyer

Predictions:
Easiest: Liriano will return at top form.
Boldest: Delmon Young will be a problem and get traded at the deadline.
Team MVP/Best Season: Justin Morneau (30-40 HR, 100-115 RBI)
Best Pitcher: Joe Nathan (15 saves, sub 3 ERA; Traded mid-season)
Breakout Player: Carlos Gomez (10-15 HR, +100 RS, 25-35 SB, .285-.295 AVG.)

Stay Tuned: Tommorow I'll be covering the Detroit Tigers

'08 RAPs: Chicago White Sox

The Sox had a very difficult 2007 season. I, myself, picked them to win the Central last year, only to see them finish only three games ahead of the last place Royals. However, Kenny Williams has tries, somewhat, to better his team for 2008.

Here's a list of some of his offseason moves:

• Acquired SS Orlando Cabrera for pitcher Jon Garland.
• Acquired OF Carlos Quentin for 1B Chris Carter.
• Signed pither Octavio Dotel to a 2-year deal.
• Signed Cuban OF Alexei Ramirez to a 4-year deal.

Here's the team outlook for '08 so far:

Rotation and Pen:

SP1: Mark Buehrle

SP2: Javier Vazquez

SP3: Jose Contreras

SP4: Johnny Danks

SP5: Gavin Floyd

CL: Bobby Jenks

SUM: Octavio Dotel

Here's the position breakdown:

DH: Jim Thome

C: AJ Pierzynski

1B: Paul Konerko

2B: Juan Uribe/Danny Richar

SS: Orlando Cabrera

3B: Joe Crede/Josh Fields

LF: Carlos Quentin/Alexei Ramirez/Jerry Owens

CF: Nick Swisher

RF: Jermaine Dye

Predictions:

Easiest: The Sox will be worse than last year

Boldest: The Sox will finish dead last and Ozzie Guillen will be fired

Team MVP: Nick Swisher

Best Season: Nick Swisher (+30 HR, 90-110 RBI)

Best Pitcher: Mark Buehrle (12-14 wins, sub-4 ERA)

Breakout Player: Alexei Ramirez (75 games, 10-12 HR, 40-50 RBI, .280 AVG)

'08 RAPs: Kansas City Royals

Over the last year-and-a-half, the Kansas City Royals, led by Super-GM Dayton Moore, have made tremendous strides. Despite finishing last in the AL Central last season, the Royals have tons to look foward to this year. Most importantly is their importing of manager Trey Hillman fron Japan.

However, here are some other moves they've made this offseason:

• Signed pitcher, Yasuhiko Yabuta to a two-year contract.
• Signed right-fielder, Jose Guillen to a three-year contract.
• Acquired infielder Alberto Callaspo from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Billy Buckner.
• Signed reliever, Ron Mahay to a two-year contract.
• Signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a one-year contract.
• Signed pitchers Hideo Nomo and Chin-Hui Tsao to minor league contracts.
• Signed pitcher Brett Tomko to a one-year contract.

With those moves, here's how the team outline looks for 2008:

Rotation: SP1: Gil Meche; SP2: Brian Bannister; SP3: Zack Grienke; SP4/5: Leo Nunez/Brett Tomko/Kyle Davies Bullpen: Closer: Joakim Soria; Set-Up: Yasuhiko Yabuta Field: DH: Jose Guillen/Billy Butler/Ryan Shealy; C: John Buck; 1B: Billy Butler/Ross Gload; 2B: Mark Grudzielanek/Callaspo; SS: Tony Pena Jr.; 3B: Alex Gordon; LF: Jose Guillen/Joey Gathright; CF: David DeJesus; RF: Mark Teahen

Predictions: Easiest: The Royals bullpen will be the best in the Central. Boldest: The Royals will win the division. Team MVP: Yasuhiko Yabuta Best Season: Zack Grienke (12-16 wins) Best Offensive Season: Mark Teahen (20-30 HRs; 85-95 RBIs) Breakout Player: Alex Gordon (15-25 HRs; .300 AVG.; 20-30 SBs)

Stay Tuned: Tommorow I will be covering the White Sox

'08 RAPs: AL Central

The general consensus is that this was the best division in baseball in 2007. Throughout 2007, the Tigers and Indians battled it out for the division, as well as the Wild Card. While they were at the top of the pack the whole year, the White Sox and Twins significantly underachieved. The Royals were the same as they've been for a long time; out of the race completely. Here's a rundown based on certain checkpoints throughout the season:

On May first, the Indians were in first place 1.5 games ahead of Detroit and Minnesota, who were tied for second. The White Sox were 3.5 back, and the Royals were already 9 games out.
By June first, the Indians had secured themselves some breathing room. They had a 4.5 game lead over second place Detroit. The Twins were 6 back and the Sox were 7.5 back. The Royals were out of the race, 15 behind Cleveland.
On July first, Detroit had moved back within 1.5 games of the Tribe. Chicago joined the Royals in the "out of the race" group. Minnesota was still hanging in there, 6.5 out.
At the All-Star break, Detroit had moved into first place, a game ahead of the Indians. The Twins were pretty much dead at 8 games back, but refused to start selling because of their tendency to go on a strong second half run.
Come August first, the Tigers were still 1 game up on second place Cleveland.
However, August was a rough month for the Detroit Tigers. They lost 6.5 games in the standings, and were 5,5 back on September first.
The Indians clinched the division on September 23, as the Tigers went on to lose the Wild Card to the New York Yankees.

Stay tuned: Tomorrow I will be covering the 2008 Kansas City Royals.

Here are the final Standings for the 2007 AL Central Division:

1. Indians: 96-66, 0 GB

2. Tigers: 88-74, 8 GB

3. Twins: 79-83, 17 GB

4. Chi-Sox: 72-90, 24 GB

5. Royals: 69-93, 27 GB

08 RAPs: Coming Sunday!

With the hot stove season down to just Kyle Lohse and Joe Blanton, it is just about time to unveil the first annual edition of C-Gouds' RAPs. So, Sunday morning I'll be posting the review of last year's AL Central, seeing as that division seems rapped up for the year.

Poll Post: Did the Mets Need Santana?

The Mets just landed the greatest pitcher in baseball at the mere cost of 4 above average prospects and well over 100 million dollars. However, although I'm excited that they pretty much have the NL Championship locked up, was it 100% necessary?

Without Johan the Rotation would've been as follows:
1. Pedro Martinez
2. John Maine
3. Oliver Perez
4. Orlando Hernandez
5. Mike Pelfrey/Jorge Sosa/Kevin Mulvey/Phil Humber

To me that looks like a formiddable rotaion. Here's how I believe that would've worked out over the course of the season:
1. Pedro: 14-7 172 IP 3.75 ERA
2. Maine: 20-9 211 IP 2.99 ERA (Cy Young Award)
3. Perez: 17-11 195 IP 3.50 ERA
4. El Duque: 11-5 130 IP 3.25 ERA
5. Fifth Spot: 8-12 165 IP 5.25 ERA
While Maine might be somewhat of a stretch, I truly believe he'll win 20 games and top 200 innings this season. If all goes as stated above, the only weak points would be finding some one to replace El Duque half way through the year and the fith spot. Both holes could have been filled by signing a Kyle Lohse or Livan Hernandezto bolster the rotation.

So, while the Mets now have one of the top three rotations in baseball, one has to wonder, did we need such a dramatic upgrade?

P.S. Poll is on the sidebar