In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.
All 2010 MLB Preview Content | AL East Preview | AL Central Preview | AL West Preview | NL East | NL Central | NL West
Next up is the AL Central.
1. Chicago White Sox (9)
Some folks will think that this is too high for the White Sox – that they should be behind the Twins and out of the top 10 in terms of the overall power rankings. Some folks will say that Jake Peavy won’t be healthy all season and that the Chi Sox will once again falter as they try to live station to station on offense. Well, I say the folks that disagree with my opinion are friggin idiots. Harsh? Yeah, but it also needed to be said. I realize that I’m taking a risk by moving the Sox to the head of the AL Central, but really, it’s hard to argue that this division isn’t a crapshoot anyway. Every team has question marks heading into the season but at the end of the day, pitching makes or breaks a team. I realize Peavy missed all of last year due to injury, but the Sox were second in the AL in pitching last season with a 4.14 ERA without him. If he stays healthy, Peavy will only add to Chicago’s solid rotation (which also features Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia) and the addition of J.J. Putz should bolster the bullpen as well. Outside of injuries, the only thing that could potentially hold Chicago back this year is its offense. What do you mean that’s kind of a big deal? I’m banking that youngster Gordon Beckham develops quickly and that Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios return to form. I also think the Sox will get key contributions from the additions GM Kenny Williams made this offseason in Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre and Mark Teahen. I’m not expecting the Sox to magically transform into the Yankees of the AL Central, but I do believe they have enough offense to get by while their pitching carries them to a playoff berth.
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Tags: 2010 MLB Predictions, 2010 MLB Preview, Alex Gordon, Alex Rios, Andruw Jones, Asdrubal Cabrera, Billy Butler, Carl Pavano, Carlos Quentin, CC Sabathia, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers, Fausto Carmona, Francisco Liriano, Freddy Garcia, Gavin Floyd, Gordon Beckham, Grady Sizemore, Jake Peavy, Jim Thome, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, John Danks, Jon Rauch, Juan Pierre, Justin Morneau, Justin Verlander, Kansas City Royals, Kerry Wood, Kevin Slowey, Mark Buehrle, Mark Teahen, Matt LaPorta, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, Minnesota Twins, Nick Blackburn, Noel Arguelles, Rick Porcello, Scott Baker, Travis Hafner, Zach Greinke
