AL Central Predictions

PITCHING: Well, Gavin Floyd & John Danks are no longer rookies but they still have to match their performances of last year as well as improve on them. Mark Buehrle and Jose Contreras look on with a worrisome thought that they may have reached the final countdown of their careers. A stumble out of the gate by the sophomore kids may give the team a little more mettle to these veterans in their rotation. The team is loaded with 3 Left-handed SPs...probably the REAL reason that they were successful in 2008. Bobby Jenks clings to the Closer spot however precarious it may be.

HITTING: There are not a lot of great gloves making up this starting roster, but the brass hope for their bats to overcome the drops and errors that are committed through the season. The infield is a good mix of age and youth with Paul Konerko at First...full of promise, but hasn't really delivered as a stud bat as they have expected. 2B is manned (for now) by a rookie Chris Getz...he had a pretty good Spring Camp, but it's all in front of him. 3B is held down by Josh Fields now that Crede has gone from the team. SS goes to a solid infielder Alexei Ramirez, who usually plays 2B, but he'll be fine anywhere they put him. Ramirez is a solid 30-30 guy who was the glue that held them together last year. A.J. Pierzynski is behind the plate as steady a player as you'll find...journeyman catcher at best, but numbers each year can be written in ink. DH is often maligned...often injured and severely limited Jim Thome.

Outfield has a potential star in Carlos Quentin who has paid dividends since he was picked up in a trade, a good .280 100 RBI guy can fit into just about any team and his leather is the best they have in their OF. CF is up for grabs as the ChiSox will try a few players out in this crucial position, as of now Owens & Wise are sharing the duties. In Right field an aging dependable Jermaine Dye hangs on to his spot in the line-up, expect HRs in the 20s, RBIs near 100 and a .270-.280 average.

PROGNOSIS: I'm picking them to finish 4th...I know it's Obama's team and they won last year, yadda yadda. I just don't feel that they addressed their needs in the off-season...while the other teams in the AL Central made some interesting moves. i don't care for their mid-relief guys in the pen, their Gloves are mediocre and they have rookies at key positions.