Winter is over. I don't care if Belezos says it's snowing on Friday, it's baseball season no matter how you slice it down. Brick from Anchorman could probably provide a better forecast than him anywho.
And this past winter was about as crazy as it gets in Boston. I'm not talking about all those damned snowstorms. I'm talking about the death of the phrase "bridge year" for the foreseeable future. Why else would you go throw $142 mil at Carl Crawford? Or trade half your farm for Adrian Gonzalez? Even the bullpen moves the Sox brass made incline you to think they're going for it this year. Bobby Jenks could have been a closer on maybe half the other teams; instead, he's coming here to be the second set-up option to Jonathan Papelbon.
Speaking of Papelbon, is this his final season in the 617 area code? Clearly, he's feeling the heat with Jenks and presumed closer-in-waiting Daniel Bard in the mix. How about David Ortiz? Does a long-term commitment to Gonzalez signal the end of his reign here? Will Josh Beckett figure it out? Is John Lackey the Sox version of AJ Burnett? At long last, on Friday in Arlington, many of those questions will begin to be answered.
The Red Sox aren't the only contender with big questions looming over them. In Philadelphia, there's widespread panic over the health of Chase Utley. Yankee fans are pinning their hopes on Freddy Garcia, Kevin Millwood, and Bartolo Colon, which would be fine in 2005, but it's 2011. The good people of St. Louis may have a LeBron situation on their hands, with Albert Pujols entering the final year of his deal. Has Justin Morneau fully recovered from his concussion? And the Mets? Eh, the only thing the Mets are contending for is the top pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.
Before I get to my division winners, award winners, and of course, World Series winner, I should warn anyone who is a fan of the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, or San Diego Padres: there is absolutely zero hope for any of your teams this year. Zip, zilch, nada, none. That's not to say progress won't be made this year; I'd be excited about 2013 or 2014 if I'm a Royals or Padres fan. But till then, what you see is what you get.
American League East
- Red Sox
- Yankees
- Orioles
- Rays
- Blue Jays
American League Central
- Twins
- White Sox*
- Tigers
- Royals
- Indians
American League West
- Athletics
- Rangers
- Angels
- Mariners
*-wild card
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
Also considered: Robinson Cano, Yankees; Joe Mauer, Twins
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester, Red Sox
Also considered: Justin Verlander, Tigers; Felix Hernandez, Mariners; Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
AL Rookie of the Year: Desmond Jennings, Rays
Also considered: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays; Mike Moustakas, Royals
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Orioles
Also considered: Terry Francona, Red Sox; Bob Geren, Athletics
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Justin Morneau, Twins
Also considered: Derek Jeter, Yankees; Mark Reynolds, Orioles
National League East
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Atlanta Braves*
- Florida Marlins
- Washington Nationals
- New York Mets
National League Central
- Cincinnati Reds
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Chicago Cubs
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Houston Astros
- Pittsburgh Pirates
National League West
- Colorado Rockies
- San Francisco Giants
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- San Diego Padres
*-wild card
NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
Also considered: Jason Heyward, Braves; Albert Pujols, Cardinals; Ryan Howard, Phillies
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Phillies
Also considered: Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies; Matt Garza, Cubs
NL Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman, Braves
Also considered: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
NL Manager of the Year: Freddie Gonzalez, Braves
Also considered: Mike Quade, Cubs
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Chipper Jones, Braves
Also considered: Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
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| Phat Albert's decision could really make ESPN some money, with it airing on not only ESPN, but "ESPN Deportes" as well. |
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| Adrian and the Green Monster. Bud Light and Lime. Charlie Sheen and rehab. Boylers and midgets. Some things were just meant to be together. |
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| He's won a World Series. He's beaten cancer. He's thrown a no-hitter. All he's missing is a Cy Young. Remember when he was the "throw-in" of the A-Rod/Manny trade that never was? |
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| It's easy to forget Chipper has been around since 1993; but you won't forget how good he is as he comes back from knee surgery. |
Check back later for my post-season predictions, as well as other random thoughts on the 2011 MLB season in Part II.
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