We also discuss:

• Billy Beane being extended until 2019
• Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz resigning in Texas
• The Jeremy Guthrie trade to Colorado
• AJ Burnett possibly being traded to the Pirates
• We spotlight the Detroit Tigers
• Ryan Rayburn (well the whole Tigers infield) is horrible on defense (as this video shows)
• Andy Dirks’ Dominican dominance
• Corey and I each give our 3 best and 3 worst off-season deals

Click play on the player below to listen:

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Midwest Sports Fans has done a couple pieces in the past few days regarding the end of the Fielder sweepstakes. If you are a Milwaukee Brewers fan, you have had plenty of time to face the inevitable.

Fielder did not turn this into a LeBron James-like spectacle. He said flat out at the end of last season that he would most likely not be returning to Milwaukee. Meanwhile GM Doug Melvin moved on and addressed other needs regarding the team in free agency. It was as amicable as any so-called divorce could be.

The $24 million per year that would had been needed to keep Fielder now simply gets used to acquire other assets. For instance, Zack Greinke, Francisco Rodriguez, and Aramis Ramirez carry a tab of $27.5 million for the coming season.

It’s a business, and these days it often pays not to shell out the big bucks for one player. Not being the team that got stuck with Carlos Lee (6 years/$100 million) or even Joe Mauer (8 years/$184 million) sounds pretty good now.

All of that said, I like that Fielder landed in Detroit, as I thought Scott Boras’s “mystery team” would end up being (as usual) the Yankees. And I had an even bigger fear on Prince winding up with a rival such as the Cubs or Cardinals (especially with Albert Pujols gone).

As it turns out, Fielder goes to the American League, in a city with a lot of parallels to Milwaukee, and where he grew up. It sounds like there’s even possible reconciliation between Prince and Cecil Fielder. And Prince is with a team that should dominate in the AL Central for the foreseeable future. As an extra bonus he will no longer have to worry about facing Justin Verlander and his team being no-hit by him.

Maybe Mike Ilitch is as nuts as anyone throwing $215 million on a player, but then again Ilitch is 82 and more than likely won’t even be around when Prince’s contract expires in 2020. Not like Ilitch can take his considerable wealth to the other side. Aging owners can be good for a franchise, in the short term that is…

But I thought this would be a good time to compile Prince Fielder’s top 10 moments as a member of the Brewers organization, just to whet the appetite of what Detroit baseball fans can look forward to.

10. ‘HE GOT ALL OF THAT ONE’ – July, 2011

It was a MLB promotional spot during the 2011 season, but Fielder really did nearly put one into orbit during this late July game v. the Houston Astros, landing high up on a support beam above the right field stands at Miller Park. As now-former Brewers PBP man Cory Provus said, ‘That ball…landed in Wauwatosa.” He had his Milwaukee area coordinates off a bit, but his point was well taken.

9. CATCHER IN THE WAY – May, 2006

San Francisco Giants fans don’t like seeing opposing baserunners run over their catchers, especially after seeing a Florida Marlins player just up from the minors that no one had ever heard of (or will hear from again) ending Buster Posey’s season last year.

That said, Prince Fielder lighting up Giants backup catcher Todd Greene during this weekday matinee in the ’06 season immediately went down as one of Prince’s most iconic moments as a Brewer. This camera angle from the Miller Park roof caught the intensity of that moment of impact perfectly.  A second picture shows the aftermath after a second runner tried to score on the play and was tagged out by the opposing pitcher while Greene was sprawled out in Never Never Land.

8. NUMBER 50 – September, 2007

Two home runs in this late September game v. the St. Louis Cardinals made Fielder the youngest player in history (23 at the time) to reach 50 home runs in a single season. After the game, Fielder said that his goal was to hit two more home runs to surpass his dad’s 51 home run season, saying that surpassing Cecil would “shut him up.” As it turned out, Prince had to settle for 50 and has not duplicated that mark since.

7. THE PIRATES ARE HIS BITCHES – May, 2007

Think the Pittsburgh franchise is not elated to see Fielder switch leagues? Coming up to bat after teammate J.J. Hardy had hit a three-run homer, Fielder is drilled by reliever Matt Capps, a pitch that was deemed intentional by MLB disciplinary czar Bob Watson and resulted in a four-game suspension for Capps.

The next day Fielder hit two home runs, scored the eventual winning run, and then made some emotional gestures towards Capps and the Pirates bench before being shown the way towards his own dugout. Since this early-2007 series, Pittsburgh is 4-38 in Milwaukee, including a late September game in 2011 that saw Prince hit three home runs.

6. CLUBHOUSE ACCESS DENIED – July, 2009

In apparent retaliation to a couple of LA Dodgers hitters being plunked earlier in the game, Fielder is hit in the leg by a Guillermo Mota pitch in the ninth inning of a game the Brewers lost 17-4. After the final out Fielder sprints off the field, then attempts to enter the opposing clubhouse to find Mota, but is rebuffed by Dodger Stadium security and eventually Brewers teammates. Surprisingly Fielder was not disciplined by Major League Baseball.

5. INSIDE-THE-PARK HR I – June, 2009

A high pop fly gets lost in the Metrodome’s white roof in the ninth inning of a Sunday afternoon game, and by the time any of the Twins was able to retrieve it Fielder had himself an inside-the-park home run. As college basketball analyst Bill Rafferty might say, “GET A RESUSCITATOR, FOR THE BIG FELLA!!!!!”

The play put the Brewers ahead 9-8 in a game they were losing 8-2, but ultimately lost the game in the bottom of the ninth. Still a memorable moment though – and leave it to The Onion to put a great satire on the event!!

4. INSIDE-THE-PARK HR II – June, 2010

Incredibly, he’s done it twice – amazing considering how much trouble Ryan Braun had trying to score an inside-the-park HR even once. In this game v. the Blue Jays, the ball gets stuck below the padding as the Toronto outfielders threw their arms up in the air expecting the play to be ruled a ground rule double.

It is exactly how I also got Prince to hit a ITPHR in MLB 11, have ball get stuck in the fence while the fielders keep running in place. Once again electronic art imitates real life perfectly.

3. THE CELEBRATION – September, 2009

I’m pretty much retired from uploading videos toYoutube, but I’m now at 182,000 views and counting on this one. As the producer on Network said while Harold Beale went on his famous rant, “SON OF A B*TCH, WE HIT THE MOTHER LODE!!!”

The San Francisco Giants obviously took this as some sort of breach of baseball etiquette, and Barry Zito proceeded to plunk Fielder in an exhibition game the following spring as retaliation. My question remains this, why was everyone pissed at Prince, it was the other 30 guys in uniform THAT ALL FELL DOWN!!!!! And if that was over-the-top, then so is virtually every other walk-off home run celebration in baseball.

2. HOME RUN DERBY – July, 2009

In another opportunity to one-up his dad on the career bucket list (Cecil Fielder had participated in HR Derby three times), Prince hits 23 home runs, including one measured at 503 feet, to win the annual pre-All-Star game event at St. Louis’s Busch Stadium.

1. ALL-STAR MVP – July, 2011

After two days of booing from Arizona Diamondbacks fans (upset that he selected teammate Rickie Weeks and not Justin Upton for Home Run Derby), Prince hits a three-run homer to lead the National League to a 5-1 victory in the 2011 All-Star Game. The win gave the NL what turned out to be the crucial home field advantage for this past fall’s World Series. St. Louis, you are welcome.

Yet, although I knew it was coming and have had a long time to prepare for it, a part of me is still very sad that it’s official that Prince won’t being wearing a Milwaukee uniform in 2012.

Since his first major league hit on June 15, 2005, Prince Fielder has done some simply amazing things for the Milwaukee Brewers.

In his 7 season with the Brew Crew, he managed to put up some numbers that are stunning. He hit 230 home runs, drove in 656 runs, compiled just under 1,000 hits, and had an on-base percentage of .390.

In addition the stats, he has a very lengthy list of accomplishments that he built up with the Crew. He’s a 3-time All-Star (and was the 2011 All-Star Game MVP), won the 2009 Home Run Derby, won 2 Silver Slugger awards, won the 2007 NL Hank Aaron Award, set a franchise record with 50 home runs during the 2007 season, and trailed only Hall of Famer Robin Yount for most home runs in franchise history.

Prince always clobbered towering home runs, and he never failed to excite the Milwaukee faithful. He may have been a big liability defensively, but his offense and clubhouse leadership did more than enough to make up for it. Fielder was a spectacular teammate, and there was very little drama between players during his time in Milwaukee.

He and Ryan Braun were the best 3-4 punch in baseball, and they will go down in Brewers lore for being the ultimate sluggers that helped lead Milwaukee to the playoffs twice in a span of 4 years. For fans of the Red Sox and Yankees, making the playoffs twice in 4 years is mediocre, but to Brewer fans, it was nothing short of absolutely amazing. We’re talking about a team that didn’t make the postseason for 26 years, a drought that was broken in 2008.

Without Prince Fielder, I’m fairly certain that the Milwaukee playoff drought would be at 29 years and counting.

Now as far as Prince’s contract with the Detroit Tigers goes, I think that it is pretty risky. Sure Prince is a very good player, but 9 years and $214 million seems a little steep to me. While the money he’s getting is excessive, it’s the length of the contract that bothers me the most.

Prince isn’t exactly the lightest guy around (he was listed VERY generously at 270 pounds with the Brewers), and if he ends up being a full-time DH, his weight could balloon up to if not over 350 pounds by the end of even next season. Remember, Fielder is this fat at age 27, what do you think he’s going be like when he’s in his mid-30s?

In addition to the health issues for Fielder, his new contract could create a big payroll problem for the Tigers. His huge contract may make it next to impossible for Detroit to re-sign both Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, whose contracts run through 2015 and 2014 respectively. There’s no question in my mind that Prince will help the Tigers immensely in the short-term, but it’s problems in the long run that should have Tiger fans a little bit uneasy with this contract.

But despite all of that, I think that the signing of Prince Fielder will have more positive effects on the Tigers than there will be negatives. He gives them a great chance to win a World Series in the next several years, and I would be shocked if Detroit doesn’t win the AL Central by a wide margin.

As much as Fielder will help the Tigers, I care much more about how much his departure will hurt the Brewers.

The Brew Crew will, in all likelihood, be without Ryan Braun for the first 50 games of the 2012 season, and the rest of the team has a lot of slack to pick up on offense. Even once Braun is back, he no longer has Prince backing him up, so pitchers will be able to pitch around him, which they couldn’t do in the past.

But worst of all, this ball club is without its leader.

Prince Fielder’s love for his teammates and the city where he played for seven seasons can’t be matched, and he will be missed dearly. Fielder gave us Brewers fans a ton of great memories, and these past few seasons were the ideal time to be a Milwaukee fan.

Braun and Fielder, beast mode, 2 playoff appearances, Racing Sausages, Tony Plush, the icon Bob Uecker, and much more made these past few years (especially 2011), amazing, and that’s why I don’t think any true Milwaukee fan will hold a grudge against Prince. When he steps to the plate during interleague play at Miller Park, the Milwaukee faithful will give Prince Fielder the standing ovation that he deserves.

Prince, I wish you the best of luck going forward with your new team, and I just want to say thanks.

For everything.

I’ll leave all of the nitty-gritty details to the pros like Rosenthal. For my commentary on this deal, I am going to put on my White Sox hat and do whatever I can to rain on the Tigers’ parade. Why? Because I’m still bitter about last season and not all that optimistic about this season (yet) and because ADAM DUNN WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SUCK SO MUCH DEAR GOD WHY?

Anyway, I just want to present a few of facts that Tigers fans may be familiar with.

Fact #1: Prince Fielder is the son of Cecil Fielder. This makes it highly probably that they share genetic code and hereditary predispositions.

Fact #2: Cecil Fielder played for the Detroit Tigers from age 26-31, becoming a lovable star because of his girth and behemoth home runs.

Fact #3: At age 26, his first full season in the majors, Cecil Fielder hit 51 home runs and slugged .592; at age 26, Prince Fielder, in his fifth full season in the majors, hit 32 home runs and slugged .471.

Fact #4: At age 27, Cecil Fielder hit 44 home runs and slugged .514; at age 27, Prince Fielder hit 38 home runs and slugged .566.

Fact #5: Cecil Fielder never slugged higher than .504 or hit 40 home runs again despite his salary increasing to nearly $10 million by his age 33 season. He retired at age 34.

Fact #6: Prince Fielder will still be under contract for two full seasons at a massive salary after turning 34.

Fact #7: From ages 23-25, Prince Fielder averaged 43.3 home runs, 121 RBIs, and had OPS’ of 1.013, .879, and 1.104; from ages 26-27, prime years for most players, Fielder averaged 35 home runs, 101.5 RBIs, and had OPS’ of .871 and .981.

A few observations about these facts:

• Cecil Fielder was never better than during his first two full seasons before declining sharply after that; he was still a useful player, but nowhere near the presence he had been.
• Prince Fielder was never better than during his first three full seasons (two great years with just a good year sandwiched in between) and is already declining statistically at the age his papa was putting up his best numbers.

The elder Fielder was paid $9.237 million each of his final two seasons in Detroit, an exorbitant sum at the time. He hit 59 home runs and drove in 172 runs total over those two seasons. Prince Fielder will be paid $20+ million dollars during every season of his deal with the Tigers. For their sake, let’s hope they get a better return than they got on the money they paid his father.

Otherwise, if Prince declines and becomes injury-prone, as many extremely heavyset power hitters have (Cecil, Mo Vaughn, even Frank Thomas, just to name a few), this deal could quickly become an albatross for the Tigers.

With Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera and a decent roster around them, the Tigers have a window to win over the next couple of years. If Fielder replacing the injured Victor Martinez helps power them to a World Series over the next few years, I suppose this deal will probably be worth it.

But I can’t help but think that at some point – probably when Fielder is hitting 25-30 home runs per season and making semi-regular DL stints, which will probably happen not too long after he turns 30, if not before  – the Tigers and their fans will be looking back on this deal with regret.

Of course, I’m just an angry, disillusioned, pessimistic White Sox fan still burdened mentally and emotionally by the Dunn Fiasco (and the Peavy Problem and the Rios Mess and blah blah blah)…so what the hell do I know?

Verlander’s stats this season were remarkable. He went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and struck out 250 batters in 251 regular season innings with a WHIP of 0.92. He also led the Tigers to the AL Central crown and anchored a pitching staff that was otherwise very pedestrian until Doug Fister came along to help him out.

Verlander was not nearly as sharp in the playoffs, but that doesn’t diminish what was one of the finest regular season pitching performances in baseball over the last decade. Though it’s debatable whether a pitcher should win the MVP, I don’t think anyone debates that Verlander certainly warranted consideration; and in this case enough voters were wowed by his supreme regular season awesomeness to give him both of the AL’s most prestigous regular season awards.

Congratulations to Verlander. I’ll update this post with details of the voting as soon as they are available.

Update: Via @SBNation, Verlander received 13 first-place votes (280 total points), edging out Jacoby Ellsbury (242) and Jose Bautista (231).

And while many people will credit a fluky bounce of the ball at third base for turning the tide of Game 5, the secret to the Tigers victory actually came much earlier, during the pregame. That is when Tigers skipper Jim Leyland executed his own form of hit-and-run on Rangers manager Ron Washington, as documented by AP photographer Paul Sancya.

Look at the two pictures below, which were taken and posted successively at ESPN.com (click here, view pic, then click next) and then documented by eagle-eyed Redditor King_Hippo here.

Picture 1

Image credit: AP/Paul Sancya via ESPN.com

Picture 2

Image credit: AP/Paul Sancya via ESPN.com

That’s not the way baseball go Jim. That’s dirty.

Here is a picture of Ron Wash taken right after he was informed of Leyland’s stinkpalm sabotage:

Image source: AP via Newshopper

When Leyland is pulling fast ones over on Washington like that in the pregame, what real chance do the Rangers have once the game starts?

As I’ve always said, beware of men in funny hats.

1. The Midwest owns baseball.

All 3 Midwestern Playoff teams—the Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers—advanced to their respective League Championship Series, and at least one team will represent the region in the World Series. If the fifth inning of yesterday’s NLCS Game 1 is any indication, the Playoffs will not suffer from the elimination of the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies.

Dominance, with puppy.

2. Alex Smith dominates Jay Cutler style.

It may be too soon to remove Alex Smith’s name from the list of top draft picks that didn’t pan out (a list that includes Tim Couch, David Carr, and Jamarcus Russell). At the moment Smith is third in the league in quarterback rating (104.1), and he’s only thrown a single interception. (Prior to this year, Smith averaged one interception per start.) The 49ers, after a 48-3 drubbing of the Bucs, are 4-1 and maintain a 2-game lead in the NFC West.

3. Wisconsin and Michigan are still doing well.

In addition to the Brewers and Tigers advancing to their respective League Championship Series and the Brewers winning Game 1, the Packers, Badgers, Lions, and Wolverines all remain perfect. (The Badgers were off this week and the Lions play tonight, but still.)

4. Luke Fickell won’t be Ohio State’s head football coach next year.

And Jim Bollman won’t be the offensive coordinator. The Buckeyes blew a 21-point second-half lead on Saturday, losing 34-27 to Nebraska. Bucknuts, the Ohio State fan site, is calling the loss “arguably the biggest collapse in school history.” For Nebraska, the win was the biggest comeback in the history of the program. Ohio State is now 3-3, with consecutive losses for the first time in 7 years, and has 4 games remaining against ranked opponents.

Ohio State didn’t want Fickell to spend the year wearing the “interim” tag (the proverbial scarlet “I”), but functionally, he’s an interim head coach. Unless the Buckeyes win every remaining game (except, maybe, the Wisconsin game but including the bowl game), Fickell and Bollman won’t be back next year. And I get the impression that Ohio State fans won’t be sad to see embattled senior quarterback Joe Bauserman follow them out of Columbus.

5. Air Force refused an invitation from the Big 12 and will be joining the Missouri Valley Conference?!

A couple weeks ago a rumor surfaced that the Big East was interested in adding Air Force and Navy as football-only members. Saturday, Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told the Denver Post that the interest was mutual. Mueh floated a plan that “would have the Falcons joining the Big East only in football, while moving teams in other sports to the Missouri Valley Conference.” (Of course, as we learned from Oklahoma, just because a school wants to join a conference doesn’t mean that the presidents of the schools in that conference will give the school an invitation.)

Mueh added:

We were approached by the Big 12, and I told them we’re not a good fit for that conference. In the Big 12, geography makes sense, the economics make sense, but recruiting makes no sense for us. I can’t recruit against Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State.

What does that say about the Big East?

At any rate, I look forward to many Falcons-Purple Aces basketball games to come.

Jimmie Johnson, and his beard, led 197 of 267 laps Sunday in Kansas. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

6. Don’t be surprised if Jimmie Johnson wins his sixth consecutive Sprint Cup Championship.

Johnson followed up a second-place finish last week in Dover with a win this week in Kansas. Two weeks ago, Johnson was 10th in the Sprint Cup Standings and on a 20-race winless streak. Now, he’s in third place, only four points behind leader Carl Edwards, with a good chance of winning yet another Sprint Cup Championship. Six races remain, including the Tums Fast Relief 500 in Martinsville, which Johnson has won 4 times, and the Kobalt Tools 500 in Phoenix, which Johnson has won thrice.

7. Craig Smith is an early candidate for NHL Rookie of the Year.

I know that October is way to early to start talking about NHL, but Nashville Predators rookie Craig Smith is off to an impressive start. The Preds decided that Smith, a Wisconsin native and University of Wisconsin product, would not spend any more time in his home state. Instead of starting their first-round draft pick with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s farm team, the Preds put Smith in the opening day lineup. The move paid off. In two games, both Predators wins, Smith already has two goals and two assists.

8. We’re going to spend the week talking about Tim Tebow, aren’t we?

The Broncos are 1-4, and the quarterbacks on their roster have been selected to a total of zero Pro Bowls, but I get the feeling that we’re going to be talking about Orton and Tebow this week like they’re Montana and Young.

The usually serviceable Kyle Orton Sunday went 6-for-13 for 34 yards and an interception. Tim Tebow, who replaced Orton in the second half, more than doubled Orton’s passing output, added another 38 yards rushing, and scored two touchdowns (one on the ground and one through the air). The Broncos still lost to the Chargers, but they made a game of it.

I have no idea what Tebow’s future in the NFL looks like, but maybe he could be this year’s version of 2006 Vince Young. That year Young led a Titans team that started 0-5 to within a game of the Playoffs running the just-do-your-thing-Vince offense. Were it not for attitude problems, which have never plagued Tebow, Young likely would still be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Maybe Timmy has a future in this league after all. Then again, Broncos’ coach John Fox has given no indication that Tebow will replace Orton, so this may be a one-week conversation.

Both of these teams are easy to get behind. One team advances, the other will have to spend the winter waiting for their next chance.

The MLB postseason is down to its final four and these two teams could be matching up for a classic.

When Justin Verlander’s Game 1 start vs. the Yankees got postponed after he only threw one inning, it led many Tigers fans to fear that they could lose not having their ace available to pitch in two full games. It turned out, the Tigers did not need Verlander to beat New York and, despite the fact Detroit just finished off the Yankees Thursday night, they will get to use the best pitcher in the world for Game 1 Saturday night. And it will be the fifth day since his Game 3 start, meaning it’s back to routine for Verlander.

The Tigers' ace will be rested and ready to go for Game 1.

Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40 ERA) finished the season as the American League leader in Wins (24), Earn Run Average (2.40), Walks and Hits Per Innings Pitched (0.920) and is a lock to win the league’s Cy Young Award. In a seven game series, Verlander will most likely get to pitch twice, which could be just the solution for one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.

Josh Hamilton (.298/.346/.536, 25HR, 94RBI), Adrian Beltre (.296/.331/.561, 32HR, 105RBI), Ian Kinsler (32HR, 30SB, 121Runs), Nelson Cruz (29HR, 87RBI), Michael Young (.338/.380/.474 106RBI) and Mike Napoli (.320/.414/.631, 30HR, 75RBI) are the six most dangerous weapons in the Texas line-up, which is not exactly rounded out by a cast of scrubs either.

Verlander is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts in Texas. However, one of his five losses this season came in his only start against Texas this season, as the Rangers defeated the Tigers 2-0 back in April despite Verlander pitching a complete game.

Matching up against Verlander will be “The Straight-Edge Southpaw”, C.J. Wilson who, despite winning 16 games in the regular season, was roughed up by the Tampa Bay Rays in Texas’s only loss of the ALDS, giving up eight runs (six earned) over five innings. He will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back. He more than has the ability to do so.

The Tigers offense, while not quite on par with the Rangers, features AL Batting Champion Miguel Cabrera (.344/.448/.586, 30HR, 105RBI), Victor Martinez (.330/.380/.470, 103RBI), and a very game Jhonny Peralta (.299/.345/.478, 21HR, 86RBI), and will be going up against a surprisingly good Rangers rotation. Although, Tampa does not have the offensive ability of the Tigers’ line-up, Texas was able to dispatch them without too much issue.

Much of that can be attributed to a very effective bullpen with Darren Oliver, Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Mike Adams and baseball’s best sideburns in Koji Uehara. This group ensures that should a game come down to the bullpen, the Rangers hold the advantage over every team in baseball.

Some facial hair flies a little too close to the sun.

Key to this series may be Delmon Young’s health. Young is listed as day-to-day and it is unsure as to weather or not he will be available for the Tigers line-up.

While the Rangers hold the clear advantage in their offense and bullpen, the Tigers have Verlander and Doug Fister. Fister could well be the deciding factor in the series. Since joining the Tigers, he went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA. That is, until the ALDS vs. the Yankees where he went 1-1 with an astronomical 6.52 ERA. While two games is the very definition of “small sample size”, Detroit can not afford for Fister’s dominance to come to an end. Beyond CC Sabathia, the Yankee’s pitching was a mess heading into the playoffs. Texas, has one of the most underrated and consistent rotations in all of baseball. For Detroit, the Rangers are much more dangerous than the Bronx Bombers.

So what does this all mean?

The Tigers were in the World Series five years ago versus the Cardinals (a return match is possible) and that team was not as good as the 2011 Tigers. That being said, outside of Verlander, the Rangers are superior in every category. Can Verlander and Fister provide a one-two punch like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling did a decade ago for the Arizona Diamondbacks? You only need to win four games and those two will start in four games should the series require seven. Not to mention Max Scherzer and Rick Prcello are both quite capable of winning games.

I don’t see Detroit doing it. Fister has been playing over his head for the second half of 2011 and I really see CJ Wilson beating Verlander in Game 1 (not Game 5), possibly in a similar situation as Carpenter bested Halladay. Wilson will not be denied again and neither will the Rangers.

While reality often does not reflect theory, on paper the Rangers are the best team left in the playoffs and they should be able to best the Mo-Town Machine.

ALCS Prediction: Texas in 6 games

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Detroit Tigers v Texas Rangers ALCS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

ALCS TV Schedule

• TV Network: FOX
• Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET @ Texas
• Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET @ Texas
• Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET @ Detroit
• Game 4: Wednesday Oct. 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET @ Detroit
• Game 5: Thursday Oct. 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET @ Detroit
• Game 6: Saturday Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET @ Texas
• Game 7: Sunday Oct. 16 at 7:45 p.m. ET @ Texas

ALCS Pitching Matchups

• Game 1: Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40) vs. CJ Wilson (16-7, 2.94)
• Game 2: Max Scherzer(15-9, 4.43) vs. Derek Holland (16-5, 3.95)
• Game 3 (probable): Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83) vs. Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40
• Game 4 (probable): Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.75) vs. Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39)
• Game 5 (probable): Justin Verlander (16-12, 2.82) vs. CJ Wilson (16-7, 2.94)
• Game 6 (probable): Max Scherzer(15-9, 4.43) vs. Derek Holland (16-5, 3.95)
• Game 7 (probable): Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83) vs. Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40)

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* – Justin Verlander photo credit: The Sports Riot
* – Koji Uehara photo credit: Yahoo Sports

You will hear us discuss the following, and more:

• AJ Burnett’s surprising Game 4 performance
• The underrated greatness of Miguel Cabrera and Robinson Cano
• Which non-Phillies team in the NL is the most dangerous
• How Texas stacks up with both Detroit and New York
• And of course, an in-depth look at Game 5 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Tigers.

Click play on the player below to listen:

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Note that Game 5 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Tigers takes place tomorrow. Doug Fister opposes Ivan Nova, with first pitch 8:00 ET.

And make sure to check out Amanda on Twitter (@AmandaRykoff) and on ESPNW.com.

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Throughout 2011, I posted  monthly updates on these “predictions,” so as to capriciously praise or condemn myself. Today, on the 1st of October with the playoffs upon us, I offer the final “results.”

Underrated

Miguel Cabrera

The definition of a superstar. He totally lived up to my remarks, and more importantly, still didn’t get enough national love  in 2011.

The 28 year-old won the batting title with a robust .344 average, finished 2nd in walks, OPS and Top 10 in every other relevant offensive category.  As a bonus, in this era of Ryan Howard, Drew Stubbs, Curtis Granderson and Adam Dunn, only 89 strikeouts in 161 games.

That’s what makes a great ballplayer: consistently good all around. And still, few notice him amongst the Jose Bautistas, Paul Konerkos, Adrian Gonzalezes, Mark Teixeiras, Robinson Canos and Jacoby Ellsburys of the AL world who garner our attention. Already off to a hot start in the playoffs, Cabrera’s a legit MVP contender again. In fact, he’d get my vote.

{Grade on my prediction: A+ }

Paul Konerko

.300, 30+ HRs, 100 + RBIs. Period. Need more be said? (And that included a rough September where he struggled alongside the whole team’s concurrent collapse.)

Pauly continues to be under-appreciated, and though I dislike the ChiSox, I will keep praising Paul  — because there are people who actually think Ryan Howard is a better player, despite Konerko being better in nearly every category, and by a long shot in some.

Howard will never get 2000 hits, and 400 HRs is questionable. Konerko, just three years older than the Philly first baseman, has the former, and will achieve the latter in April 2012. And unlike Howard and most others, the White Sox first baseman somehow gets better with age.  He was in the AL Top 10 in nearly all major offensive categories.

{Grade: A}

Adam Dunn:

I often compare the media love for Ryan Howard to Adam Dunn, as I feel they’re similar players (same age, same style, etc), but if I’m to call out Ryan, Adam needs the same treatment.

You can’t spin this anymore now than you could at any juncture this season: he was a disaster! 

Adam hit .159 in 122 games this season, with just 11 homers and 42 RBIs. He would have probably led the league in strikeouts (177) but was benched most of the final six weeks. Dunn was a startling 6 for 94 versus left-handed pitching in 2011. Yes, that’s a .064 clip! {Grade: F}

Ryan Zimmerman and Shin Soo-Choo missed too much time for evaluation in 2011. Zimmerman hit near.300, and Choo, in half a season marred by various ailments, managed eight homers and 36 RBIs overall, with a .340 batting average in limited time post All Star break.

Overrated:

Ryan Howard:

The “centerpiece” of my article was the Phillies’ big first baseman, who’s been at the top of my list (and emails, texts and tweets) of overhyped ballplayers for years. I saw absolutely nothing in 2011 to change my mind; in fact, no matter what ESPN or the media says or ignores, I’m more confident in my views than ever.

There was a devastating critique of Howard’s absurd $25 million/year salary and declining stats in Yahoo Sports back in July, hitting every angle statistically and factually. While some commenters applauded, most ignored the content and chose to call the writer names and use profanity. It was classic to read his backers getting so flummoxed.

Then, in mid-August, Baseball Reference exposed his supporters’ one reasonable claim: RBIs. They showed that given Ryan’s unmatched opportunities with men on base, about 20 other guys (including JJ Hardy and Michael Morse) would’ve had as many or more RBIs than Howard (who had 95 then, and only knocked in 21 during the season’s final six weeks). He truly lives a blessed life, having nearly 20 at bats per season with the bases loaded.

Though his RBI and home run numbers remained relatively high, vital categories (and overall power categories like slugging, OPS and OBP) continue to fall precipitously, while Howard’s strikeouts remained 2nd in the National League (a hideous 172 in 152 games).

Ryan hit just THREE homers off a lefty in 170 at bats this season, and no clutch hits that anyone can recall.

Howard’s 2011 OPS — the most relevant category for a power guy — was an abysmal 19th in the NL. Despite his power numbers, he was also still a distant 19th in Slugging, while his On Base Percentage didn’t even crack the top 30 on the Senior Circuit. Very telling.

Unless you’re looking for a player on the back-end of his career; less durable than in the past; is quite replaceable; who doesn’t get on base enough; whiffs a lot; is slow; suspect with the glove, but will get you 30 HRs with 100 RBIs and a .250 average, he’s not your man.

And despite a homer in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday — that his desperate fans and obsequious media treated with more excitement than George Washington crossing the Delaware — look for the decline to continue in 2012 and beyond — as his salary rises to nearly the top of baseball. What a bad joke.

(I won’t get into past postseason futility since I covered it last fall and, starting late in last night’s game, you’re seeing it again. In the 2011 playoffs, Howard’s had a cumulative 13 men on base in his first six at bats. Considering that, his six RBIs is understandable.)

{Grade on my prediction that Howard is overrated: A}

Carlos Pena:

The Cubs first baseman hit 28 bombs, but that’s around his career average. He still finished at his customary .225 and a putrid .133 off lefties; yet this overpaid 33-year old is a lifetime .239 hitter, so what do we expect? Losing player, losing teams. He doesn’t strikeout quite as much as Howard or Dunn (still had 161 in 153 games though), but that proves little. He’s still vastly overrated, and his signing didn’t help the Cubs one iota.

{Grade: A}

BJ Upton:

Upton rightly doesn’t get the love he once received, but still, when you think of the Rays, after Longoria, BJ’s name comes up. Why?  You like .240 hitters who strikeout WAY too much (5th in AL, 161 in 153 games), with mediocre power and bad attitudes? He had a nice September, and Tampa will need him in October, but until his average improves…

{Grade: A-}

Jeff Francoeur:

Jeff’s finished at .285/20/87, which is mighty impressive. He was part of the best defensive outfield in baseball this year — in terms of throwing out baserunners (second best in MLB history).

He’s not an old player (27), so KC expected him to produce, which is why they extended him through 2013 . Coupled with Gordon, Cabrera, Hosmer and the rest of the young studs, he’ll be part of a playoff team in KC soon.

{Grade: C-}

Mark Reynolds:

His average was .221, which is apparently impressive for a guy coming off a .198 season. “Only” 196 whiffs in 155 games for a guy who punched out over 200 times each of the past three seasons. Reynolds did have 37 homers and 86 RBIs; however, the Orioles were one of baseball’s biggest disappointments in 2011, so I’m really not sure what he brought to Baltimore.

{Grade: B+}

So I’m looking at very decent grades for 2011…

Agree/disagree? Bring facts, not conjecture nor ad hominem attacks. Thanks.

Behold, the cinematic masterpiece and all-purpose accoutrement that is Tom Selleck’s Mustache.

See, every single one of those scenes was made better by Tom Selleck’s Mustache, which is to cinema as Gus Johnson’s voice is to college basketball.

This is also a great time for me to link you over to my favorite random Tumblr blog: Selleck Waterfall Sandwich.

And in case you’re wondering why this Celebration of Selleck is on a sports blog, just remember that Magnum P.I. wore a Tigers hat, and he almost assuredly would vote Justin Verlander for Cy Young AND MVP.

One team rarely mentioned in the discussion: The Detroit Tigers.

Because they aren’t as flashy as the other top teams, they haven’t received the same fanfare. Only now, when they’ve won 11 straight games, are they starting to get our attention. A closer look, however, suggests we should’ve been heralding the Tigers as a World Series sleeper for a while now.

Here are five reasons why the Detroit Tigers just might win it all this year.

1. Justin Verlander. And Justin Verlander three times in a seven-game series.

Sports Illustrated put it best when it called Verlander  “The Red Sox’ and Yankees’ worst October nightmare.”

Verlander has been epically dominant this season, not just Cy Young-award dominant, but Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson dominant. He’s been a throwback to aces of yesteryear, tossing a no-hitter and flirting with multiple others this year, and constantly going deep in games. On average, he lasts 7 1/3 innings per start.

He leads the American League in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings. He’s 11-1 since the All-Star Break. He’s 10-3 at home but 13-2 on the road. Any way you look at it, he’s an unstoppable freight train. Theoretically, he can pitch twice in a five-game series and three times in a seven-game series. The way Verlander has pitched this season, that’s almost two to three guaranteed victories for the Tigers.

Verlander is such a difference maker that he alone puts the Tigers in the World Series discussion.

2. Jose Valverde.

Lost in the hoopla surrounding Verlander’s amazing year: Jose Valverde has saved 43 straight games. He’s provided type of reliability you want from your closer come October, not to mention an absolute bulldog mentality on the mound.

3. Venezuela.

The nation of Venezuela has contributed significantly to Detroit’s success. First off, it gave the Tigers Miguel Cabrera. The career .315 hitter is on the verge of his eight straight seasons with at least 26 homers, at least 100 RBI and at least a .292 average. If he weren’t so overshadowed by Albert Pujols, we’d be heralding Miggy’s start as the greatest opening stretch of a righthanded hitter’s career in the modern era.

Cabrera is underappreciated across baseball but not in the Motor City. He’s been a rock in the heart of Detroit’s order four straight seasons now.

Venezuela wasn’t finished with Cabrera. It produced Victor Martinez, a man whose arrival has boosted the Tigers as much as anything this season.

It isn’t just the usual All-Star caliber hitting (.324, 11 HR, 94 RBI this season) that V-Mart brings to the table. He’s mentored young Alex Avila and helped turn him into an All-Star catcher. Valverde credits Martinez’s advice for the re-emergence of his two-seam fastball.

Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen are well past their respective primes but they’re still professional hitter types who come through in the clutch. They hail from – you guessed it – Venezuela.

4. Lineup depth for the first time in years.

Entering the 2011 season, Tiger detractors wondered, “Who will contribute on this time aside from Verlander, Cabrera and Martinez? Detroit had the best high-end star power in the American League Central but also had the shallowest talent pool in many people’s eyes.

The Tigers have silenced their critics this year by showcasing great lineup depth. Few people saw Avila’s breakout season coming. Few of us expected Jhonny Peralta to have his best season after he hit .253 as a Tiger last year. And when did Brennan Boesch decide he was far more than a bench player?

Better yet, the Tigers didn’t rest on their laurels. They kept adding talent throughout the season, including utility man Wilson Betemit, talented Twins castoff Delmon Young and starting pitcher Doug Fister. More on the latter below.

5. Secondary pitching (maybe).

Of all the factors making Tiger fans hope for the best, secondary starting pitching is the shakiest. In reality, it could be the team’s undoing.

However, in theory, at least one of Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Brad Penny and Doug Fister should step up in the playoffs. With Verlander pitching so well, it may only take one other guy to give Detroit the pitching it needs.

Fister looks most likely, having gone 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA as a Tiger. But Scherzer’s talent and Penny’s experience make them possible playoff redemption stories, too.

The Tigers may not be in the same class as the juggernauts but they’re much closer to the elite than many people realize. October should be interesting.

In Episode #11, White Sox fan Jerod and Indians fan Ari are joined by Al Beaton of BlessYouBoys.com, the blog of record for the Detroit Tigers at SBNation. Jerod and Ari had hoped that getting Al to discuss the Tigers’ playoff hopes would prove to be a jinx. It didn’t work out so well.

First, here are the updated standings heading into Episode #11.

Remember: the overall winner at the end of the season gets an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for next season. And if you’re just finding out about the challenge now, you can always catch up on all the old podcasts and quizzes here. Scores are cumulative and entries can be submitted until the end of the season.

In Episode #11, Jerod and Al attempt to answer six more questions from Ari, and Jerod has some BIG news regarding the current standings. After the trivia portion of the program, Al discusses his thoughts on Justin Verlander’s MVP chances, the underappreciated Miguel Cabrera, and how the Tigers’ pitching staff stacks up for a playoff run.

To follow Al on Twitter, go to @Big_Al_TWFE. You can also follow his football musings at WayneFontes.com.

Click play on the player below to listen.

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #11

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A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
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Here are links to all the old quizzes, in case you missed one:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors
• Episode 5 with Derek Schultz of XL950 in Indianapolis
• Episode 6 with Deadspin founder Will Leitch
• Episode 7 with Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports
• Episode 8 with Scott Sargent of Waiting For Next Year
• Episode 9 with Jonah Keri of Grantland
• Episode 10 with Jim Margalus of South Side Sox
  

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 12th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by the buyer ready experts at Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

In fact, I am watching the Mets bash the Detroit Tigers right now…and it is making me sick.

The Mets broke my heart in 2007.  They stomped it so bad, I haven’t watched baseball the same way since.

A year prior, Carlos Beltran watched a bending Adam Wainwright curveball nestle into Yadier Molina’s glove and that was that – the Cardinals won the World Series two weeks later and the Mets have spiraled back into a national joke.  The epic September collapse, then another collapse, then two seasons of bottoming out in embarrassing fashion.

It has been an ugly few years to be a Mets fan.  Maybe not as bad as being a Royals or Pirates fan, but bad nonetheless.

So I made a promise to myself: I would stop caring so much about the Mets, for the sake of my own mental health.

I still watched them on TV, still checked box scores and read stories and checked the indispensible MetsBlog.com, but I promised myself at the beginning of each season that I would not get emotionally invested in this team.  Rooting for the Mets was like rooting for an old time flying machine: just when it looks like it may take off, it explodes into a million wood chips.

Of course, every year I get sucked back in, and this year is no different.

They have lost in some shameful ways this season, but all of the sudden a team of spare parts and castoffs and oft-injured veterans is putting it together. Jose Reyes is one of the best players in baseball right now, if not THE best.  Carlos Beltran is having a resurgence playing right field.  Young guys Dillon Gee and Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy are raking, and all of this is happening with David Wright, Johan Santana, and last year’s bright spot Ike Davis on the DL.

This current road trip had a make-or-break feel for the Mets, with swings through some of the AL’s power teams, and so far they have exceeded expectations.  The Mets have scored 14 or more runs three times in their last four games.  They have won three consecutive series on the road.

They are tearing the cover off the ball: in the month of June, the Mets lead the NL in average, runs, RBIs, triples, stolen bases and on-base percentage.  All of this is in spite of their two best power hitters out of the lineup and their $66 million left fielder Jason Bay in the midst of a two-year funk.  Perhaps Bay is still upset about the Canucks losing the Stanley Cup?

Of course, as a fatalistic Mets fan, this winning streak could not be worse.  The club as it is currently constructed is simply not capable of winning World Series, the NL East, or even the Wild Card.  They are capable of playing good baseball, even great baseball, for stretches.  They are not capable of winning a playoff series.

Make no mistake – I am glad the Mets are playing well right now.  It is incredibly satisfying to watch a baseball team on a hot streak, perhaps more satisfying than in any other sport.  With the way the MLB season slogs towards the finish, any momentary crescendo is gratifying.  But if the Mets are five or six games over .500 come the end of July, and they decide to hold on to Beltran and Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez and try to win the inevitable dogfight for the last playoff spot in the NL, they will absolutely destroy their chances for 2012 and beyond.

I want with all my heart for Jose Reyes to come back next year.  By the same token, I pray the Mets do not offer him the “Carl Crawford money” most analysts think he will command.  I pray the Mets do not rush Santana back from his massive shoulder injury and get stuck with a $70+ million Mike Hampton redux.  I pray they trade Beltran while his value is sky high and pick up arms and bats to restock a fairly uninspiring list of prospects.

In a strange way, I pray the Mets start to lose – only because I love them so much.  They need to bottom out à la the Tampa Bay Rays and build from the bottom up, not throw good money after bad in a misguided attempt to stay afloat.  In a strange way, staying competitive this year is the absolute worst thing the Mets could possibly do.

Wait – Angel Pagan just doubled home two more runs.

Forget what I said – this is our year!

For discussion: do you ever root for your team to lose in the short term because you think it is best for their long-term interests?

**********

* – Jose Reyes photo credit: DrJays.com

Who will come out on top in what has historically been one of baseball’s most competitive divisions? Can the Twins repeat? Will the reloaded White Sox reclaim the throne? Can the Tigers rebound from last year’s disappointment?

Yesterday we analyzed the AL East. Let’s take look at the AL Central.

Minnesota Twins

Justin Morneau looks to return to the lineup after missing half of last season with a concussion that lingered into the off season. Joe Mauer will look to get back to 2009 AL MVP form when he hit .365 and hit 28 homeruns. Japanese All Star Tsuyoshi Nishioka will start at second base, Alexi Cassilla will be given a chance at shortstop, and Danny Valencia will play third. If Cassilla falters, Nishioka will move to short and Luke Hughes will play second. Trevor Plouffe could also figure into the middle infield equation with a solid spring.

Michael Cuddyer will be the opening day starter in right field, Denard Span will play center, and Delmon Young left. Jim Thome and Jason Kubel will be the DH, with both capable of playing first base. Jason Repko will be the fourth outfielder. Drew Butera will possibly make the team as the backup catcher.

Minnesota’s starting rotation will start with Francisco Liriano, followed by Carl Pavano, Scott Baker and Brian Duensing. Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey will use the spring to figure out who will get the fifth spot, the other likely going to the pen as long reliever. Joe Nathan (possibly ready for opening day) will be back as closer; Matt Capps will fill in if he isn’t ready by opening day.

Ron Gardenhire will manage the Twins for his 9th season, and will look to win the division again. He has some younger players, and winning it again could be a sign of successful years to come.

Prediction: I don’t see the Twins repeating 2010′s 94 wins, but I think they win 80-85 games this year, and fight the White Sox for the division all year, likely finishing in second.

Chicago White Sox

Ozzie Guillen and the Chicago White Sox finished last season seven games behind the Twins, so this off season they signed Adam Dunn to get some support around Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios. The Sox will score some runs, and will hit a lot of homeruns this year if all the players mentioned can stay healthy.

Gordon Beckham and Alexi Ramirez will play second and short, Konerko will start at first, and Dunn may get some time there as well. Brent Morel, a rookie of the year candidate, will be given a shot at being the everyday third baseman. Mark Teahan and Omar Vizquel will fill the bench as backups. Brent Lillibridge and Alejandro DeAza could find their way onto the team with great springs.

Juan Pierre, Rios and Quentin will fill the outfield from left to right. Non-Roster invitee Lastings Milledge could find his way onto the team because the Sox don’t have much outfield depth. A.J. Pierzynski will start at catcher, with Ramon Castro his backup.

The White Sox rotation is one of the best in the majors. Mark Buehrle heads a rotation consisting of Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy (possibly out opening day) and Edwin Jackson. Chris Sale will start the year in the bullpen and will be first up if injury occurs to any of the starters. Matt Thornton, the hard throwing lefty, will be given the closers job as Bobby Jenks left for Boston.

The White Sox will be exciting in 2011, and Ozzie wouldn’t have it any other way.

Prediction: The ‘Good Guys are’ primed to win 90 plus games this year. They will fight the Twins and Tigers to the finish, and if the rotation stays intact, Chicago will win the Central.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers finished 13games behind the Twins with a record of 81-81 last season. Magglio Ordonez had a disappointing season due to injury, and looks ready to produce this year. The acquisition of Victor Martinez will help give Ordonez and Cabrera protection in the lineup. Carlos Guillen ( ruled out opening day), who has not played more than 100 games in a season since 2008, will try and reach that plateau this season. Jhonny Peralta will start at shortstop and Brandon Inge will play third.

Austin Jackson will start in center field while Ryan Raburn and Brennan Boesch battle for the left field spot. Don Kelly will make the team as utility specialist. Will Rhymes, Ramon Santiago and Casper Wells will use spring to see who makes the team as backup. Alex Avila will get the majority of starts at catcher, with Martinez being the teams primary DH.

Justin Verlander, Max Sherzer, Rick Porcello, Phil Coke and Brad Penny will fill the starting rotation. Jose Valverde will be the closer, and Joaquin Benoit, who had an awesome 2010 in Tampa, will be the setup man.

Jim Leyland will try to get his team to avoid the distraction created by Miguel Cabrera, who again is having problems with alcohol. Cabrera will be ready for opening day, and will be monitored throughout the year.

Every win will count for these three teams, and the winner will get the division; the loser will miss the playoffs, as the Wild Card will come out of the American League East.

Prediction: If they can avoid the distractions, Detroit will win 85-90 games, and be in a battle with the White Sox and Twins all season long.

Cleveland Indians

Manny Acta will return for his second season as manager of the Indians, who finished 69-93 last season. Cleveland has a lot of questions going into spring training, and hopefully can clear some of them up. Grady Sizemore (possible mid May return) hopes to be ready and play center field, while Carlos Santana, who started team activities last week, could be in the lineup opening day. Matt LaPorta will be given the opportunity to get the majority of starts at first base, with Santana also getting some time to save his knees.

Travis Hafner will be the DH, and the Tribe will look for him to put up better numbers. Orlando Cabrera will start at second, and Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop. Jayson Nix will be given the chance to hold down the starting third base job, if he falters Jason Donald will take over. One of the game’s best kept secrets, Shin-Soo Choo will start in right field,  looking to continue his rise in the majors. Michael Brantley will start in center, and will stay there until Sizemore is ready. Austin Kearns and Trevor Crowe (possible for opening day) will be on the bench until Sizemore returns, then one may be out. Luis Valbuena will be the other bench player and infield backup.

The starting rotation is young, and will make or break the season for the Indians. It consists of Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Mitch Talbot and Carlos Carrasco. Josh Tomlin will be the fifth starter with a solid spring, and is the lead candidate ahead of Jeanmar Gomez and David Huff. If the staff has troubles, the Indians will have another disappointing season.

Prediction: Winning more than last year’s 69 games will be considered a success.

Kansas City Royals

Finishing out the Central is the Kansas City Royals, who finished in the cellar with a 67-95 record. Manager Ned Yost is expecting stronger pitching and better defense this year. With new arrivals Jeff Francouer (expected to be everyday right fielder) and Melky Cabrera, who will be the same in center, the outfield will be better. Alex Gordon will man left field, and be counted on to continue to improve his numbers. Kila Ka’aihue, a minor league masher, will get the opportunity to start at first base and hit in the middle of the lineup.

Chris Getz, Alcides Escobar and Mike Aviles will start from second to third. Billy Butler will be the DH and could get some time at first base if Ka’aihue can’t handle the lime light. Veteran Jason Kendall (out indefinitely with shoulder surgery, possible April return) will eventually be the team’s catcher, but Brayan Pena earned a job with a productive season last year, and will start until Kendall is ready.

Wilson Betemit will be the team’s utility infielder, and non-roster invitee Pedro Feliz will compete for a bench spot. Mitch Maier, Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson with fight for the fourth outfield spot, with Gregor Blanco more than likely being the odd man out.

The Royals also have a young rotation, with Luke Hochever, Kyle Davies, Vin Mazzaro, Jeff Francis and Sean O’Sullivan the likely candidates. Bruce Chen could also make the rotation; if not, he’ll be the long reliever.

The Royals may play better defense, but the offense is what they are going to need.

Prediction: Kansas City will battle it out with the Indians for last place, possibly winning 70 games.