Here is a look at the American League: Tough field – Even with the expanded playoffs, and assuming favorite Detroit wins the Central Division, at least one of these American League teams won’t make the playoffs – the New York Yankees, Boston, Tampa Bay, Texas and the Los Angeles Angels. And that doesn’t count an improved Toronto team. So the playoff field won’t be watered down.
Rich get richer
The American League has gotten even stronger with National League all-stars Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder joining the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, respectively. That said, the National League has won three of the last four World Series. The only exception? The Phillies lost to the Yankees in six games in 2009.
• Down and out?
Is A-Rod breaking down? Plagued by injuries, last season snapped a string of 13 consecutive seasons in which Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez didn’t have at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in the same season.
He had 16 home runs and 62 RBIs in 428 at-bats and A-Rod, who will be 37 in July, has to show that Father Time hasn’t caught up to him.
• Bad three-peat?
The Texas Rangers have lost in consecutive World Series and could join rare company if they return to the Fall Classic and fall short. Only the Detroit Tigers in 1907-1909 and the New York Giants in 1911-1913 lost three consecutive World Series.
The Rangers appear to have the talent to make it to another Fall Classic and this time maybe win it.
• Trout to contribute?
Mike Trout, considered among the game’s top prospects, was optioned by the Angels to triple-A Salt Lake City following a spring marred by a lingering virus and a shoulder injury. Last season, he hit .220 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 123 at-bats for the Angeles.
Trout, 20, could still be a contributor for the Angels this season, and stardom is still being forecast for the 2009 Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey high school player of the year.
• Can Red Sox rebound?
Amid a September collapse when Boston went 7-20 and stories filtered out about players eating chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games, there are serious questions if Boston can end a two-year postseason drought.
New manager Bobby Valentine switched seats at ESPN with former manager Terry Francona, and questions abound about the back of the rotation, right field, and shortstop. A key could be how former Paul VI standout Andrew Bailey adapts as a closer after being acquired from the Oakland A’s. Bailey was dealing with a thumb injury this week.
Here is a look around the National League:
• Repeat performance?
No National League team has repeated as World Series champion since the Cincinnati Reds won consecutive titles in 1976 and 1977.
So the St. Louis Cardinals face a tough challenge and have to do it without the two franchise icons – Albert Pujols, now with the Los Angeles Angels, and manager Tony LaRussa, who retired.
Former catcher Mike Matheny takes over for La Russa, and the Cardinals get Adam Wainright back after missing last year due to Tommy John surgery. Chris Carpenter, the pitcher who sent the Phillies home from the playoffs, is out with a shoulder injury, and his date to return isn’t known.
• Improved division
The Phillies have won five consecutive NL East titles and will be favored for a sixth, but the competition should be much stronger.
Atlanta remains a contender despite last year’s colossal collapse, while the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals appear to be vastly improved. Only the New York Mets don’t appear ready to make the other NL East teams sweat very much.
• Chargin’ Marlins
The Marlins have a new name (now known as Miami), a new stadium, a new manager who never met a microphone he didn’t like (Ozzie Guillen) and several new players.
The Marlins were one of the most active teams in free agency, reeling in shortstop Jose Reyes, pitcher Mark Buehrle and closer Heath Bell. The key however will be the return to form of Josh Johnson, who was limited to just nine starts last season due to a shoulder injury and how well Hanley Ramirez makes the transition from shortstop to third base.
• Magic in L.A.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers being bought by Magic Johnson’s group for $2.1 billion, will they return to be one of the sport’s preeminent teams after the disastrous ownership tenure of Frank McCourt?
The Dodgers could contend this season in the NL West, although defending champion Arizona and 2010 World Series champion San Francisco and Colorado could all make cases for winning the division.
• Busting through
Giants catcher Buster Posey, one of the chief reasons in the team’s 2010 World Series championship, returns after suffering a broken leg and torn ligaments in his ankle following a gruesome collision at the plate on May 25. Posey was the NL rookie of the year in 2010 and, despite being just 25, is one of the leaders in the game. On an offensively challenged team, his return to form is vital.
• Farewell Chipper
Third baseman Chipper Jones, a likely future Hall of Famer, announced that this will be his last season, one that will start with him expected to be out following arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his left knee.
The Phillies are among many teams that won’t get sentimental about his departure. In his career against the Phillies, Jones is hitting .332 with 46 home runs, 144 RBIs and a 1.042 OPS. He turns 40 on April 24 and still is a feared hitter if he can stay healthy.
